SNFU was a Canadian punk rock group who formed in 1981 in Edmonton, relocated to Vancouver a decade later, became inactive in 2018, and briefly reunited in 2025. Thirty-four musicians played in the various lineups, counting seven guest members,[1][2] with singer Ken Chinn (Mr. Chi Pig) remaining constant until his death in 2020.[3] Among twenty-seven official members, these lineups included one singer, six guitarists, ten bassists (twice counting Ken Fleming, who served at different times as the band's bassist and guitarist), and eleven drummers. The lineups also included one guest singer, two guest bassists, and four guest drummers.
After Chinn, founding twin-brother guitarists Marc and Brent Belke served the longest tenures at 22 and 15 years, respectively (not counting the band's inactive time). Bassist Rob Johnson played with the group for nine years. Fleming and bassist Dave Bacon each spread two stints in the group over nearly eight years. The longest-standing consistent lineup lasted from late 1992 to early 1998 and featured Chinn, the Belkes, Johnson, and drummer Dave Rees. Chinn twice revamped the group's entire lineup, once each in 2007 and 2014.
Member history
Vocalist Ken Chinn co-founded the band in Edmonton with Brent and Marc Belke, guitar-playing twin brothers who served as members of the group until 1998 and 2005, respectively.[1] Between their 1981 formation and 1989 breakup, the band included four bassists (plus one guest) and three drummers. Bassist Warren Bidlock and drummer Evan C. Jones completed their initial lineup. After Bidlock's 1982 departure, Scott Juskiw filled in for their demo recording before Jimmy Schmitz joined. This incarnation continued into 1985, when Dave Bacon and Jon Card replaced Schmitz and Jones, respectively. Ted Simm spelled Card in 1986, while Curtis Creager replaced Bacon the following year.
For their 1991 reunion tour, Chinn and the Belke brothers reenlisted Creager and Card. When they moved to Vancouver and resumed full-time activity several months later, Ken Fleming replaced Creager, and Dave Rees replaced Card shortly thereafter. Rob Johnson began a nine-year tenure as the band's bassist late in 1992, which completed their best-selling and most prolific lineup.[2][1]
Brent Belke and Rees both departed early in 1998; with drummer Sean Stubbs, SNFU became a four-piece band. Chris Thompson replaced Stubbs the following year, while Matt Warhurst replaced Johnson in 2001. The band went on hiatus shortly thereafter, however, with Thompson then departing.[2] Chinn, Marc Belke, and Warhurst employed studio drummer Trevor MacGregor and finished recordings for a new record in 2003, and returned to activity later that year with new drummer Shane Smith. In 2005, they again disbanded.
Two years later, Chinn and Fleming (now playing guitar) began a new incarnation that would involve three bassists, three drummers (plus one guest), and one second guitarist. The new lineup was completed by bassist Bryan McCallum and drummer Chad Mareels, although McCallum was soon replaced by Denis Nowoselski. Smith returned as the group's drummer late in 2008, and Card replaced him two years later. In mid-2010, guitarist Sean Colig joined, completing their first five-member lineup in 12 years. Kerry Cyr replaced Nowoselski in 2012, and Junior Kittlitz spelled Card for touring in late 2013.[1][4]
In February 2014, the band announced a new lineup based around Chinn, the returning Bacon, guitarists Kurt Robertson and Randy Steffes, and drummer Adrian White. Jamie Oliver replaced White in July (and guest drummer Txutxo Krueger filled in for three shows in August). Although the band planned to tour with Creager and Simm returning to the lineup in November, the tour was canceled,[5] and Bacon and Oliver remained with the group. Basque drummer Batikão Est joined in 2016.[6] The band announced a hiatus in March 2018, and Chinn died on 16 July 2020.
In December 2025, the Belkes played a four-song reunion set as SNFU with guest members Kristian Basaraba (vocals), Chuck Platt (bass), and Stephen Elliott (drums).
Jamie Oliver – studio drums (unfinished studio sessions, June–July 2016)
March 2018–July 2020
Band on hiatus
Ken Chinn – vocals
Randy Steffes – guitar
Kurt Robertson – guitar, backing vocals
Dave Bacon – bass, backing vocals
Batikão Est – drums, backing vocals
Death of Ken Chinn, 16 July 2020
Group disbanded 16 July 2020–November 2025
5 December 2025
(One-off live set)
Marc Belke – guitar, backing vocals
Brent Belke – guitar, backing vocals
Kristian Basaraba – guest vocals
Chuck Platt – guest bass
Stephen Elliott – guest drums
123Trevor MacGregor joined as guest studio drummer for sessions in 2000, including the two tracks on A Blessing but with It a Curse (2021) and tracks later included on In the Meantime and In-Between Time (2004) with Matt Warhurst replacing Johnson on bass.
↑Touring was announced with the returning Curtis Creager (bass) and Ted Simm (drums) in late 2014, but this lineup did not appear.
References
12345Walter, Chris. ...What No One Else Wanted to Say, first edition. Vancouver: GFY Press, 2012
12345Open Your Mouth and Say...Mr. Chi Pig, Film, Dir: Sean Patrick Shaul, 2010.
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