Chris DeMakes

Chris DeMakes has maintained a career as a musician, songwriter, author, and podcaster for nearly three decades, continually engaging audiences through various creative endeavors. After co-founding the influential punk rock band Less Than Jake in 1992 with Vinnie Fiorello and Shaun Grief, Chris DeMakes rapidly established himself as a musician, vocalist, and guitarist. The band’s lineup evolved with Roger Lima joining on bass in 1993, followed by Jessica Mills on saxophone and Buddy Schaub on trombone. Less Than Jake self-released their initial 7-inch record, ‘Smoke Spot,’ in 1993, personally pressing all 300 copies.

Their debut full-length album, ‘Pezcore,’ was released in August 1995 through Dill Records. Building on ‘Pezcore,’ Less Than Jake signed with Capitol Records in 1996, releasing ‘Losing Streak’ that year and ‘Hello Rockview’ in 1998, featuring the college radio hit ‘History of a Boring Town.’ In 2000, after buying out their Capitol contract, the band released ‘Borders & Boundaries’ on Fat Wreck Chords. DeMakes continued leading Less Than Jake through subsequent releases, including ‘Anthem’ on Warner Bros./Sire Records in 2003. Expanding his entrepreneurial reach, DeMakes co-founded Sleep It Off Records in 2008 to release Less Than Jake’s album ‘GNV FLA’ that year, and reissues of their back catalog.

DeMakes has maintained a rigorous touring schedule with Less Than Jake, widely recognized as ‘working class musicians’ who built their career on the road. Adapting to industry shifts and new opportunities, particularly post-2020, DeMakes expanded his professional offerings to include custom songwriting, jingle creation, and one-on-one video consultations for aspiring musicians. This diversification highlights his adaptability and commitment to artists. Most recently, in 2024, DeMakes released the ‘Uncharted’ EP, continuing to engage his audience with new music and innovative projects across his multi-faceted career.