Also known as Muc Years active 1981–present | Website www.marcbelke.com Name Marc Belke | |
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Born February 1, 1965 (age 59) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada ( 1965-02-01 ) Similar People Ken Chinn, Wheat Chiefs, SNFU, Chi‑Pig, Brett Gurewitz | ||
Marc Belke (born February 1, 1965 in Edmonton, Alberta) 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 Rogers based in Victoria, British Columbia.
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Musical career
The youngest of five boys, Belke and his twin brother Brent played in basement bands before forming their first gigging group, Live Sex Shows, in 1981. The band was fronted by singer Ken Chinn, whom they had met through the skateboarding subculture in Edmonton. The short-lived band quickly broke up, but the three formed a new group called Society's No Fucking Use, which was soon shortened to SNFU. The new band went on to serve as catalysts for the skate punk movement in addition to influencing the punk rock scene at large. Marc Belke also played drums in the short-lived group Bing Jesus in the early 1980s.
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 breakups.
In 1990, shortly after their first breakup, Marc and Brent Belke formed the Wheat Chiefs, adding power pop and melodic hardcore influences to their punk rock sound. In the Wheat Chiefs, Marc sang lead vocals and continued to share guitar duties with his brother. 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 as a four-piece after Brent's departure. 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.
After leaving SNFU, Belke ceased performing live but continued to work on solo recordings.
Career in radio
Following his departure from SNFU, Belke pursued a university degree in communications. He spent several years as an on-air personality with CFBV Radio in Smithers, British Columbia, and later CJUK FM, Magic 99.9. Thunder Bay, Ontario. He began working in Victoria in 2013.