About this project
Speaking from the most intimate and sincere place from which an artist can speak- in a dedication to a friend whose presence changed his life- this album will be more than a collection of songs presented to the world: it will be an expression-greater than the sum of its parts- of a spirit wrought with pain, love, despair and hope. Beautiful Carnage will be an unraveling of all things human that draws us toward the transcendent- an unapologetically honest glimpse of the eternal.
In April 2011, it was brought to Chris’ attention that the Telecaster which his best friend, Jeff Buckley, had been known for playing was up for sale. This news brought memories flooding back and reignited his desire to return to the studio. After a fury of writing he began to lay down the music for the first two tracks of his new brainchild…Beautiful Carnage. Now he needs YOUR help, YOUR resources, to make the album a reality.
~Dear Investors, Fans and Friends,
Since as far back as I can remember music has always been my sanctuary. It has served as my church of a higher self, and as a hope for a better understanding of humanity. Through the color and poetry of artistic expression, I found safe haven from the time I was a boy.
The place where melody and voice meet brought unlimited possibilities and creative freedom throughout my life, and the only boundaries that existed were my imagination. I took the listener along with me on a harmonious journey, telling my stories of love, pain, war, agony and ecstasy on the piano, trombone, guitar, and with my voice.
Music also gave me the opportunity to see the world, meet amazing people and have friendships that defined me not only as a man, but as a human being and citizen of the universe. But sometimes when you dream big, you lose big. I left my band Fishbone under a cloud of confusion in 1994, walking off of a tour bus with a broken trombone, my guitar, my keyboard and a suitcase I found on the street in Barcelona.
But even through the pain of ending that musical journey, I found that no great dream is worth having if it isn’t worth fighting for. I have emerged from the dust and the smoke armed with the conviction and armor of truth, ready to tell both my stories and yours, sharing wisdom I have learned from loss and pain, sounds that I have evolved from a beautiful chaos.
I am asking for your help to finish a recording I feel is part of my life’s work. By your contribution, you will be part of the creative process, and in every verse there will be part of you as well as part of myself. Now, without interruption, I bring you Chris Dowd’s Beautiful Carnage.
Thanks for joining me,
Chris
FAQ
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You can hear a bit of the demo of Long Live the Chief on my website along with two other new songs.
http://www.heirloommusic.com/beautiful-carnage.shtml
You can also view a video shot at Arlenes Grocery in NYC from Nov. 13th, 2011 of the first public performance of Long Live the Chief.
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Everyday Sunshine-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5Nkah8nP8
Change-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghpd3hH12yI
Black Flowers (live)-
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The album is called Puzzle and was released as The Seedy Arkhestra. (I've used two tracks from the album on my website.)
Despite the Tears-
http://www.heirloommusic.com/letter.shtml
Puzzle-
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Yes! There is a link to my Facebook page on the right side of this page underneath the list of pledge rewards AND you can join my Facebook group to keep up with project news and connect with other fans.
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Jeff is my best friend who passed away unexpectedly in 1997 and I am just now able to speak about it through my music. You can search his name on Wikipedia and look for some of these key tracks on Youtube to get started: Lover You Should've Come Over, Last Goodbye, So Real, Eternal Life, Lilac Wine, What Will You Say, Dream Brother, Hallelujah, Grace and Mojo Pin.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on February 19.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Unending thanks and gratitude for your support of the project from the bottom of Chris' heart plus download .mp3s of Long Live the Chief and Fragile to be featured on forthcoming release of "Beautiful Carnage"
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
7” vinyl single of Long Live the Chief/Fragile...plus above
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
SIGNED 7” single of Long Live the Chief/Fragile and a limited edition Heirloom Music/Beautiful Carnage T-shirt...plus above
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
Advance digital copy of Beautiful Carnage album with art work/lyrics .pdf plus a BONUS: .mp3 demos of Long Live the Chief, Fragile and As Beautiful As You Are…plus above
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Handwritten and autographed to you, the lyrics of Long Live the Chief…plus above
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Handwritten and autographed to you, the lyrics of What Will You Say (which was co-written with Jeff)...plus above
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Your name credited as a supporter of the project in the liner notes of the forthcoming album Beautiful Carnage PLUS an additional handwritten lyric sheet of ANY Chris Dowd song of your choosing (includes Fishbone era)…plus above
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
A one hour “one on one” Skype call with Chris to interview him, make small talk, show off your pets and rock collection or request some songs for him to play for you right there and then live...plus above
Pledge $400 or more Pledge $400 or more
You +1 friend get on the guest list to a Chris Dowd show in a town nearest you (or on the guest list for the November 2012 NYC Tribute event [travel expenses not included] which he will be performing Beautiful Carnage in it's entirety at) by the end of 2013 with a pre-show meet and greet and photo-op with Chris…plus above
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
During the afore-mentioned show Chris will invite you up on the stage, introduce you to the audience as a major supporter of his project and sing whatever song you choose TO you. This will be recorded and burned to DVD for your viewing pleasure…plus above
Pledge $700 or more Pledge $700 or more
During the afore-mentioned show Chris will invite you up for one additional song of your choosing to sing back-up, dance, play tambourine or whatever (recorded for your DVD as well)...plus above
Pledge $900 or more Pledge $900 or more
Chris will add a special acoustic rendition of Happy Birthday just for you to the video and include his personal birthday wishes for your DVD…plus above
Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more
Since Chris will be in your town already, he will come to your house and visit with you and your family and he won’t come empty handed (maybe he’ll even jam with you or help mom out in the kitchen) OR While in NYC for the Tribute, dinner for you and a friend out with Chris preceding the Tribute show…plus above
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
Chris will collaborate with you in writing a song …plus above
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Chris will release your musical collaboration as a 7” single on vinyl under his Heirloom Music label…plus above
Pledge $7,000 or more Pledge $7,000 or more
A night out on the town for you and a friend with Chris in LA with your round trip air expenses paid (Domestic US only) plus one night hotel accommodations…plus above
Pledge $9,000 or more Pledge $9,000 or more
Dinner at Chris’ house made for you by Chris (since you’ll be in LA already anyway)…plus above
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
You will have helped to fund almost a third of the entire Beautiful Carnage project and will have a personalized thank you from Chris and your photo with him printed in the album liner notes PLUS you will get an extra signed advanced copy of Beautiful Carnage with digital download and .pdf album art for your friend you brought with you and complete merch packages for you and the friend...plus above
Project By
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Inspired at first listen by the new wave classic Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, Christopher Gordon Dowd began his musical journey in the summer of 1980. The budding 13-year-old singer/songwriter, keyboardist and trombonist would soon become one of the key musical architects behind the legendary Los Angeles-based Fishbone, a band revered by its musical peers including The Minutemen, Jane’s Addiction, No Doubt and Bad Brains. Fishbone transformed the club scene of the early 1980s with a fresh sound that blended such disparate influences as Sly and the Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, The Specials, and Parliament. During Dowd’s time in Fishbone (1979-1994), he and his bandmates released eight critically-acclaimed albums and collaborated with the likes of Little Richard, Curtis Mayfield, NOFX and Murphy's Law. After 15 years of touring (Lollapalooza, The Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill tour, Glastonbury Festival), and television appearances (Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Later…with Jools Holland), in 1994, he joined his best friend and former roommate Jeff Buckley, working with him on The Seedy Arkhestra’s album Puzzle. Puzzle was the first step in Dowd’s musical rebirth. Following the tragic death of Jeff Buckley in May of 1997, Dowd continued to tour with and produce artists such as Jerry Cantrell and Carly Simon. Upon his return to Los Angeles in 1999, he wrote and recorded with Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls) on her solo debut before switching gears to pursue his other longtime love—food. Enrolling in Le Cordon Bleu in 2004, this self-described foodie took a hiatus from music to work as a chef, finding success in his newfound epicurean enterprises. The fortuitous accident of finding Jeff Buckley’s signature Telecaster guitar for sale in April 2011 reignited Dowd’s desire to return to the studio. He enlisted his friends Mike Inez (Alice In Chains) and Steve Perkins (Jane’s Addiction) to lay down the first two tracks of his new brainchild…Beautiful Carnage.
