If you’ve been to the Cambie, Pub 340 or just walked around Gastown in the past few years, You’ve probably seen Chi Pig. Chi Pig has been a staple of Gastown for many years. He was often seen walking around Gastown and socializing with the regulars. A lot of people would recognize Chi Pig but not everyone knows about his impact of the Vancouver punk scene.

Chi Pig was the lead singer of the hardcore punk band SNFU. SNFU formed in Edmonton in 1981 and relocated to Vancouver in 1992. SNFU are one of the most acclaimed and influential hardcore bands to come out of Canada.

Sadly, Chi Pig died earlier this year in July of this year at the age of 57 but he has forever left his mark on Canadian music and Vancouver. Tributes for Chi Pig poured in from all over.

Popular former news anchor Tamara Taggart wrote in a tweet:

“I couldn’t believe it when he walked through the door. Ken lit up the room, a true frontman + a Vancouver #punk legend. #SNFU RIP Chi Pig”

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong wrote:

“Oh man. This breaks my heart. Chi Pig was one of the greatest front people I’ve ever seen. I saw SNFU at Gilman when I was 16. I thought he was going to jump through the ceiling. Super smart. Great lyrics. Amazing album titles. So funny. He had an amazing mask collection. lead singer for SNFU. What a bummer. Sending love to all the Edmonton and Vancouver punks. What a loss.”

For me, I’ve seen Chi Pig countless times, mostly while drinking at Pub 340 or The Cambie. I know a few older punk fans that had a lot of respect for him. I was almost always too intimidated to talk to him, mostly because I didn’t know what to say but one night at Pat’s Pub after a Walter Lure show in 2019, I did have a few words with him. He was very nice and well spoken, which probably shouldn’t have surprised me but it did. It’s sad to think that Chi Pig will no longer be apart of the community. RIP Chi Pig.