The band packed it in 2005 not long after the release of In The Mean Time and In-Between Time. Marc "Muc" Belke went back to school, and the other band members went their own ways rather than try to replace him.
That is, until 2007 when Ken "Mr. Chi Pig" Chinn appeared on stage again fronting a band he was calling "asSNFU" for a small number of shows to celebrate the band's long history.
Allegedly an acronym for Society's No Fucking Use, SNFU initially comprised Chi Pig, the Belkes, bassist Warren Bidlock and drummer Evan "Tadpole" Jones. However, over the next decade the group's rhythm section changed from album to album and tour to tour. As you can see from the list to the left, there are currently 17 people on the SNFU roster that have played at one time or an other with the band.
SNFU's first two releases, 1985's ...And No One Else Wanted to Play and If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish, were straight- ahead skate punk albums with strongly political lyrics, released on BYO Records. For 1988's Better Than a Stick in the Eye the quintet moved to the larger indie label Cargo Records, for whom they also recorded 1992's mostly live The Last of the Big Time Suspenders, intended to be their final album.
Just as SNFU appeared to be finished, Epitaph Records -- the most commercially successful U.S. independent label of the 1990s -- offered them a record contract. Along with new bassist Rob Johnson and drummer Dave Rees, Chi Pig and the Belkes returned with 1993's Something Green and Leafy This Way Comes, which, not surprising, had a more typical West Coast/Epitaph sound. Following the release of 1995's The One Voted Most Likely To Succeed, the group returned with 1996's FYULABA (produced by Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy), their first album not to have a seven word title (though it does have a seven letter title). In 1997 Brent Belke and David Rees left the group; SNFU decided to continue on as a four-piece with new drummer Sean Stubbs, recording the Canada-only live release Let's Get It Right the First Time.
In 2000 SNFU released a 5 song EP on Alternative Tentacles titled The Ping Pong EP. Currently (Sept. 2004), SNFU has recorded their 8th full-length album In the meantime and in between time. This future release is set to be released on their own record label, Rake Records. On July 16th, 2020 Ken Chinn pasted away at the age of 57.
Past SNFU Lineups:
SNFU mach 1:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc "muc" belke - guitar
brent "bunt" belke - guitar
warren bidlok - bass
evan c "tadpole" jones - drums
SNFU mach 2:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent "bunt belke - guitar
jimmy schmitz - bass
evan c "tadpole" jones - drums
SNFU mach 3:
mr.chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
dave bacon - bass
jon card aka seth hornblend - drums
SNFU mach 4:
mr.chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
dave bacon - bass
ted simm - drums
SNFU mach 5:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc bellke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
curtis creager - bass
ted simm - drums
SNFU mach 6:
mr.chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
curtis creager - bass
jon card - drums
SNFU mach 7:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
ken fleming - bass
david rees - drums
SNFU mach 8:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
rob "starbuck" johnson - bass
david rees - drums
SNFU mach 9:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
rob johnson - bass
sean stubbs - drums
SNFU mach 10:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
rob johnson - bass
chris "cpl. ninny" thompson
SNFU mach 11:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
matt warhurst - bass
shane smith - drums
Broken Toy
SNFU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it was no car or train
The toy that he had was the best toy in the world
The toy was called his brain
This toy could talk, this toy could think
There was no limit at all
Then one day this perfect toy broke
So now he plays each and every day
With his broken toy
When this toy turned out to be his brain
No one else wanted to play, yeah!
So now he plays each and every day
With his broken toy
When the toy turned out to be his brain
No one else wanted to play, yeah!
The lyrics of SNFU's song "Broken Toy" speak about a boy who had the perfect toy in the world, which was his brain. It was a toy that could talk, think, and had no limits. However, one day, this toy broke, and as a result, the boy started thinking only broken thoughts. The boy then spends his days playing with his broken toy, which turns out to be his brain. However, no one wants to play with him anymore because the toy or his brain is broken.
The song is a metaphor for mental illness and how it can affect individuals' lives. The boy's broken toy is a representation of his mind, which was once perfect and functional but has now been damaged due to some traumatic event or illness. As a result, he experiences difficulty in thinking and functioning normally. The broken toy also alludes to the idea that society views people with mental illness as broken and no longer functional, reflecting the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Overall, "Broken Toy" is a powerful song that highlights the struggles individuals face while dealing with mental illness. It raises awareness and encourages empathy for people who are suffering from this condition.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a boy who had a toy
There was a person who had something they valued
But it was no car or train
But it wasn't a typical toy
The toy that he had was the best toy in the world
Their possession was the most valuable thing in the world to them
The toy was called his brain
Their most prized possession was their brain
This toy could talk, this toy could think
Their brain was intelligent and imaginative
There was no limit at all
Their brain had limitless potential
Then one day this perfect toy broke
Their brain became damaged or dysfunctional
So now he thinks nothing but broken thoughts
As a result, their thoughts are damaged, incomplete or negative
So now he plays each and every day
They spend their time engaging in activities
With his broken toy
With their damaged mind or thoughts
When this toy turned out to be his brain
Realizing that their mind was their most important possession
No one else wanted to play, yeah!
Others lost interest or couldn't relate to their struggles
So now he plays each and every day
They continue to engage in their activities
When the toy turned out to be his brain
Understanding that they must work with what they have
No one else wanted to play, yeah!
Other people still don't understand or connect with them
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.