Getting tickets to see an "older" artist is always a gamble. Will they be able to bring the same energy they had in their youth? Are they going to play the songs we know and love? Can they even still sing? In the case of Chris Isaak, 70, a recent performance confirmed all three questions can be answered with a resounding yes.
Currently, Isaak is touring Europe, performing at various festivals across the continent in some of its most legendary venues. Isaak recently performed his iconic hit "Wicked Game" at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, UK, and it completely knocked the socks off unsuspecting concertgoers. To say jaws were on the floor is an understatement.
What a night at @bridgewaterhall , Manchester with the one and only @Chris Isaak . Our first time seeing Chris live, and all I can say is… wow. He was absolutely phenomenal. Not only is he an incredibly gifted musician and vocalist, but he’s genuinely hilarious too, keeping the audience laughing between songs with his quick wit and stories. One of the things I loved most was just how effortlessly he and his band performed together. You can tell they’ve played together for years – every musician had their chance to shine, and Chris made sure to give them their moment. It felt like watching a masterclass in live performance. And then there’s that voice… I always love it when an artist sounds just like their records, and Chris Isaak somehow sounds every bit as good live. Hearing “Wicked Game” performed in person was simply unforgettable. If you’ve still got the chance to catch the final UK date tomorrow night at @demontforthall , Leicester, there appear to be a handful of tickets still available. If you’re even remotely thinking about it… go. You won’t regret it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Remaining European dates: July 8 - Leicester, UK July 13 - Essen, GER July 16 - Carcassonne, FR #chrisisaak #wickedgame #bridgewaterhall #manchester #nashville
♬ original sound - UK COUNTRY NEWS"What a voice he has," proclaimed one fan.
"Wow, still sounds absolutely fantastic," another noted.
"I saw him years ago in London when he was top of the charts. Oh my, he was wonderful, so glad he still has it," confirmed another.
Related: '90s Icon Behind One of the Most Beloved Love Songs Ever Turns 70
'Wicked Game' Has Endured
At the time of its release, the now-iconic song didn't do much for listeners or critics on its own. According to Far Out Magazine, Isaak initially disagreed with the tracking of the song off his 1989 album, Heart Shaped World. In particular, he was put off by the now-beloved guitar riff written by James Calvin Wilsey. Once Isaak saw it picking up steam in the studio, however, he whipped up lyrics haunting enough to match the eerie guitar.
Ironically, it was that melancholy riff that caught director David Lynch's ear, so much so that he put an instrumental version of it into his film Wild at Heart. The guitar work became so recognizable that people started hunting down the vocal track, and it shot to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2019, the song actually shot to No. 1 on the digital charts after it was covered on The Voice. In total, it spent 24 weeks on the hot chart during its original run.
“There was a girl on the way over,” Isaak said during a February 1991 interview, Rolling Stonereports. “It was one of those things where they call, they say, ‘I’m comin’ over.’ You know you shouldn’t, but you let ’em. Hang up the phone and go, ‘Oh, no. Now we’re gonna be in trouble.’”
It is inarguable that the song was made whole and interesting by that riff, but unfortunately, Wilsey still didn't get his flowers after Isaak did. Isaak is publicly credited as the sole songwriter behind the 1989 hit "Wicked Game," and Wilsey’s deep-seated resentment grew over being treated as a replaceable "sideman" rather than an equal co-creator. He was never given a writing credit.
The issue ultimately fractured his 12-year partnership with Isaak, triggering a dark, heartbreaking descent into depression and severe substance abuse. By 2013, he’d developed hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, and he tragically passed away in 2018.
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