10 Facts About James Chance

James Chance quickly became active in both the free jazz and no wave punk rock scenes.

James Chance's first band in New York in 1976 was an instrumental quartet with violin, drums and bass called Flaming Youth.

James Chance started Teenage Jesus and the Jerks with Lydia Lunch the same year.

James Chance was noted for engaging in physical confrontations, from forcing the audience out of their seats and getting in fist fights with his New York City audience, including rock critic Robert Christgau.

James Chance discussed issues of race and working with black musicians in a number of interviews.

In 1979, James Chance collaborated with Arto Lindsay, Bradley Field, and George Scott on the soundtrack to Diego Cortez's film Grutzi Elvis.

In 2001, James Chance reunited with original Contortions members Jody Harris, Pat Place, and Don Christensen for a few limited engagements.

In 2009 James Chance made occasional appearances playing keyboards in NYC with a trio, with the material restricted to close readings of jazz standards.

In June 2012, James Chance played in Portland, Oregon with local group Ancient Heat as his backing band.

James Chance was in poor health in the final years of his life, and he died from a gastrointestinal disease at a nursing home in East Harlem on June 18,2024, at the age of 71.