Chad I Ginsburg

Chad I Ginsburg
Ginsburg performing with CKY at Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester, England on July 9, 2009
Background information
Also known as	CIG, the CIG man
Born	(1972-04-24) April 24, 1972 New Hope, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Alternative metal, experimental rock
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, producer, actor
Instruments	Guitar, bass, backing vocals, keyboards
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Teil Martin International/Distant, Generation Overdone Records, Volcom, Island/Def Jam, Roadrunner
Associated acts	CKY, Rudy & Blitz, The Moxy,
Website	www.ckyalliance.com

Chad I Ginsburg (born April 24, 1972) is an American musician and music producer, best known for playing lead/rhythm guitar in the alternative metal band CKY.^[1]

Early life

Ginsburg was born Chad I Ginsburg, in Philadelphia, PA.^[2]

Ginsburg moved to Bucks County, PA when he was 8. Ginsburg started playing guitar at age 9, taking lessons until he outplayed his first teacher, then eventually continued studying under Richie Kotzen for a period of time. His first two bands as a child were called Death One (which he started at age 5) and Rampage.^[3]

Music career

In 1993 Ginsburg formed a band called Rudy + Blitz with Dante Cimino and Dave Kloos. Rudy + Blitz were signed to Ruffhouse/Columbia Records. The band was dropped from the label due to conflicts, their album was never released by the label, though Ginsburg who obtained the rights to it later released it on his own.^[4]

Ginsburg, who had produced Rudy + Blitz's album, worked in recording studios. Ginsburg was working in GroundHog Studios in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, when he met future band mates Deron Miller and Jess Margera. They were working on recording an album for their band oiL, that would end up becoming CKY's Volume 1 album. After hearing a demo of Disengage The Simulator, Ginsburg immediately wanted to be part of the band having recently left Rudy + Blitz. The band changed their name to CKY, when Ginsburg joined becoming the lead guitarist..

CKY have released four albums, all of which have been produced by Ginsburg.

In 2002 Ginsburg was almost killed on the set of CKY's music video for "Escape From Hellview" (directed by Bam Margera). In one scene in the music video Ginsburg was supposed to be hanging on a fake noose. During the filming Ginsburg attempted to do his signature guitar flip, his guitar snapped the harness cord causing Ginsburg to be actually hung. The footage of this can be seen on CKY's Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild DVD.

Ginsburg has stated that his main influences as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Richie Kotzen, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen and GG Allin. Ginsburg has performed a few times with the late GG Allin's former band The Murder Junkies and is friends with GG's brother Merle Allin.^[5]

Ginsburg currently produces a few bands other than CKY, including The Moxy.^[6]

On October 20, 2011 Ginsburg released Philmont Ave. Demo Collection 1993-1995, a thirty track collection consisting of demos along with recorded tracks not included with Reverb on the Click.

Music Gear

After many years endorsing Ibanez guitars, Ginsburg switched to ESP guitars in 2009. He has been seen using an ESP/LTD Eclipse in the video for "A♯1 Roller Rager", and an ESP/LTD M Series guitar on stage. Ginsburg owns his own studio named "Studio CIG" where CKY's Carver City Album was recorded.

Acting & Radio

Ginsburg, as well as the other members of CKY have appeared in the CKY Trilogy of skateboard & prank movies. Ginsburg has also had cameos in movies such as Return to Sleepaway Camp, Haggard: The Movie, and Minghags: The Movie. Ginsburg was one of the main people and is featured on the box cover to the 2008 film Bam Margera Presents: Where the ♯$&% Is Santa?. Ginsburg also appeared in most of the episodes of the 2007 MTV reality show Bam's Unholy Union. According to recent tweets on Ginsburg's Twitter page, it appears that he may be appearing in Jackass 3D.^[7]

Ginsburg was an occasional guest Sirius Faction's Radio Bam radio show, from 2004 until the shows end in 2013. During the later years of the show, he would operate the soundboard. On a few occasions Ginsburg actually hosted the show without Margera.

References