Fratellis Is Music to Blackhawks' Ears

Jon Fratelli (real name, Jon Lawler) is playing with his new band tonight in Chicago at the Metro, and though the Fratellis are, for the time, going off in their own directions, the band's frontman is thoroughly enjoying the exposure the Blackhawks are giving the band.

Chicago plays the Fratellis' "Chelsea Dagger" after every goal -- which means that hockey fans are hearing the "doo do doo, doo de doo," refrain a lot.

"You're just happy for anyone to use something that you do," Fratelli said in a thick Glaswegian accent by phone from Chicago on Sunday. "It's really handy that they score so much."

The Blackhawks aren't the only sports team that uses "Chesea Dagger." Celtic, the Scottish football (soccer) club also plays the song when the home team scores. That is much, much less frequent usage, however.

"They don't score many goals," Fratelli said with a chuckle.

The Scottish national soccer and rugby teams also made liberal use of the Fratellis' output. Ice hockey is something new for the band, though. The sport doesn't enjoy a high profile in the UK.

Asked about his knowledge of hockey, Jon Fratelli said, "It's kind of violent. It's definitely a sport for men, not boys. And women, too! It's very exciting."

And how can the band not fall in love with a team that has taken their song and made it into an anthem of success?

"Chelsea Dagger" and the Blackhawks are now intertwined.

"I am going to have to say we are now absolutely rooting for Chicago," Fratelli said. "And having been here a day or two, it's been a big deal. We've been hijacked by Chicago, and I'm quite happy about that."

Fratelli is warming to hockey

The Fratellis became aware during last year's playoffs that the Blackhawks were using "Chelsea Dagger," but after Chicago was knocked out in the Conference finals, the band heard little more, until recently - - and the increased interest as the Blackhawks plowed through the postseason meant a quickly scheduled side trip to Chicago for Jon Fratelli and his new band, the Codeine Velvet Club.

They won't be at Game 5 tonight, but Fratelli -- or should we now call him Lawler with the apparent demise of his previous group? -- welcomes all Blackhawks fans at his gig tonight.

"This was planned in the last few days," he said. "We weren't meant to be here. But some fans are coming along, and life works in some crazy ways. We started getting some calls about the song, and we find ourselves here."

He'll be playing Fratellis songs -- never fear -- because he wrote them, Lawler said. But what is the deal with the Fratellis, then? At an end? Disbanded?

"We're done and not done," said Lawler nee Fratelli. "Back home, it's been misjudged. People need absolutes and definites, but I've never lived my life like that. I have no plans to work with the Fratellis right just now, but that doesn't mean not ever. Sometimes, you find people you like to play with, and that's what it's like with the Codeine band. It's good to have choices."