Chris Wenner looks back on a lifetime of lost loves in his bittersweet and philosophical new ballad and animated lyric video Too Bad — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
On this superb first single and opening/closing track from his upcoming album Not Old Enough, the 68-year-old German singer-songwriter and guitarist offers a heartfelt rumination on the inevitable cycle of love and loss — the beauty of infatuation, the magical fragility of relationships and the folly of trying to hold on to feelings even as they slip between your fingers:
“You can’t get back what you have lost
You can’t have all at any cost
If the harder you try, the less you succeed
If the closer you get the more your heart bleeds
It’s something that nobody really needs
So sad, too bad.”
Voiced in Wenner’s lightly sanded tones and set against a gently propulsive, ’70s-style arrangement of muted drums, pulsing guitars and glimmering keyboards, the bluesy track could easily be an overlooked deep cut from Eric Clapton or Paul McCartney. Here, it sets the tone for his most ambitious and fully realized work to date — and an album that justifies its title.
Arriving Jan. 24, Wenner’s third full-length release Not Old Enough channels the energy of Laurel Canyon and reflects a life blessed with rich experiences. Meticulously crafted over the course of nearly three years, between Bonn and Berlin, the album is rich, nostalgic and beautiful, evoking the sounds of late-career CSN, James Taylor and Fleetwood Mac in its blend of soft rock and folk. The arrangements are brimming with analog warmth. The harmonies are perfectly placed, delicately surrounding Wenner’s vocals. Wenner’s fingerpicking, reminiscent of The Beatles’ Blackbird, conveys a confident serenity. In fact, there’s nothing cold or clinical about Wenner’s music — it radiates warmth and sincerity.
And no wonder. Music has been in Wenner’s blood from the start. As a teenager, he saw Alexis Korner and Jethro Tull in concert and, in 1974 at just 18, attended the final European show by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (with Joni Mitchell and The Band) at Wembley Stadium in London. At the age of 15, Wenner borrowed a guitar from a neighbor and was hooked. Mostly self-taught, he did take a few lessons early on — from none other than Uli Jon Roth, the future Scorpions guitarist, who was a fellow student at the time.
But Wenner’s heart has always been with the folk music of Laurel Canyon and classic American styles — the kind we now call “singer-songwriter.” Before even graduating high school, he formed a band with a friend of American-Mexican descent. They wrote songs and played shows, but life intervened. His friend returned to the U.S., and Wenner started studying law.
For decades, music remained a hobby, albeit a deeply important one. It wasn’t until the final years of his career that Wenner took it more seriously, teaming up with producer Matthias Krauß to record an album. He retired at 64, and shortly after, released his debut A New Born Man on the label of former Herbert Grönemeyer drummer Detlef Kessler. The title couldn’t have been more fitting. Two years later, in 2022, Wenner released Maywind, an album that earned international attention. His music made its way to numerous radio playlists, and his song Sunchild racked up nearly 3 million streams.
Fast forward to today, and Wenner has more stories to tell with Not Old Enough. He wrote these songs on guitar or piano. Some are decades old, while others came to life during production, but they all fit together seamlessly. “I have fragments that have been sitting around for 30 years,” says Wenner. “Sometimes, out of the blue, the final piece falls into place, but I’m sure some never will.” And you know what he’d say about that.
Watch the lyric video for Too Bad above, hear more from Chris Wenner below, and connect with him on his website, Facebook and Instagram.
