CHROME COVERS: Songs of Damon Edge and Helios Creed

Chrome was a band that blew my mind when I first heard them as a teenager.  The surreal vocals and synthesizer of Damon Edge combined with the spacey guitar work of Helios Creed was irresistible. 

Damon started the band in San Francisco and released Chrome's debut The Visitation on his own Siren Records in 1976 (50 years ago!).  Helios joined for 1977's Alien Soundtracks. Edge & Creed experimented with recording techniques on that album and Half Machine Lip Moves (1979).  

Chrome then signed with Beggars Banquet. The rhythm section of John and Hilary Stench (formerly of Pearl Harbor & The Explosions) backed Damon and Helios on the next three albums:  Red Exposure, Blood On The Moon, and 3rd From The Sun. 

Damon moved to France with his wife, Fabienne Shine (singer of Shakin' Street).  He formed a new Chrome lineup and released a series of albums between 1984 and 1994 (which have been collected on the Chrome Box II).  Helios Creed released his first solo album on Subterranean Records in 1985.  Later he found a home among like-minded folks at Amphetamine Reptile.

Damon died in 1995.  Helios and the Stench Brothers reunited under the Chrome name and began releasing new material, starting with 1997's Retro Transmission.  Helios Creed solo records continued to appear (often with his Chrome bandmates), and he also collaborated with Nik Turner on several projects.  He has also played with the Butthole Surfers and MGMT.  

2023's Blue Exposure may be the final Chrome album.  Helios is now 72 and was the beneficiary of a fundraiser last year to help pay for his care.  Buy some Chrome and Helios records from Bandcamp!

The best-known Chrome covers are Prong's version of "Third From The Sun" and the Jesus Lizard's medley "Chrome".  There's also a Chrome tribute album.  I've collected a variety of Chrome covers for today's share.  It's cool to see how Chrome has influenced metal bands, punks, industrial music, and noise rock.  Two recent covers that didn't make the cut are Imparity's version of "Third From The Sun" and last year's single by Anal Babes, with "Chromosome Damage" on the b-side.  

Chrome has also been sampled by Kendrick Lamar, Saul Williams, Billy Woods, Bradford Cox and Jim Thirlwell!  Hats off to Helios Creed, one of the gnarliest of all gnarly guitarists.