Chad Channing

Chad Channing (born January 31, 1967, in Santa Rosa, California) is an American musician who is best known as the drummer of the rock band Nirvana from 1988 to 1990, during which time they recorded and released their debut album Bleach; he also appears on "Polly" in the follow-up album Nevermind.

Channing has remained active in music, most recently recording as part of the duo Can of Clouds in 2024.

Biography

Early life Channing was born on January 31, 1967, in Santa Rosa, California, to Wayne and Burnyce Channing. Wayne was a radio disc jockey and the family was constantly moving all over the country due to different jobs being offered to him. At 13, Chad shattered his femur in an accident during gym class. Over the years of rehabilitation and surgeries, he discovered music; he started playing music with a bass guitar that his parents bought him. The bass filled Chad's time as he was unable to go to school. When he was out of his leg casts, his parents bought him a drum set to help build strength in his legs.

Channing joined a band with future Nirvana guitarist Jason Everman called Stonecrow in 1985. Everman had known Channing since fifth grade, and the two had played in bands together in high school. Later, while working as a sauté cook on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Channing started the band Tick-Dolly-Row with Chris Karr, John Hurd and Ben Shepherd, also a Bainbridge Islander, who would later become the bassist for Soundgarden. Tick-Dolly-Row shared a bill with Nirvana, who at the time were going under the name Bliss. Not long after, a mutual friend introduced Channing to Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, who were searching for a drummer. The three got together several times for jam sessions before they started playing shows.

Nirvana

In June 1988, a few weeks after Channing joined Nirvana, they recorded their first single "Love Buzz", also marking their Sub Pop debut. Nirvana began the recording sessions for Bleach on Christmas Eve 1988, finishing toward the end of January 1989. Everman, a friend of the band, agreed to pay money for recording. Channing did attend the ceremony, and his replacement Dave Grohl made a point to publicly thank Channing for his contributions to the band and noted that some of Nirvana's most recognizable drum riffs, such as those on "In Bloom", were in fact written by Channing.

Post-Nirvana work After leaving Nirvana, Channing formed the Fire Ants who released the Stripped EP on Dekema Records in 1992, produced by Jack Endino, who had produced Bleach. Members of the Fire Ants included Brian Wood (vocals) and Kevin Wood (guitars), brothers of the late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, and bassist Dan McDonald. Channing and McDonald collaborated again in 1998 with John Hurd and Erik Spicer, forming The Methodists who released the album Cookie.

Chad stepped from behind the drum set to front his new project Before Cars, which released the single "Old Chair" in 2006. They released their debut album Walk Back in 2008, again produced by Jack Endino. Channing supplies lead vocals and bass on all tracks as well as some acoustic guitar. In 2015 he released an album under the name Benkyo.

In 2024 he formed a duo called Can of Clouds with Justine Jeanotte. They have released an album called Passing Vistas.

Discography With Tic Dolly Row Live demo (1987)

With Nirvana

Release Notes Bleach (1989) Does not appear on "Floyd the Barber", and "Paper Cuts", nor on "Downer" in the 1992 reissue Blew (1989) EP; appears on all tracks Nevermind (1991) Appears on "Polly" (uncredited until the Deluxe edition) Incesticide (1992) Compilation; appears on "Dive", "Stain", and "Big Long Now" From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah (1996) Live album; appears on "Polly" and "Breed" Nirvana (2002) Compilation; appears on "About a Girl" and "Been a Son" With the Lights Out box set (2004)Drums on tracks 16, 17, 21-23 (disc one), tracks 6 & 7 (disc two), and tracks 1-12 (DVD) Bleach deluxe edition (2009) Reissue with bonus Pine Street Theatre live performance; Channing appears on said performance. Channing does not appear on "Floyd the Barber", "Paper Cuts" or "Downer" on the main album Nevermind deluxe/super deluxe edition (2011) Expanded edition; appears on the Smart Studios sessions, and is officially credited for the cymbals on "Polly" on the main album

With Fire Ants Ant Acid 7" (1992) Stripped EP (1992)

With The Methodists Cookie (1998)

With Before Cars Old Chair EP (2006) Walk Back (2008) How We Run (2013)