Chuck Crisafulli

Chuck Crisafulli is an American author, culture writer, and musician who has contributed to publications such as Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Times. Born in New York in 1961, he pursued English at Northwestern University before moving to New York City to teach. He later relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked in practical effects and puppeteering on film sets before transitioning to journalism.

Crisafulli's writing career gained momentum with freelance work for music publications, leading to a position at the Los Angeles Times. There, he focused on alternative comedy and interviewed various comedians. His published works include books exploring the background of The Doors' and Nirvana's music, as well as co-authored biographies with figures like Jerry Schilling about Elvis Presley and Tim Shanahan about Muhammad Ali. He also co-wrote a book on business improvisation.

Beyond writing, Crisafulli is an accomplished musician, playing various instruments and performing with several bands. He was a bassist in the original lineup of Urge Overkill and currently plays drums in The Doublewide Kings. Under the moniker Charlie Christmas, he has released avant-pop and indie-garage music, with his album 'Weird Old Man' receiving college radio airplay. He is married to filmmaker Kyra Thompson.

Chuck Crisafulli established himself as a journalist with contributions to prominent publications like Rolling Stone, Grammy Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. His early work in Los Angeles included freelancing for music magazines such as Music Connection and BAM. At the Los Angeles Times, Crisafulli developed an interest in the burgeoning alternative comedy scene, writing features on notable comedians like Sarah Silverman, Janeane Garofalo, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, and Bob Odenkirk. His journalistic endeavors also extended to outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Interview, Hustler, High Times, Option, Request, and Newsday, covering a diverse range of cultural topics.

In the mid-1990s, Crisafulli authored books delving into the narratives behind iconic music. His works 'Moonlight Drive: The Stories Behind Every Doors Song' (1995) and 'Teen Spirit: The Stories Behind Every Nirvana Song' (1996) explored the context of these influential bands. He also co-authored 'Go to Hell: A Heated History of the Underworld' with his wife, Kyra Thompson. Crisafulli collaborated with Jerry Schilling on 'Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley' (2006), offering a personal perspective on the legendary musician. Further biographical collaborations include 'Elvis: My Best Man' with George Klein and 'Running with the Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship with Muhammad Ali' with Tim Shanahan. More recently, he co-wrote 'Getting to "Yes And": The Art of Business Improv' (2017), applying improv principles to professional environments.

Chuck Crisafulli is a multi-instrumentalist with a significant history in various musical groups. He was a founding bassist for Urge Overkill during his college years and has performed with bands such as Moris Tepper, Dogbowl, and Filthmobile. Currently, he plays drums for the Santa Barbara-based band The Doublewide Kings. Since 2018, Crisafulli has also released music online under the alias Charlie Christmas, producing a style he describes as "avant-pop songs, nerd-punk anthems, indie-garage screeds and soft-core instrumentals." His 2018 album, 'Weird Old Man,' mastered by Prof. Elliott Lanam, garnered attention on college radio stations. Crisafulli performs all instruments on his Charlie Christmas recordings, with his son contributing to the EP 'Spotty Coverage.'