Ken Chinn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Chinn
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Ken Chinn performing with SNFU at the Starlite Room in Edmonton
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kendall Stephen Chinn |
| Also known as | Mr. Chi Pig |
| Born | October 19, 1962 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | July 16, 2020 (aged 57) |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1981–2020 |
| Associated acts | SNFU, The Wongs, Little Joe, Slaveco., DNFU |
Kendall Steven Chinn (born October 19, 1962 – died July 16, 2020) was a Canadian punk rock singer and artist. He was known by his stage name Mr. Chi Pig. Ken was born in Edmonton, Canada, and later lived in Vancouver for many years. He was the lead singer of the band SNFU from 1981 until they took a break in 2018. He also led other bands like The Wongs, Little Joe, and Slaveco..
Ken Chinn was a very energetic singer and a talented artist. He wrote many clever songs. He passed away at age 57 due to health problems.
Contents
Early Life and Starting His Music Career
Ken Chinn was born in Edmonton. He had German and Chinese parents and was one of twelve children. His early life had some difficult times, and he faced challenges with his mental health. But he stayed close to his family, who were very important to him. As a teenager, he became interested in punk rock music, skateboarding, and art.
In 1981, Ken formed a punk rock band with twin brothers Marc and Brent Belke. He had met them through skateboarding. That first band didn't last long. But later that year, the three musicians formed a new band called SNFU.
SNFU became very popular in the Canadian punk music scene. They even helped create a new style of music called skate punk. Their first album, ...And No One Else Wanted to Play, came out in 1985. Besides singing, Ken wrote all of SNFU's songs. He also created much of the artwork for their albums. On stage, Ken was a very exciting performer. He often used masks, puppets, and other fun props in the band's shows.
While touring for their second album, If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish, Ken had a head injury. He later said this injury affected his health. Even though the band became more successful, they had arguments. Many of these arguments were between Ken and the other band members. After releasing three albums and touring a lot in North America and Europe, SNFU broke up in 1989. This was because of creative differences and everyone feeling tired.
Moving to Vancouver and Big Success
Ken Chinn moved to Vancouver in 1990. There, he started a band called The Wongs. This band released a music tape and toured for a short time before breaking up in 1991. After that, he formed another band called Little Joe. This group played music on and off for two years and recorded some songs in 1992.
In late 1991, SNFU got back together for a reunion tour. They released an album of rare songs called The Last of the Big Time Suspenders. The tour went well, and the band officially reunited. In 1993, they signed with Epitaph Records, a big record company.
During their five years with Epitaph, SNFU released three studio albums. This was the most successful time for the band. Their albums sold hundreds of thousands of copies. SNFU also toured with famous punk rock bands like Green Day and Bad Religion. However, during this time, Ken's health began to get worse.
In late 1997, Epitaph Records decided not to sign SNFU again. This caused the band to have a lot of debt. Brent Belke and longtime drummer Dave Rees left the band. But the remaining members kept playing as a four-person band. They looked for a new record deal. This period ended in 2001 when longtime bassist Rob Johnson left, and the band took a break.
Personal Challenges and SNFU's Return
After SNFU's break, Ken formed a new band called Slaveco. with Matt Warhurst, Shane Smith, and Jay Black. Matt and Shane later joined SNFU. SNFU started playing again in late 2003. They released their seventh album, In the Meantime and In Between Time, and toured. But they broke up again in 2005 due to more disagreements and tiredness. Slaveco. also stopped playing shortly after. Ken then faced a difficult time and became homeless for a while. Even so, Ken started working on a solo album with other musicians in Vancouver, including Rob Johnson.
In 2007, Ken Chinn and former SNFU bassist Ken Fleming (who now played guitar) started performing SNFU songs with new musicians. They decided to officially reform the band. Later, early drummer Jon Card joined them, along with other new members. This new version of SNFU toured Europe, Canada, and Central America for several years.
A movie about Ken Chinn, called Open Your Mouth and Say... Mr. Chi Pig, came out in March 2010. It was a documentary film that told the story of Ken's life and music career. The film included interviews with famous musicians like Jello Biafra from the Dead Kennedys and Joey Keithley from D.O.A.. They talked about how SNFU influenced them and the rock music scene.
In 2011, Ken got very sick with pneumonia. The SNFU band members also started to move to different places. Despite this, the band managed to tour in 2012. This tour supported the official book about the band, ...What No One Else Wanted to Say, written by Chris Walter. Ken also started performing solo acoustic shows in 2013. In the same year, SNFU released Never Trouble Trouble Until Trouble Troubles You, their eighth and final album. After this, the band lineup changed again.
From 2014 to 2017, Ken led new versions of SNFU. These included former bassist Dave Bacon, Steffes, guitarist Kurt Robertson, and several drummers. They went on various tours in Canada and Europe. The very last SNFU shows happened in Europe in early 2017. The band planned to keep going, but they announced a break in early 2018 because of Ken's health.
Later Years and Passing
When Ken became too sick to perform with SNFU, he focused on his art. In November 2019, a journalist interviewed Ken. Ken shared that he had been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. Ken recorded a solo song called "Hurt" and an acoustic version of SNFU's "Painful Reminder." These songs were released in June 2020, shortly before he passed away. Ken Chinn died on July 16, 2020. SNFU released an acoustic song called "Cement Mixer" on YouTube soon after his death.
