James Chance, No Wave Icon & the Contortions Saxophonist, Dies Aged 71

James Chance, the singer-saxophonist of the Contortions and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks who helped launch the No Wave scene in the late 1970s, has died. It was 71.

News of Chance's death was confirmed by his brother, David Siegfried, and shared through the late punk-funk artists. Facebook page on Tuesday (June 18).

“His death was announced by his brother David Siegfried of Chicago, who did not specify the cause of death, but noted that the musician's health had been in decline for several years,” the lengthy post reads. “His last live performance is believed to have taken place in March 2019 in Utrecht, Netherlands.”

Chance, who was known for his fusion of jazz, punk and funk, died June 18 at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Center in New York, according to the release.

Born James Alan Siegfried in Milwaukee, Chance began playing the piano while attending a Catholic elementary school and later took up the alto saxophone in his late teens. During his training at Michigan State University and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, he formed the jazz group James Siegfried Quintet and the Stooges-influenced Death.

In 1975, Chance moved to New York, where he officially began using his stage name, and a year later formed the band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks with singer Lydia Lunch. In 1977, after studying with saxophonist David Murray, he formed the first edition of the Contortions. The group released their debut album, buyin 1979. Chance was known for his confrontational stage presence and was known to pick fights with members of the crowd.

The Contortions disbanded in 1979, and Chance reunited with some band members in 2003 for a series of shows, including All Tomorrow's Parties in Los Angeles. They later toured together over the next few years. Chance also performed with the Chicago band Watchers.

He is survived by his mother, Jean Siegfried; brother, David Siegfried; and sisters, Jill Siegfried and Mary (Randy) Koehler.