Speaking with … Chris Isaak

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
June 28, 2002

Since tackling his Showtime series “The Chris Isaak Show”–a thinly veiled version of his life–Chris Isaak has had little time to do nothing. Currently on tour supporting his latest album “Always Got Tonight,” the San Francisco-based musician will be back in Vancouver in a few months to begin filming the third season of his hip show.

“I’m always tired now,” says Isaak, phoning from his San Francisco home. “If anything goes wrong on the show, it boils down to me. I love doing it, but touring is a nice break from it, too.”

A commercial for Miller beer, in which he and his band Silvertone appear, also has increased his profile. Ironically, Isaak is a non-drinker. Kind of an odd marriage, no?

“I thought it was a good way for people to hear my music and they told me I didn’t have to drink beer in it,” says Isaak, who turned 46 on Wednesday. “I don’t have a problem with people drinking as long as they can handle it. I don’t see beer as Satan. Cigarettes, maybe.”

His drink of preference is freshly squeezed juice (fruit and vegetable) and that good old astronaut staple, Tang.

“It’s kind of a running gag on the show that I’m always drinking Tang and offering it to people,” he says. “I have no deal with them, so I’m not hawking it. But at one point they did send over a bunch of Tang for the show. I was so excited about it and my manager said, ‘You’re such an idiot. Anybody else would’ve had a new car or a Rolex watch by now, and you’re excited ’cause you got some Tang.’ ”

HERE’S WHAT ELSE ISAAK HAD TO SAY:

Favorite TV show: “The Honeymooners.” It’s funny and I really care about what happens to Jackie Gleason. I never buy anything extravagant, but at one point I tried to buy the show’s set at an auction for like $75,000. I bid on it and someone else got it. I was so bummed. Then I was on the road talking to Jimmy Buffett and he said he had bid on it, too, so I didn’t feel as bad.

His reputation for being cheap: We did a show based on that and now it’s paying off in dividends. We went to a restaurant for breakfast and I got up to pay. The guy at the counter said, “That’s OK, Mr. Isaak, I know who you are.” I’m thinking I’m a big shot and then he says, “I’ve seen your show. I know how cheap you are.”

Favorite Chicago sports team: I’ve gone to see the Cubs play quite a bit. That was pretty cool.

Favorite Chicago personality: Al Capone–not because of his criminal activity, but for his work with kids and the fact that he didn’t let syphilis get him down. [note: he’s kidding.]

Strangest Chicago experience: We stayed at this really run-down seedy motel once that I don’t think exists anymore. My guitarist and I got there in our van before we rest of the group. We got on an elevator with a girl who had a tattoo of a black widow spider on her chest that was the size of a softball. She asked if we were looking to party and asked what room we were in. My guitarist said, “I don’t know,” which I thought was funny. When we got to our room, we got a call from the front desk and the guy said, “You can’t mess around with our girls,” and that he was going to call the cops on us. We said go ahead and call them. We just ended up locking the room and ordered the pizza until the rest of the band arrived. There’s safety in numbers.

Favorite thing to do in Chicago during your time off here: Doing soundcheck. I like to soundcheck even if I’m not on tour. I’ll go to an empty auditorium and do a soundcheck. It relaxes me. [note: again, he’s kidding.]

Favorite non-soundcheck activities: I like looking for books and going to the museums, especially the one with the submarines [the Museum of Science & Industry].

Favorite Chicago souvenir: I usually buy one of those small commemorative miniatures of buildings at the airport for my niece. I get them for her in every town I go to.

Last beautiful place you visited: I just passed through Singapore and the food and weather were great. It’s really beautiful. Someone once said it’s the only working dictatorship. It’s a strictly run place, but they’re strict about things that don’t bother me. They even had little dogs at the airport sniffing your bags for fruit.