CRISS ANGEL:
Mystifier/Composer Set to Release CD's and DVD's in
2004:
"My number one objective is to create art in all
forms."
Date:
Source: Web Cds-by Barbara Bales
Perhaps you had the chance to witness one of the artist's
elaborate live shows from his resoundingly successful
Broadway production, CRISS ANGEL: MINDFREAK, which ran
from November 2001 through January 2003 in the Big Apple
with almost 600 performances. MINDFREAK featured Criss
performing his ultra-hip brand of new-Millennium magic
amidst a swirling entourage of gymnasts dressed as otherworldly
creatures. Choreographed to Criss's original compositions,
MINDFREAK dazzled audiences and critics alike. ("Remarkable
and entertaining!" - the New York Times; "Mesmerizing!"
- Broadway.com; "Angel is a master of shock as
much as illusion. His...acts are some sort of Goth Cirque
Du Soleil. The MINDFREAK is on the cutting edge of magic."
- Los Angeles Times.)
While other Broadway shows were closing, MINDFREAK
continued to grow in popularity. "We opened after
the 9/11 travesty, and people did not expect us to last,"
he explains. "Instead, the production got extended
from three to fourteen months!" (If you visit his
website, CrissAngel.com, you can view the many backstage
pix of Criss with celebrity fans like Gene Simmons,
WWE's Vince McMahon, Kyra Sedgwick, Siegfried and Roy
and Ice-T to name a few.) His admirers, known as The
Loyal, are "incredibly loyal...so much so that
it blows me away. You can see their fan sites and chat
rooms on the Internet. They have created a bunch of
crazy items...gifts I've received: from dolls to magnets
and mouse pads. They really want to perpetuate me everywhere.
It's quite flattering."
Perhaps you checked out the Magician of the Year (of which
he is is the only two-time recipient: 2001 and 2004) on
his Halloween 2002 ABC Family special titled, "MINDFREAK"
or his 2003 Sci Fi Channel special titled, "SUPERNATURAL"...or
perhaps you have heard about his feats, which include:
his six-hour suspension by fishhooks (yikes!) pierced
through his body; his 24-hour submersion in a water chamber
(dubbed the "Water Torture Cell" by magician
Harry Houdini); his recreation of Houdini's straitjacket
escape in full view of a Milwaukee crowd. Or maybe you've
read articles on Criss or have seen a few of his many
TV / radio guest-appearances. "I've been on Howard
Stern's show a number of times and he's been very kind
to me," Criss acknowledges. ("An amazing illusionist!
The best I've ever seen!" commented Stern.)
Seems like everybody has fully embraced the versatile
artist and New York native, who is owner and operator
of ARPITRAG Records, on which his complete catalog of
CDs and DVDs can be purchased. Part magician-part musician
(drums, percussion, vocals, composition), Criss - who
"just wants to continue creating art" - is
also trained in various forms of movement. He began
doing magic as a small child and got a pyrotechnics
license at the earliest age permitted. Citing Houdini
as well as film director Federico Fellini and Franco
Dragone (of Cirque Du Soleil fame) among his top influences,
he draws inspiration "from anything that connects
to me. We're all like sponges; we see things that go
into our mind and we spew them out in our own form:
songs, art, movies."
His interests in the art of illusion and music began
"at a very early age. As a kid I would perform
small tricks (which grew throughout the years) for my
family. Eventually, I started my own band (Criss Angel).
We'd have two to three thousand people show up at the
clubs we played, like Spit...the Roxy...Sparks...Webster
Hall...L'Amour's. I also produced and directed a few
music videos back then. One was called 'Suicide Machine',
which we did at the Hit factory in New York City. Gary
Lyons, whose worked with the Grateful Dead, and Aerosmith,
produced the actual song.
A couple of music videos we'd done will ironically
be included on a new DVD I have coming out titled 'Criss
Angel: Evolution'. It's actually 1 of 6 DVDs coming
out in 2004 on APITRAG Records focusing on my roots
and earlier years. Those years really provided me the
opportunity to evolve and try out various concepts,
fusing original music, creatures and the art of illusion."
Additionally, Criss will release 2 new CDs in 2004
on APITRAG Records; one will feature the soundtrack
for the live world tour and the other features songs
that have nothing to do with the show (like the 'System
1' In The 'Trilogy' CD). "For me it's all about
evolution; growing as an artist on stage and in the
studio is what keeps me motivated," he maintains.
"We live in a technological age where so much is
possible and experimentation's where my best creations
are derived. So to have that ability in a Pro Tools
studio without worry about huge rates is invaluable.
I got Micky James on board for the new CD; he's an engineer
/ artist who can make an affordable studio sound like
a million dollars."
It hasn't always been a "magic carpet ride"
for Criss, especially at the start of his career: "I'd
been offered many deals from prominent producers but
they were onerous; they wanted to own my work and give
me a small salary, which I did not want. So I did it
all myself; I started from scratch....My career was
trying. I had to work for everything I've gained. I
never got a break but I'm relentless!" he avers.
"As an artist, when you're different or you do
something unique, you always have the most difficult
time. It's been both a blessing and a curse; the fans
may love you but the industry doesn't know what to do
with you. But now I'm in a great situation because I've
persevered. I'm incredibly passionate and I always find
a way....I have thick skin and believe that which doesn't
kill you will make you stronger."
He credits his parents with imbuing him with discipline...and
speaking of family, his brother Costa is one of the
performers - both for live shows and on TV - and is
also active behind the scenes. "I've been blessed
with a wonderful family and the greatest parents. I
would never have accomplished what I have without their
support."
It takes Criss nine months to a year to do an entire
CD: "I never have the time to do them straight
through because I have so much going on at once."
Since the shows are set to his music, which comes first?
"There is no formula. Sometimes I come up with
the song first which inspires the visual, other times
it's the opposite and sometimes I feed off both going
back and forth in its creation. The end result, I hope,
is a true audio visual experience that connects to people."
Thousands of emails pour in each day, some of which Criss
highlights in the FORUM section of his site: "I can't
tell you how much they mean to me. I eventually read each
one. Believe it or not there is not much of a difference
between a 30- and a 15-year-old's comments, as crazy as
that might sound! Usually the common thread is that they
share how I have effected them in some way, which is obviously
the most flattering."
Has he ever gotten feedback from people whose religious
beliefs include voodoo or black magic, etc.? "I've
been a huge proponent of the mind, body and spirit connection
and that anything is possible when they work symbiotically.
I've also stated that a lot of what I do is real and
some is an illusion and it is up to the public to determine
what is real and what isn't. Well, because of these
statements and approach, many people believe that everything
I do is real. I can assure you it's not black magic,
white magic or purple - it's the MIND, BODY and SPIRIT!"
In the Fall of 2003, Criss spent 3 weeks performing
in Japan for his television special which aired on the
TBS network. In January, he traveled to Belgium, where
he visited with Franco Dragone, the creator and director
of most of the Cirque du Soleil productions as well
as the new Celine Dion show in Las Vegas. He and Franco
"are exploring the possibilities of working together."
Plans for the balance of 2004 (and beyond) include touring
for the seemingly tireless artist: "My number one
objective is to create art in all forms."
In closing, the polite and mercurial artist adds, "Thank
you, Barbara, for this opportunity. I look forward to
seeing you and The Loyal on tour in 2004."
You can read the article here.
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