Seriocity Sessions: Mark Burgess (The Chameleons)

This session from Mark Burgess is the official launch of the Seriocity Sessions. The seeds for the Seriocity Sessions were planted during a recent Mark Burgess (The Chameleons) 40-date US acoustic tour. The magic these small intimate performances striped down the music to its essential core and added powerful storytelling. The result was an even deeper connection to the music and his loyal fanbase. The Seriocity Sessions tries to capture that same magic for more artists and broadcast it to a global audience.
Mark is joined by Stephen Rice on guitar.
The mission of the Seriocity Sessions is to provide working musicians a global platform to tell their stories about their music. This new artist collective will help grow and connect passionate fans worldwide through a compounding effect.
Working musicians continue to struggle from the impact COVID-19 had on the industry. The skyrocketing costs of touring has virtually made it impossible for many artists to make a living. The Seriocity Sessions is a virtual portal for musicians and fans to discover new music.

[@marcelbuschelk1734]

I can hardly put into words how much these songs touch me --- just fantastic and really heart-touching. The Chameleons are a great band that enrich my whole life!

[@HearturMind]

I am with you so much on this. Just saw them for the first time in almost 40 years and bought tickets to see him again in two weeks on this tour. After seeing so many bands from that era lately I gotta say, Mark is remarkable in energy and ability to go beyond the “pulling it off” I have seen so much of. You know it when you are in the presence of someone doing what they are meant to do with still fresh passion and not one hint of nostalgia or staleness. Ultimate respect for that guy!

[@marcelbuschelk1734]

@@HearturMind My dear Alana, that is a wonderful compliment to Mark Burgess and the Chameleons. And yes, you can feel Marks' passion for writing songs. Each of his song lines can be felt and caresses many a battered soul

[@HearturMind]

@@marcelbuschelk1734 this is one of those times I wish conversations on you tube were in a venue in person. Maybe I will run into you someday at one. Cheers, mate!

[@marcelbuschelk1734]

@@HearturMind Music connects hearts - greetings from afar

[@christirocha4675]

I know exactly what you mean.. The Chamelons are able to touch deep parts of my soul. Listening to their music brings me complete serenity and deep feeling.. It always brings me to tears. I’ll be seeing them live in two weeks for the first time and I am counting down the days.. this band is pure bliss, pure heart and an overall complete masterpiece.

[@marinaaraujo94]

Been listening to these songs for some years now and to finally hear the stories behind them is such a lovely gift. Thanks, Mark, for sharing them and your genius with the world! Second Skin is probably my favourite song ever and I'll never listen to it the same way again. Lots of love all the way from Brazil. ❤

[@hottuna08]

I have only discovered Mark Burgess and The Chameleons within the last couple of years, but I am thankful I did. The music just touches my soul, how have I not heard you before, especially growing up through the 80's. Keep doing what you're doing, you're awesome. Going to see you guys in August 😄

[@peterbuckley9050]

I was in the audience for this, it was surreal.

[@vv247]

Love this so much lads. Thank you so much for posting. Can't wait to see Mark and The Chameleons together again.... Toronto in Aug !! 🎉

[@gaboorosario]

Hace poco tiempo descubrí y conecté con esta banda y no puedo dejar de escuchar ultimamente un puñado de sus canciones, son hermosas. Gracias por la música que alimenta el espíritu de forma inexplicable!

[@markbrabant5468]

The universe needs to protect Mark Burgess at all costs. I had a deep connection with the Chameleons music when first hearing it and seeing them live as a teenager in the mid-eighties and that appreciation has lasted for nearly 40 years. In fact, I just saw them perform in Columbus last night. Hearing Mark explain the impetuses of these songs in this session is a special thing and helps me understand more clearly why I connect with his music so much. Brilliant and meaningful stuff.

[@MikeDrago]

'Tears' has broken me down many times over the decades, thinking of my own losses, but hearing Mark's story behind the song means I'll never listen again with dry eyes. I was an embarrassing puddle! Holy smokes, Mark, how do you ever get through that song? Seriously, your music has brought so much comfort since I first heard it in the 1980s. Thank you.

[@MarkLomery]

Mark never ceases to amaze me, GENIUS...and great work by Stephen!

[@thevanityassassin5067]

Still the finest band to come out of Manchester

[@COYWM2022]

Middleton

[@adrianborland]

1:26 Happy New Life 8:17 Tears 16:20 Seriocity 22:24 Second Skin Don't let that stop you from listening to Mark present the songs

[@stevendphoto]

I'm sad, I missed the 40-date US acoustic tour, but i did see Mark years ago at a tiny club in Long Beach and was thrilled to be able to shake his hand to thank him for all the wonderful songs he has created for all us to enjoy...!

[@Langy24]

My God this is wonderful. I cant describe how brilliant this is. From the time I listened to Up the Down Escalator on John Peel I have been a fan, now 63. Would love to meet Mark.

[@loisblair2365]

This is precious and truly beautiful. So unspeakably greatful. Much love to Mark B.

[@oldramon980]

Truly a living legend

[@Detachments]

my god, Second Skin is one of my all time favourite songs, but I didn't know it was about that. No wonder it is has such sublime majesty. This chat makes up for not going backstage (in N'cl) last night when I saw The Chameleons for the first time, despite having listened for years and years. Really a special force in music. Mystical profundity in all they do.

[@Alejandro-sw2xl]

esto es oro puro! gracias !!

[@gmotionedc5412]

Awesome!!! Love this band since mid 80’s

[@falconerpdx]

This is fantastic Mark. Don't let this fade out like a lot of these social media endeavors do for artists/musicians. Keeping this going takes a lot of energy and work with the risk of the occasional folly and half-baked episodes but consistently doing these/the perseverance will pay off.

[@MusicMissionary]

Discovering the Chameleons helped me through a very hard time, stuck in a small town in the South with no one to talk to, pre-internet. Also helped me become more a progressive and empathetic man. Which is hard to do around these parts.

[@MusicMissionary]

@@AsphyxX-cx3kf LOL. Busted.

[@prr665]

Mark, thanks for getting me through the hard times and the good times growing up in the SF Bay Area in the 80's!

[@sheilamorphesQG49]

Wisdom of Emotions. Thank you for this exceptional performance and the stories to the song. Mark is Best ❤

[@adrianabustamante2860]

Qué voz tan dulce, Mark Burgess

[@taliertagreen7264]

Шикарный голос👏 очень люблю The Chameleons

[@antonio47anos]

Still great voice and presence, Mark

[@stephanegingras9666]

I'm not a big fan of unplug performances, but this is The Chameleons and their signature electric guitar is here so it's a big win. Excellent, thank you Marc and your bandmates for all the incredible music.

[@juancarlosgiraltnavarro1406]

Wow! What a treat. Thanks a lot for the upload. I've been following Mark and his outstanding band since the 80's. Congratulations!💫👏👍🏼

[@kevinboyd88]

Never gets old. Beautiful session. Thank you.

[@ianpatricklynskey1031]

Love those guitar tones that's what made you guys one of my favourite bands

[@marsavivs]

After 30+ years of listening and being a huge fa it's great to learn about what was behind some of these songs. Also good to see them played on guitar so I can brush up on my accuracy of the songs when jamming along. Thanks for doing this Mark and Stephen. Lots of love!

[@iceman7669ify]

Second Skin is my favourite song ever

[@djleftover]

Thrilled to see this! Thank you!

[@hervedumont6226]

Tears ......wonderful

[@BillRouck]

Thank you!!

[@stephenBlacker]

Love this - hearing the stories behind some of my all time favourite tunes.

[@mikegough7554]

Outstanding. Still sounds so fresh.

[@TheCoilers]

We all need you, and your music❤

[@carolleeweiss5297]

Stellar!

[@lisaparks8972]

Thank you! I’m so glad you did this.

[@brad42948]

Thank you; brilliant!

[@sanjose528]

I cant wait to see them live in SF!!

[@mrpunch78]

thank you! it's amazing.

[@fatheremmet2003]

Beautiful!

[@trevorloughlin1492]

Mark is a God and getting even better with age. But the real revelation is Steven Rice. I often make up supergroups in my imagination, for example I wonder what the Bunnymen's Will Sergeant at the peak of his powers (Heaven up Here and Reverberation come to mind) and Mark Burgess would sound like together? But with the synergy between Steven and Mark means that I do not need to imagine! It is a new and wonderful take on already great songs. Amazing sound quality as well, good enough to release as an EP?

[@thesoundlikechameleons2082]

But he's not Dave Fielding.

[@alanwild5890]

Thanks for this

[@SuperShed7]

beautiful...im still hoping one day soon to see you perform! UPDATE well that day arrived and you performed it was amazing show !!!

[@empireman1077]

Glad to see/hear this set piece

[@camwolf]

Still my favorite band. I’m so glad I was able to experience this unplugged excellence outside of DC.

[@katelough1778]

Beautiful ❤❤

[@ricojeg]

Basically fan, thx Mark.

[@MoonmaidenGothic]

Love this so much, can't wait for more! :) xxxx

[@stephaneblondin2224]

This is such a precious moment. I struggle to explain how his music touches me so deeply.

[@ekillops22]

Love this! I was glad to be able to catch your show in Portland last summer too.

[@NederlandGuy]

Mark, I saw you in Denver at the Bluebird theatre in 2017. I hope you will be able to come back over to the States soon.

[@thorstenjansen9482]

Hope to See you in Germany, Goosebumps, go on

[@user-go5yu2nj5p]

Mensch Mark, Du bist der Star meiner Jugend und nachdem ich diese Session gehört und gesehen habe, werde ich mich direkt um eine Karte für die Zeche Bo. im Juni bemühen. Weiter so ! and greetings from Herdecke ( NRW ) -KOTTAN-

[@miramar-103]

Please come play at Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, CA

[@nigelbevan8449]

My only drawback is that Mr Burgess isn't coming to Bristol this year for his tour with The Chameleons Vox... Such a great shame... I have a photo of Mr Burgess outside my car after I had the bonnet sprayed with the What Does Anything Mean Basically cover... Such a charming and humble man..

[@TryptamineRitual]

I'd like to see a picture of that car

[@nigelbevan8449]

@@TryptamineRitual The car has been scrapped, too expensive to get repaired... But give me your phone number and I'll send you a couple of photos.

[@dbsound882]

It seems like such a long time ago

[@bunnymenfan]

Thank you very much for sharing this great show. What is the date & location for this show?

[@seriocitystudios]

November 3rd 2022, recorded at Seriocity Studios located in Washington DC

[@empireman1077]

Any plans that they will release new material ☯️👏🏼🙏🏻

[@GamesWithBrainz]

What did Mark say the first song was called? I've listened to most of his music but cant remember what album that song was released on

[@seriocitystudios]

It’s called Happy New Life. From Mark Burgess and Sons of God Zima Junction album.

[@GamesWithBrainz]

@@seriocitystudios thanks! I have listened to that album but only once. Great song. Chameleons are easily in my top 5 bands

[@christhorneley2475]

Phenomenal band, abysmal politics. Just let me know when you dedicate a song for the hundreds of thousands killed and wounded by zelenskys bombs in Donbass these last 10 years

[@TryptamineRitual]

Alright so anyone who doesn't share the same views as you has an "abysmal" take on politics? Right, got ya

[@christhorneley2475]

@@TryptamineRitual Anyone supporting the coked-up, war-mongering psychopath has an abysmal take on the war in Ukraine.

[@francesconatuzzi5473]

Grande Mark grandi chameleons band formidabile un Saluto da Taranto Italia