Marc Belke

Marc Belke
Born	February 1, 1965 (1965-02-01) (age 46) Canada
Genres	Punk rock, alternative rock
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, saxophone
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Epitaph Records, BYO Records
Associated acts	Live Sex Show, SNFU, Wheat Chiefs, Based on a True Story
Website	www.marcbelke.com

Marc Belke (born February 1, 1965) 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.^[1]

Career

Main articles: SNFU and Wheat Chiefs

Belke began the band Live Sex Show with his twin brother Brent, also a guitarist, and singer Ken Chinn in 1981 after they met through the skateboarding subculture in Edmonton, Alberta.^[2] 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.^[3][4] 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.^[2]

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.^[1] He also records solo music.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.marcbelke.com
2. ^ ^{a b} http://www.theskinnymag.info/view_article.php?article_id=208
3. ^ http://www.push.ca/blogs/andrewsk/archive/2009/08/19/the-undeniable-influence-of-skate-punk-and-snfu.aspx
4. ^ http://www.troopertribute.com/snfu.htm

External links

• Official Mark Belke website
• Official SNFU website

Persondata
Name	Belke, Marc
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Date of birth	February 1, 1965
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