Chad Channing

At 57 years old, Chad Channing has this physical status:

Chad Channing (born January 31, 1967) is an American musician best known for his work with Nirvana from 1988 to 1990, when the band first performed and released their debut album Bleach.

He currently sings and plays bass in the band Before Cars.

Early life

Channing was born in Santa Rosa, California, on January 31, 1967, to Wayne and Burnyce Channing. Wayne was a radio disc jockey, and his family was always moving around the country due to different jobs being offered to him. Chad shattered his femur in an accident during gym class at 13 years old. He discovered music after years of rehabilitation and surgeries, beginning with a bass guitar that his parents bought him. Since he was unable to go to school, the bass filled Chad's time. His parents bought him a drum set to help with leg strength.

In 1985, Channing formed Stonecrow, a band with future Nirvana guitarist Jason Everman. Channing formed the Tick-Dolly-Row band on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where he later became the bassist for Soundgarden. Tick-Dolly-Row donated a bill to Nirvana, who at the time were still calling him Bliss. Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, who were looking for a drummer, were introduced Channing not long after. Several times the three guys jammed together for jam sessions before starting to perform.

Channing joined Nirvana in June 1988, just weeks after Channing joined Nirvana, they released their first single "Love Buzz," a Sub Pop debut. On Christmas Eve 1988, Nirvana began recording sessions for Bleach, eventually ending in January 1989. Jason Everman, a friend of the band, has agreed to pay the bill for recording expenses. Everman had been in Channing since fifth grade, and the two children had performed in bands together in high school.

Bleach was first published on June 15, 1989. Channing performed drums on the entire album, with the exception of "Floyd the Barber" and "Paper Cuts" featuring drummer Dale Crover from a recording session prior to Channing's joining the band. The 1992 re-release of Bleach featured the song "Downer," which also had Crover on drums from the same recording session prior to Channing's joining the band. Nirvana recorded eight songs at Smart Studios with producer Butch Vig for the band's sophomore album in April 1990, but the session was not complete due to Cobain's absence from speaking. Cobain and Novoselic became dissatisfied with Channing's drumming, and Channing expressed indignation at not being actively involved in songwriting during the sessions. Channing's departure from the band's departure after their 1976-to-May 1990 tour brought about a mutual decision within the band. Nirvana performed the Smart Studio recordings as a demo to gain a new role with a major label, and the band re-recorded the tracks for a new studio album in the fall of 1990, recruiting Dave Grohl as their new drummer, who used many of Channing's drum parts. Although uncredited (until the Deluxe Version), the Nevermind version of "Polly" featured on the band's debut on percussion, and was the only one to be carried over from the previous session.

The rehashing of older Nirvana work has continued, both during the band's existence and after their demise. Incesticide's 1992 compilation "Big Long Now," "Stain," and "Dive," which all credited Channing as drummers. Channing appeared on "British" and "Breed" on a live album that was released in 1996. The 2004 With the Lights Out box set contained a DVD of a December 1988 Nirvana rehearsal as well as seven songs scattered across the first two discs of the collection, with Channing on drums.

In an interview with Channing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in December 2013, he said the recognition was a gift to his daughter. However, Channing was notified of his absence by text message later in the month, and he was not included in the induction into Cobain, Novoselic, and Grohl. Channing was at the service, but his replacement Dave Grohl made a point of thanking Channing for his contributions to the band and mentioning that some of Nirvana's most popular drum riffs were, in fact, written by Channing.

Channing left Nirvana, Channing formed the Fire Ants, who released the Stripped EP on Dekema Records in 1992, which was produced by Jack Endino, who had produced Bleach. Brian Wood (vocals) and Kevin Wood (guitars), brothers of late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, and bassist Dan McDonald were among the Fire Ants. In 1998, Channing and McDonald collaborated again, forming The Methodists, who released the song Cookie.

Chad stepped from behind the drum set to front his latest project, Before Cars, which brought the single "Old Chair" in 2006. They released their debut album Walk Back in 2008, which was again produced by Jack Endino. On both tracks and some acoustic guitar, Channing provides lead vocals and bass.

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