* En anglais uniquement
An all-Asian ska-punk band featuring
Skankin' Pickle alum
Mike Park,
the Chinkees debuted in 1998 with the album
The Chinkees Are Coming! The following year the group -- which also comprised bassist/vocalist Miya Zane Osaki, guitarist/vocalist/drummer Greg Alesandro, guitarist Jason Thinh, and keyboardist Steve Choi -- released
Peace Through Music; both albums were issued through
Park's own label, Asian Man Records. The band's name was not intended to be a racial slur, as in fact it was hoping to be just the opposite by raising awareness of racial discrimination. Just like Asian Man, the group was all about spreading positivity and addressing issues (without being aggressively political in fear of alienating people) important to improving the future. A split with
the Lawrence Arms entitled
Present Day Memories appeared in May 2001 before
the Chinkees' next full-length,
Searching for a Brighter Future, was released one year later. ~ Jason Ankeny