Biography

The ultimate scene-maker, Chuck E. Weiss has spent a career hobnobbing with the cool and famous in rock's hierarchy while barely pursuing a career of his own. Born in Denver, Weiss was originally a drummer, touring with bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins. By the late '60s, he had performed and/or recorded with Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Roger Miller, and others. While still in Denver, he struck up a friendship with singer/songwriter Tom Waits, later writing songs like "Spare Parts" with him and moving to Los Angeles. Living at West Hollywood's infamous Tropicana Motel with Waits and singer Rickie Lee Jones, Weiss became the subject of Jones' hit "Chuck E.'s in Love." Weiss' career finally stumbled off the launching pad with the 1981 release of The Other Side of Town, a collection of demo tapes released on Select Records. Rather than follow this up with a proper release, Weiss instead put together a band called the G-d Damn Liars and spent the next 11 years performing a weekly gig at the L.A. nightclub the Central; he later partnered with friend Johnny Depp to convert the club into the Viper Room. After an 18-year hiatus from recording, Weiss' second album, Extremely Cool, was released on a Rykodisc subsidiary, Slow River, in 1999. Old Souls & Wolf Tickets appeared in 2001, followed by 23rd & Stout in 2007. Weiss spent the next six years performing in and around Los Angeles, occasionally touring. He re-entered the studio in late 2013 and emerged with the self-produced Red Beans & Weiss on Anti. The album's executive producers were actor Johnny Depp and singer/songwriter Tom Waits. Chuck E. Weiss died in Los Angeles on July 19, 2021; he was 76 years old. ~ Cub Koda, Rovi