Big Chief

The late, lamented Big Chief melded the proto-Punk/Metal sound synonymous with Ann Arbor, Mich. (e.g., MC5, Stooges) with a sly sense of humor and an obvious love for Motor City Funk, blues and R&B. The band started out recording for small labels such as Get Hip before moving to Sub Pop and finally to Capitol. Their sound grew constantly, from a stripped-down, savage guitar attack to multilayered Hard Rock and Funk complete with horns and backup singers. The band, just a few short years ahead of the Funk Metal explosion, broke up after finding little mainstream success with their major label offering.