The Chinese Millionaires were formed in spring 1995 by Tom Deja (vocals) and Jay Bennett (guitar). Friends since high school, Tom and Jay had returned to their hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., after years away in East Lansing and Indiana, respectively. Tom had logged time in Bag O' Wire, Snake River and achieved notoriety in pre-grunge legends El Smasho.
Tom recruited ELHC scenester Eric "Action" Anderson (ex-Actionaries) to play bass, who recruited security guard Mark "The Millionaire" Sibbersen to play drums.
Based out of Lansing, the Millionaires played their first show in August 1995, two months after their first practice, at the Reptile House in Grand Rapids, opening for Mound and Jaks. They opened with the Downliners Sect's hit "Glendora." By the end of 1995, the band recorded the "White Collar Criminals" single with producer Scott Sendra (Down) at Tim Pak's (Angry Red Planet) Woodshed Studios in Ferndale, Michigan.
After meeting Andy Claydon (Monarchs) and his wife, Patti, at a New Bomb Turks show at St. Andrew's Hall in the winter of 1996, the Claydons' fledgling label, Flying Bomb, released the Millionaires' second single, "Juvenile Justice," recorded by Scott Sendra at Woodshed.
By summer of 1996, the Millionaires were playing all over Michigan and the Empty Bottle, Fireside Bowl and Lounge Ax in Chicago, playing with the likes of Bantam Rooster, Detroit Cobras, New Bomb Turks, DRI, Down(mf), The Clutters, Demolition Dollrods, Cheater Slicks, The Slobs and Rocket 455.
By 1997, the Claydons had alerted Rip Off Records to the Millionaires' existence. The Millionaires flew to San Francisco to record with Rip Off Records CEO Greg Lowery (Supercharger, Rip Offs, Zodiac Killers) at his studio and play with the Loudmouths at the Kilowatt Club. The recordings were never used, but Rip Off released the "Heart on a Chain" single, recorded at Woodshed with Scott Sendra.
By this time, the Millionaires were playing all over the Midwest, including mini-tours with Thee Headcoats and the Makers, Registrators and Problematics, and Spaceshits and Deadly Snakes, as well as the Chicago Fireshock (Hentchmen, Cheater Slicks) and Rip Off Rumble (Oblivians, Brides, Registrators).
In 1998, the Millionaires recorded their Rip Off LP, "Detroit Double Cross," produced by Jim Kuczkowski. In 1998, Belgian label Demolition Derby re-released the Millionaires' first single, along with a new single of all covers. The Millionaires also appeared on numerous comps.
By 1999, the Millionaires were playing in Columbus, New York (with Electric Frankenstein), New Orleans (with B-Movie Rats), Cincinnati, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Champaign (Makers), Chicago, Green Bay (Hookers, Boris the Sprinkler), Kalamazoo (New Bomb Turks), Lansing and Detroit.
In fall 1999, Tom announced he was moving to Chicago. The Millionaires played their last show at the Magic Stick in Detroit, closing with the Sex Pistols' "Did You No Wrong," with the Gaza Strippers headlining and the White Stripes opening the show.
Seven years later, Eric Action is a teacher in Lansing. Mark the Millionaire works with computers near Grand Rapids. Jay Bennett played briefly with Fred Clutter in the End Times before spending 5 years in Chicago's The Paperbacks and now plays with LA band Jinx Titanic. Tom Deja is a graphic artist in Chicago (www.bossmangraphics.com) who created posters for Detroit bands during that scene's zenith. Check out his work in this book (www.artofmodernrock.com).
Apparently, the band will be reuniting for select appearances in 2007.
Special thanks to El Azteco, Scott Sendra, Scott "Stinky" Flaster, Andy and Patti Claydon, Alicea Anderson, Greg Lowery, "Time Bomb" Tom Smith, Andrew and Ken, Mark Lansing and Deborah T. Punk.
Popping your cherry now like I will in that drum-off. :)
Interesting: I spent the day at my internship reading articles and reviewing documents all related to how China is blocking/delaying the release of US films presumably to encourage domestic production.
The question at hand was whether or not we're looking at soon-to-be Chinese millionaires.
