{{short description|American singer, songwriter and musician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2016}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Chris Shinn | image = CShinn_Strand_Capitol.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Shinn in 2012 | birth_name = | birth_place = | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} | genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|psychedelic rock}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}} | years_active = 1998–present | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}} | label = Capitol | past_member_of = {{hlist|Unified Theory|Live}} | website = }}
'''Chris Shinn''' <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> is an American singer, songwriter and musician. From March 2012 to December 2016, he was the lead singer of the band Live.<ref name=live/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2022-11-02 |title=Chris Shinn on Fronting Live: 'I'm Just Embarrassed By the Whole Thing' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chris-shinn-live-ed-kowalczyk-1234621472/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260220223722/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/chris-shinn-live-ed-kowalczyk-1234621472/ |archive-date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-03-20 |work=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> He was previously the lead singer of the band Unified Theory.
== Unified Theory == === Beginnings ===
Unified Theory began to form in early 1998. After the initial idea to continue Blind Melon with a new lead vocalist did not work out, Smith and Thorn decided to start a new band. Thorn discovered Shinn on a scouting mission in Los Angeles.
{{blockquote|"Chris has an exceptional voice. I was blown away," says Thorn, "You have to like people you're working with. We wanted someone with personality and a voice. He's a fun guy and I was completely floored by his songs."}}
Unified Theory was originally called Luma, they issued a four-track CD through their website in 1999. After they were signed to Universal Records later that year, they changed their name to Unified Theory after the theory Albert Einstein was working on when he died.
=== Debut and demise === In August 2000 the band issued their self-titled debut album. While working on tracks for a second album, delays set the band back, and Krusen grew somewhat frustrated and left to join Nickelback on their first major North American tour as a touring musician, ultimately leading to Unified Theory's eventual breakup.{{Citation needed|reason=This claim needs a reliable source; Neither Dave Krusen's Wikipedia page or Nickleback's mention him playing on this tour.|date=September 2019}}
=== Brief reformation === The band have since announced plans to release a new album consisting of the recorded material for the second album (some of which has never been heard) as well as songs from the Luma period. No timetable has been set for this release.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} Unified Theory has recently filmed a music video for the song "15 Hits", a song set to be released on their upcoming album.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} The group played a reunion show on August 4, 2010, at the King King in Hollywood.
== Live == On March 12, 2012, it was revealed that Chris would be the new lead singer of the rock band Live.<ref name=live>[http://www.ydr.com/living/ci_20157079/lives-new-lead-singer "Live's new lead singer is Chris Shinn, formerly of Unified Theory"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201204133/http://www.ydr.com/living/ci_20157079/lives-new-lead-singer |date=February 1, 2014 }} ''York Daily Record'' – March 12, 2012</ref> He played the band's dress rehearsal show to a hometown crowd at the Strand-Capitol Theater in York, Pennsylvania, on March 12, 2012. He toured with the band and performed on the band's 2014 album ''The Turn''.
On December 12, 2016, Live announced that original lead singer Ed Kowalczyk had returned to the band, though no reference was made to Shinn in the announcement. All references to his tenure in the band have been removed from the band's website and ''The Turn'' is absent from their listed discography.
== Discography == {| class="wikitable" !Album !!Artist !! Type !! Label !! Release date |- | ''The Turn'' || Live || Studio || Think Loud Recordings || Oct 28, 2014 |- | ''Chris Shinn'' || Chris Shinn || Studio || || 2012 |- | ''Everything Is Energy'' || Everything Is Energy || Studio || The Nest Records || July 12, 2007 |- | ''Cinematic'' || Unified Theory || Compilation || Universal Records, Wishbone Recordings || Jan 1, 2007 |- | ''Unified Theory'' || Unified Theory || Studio || Universal Records || August 15, 2000 |- | ''Luma'' || Luma || EP || None || 1999 |- |}
== Singles == {| class="wikitable" !Song !! Album !! Year |- | "California" || ''Unified Theory'' || 2000 |- | "Wither" || ''Unified Theory'' || 2000 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{AllMusic}} *{{Discogs artist}} *{{MusicBrainz artist}}
{{Live (band)}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shinn, Chris}} Category:Living people Category:Live (band) members Category:American alternative rock singers Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century American singers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)