Kendall “Ken” Chinn otherwise known as Mr. Chi Pig, lead singer of punk rock band SNFU, is being immortalized in mural form
Jameson Trenholm, close friend, holding up a photo by the half finished mural. Photo from here.
Kenn Chinn’s roots are in Edmonton where he was born and formed SNFU, but since 1990 he found a home in Gastown and was a regular at the Cambie bar.
Always himself and always unique. There was nobody like Chi Pig. Photo from here.
Jameson Trenholm, former bartender at the Cambie and close friend of Chinn’s, began the GoFundMe to paint the mural as a tribute. He raised over $5,000 from 109 people. Money not spent on the project will be donated to a foundation Chinn’s family is starting in his honour. The foundation will focus on mental health and addiction.
“When he passed, I thought holy smokes — we have to honour the Gastown and Vancouver and world legend,” Trenholm said.
The mural is being painted by artists Lacey Jane Wilburn and Layla Folkmann. Folkmann and Wilburn both hail from Edmonton and SNFU played big part in both their lives.
“We grew up as punk rock kids in the scene,” Wilburn said. Adding that “SNFU was one of those humongous moments, when we got to go seem them live.”
Wilburn and Folkmann hope to do some similar in Edmonton.
Friend’s remember Chi Pig as a humble man, a strong onstage character, and somebody who really stuck out. In a documentary based on his life Open Your Mouth and Say… Chi Pig ,Chinn spoke about growing up mixed race, gay, and with schizophrenia.
Chinn passed away at 57 in July after his health had begun to deteriorate. The punk rock singer had fallen victim to addiction especially hardcore drugs like crack and crystal meth. His addiction made him lose his teeth, become rail thin, and a whole host of other health issues.
Cement Mixer, a song released by Chinn the day he died, talks about having his body thrown in a cement mixer and poured around town to become a “dead man around town.”
The song concluded with “Goodbye to my friends, gonna miss you guys.”