Happy Birthday Stanley Keys!

Warmest wishes to everyone's favorite keyboardist (and 2nd ranked Chap Roz MVP) Stanley Keys, who is celebrating his birthday today.

Sid sent along this rare photo of Keys playing with his pre-Chap Roz band, 2 Idiots and an Artist.


Sid also forwarded this photo of a sculpture Stanley created for him during his Chap Roz tenure, titled Get Down With the Mon-Keys.

7 Deadly Sinz - Pride

Most people don't recognize the musical ground Chap was breaking when he created the world's first acoustic, acappella song with no lyrics, Love Match. Yes, you read that correctly.

acoustic - music with no electric instruments
a cappella - music using no instruments but vocals

In today's musical landscape, there are bands whose entire catalog have built upon the foundation Chap laid with Love Match (Naturally 7 comes to mind). As would be a common theme throughout his career, Chap was too far ahead of his time, and once again it was Sid to the rescue. Having recently returned from a getaway trip to Amsterdam, Sid sat down and penned a lyrical tone poem that blended perfectly with Chap's vocal stylings - 8mm was added to the title, and the final piece of the 7 Deadly Sinz puzzle was placed. The closing track on that masterful album represented PRIDE:

8mm Love Match

Between my thumb and finger
A thread of brittle celluloid grows cold

See how she runs
Spinning wheels
feed and catch
Fast or slow
no place to go

Within the small viewfinder
My longing love she looks to me

What was her name
I’ve just lost track
She never speaks
And some would say
I’ll never have her back

But they can’t possibly understand
How it feels when she’s in my hand
She’s my
eight-millimeter
love match

She’s my threaded love machine
My tiny movie queen
She’s like nothing you’ve ever seen

And though I may never haver her back
you can't take away the burned in memory
of my eight-millimeter love match

7 Deadly Sinz - Greed

With this next track, it's a good time to talk about band manager Jeff Spleen. I met 'Spleener the Cleaner' with the rest of the guys back in 2002, and had a chance to talk at length with him about his role as band manager.

In so many words, he indicated that he had been assigned by Esophageal Records to manage Chap Roz as punishment for something he had done, but for exactly what he wouldn't confess. Spleen had the challenging role of keeping the band in check, both in the studio and while on tour. He must have spent half the night asking, “Where’s Stanley?”, and the other half telling nubile groupies, “They don’t pay me enough.” I think he went back to his hotel room alone that night.

Sid confirmed that the song representing GREED was an ode to Spleener the Cleaner.

What I Get is Never Enough

Life is rough
That’s just tough
And it’s never enough

You can huff
Wolves can puff
And it’s never enough

Never mind what I want
Never mind what I need
There’s one thing in this life that I know
And that’s what I got comin’ ain’t never gonna show

Cause what I get
Is never enough (never enough)
Yes what I get
Is all that you see
These empty hands
ain’t lonely at all
Cause what I get
Is never enough (never enough)

You can be bitchin'
Bout no food in the kitchen
And it’s never enough

You can be stuffin'
Your least favorite muffin
And it’s never enough

Never mind what I want
Never mind what I need
There’s one thing in this life that I know
And that’s what I got comin’ ain’t never gonna show

Cause what I get
Is never enough (never enough)
Yes what I get
Is all that you see
These empty hands
aren’t lonely at all
Cause what I get
Is never enough (never enough)

7 Deadly Sinz - Sloth

Who would have thought - a Chap Roz penned lullaby? That's essentially what he graced us with in 7 Deadly Sinz' homage to SLOTH: It's 2 a.m. (and time to go). A haunting vocal performance backed by a soulful bass line which was recorded by Chap for the album, and masterfully handled in live performances by Frank Bass.

Sid recalls this was inspired in part by Chap’s least and most favorite time of day. Least favorite if he's getting kicked out of a bar - most favorite if he's kicking someone out of his hotel room.

It’s 2 a.m. (and time to go)

It’s time,
It’s time,
It’s 2 a.m.
It’s time,
it’s time to go.

It’s time,
It’s time,
It’s 2 a.m.
It’s time,
it’s time to go.

7 Deadly Sinz - Envy

Perhaps no one owes a greater debt to Chap Roz than 70s sensation Paul Williams. Fans of that recording artist are aware he slipped away into relative obscurity after a promising turn on Jim Henson's The Muppet Show. With the recording of his underground single, Bring Back Paul Williams, Chap Roz not only formed what would go on to be one of the most important British bands of his time, he brought back Paul Williams!

If you can find Paul Williams side of the story (and I can't - Google be damned!), rumor has it that he didn't feel that he had been away, hence not needing to be brought back.

Sid was able to mediate a solution, and in further tribute (and reportedly to avoid a potential lawsuit) Chap teamed with Paul Williams for this anthem about, well, being the bigger man. The duo recorded their parts separately, and performed the track together live only once, on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2001 with Paul live from Los Angeles (pictured) and Chap live from Liverpool.

To this date the two men have never met.

From 7 Deadly Sinz - ENVY:

Be the bigger man

Chap:
In every man’s life comes a time
When you have to stand or step aside
If you can’t look the other man in the eye
Maybe it’s time

Paul:
When your back is up against the wall
And you’re staring into the belly of the beast
Is a good time to remember
The teachings from the east

Duet:
Be,
Oh Be,
Why not Be the bigger man.
Bigger man

Chap:
No need to be ashamed
No need to feel blamed
If you walk away with pride
You can always say the other guy lied

Paul:
Rise to the occasion
Overlook your shortcomings
Climb the moral step-ladder
Cause it’s time

Duet:
Be,
Oh Be,
Why not Be the bigger man.
Bigger man

7 Deadly Sinz - Gluttony

Representing GLUTTONY comes the aptly titled Chap Roz opus, Pour Me Six Shots. One of the band's catchier tunes, it's hard to get the "one two three four five" counts out of your head after hearing it.

Sid notes that with this song, Chap had attempted to land a promotional deal with Captain Morgan's spiced rum - for product, not cash. When they didn't return his call, he changed the lyrics. Sid couldn't remember the original line, but recalled it had to do with a 'bum' (rhyming bum and rum).

While never released in the US or UK as a single, it was a huge club hit in Japan.

Pour me six shots

Line ‘em up boys, here comes Chap
Something's got the pretty ladies up off of his lap.

Only one thing can disrupt him from the breast
And to get right to it requires no mystic quest.

When it’s time to drink one sip won’t do-
A double won’t satisfy him, nope not even two.

Three drinks for mere mortals, and to most that’s lots -
When it comes to pleasing Chap, you gotta pour six shots.

One-two-three-four-five won’t do
He’ll be swimming before this night is through
If you want to ride this train,
Better pray for Bacardi rain.

One-two-three-four-five too many
That’s the spirit, now go for Jenny (slater)
If you wanna get off this train
It’s too late!

7 Deadly Sinz - Lust

Our track-by-track analysis continues with Chap Roz' representation of LUST. Never released as a single, but a perennial live classic - (Never) 2 Young is one of Chap's three solo compositions on the album. More astute fans will detect a recurring theme when reviewing those, whereas the songs written (or co-written, according to the official publishing records) by Sid tend to have a little more depth to them.

Sid notes that Chap assured the upper management at Esophageal Records that this anthem was based on his childhood ambitions to be a star.

(Never) 2 young

What your momma don’t know
What your poppa don’t know
What your granny don’t know
Is all right by me

Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly
Why he had to ask I swear I’ll never know why

Cause you’re
Never
Too young
Never
Too young
Never
Too young
for me

What your teacher don’t know
What your doctor don’t know
What your friends don’t know
Is all right by me

Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly
Why he had to ask I swear I’ll never know why

Cause you’re
Never
Too young
Never
Too young
Never
Too young
for me

Of course a day will come
When this won’t be a problem
And your momma and your daddy and your granny and your teacher and your doctor and your friends can all know
Cause it won’t be long ‘fore you’re too old for me

Until then,
Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly
Why he had to ask I swear I’ll never know why

7 Deadly Sinz - Wrath

I thought I'd kick off a track-by-track analysis of the runaway winner in the favorite album vote.

As one might expect, each track on the album was named after one of the seven deadly sins - the lead track and first single, Don't Ask Me That, Again represented WRATH and was written by Sid and Chap. This song was reportedly inspired by Sid’s never wanting to discuss his childhood, or his last name.

Don’t ask me that, again

We’ve been round and round, but with you it’s always the same
No matter where the conversation turns it comes back to my name
Or where I’m from
Dammit
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that, again
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that, again

Never seem to get enough, you cheeky bastard
Well, some things you’ll never hear from me
So back off
Dammit
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that, again
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that
Don’t ask me that, again

Live at the Barfly - May 22, 2001

It's hard to believe that just 7 years ago, Chap Roz played their first live gig at the Barfly in Liverpool. This was during the recording of 7 Deadly Sinz. I asked Sid if any mementos of that event remained, and boy did we hit the jackpot.

Sid still had the original set list (below) from the show. In addition to featuring most of the songs that would eventually make Sinz, they also played Chap's only single to date: "Bring Back Paul Williams."

Of particular note is the inclusion of a keyboard solo by Stanley Keys. As most of you already know, Keys played on the Sinz studio tracks, and didn't officially join the band on until after the 2002 Hawaiian tour. This is confirmation that Keys played with the band live while working out the Sinz tracks. Sid also noted that this was Keys only concert solo - apparently his bit went on for about as long as the rest of the gig, which didn't sit well with Chap.

Chap doing his acoustic acappella classic:
"8mm Love Match"
Unfortunately, only a few photos remain of that night. I've included them for their historical significance.

I can only imagine how cool it must have been to be at the Barfly that night - an eyewitness to history.

Bring Back Chap Roz!

I was fortunate enough to meet these Brit-rockers in San Ramon back in 2002 during the tour for their first album on the Esophageal Records label, 7 Deadly Sinz. They were a blast to party with, and after hearing their tunes I became a fan for life. They even brought me along in their limo as they barhopped throughout the East Bay. I snapped this photo as a memento the following morning after the guys had already boarded their tour bus.

I've long been bewildered by the absence of a Chap Roz web presence - the bands official site (http://www.chap-roz.co.uk) has been offline for years. Most of the band members are notoriously reclusive, and when I had the good fortune to stumble across an email address for their longtime manager/spiritual guru Sid on a press release, this blog was born.

Sid has offered up rarities from the C-R archives which I'll be sharing with you - from official press releases to band member bios to lyrics to information on lost (and unreleased albums). I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm also hoping to post interviews with some of the members of the band as well. If everything goes according to plan, this blog will become the destination for Chap Roz fans.

I searched long and hard for a photo of Chap to use on the page, and I've only encountered two - the late 80s fan magazine clipping in the Blog header and this paparazzi shot from outside a club in his hometown of Basildon, England, last year.


If you have any photos, or reviews of albums or live shows, please post comments and share them with the rest of the Chap Roz fan community. If there's enough interest, I may even be able to convince Sid to let us post some MP3s, or one of the band's extremely rare music videos.

Thanks for stopping by, and remember - CHAP ROZ RULES!