Then and now

In pop culture, the question where are they now? is almost invariably answered with a snarky riches to rags story in the vein of, say, MC Hammer or Milli Vanilli. Chicago music veterans are no different. Recently, reclusive ex-Smashing Pumpkins bassist D’Arcy called Q101 sounding totally bonkers; and the Tribune’s Greg Kot, during an episode of Sound Opinions, said a member of Jesus Jones (of 1991’s “Right Here, Right Now” fame) knocked on his door as an exterminator. Lucky for them, the scenesters below have fared much better.

Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick
THEN: Rockford’s finest, led by guitar-wielding chief songwriter Nielsen, shared the stage with Queen, Kiss, the Kinks and a bunch of other heavy-hitters during arena rock’s heyday. Their raucous live shows and sound—in ’77, a fan set off an M80 during a gig at the Chicago Amphitheatre—caught the mainstream’s attention with ’79’s infectious “I Want You to Want Me.”
NOW: The 60-year-old guitar junkie (he owns more than 2,000) and his band are still in high demand with this year’s well-received LP The Latest and a massive tour. In 2001, Nielsen teamed up with Bill Jacobs and opened Piece Brewery & Pizzeria. “I never did like thin crust [but] I said yes to [the project] the first day,” he says. Now, he gets other celebs like Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien and Rachel Ray to sit down for a slice.

Scary Lady Sarah; DJ, creator of Nocturna
THEN: During the late ’80s–early ’90s, Sarah spun dark alternative cuts at goth-friendly haunts Neo, Hound’s Tooth, Dreamerz, Alcatraz, Foxy’s and a slew of house parties, like the ones at her six-flat in Wicker Park. “We used to hold the most indulgent underground after parties there from midnight until 7 or 8am,” she says.
NOW: For the past six years, Sarah’s called Berlin home, where she deejays and sells CDs, buttons and clothing at the city’s “Dark Market” flea market, but she returns to Chicago regularly to throw shows, like the Nocturna All Hallows’ Eve Ball at the Metro (Saturday 31).

Ian Schneller, Shrimp Boat
THEN: In the 80s, Schneller hooked up with fellow Art Institute students to form the post-rock outfit Shrimp Boat (two members went on to create the Sea & Cake). Shows at Phyllis’ Musical Inn and the much-missed Lounge Axe were “infectious, and the whole room would have a party while we were playing,” he says, which separated the group from the stand-still-with-arms-crossed vibe at noise rock shows around town.
NOW: A diehard gear head, Schneller decided to stay behind the scenes and started Specimen Products, which makes guitars and innovative contraptions for A-list locals Jeff Tweedy, Andrew Bird and Buddy Guy.

Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
THEN: In ’55 or ’56 (he can’t remember), the Chicago-via-Mississippi bluesman started making some hip-shaking racket at long-gone clubs like the Starlight a Go Go. “Back then [audiences] would listen to a little blues, but you had to play 90-percent rock ’n roll in order [to get a gig],” Clearwater says.
NOW: At 74, Eddy (who takes his surname from Muddy Waters) is still a full-time musician, living in Skokie with his wife/manager and touring often. Check him out at the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues festival at the Congress Theater on December 12.

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