Chris Connelly Releases 'Nothin' But a Rock Song' From Lou Reed Tribute Album
The Chicago alt-rock veteran channels Reed's raw 1974 sound with production from Alan Berliant and Chris Bruce.
Chris Connelly has released 'Nothin' But A Rock Song,' the second preview of his album 'Doo Wop In The Dark: A Portrait of Lou Reed,' due October 16th, following the lead track 'House of 70's.' Rooted in the raw, wired fury of 1974, the track finds the Chicago alt-rock veteran channeling Lou Reed at his most dangerous — restless and utterly uncompromising. Produced with Sons of the Silent Age bandmate Alan Berliant, along with Chris Bruce (Meshell Ndegeocello, Seal, Aaron Neville, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow), the song arrives with a video from Glasgow filmmaker Iain Mutch / Walkerandwilliam.
Following his acclaimed Nico tribute 'Eulogy to Christa,' the new album dives headfirst into Reed's volatile life and legacy, combining the legend's compositions with Connelly's own songs, inspired by Reed's journey. With over four decades spent pushing the boundaries of alternative music, Connelly approaches Reed as a fellow outsider rather than a distant icon.
'Nothin' But A Rock Song' is the second taste of the album, forthcoming via Shipwrecked Industries with distribution by Virtual Label. Produced by Connelly and his Sons of the Silent Age bandmate Alan Holden Berliant, the song is performed by Connelly and Berliant, along with Chris Bruce (Meshell Ndegeocello, Seal, Aaron Neville, Bob Dylan, The Waterboys, Sheryl Crow).
The accompanying video was created by Glasgow-based producer Iain Mutch a.k.a. Walkerandwilliam, with whom Connelly has worked many times in the past, including for the video for 'Femme Fatale,' featured on Connelly's 'Eulogy to Christa: A Tribute to the Music & Mystique of Nico.'
'After the world rejected The Velvets, and his record company rejected his masterpiece 'Berlin', Lou Reed became an angry, wired ghost, stalking the stage with a rock band, pumping steroids and speed into his music as he spat in the face of the music industry, using his scythe-like tongue to cut down everyone in his way,' explains Chris Connelly.
No stranger to the alternative music scene himself, Connelly has been actively making music for over four decades. Since his days with Fini Tribe in Edinburgh, he has consistently pushed the creative envelope, whether it be through his involvement in such projects as Ministry, The Revolting Cocks and Pigface, his own solo work (with over 20 releases) or the four books he has authored.
Connelly earlier shared the album's lead track 'House of 70's,' which he calls 'Lou Reed's New York of the early- to mid-70s distilled into a rock song,' along with a video produced by Someoddpilot Studios and directed by Chris Eichenseer of the Chicago-based creative force Some Odd Pilot, featuring artists Kira Leadholm (Madame Reaper) and Jay Drenkel.
'Doo Wop In The Dark' echoes Connelly's critically acclaimed 2022 album 'Eulogy to Christa,' a 20-track collection dedicated to and exploring trailblazing songstress Nico. Similarly, this new album is dedicated to the wildfire, tempestuous spirit of Lewis Allan Reed (a.k.a. Lou Reed), as well as Chris's dear friend Zak Boerger (1973-2025). This new record presents a mix including Lou Reed's own compositions, spanning his career from the Velvet Underground onwards, and songs penned by Connelly, detailing the creative and often turbulent path of Reed's life from his teenage years through to his death in 2013.
While mostly produced by Connelly and Berliant, four tracks from this album ('Babyface', 'Bye Bye Johnny Viola', 'Doin' The Things That We Want To', 'One Too Many Mysteries') were produced by Chris Bruce. It was mixed by Berliant and Bruce in Chicago and New York from 2023 to 2026, and mastered by James Scott at Populist Recording & Mastering.
Connelly's latest release was with Fini Tribe in 2025 for their 3-disc anthology 'The Sheer Action of Fini Tribe: 1982-1987.' That same year, Connelly also released 'The Lives and Loves of the Serial Homesick, Vol. 1,' a personal album rooted firmly in his hometown of Edinburgh, his second recent album dedicated to his beloved Scotland. Prior to that he also released 'The Birthday Poems,' which features Monica Queen (Belle and Sebastian, Thrum).
As of September 15th, 'Nothin' But A Rock Song' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp, where 'House of 70's' may also be found. On October 16th, 'Doo Wop In The Dark' will be released digitally and as a limited edition two-CD set, with a selection of tracks also being made available on vinyl.
On October 7th, Chris Connelly and the Dirty French Novels will perform at the album launch party, which will take place at Robert's Westside in Forest Park, Illinois. Tickets are available at dice.fm/event/eo89gw.
Album Credits
Chris Connelly - vocals, guitar, harmonium, bass, keyboards, glockenspiel
Chris Bruce - guitar, programming, bass, keyboards, pedal steel guitar
Alan Holden Berliant - guitar, keyboards, bass, programming
Jebin Bruni - additional keyboards on 'Bye Bye Johnny Viola'
Produced by Chris Connelly & Alan Holden Berliant, except 'Babyface', 'Bye Bye Johnny Viola', 'Doin' The Things That We Want To' and 'One Too Many Mysteries' produced by Chris Bruce
Mixed by Alan Holden Berliant & Chris Bruce in Chicago & New York (2023-2026)
Mastered by James Scott at Populist Recording & Mastering
Cover photography by Derick Smith
Cover layout by Kimberly Blessing
Published by: Sony/ATV Music, Universal Music Group, Sister Ray Enterprises, Concord Music
Released by Shipwrecked Industries LLC
'Nothin' But A Rock Song' video produced by Iain Mutch a.k.a. Walkerandwilliam
'House of 70's' video produced by Someoddpilot Studios, directed and edited by Chris Eichenseer
Dancers: Kira Ledholm, Jay Drenkel
Management: Kimberly Blessing at Shipwrecked Industries
Photo Credit: Derick Smith
Photo Credit: :
Photo Credit: :
