Chris Bangs (B: 25 June 1962 New Orleans, Louisiana) singer, songwriter, writer, and poet. Born Floyd Christopher Bangs Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bangs was the lead singer and lyricist of several bands starting at the age of 14 when he formed a Doors cover band named Mojo Risin.

Bangs had an uncanny ability to imitate Jim Morrison and his baritone voice at 14 gained plenty of attention. "Sneaking out of the house to practice and play small gigs while pretending to be getting tutored was a hard thing to pull off, but we never got caught." says Bangs, "My parents heard about the band but with the wig and glasses nobody knew it was me." At 16 Bangs joined a local Louisiana band named ICE, the band never really got off of the ground so Bangs suggested they become a Kiss cover band, ICE broke up after 1 year of tribute success. At the age of 17, Bangs joined the Coast Guard, music would have to wait. The Coast Guard, however, was not a good choice for a non-conformist long haired musician. By 19, the Coast Guard had shown him the door with a General Discharge under Honorable conditions. After debriefing Bangs married his childhood sweetheart Deborah Rodriguez. At this point it is alleged that a local high school friend, Gary Pickle (deceased) introduced Bangs to Quaaludes and PCP. The marriage ended with Rodriguez after just 6 months, alleging drug and physical abuse. Bangs disputed the physical abuse charges and accepted divorce on mitigating circumstances. By 20 Bangs began producing his own music in his studio apartment on Independence Ave. in Metairie, LA. (now David DeFunk's Studio) Bangs take Opera from Charles Paddock at Loyola University and studies acting and directing under Stocker Stocker Fonteleu of La Petite Theatre. Bangs appears in a number of films including "Hobson's Choice" as Richard Thomas' stand end and Death Trap. Bangs also does several musicals in theatres in and around New Orleans, including "Auntie Mame" at the La Petite Theatre in New Orleans.

1987, Bangs meets Jason Hughes a Stock Broker for Hilliard Lions Brokerage in Memphis, Hughes had heard of Bangs and asked him to join his band "Southbound". Southbound began with nothing but a small, windowless storage room studio at a Memphis Storage USA, and their dreams. After picking up drummer Jay Campbell and Lead Guitar Tom Bronsen and with the support of their manager, Talysin Music, the unit began playing the club scene in and around Memphis.

1988 found the name was changed from Southbound to Bacchanal and the music from Southern Rock to Grunge and the personnel musical chairs began as Tom and Jay left the band for other ventures and were replaced, only to eventually return to reform the original lineup. By April 1989, less than two years after the band's inception, Bacchanal was showcasing for major labels and enjoying a strong following in Tennessee.

Only two months later, the president of Power Station Records was on his way to Memphis to hear this band that he heard so much about. Bacchanal was scheduled to play at the Omni New Daisy that night, but when the second act refused to let Bacchanal use their lights and sound equipment, they were forced to play for Power Station and producer Anthony Bon Jovi at producer Eli Ball's warehouse studio. Bangs remembers the makeshift concert hall's inadequate electrical system clearly:
"We'd be playing and you would hear a 'POP' and we'd be playing in total darkness!"

However, blown circuits didn't stop Bacchanal from playing a full set of straight-from-the-gut rock and roll.

"Watching and listening to this band when they played, you might not have beeen able to tell what made them so special immediately. They have no gimmicks and they aren't breaking new musical ground; however, Bacchanal has honesty and integrity in both their music and their attitude. This is what sets them apart." - Anthony Bon Jovi

Jason explains that this is partly the result of their relative isolation from the industry mainstream. "We didn't feel that we had to be like anybody else because we didn't know that much about what else was going on," he admits. "We don't make an attempt to be different because if we did, we'd be like everybody else." Prophetic words.

"Except for Chris of course, everyone knows he's posessed by Jim Morrison" says Eddie Scruggs (joking of course)

Bacchanal definitely shows a wide range of influences including The Doors, KISS, The Beatles, and The Allmann Brothers. Their sound is reminiscent of early Motley Crue but with better, bluesier chops and Ian Astbury singing. Add a pile driving rhythm section and ballzy vocals and I think you might have it.

Tom described the sound as "real hard straight-forward rock with just a little bit of groove and Jim Morrison's Ghost. (chuckles)" You have to experience their live show to know why this band made such waves.

On stage, Bacchanal is furiously intense. They were in tune with each other as well as with the audience. If you truly want to get a taste of the Bacchanal then pick up their self-titled album, or look for the all out rocking' single, "LATV" and their unbridled cover of the Doors' "When the Music's Over."

Bacchanal certainly seemed to be on the road to stardom when relationship problems between Bangs, Hughes, and Bangs' new wife, Mechelle "Yoko Ono BTV" Eure flared up. Bangs would leave the band on an ultimatum from his wife Mechelle.

Jason Hughes went on to form the Billboard charting band Dust for Life with the fragmented pieces of Bacchanal and a new even more talented line-up.

Bangs is currently working on a new album and doing Jazz work as well as being involved in the ONE.org and Jazz 4 Life charity project.

More to come...