Marc Belke
Encyclopedia
Marc Belke is a Canadian
musician and radio personality. He played guitar in the punk
and alternative rock
bands SNFU
and The Wheat Chiefs
, and also sang lead vocals in the latter. He is currently an on-air personality with CJUK-FM
Radio based in Thunder Bay, Ontario
.
, also a guitarist, and singer Ken Chinn
in 1981 after they met through the skateboard
ing subculture in Edmonton, Alberta. The short-lived band quickly broke up, but the three formed a new group called Society's No Fucking Use (better known by the acronym SNFU), and the new band went on to serve as catalysts for the skate punk
movement in addition to influencing the punk rock scene at large. Although most of the many musicians that served as members of SNFU were involved in the band's compositions, Belke acted as the primary musical songwriter for most of its career, with Chinn acting as the sole lyricist. They eventually relocated to Vancouver
, signed to Epitaph Records
, released numerous albums and remained active for decades, despite several short-lived breakups.
In 1988, shortly before one such breakup, Marc and Brent Belke formed the Wheat Chiefs, adding power pop
and melodic hardcore
influences to their punk rock sound. Marc Belke acted as the band's lead vocalist and was involved with much of the songwriting. They released one album only, 1996's Redeemer, before Brent left both bands to pursue a career in musical score composition for film and television.
SNFU continued without Brent. Marc later formed the side project Based on a True Story in 2002, a group extant for about a year. SNFU again disbanded in 2005 following heavy touring. Chinn reformed the band two years later with former bassist Ken Fleming
, but both Belkes opted against participating in this incarnation of the band.
Following his departure from SNFU, Belke pursued a university degree in communications. After spending several years as an on-air personality with CFBV Radio in Smithers, British Columbia
, he has relocated to Thunder Bay, Ontario where he hosts a show with CJUK FM, branded Magic 99.9. He also records solo music.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician and radio personality. He played guitar in the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands SNFU
SNFU
SNFU is a Canadian punk rock band formed in 1981 in Edmonton, Alberta and later relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia. They have released nine full-length albums and are cited as a formative influence on the skate punk sub-genre....
and The Wheat Chiefs
Wheat Chiefs
The Wheat Chiefs was a Canadian melodic rock band with punk rock influence formed in 1988 Edmonton, Alberta and later relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia. The group featured several members of SNFU and one from Jr...
, and also sang lead vocals in the latter. He is currently an on-air personality with CJUK-FM
CJUK-FM
CJUK-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 99.9 FM in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The station broadcasts a hot adult contemporary/adult CHR format with the brand name Magic 99.9...
Radio based in Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario, and the second most populous in Northern Ontario after Greater Sudbury...
.
Career
Belke began the band Live Sex Show with his twin brother BrentBrent Belke
Brent Belke is a Canadian guitarist and composer. After playing in the punk and alternative rock bands SNFU and The Wheat Chiefs from 1981–1998, Belke began a career composing music for film and television....
, also a guitarist, and singer Ken Chinn
Ken Chinn
Kendall "Ken" Chinn is a Canadian punk rock lead vocalist and artist. He is best known, under the pseudonym Mr. Chi Pig, as the lead singer of the band SNFU. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Early life and career:Born to German and Chinese parents, Chinn was the second...
in 1981 after they met through the skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
ing subculture in Edmonton, Alberta. The short-lived band quickly broke up, but the three formed a new group called Society's No Fucking Use (better known by the acronym SNFU), and the new band went on to serve as catalysts for the skate punk
Skate punk
Skate punk is a sub genre of punk rock, originally a derivative of the West Coast hardcore punk scene, that is named after its popularity among skateboarders and association with skateboarding culture. Skate punk most commonly describes the sound of melodic hardcore bands from the 1990s with an...
movement in addition to influencing the punk rock scene at large. Although most of the many musicians that served as members of SNFU were involved in the band's compositions, Belke acted as the primary musical songwriter for most of its career, with Chinn acting as the sole lyricist. They eventually relocated to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, signed to Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, released numerous albums and remained active for decades, despite several short-lived breakups.
In 1988, shortly before one such breakup, Marc and Brent Belke formed the Wheat Chiefs, adding power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
and melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
influences to their punk rock sound. Marc Belke acted as the band's lead vocalist and was involved with much of the songwriting. They released one album only, 1996's Redeemer, before Brent left both bands to pursue a career in musical score composition for film and television.
SNFU continued without Brent. Marc later formed the side project Based on a True Story in 2002, a group extant for about a year. SNFU again disbanded in 2005 following heavy touring. Chinn reformed the band two years later with former bassist Ken Fleming
Ken Fleming (musician)
Ken Fleming is a Canadian punk rock musician. He is the current guitarist in SNFU, and has also played bass in the early Canadian hardcore punk band The Unwanted and the industrial alternative rock band Econoline Crush.-Career:...
, but both Belkes opted against participating in this incarnation of the band.
Following his departure from SNFU, Belke pursued a university degree in communications. After spending several years as an on-air personality with CFBV Radio in Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....
, he has relocated to Thunder Bay, Ontario where he hosts a show with CJUK FM, branded Magic 99.9. He also records solo music.