Christopher A. Chaney (born June 14, 1970) is an American musician. He is best known as the former bassist of the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, with whom he recorded two studio albums. He is the touring bassist for AC/DC, replacing longstanding member Cliff Williams on the band's Power Up Tour. Chaney has previously been a member of Alanis Morissette's touring and recording band for six years as well as Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders and Camp Freddy.
Chaney has played with a variety of recording artists, ranging from Joe Satriani, Joe Cocker, Shakira, Slash, Beth Hart, Adam Lambert, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams, Sara Bareilles, Gavin DeGraw, Cher, John Fogerty, Lisa Marie Presley, Meat Loaf, Rob Zombie, Romeo Santos, James Blunt, Shinedown, Robben Ford, and Celine Dion.
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Biography
Chaney was raised in Mill Valley, California. He attended Berklee College of Music, and then moved to Los Angeles in 1991 to pursue music and played at the L.A. jazz club The Baked Potato and the Dragonfly in Hollywood. Chaney was first invited to tour with Alanis Morissette in 1995 on the Jagged Little Pill Tour and continued to work with Morissette until 2001, appearing on three studio albums and two live albums.
While working with Morissette, Chaney developed a reputation as a versatile professional bassist. He has since recorded and/or toured with a wide variety of artists. His next high-profile job was as the full-time replacement for Eric Avery in the 2002 reunion of Jane's Addiction, contributing to the album Strays. He then formed the band The Panic Channel with Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction; the group released the album (ONe) in 2006. In 2006, he joined the band Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, formed by Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters. Chaney and Hawkins had previously worked together in Morissette's band. The group released the albums Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders in 2006 and Red Light Fever in 2010. Chaney is also bassist for all-star cover band Camp Freddy.
Chaney has played with several recording artists and over 25 film scores and soundtracks. Artists include: Celine Dion, Eddie Vedder, Ozzy Osbourne, Michelle Branch, Ben Taylor, Eric Hutchinson, Carly Simon, Rob Zombie, Joe Satriani, Andrew W.K., Tommy Lee's Methods of Mayhem, and Will Hoge. He joined Johnny Rzeznik of The Goo Goo Dolls for the song "I'm Still Here" from soundtrack to the animated movie Treasure Planet. He is also featured on the 2007 album Little Voice by Sara Bareilles, and the 2008 album The Sound of Madness by Shinedown (replacing departed bassist Brad Stewart). Chaney has worked with James Stephen Hart on his project Burn Halo.
Chaney is featured as the primary bassist on guitarist Slash's 2010 solo album, Slash. In March 2010, Slash described Chaney as a "godsend", stating: "Chris is just the best session player that I know so I called him up. I didn’t want to use Duff McKagan so I was tryin’ to think of bass players and Chris I’ve worked with so many times and he's easy going, and he learns quickly."
In 2022, Chaney played bass on Beth Hart’s “A Tribute to Led Zeppelin” album and will join Eddie Vedder's band in the Earthlings tour.
On February 12, 2024, AC/DC announced that Chaney would support them on their upcoming European Tour as a replacement for Cliff Williams.
He is married to voice actress Tifanie Christun, daughter of Cheryl Saban and the stepdaughter of Haim Saban.
Influences
Chaney's influences include Geddy Lee, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, and Stevie Wonder.
Gear
Chaney has endorsements with Aguilar Amps, Dunlop, and Audimute. In June 2025 Dusenberg released a signature bass for Chaney, based on a Fender P
As of the June 2003 issue of Bass Player magazine, Chaney's gear listing for recording and touring was as follows:
Discography
2020 I'm Nothing, Damián Gaume, Bass
2020 Shapeshifting, Joe Satriani, bass and rhythm guitar (one track)
2019 Ex Nihilo, Figure 8, Bass
2014 Anticipated Releases: LP, Bryan Adams
2013 All That Echoes, Josh Groban, Bass
2013 Classic Album Collection, Rob Zombie, Bass
2013 Closer to the Truth, Cher, Bass
2013 Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara, Bass
2013 Unstoppable Momentum, Joe Satriani, Bass
2013 Live in NYC, Jane's Addiction, Composer and bass
2012 Fire It Up, Joe Cocker, Bass
2012 Into the Wild: Live at EastWest Studios, LP, Bass
2011 Formula, Vol. 1, Romeo Santos, Bass
2011 Ghost on the Canvas, Glen Campbell, Bass
2011 People and Things, Jack's Mannequin, Bass
2011 Sweeter, Gavin DeGraw, Bass
2011 The Great Escape Artist, Jane's Addiction, Bass
2011 This Loud Morning, David Cook, Bass
2010 A Public Disservice Announcement, Methods of Mayhem, Bass
Film scores and soundtrack credits
1998 City of Angels (Original Soundtrack), Bass
1998 The Waterboy, Bass
1999 Dogma (Original Soundtrack), Howard Shore, Bass (Electric)
1999 The Other Sister, Bass
2003 Now, DVD Composer
2003 Wicked: A New Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording), Bass
2005 40 Year Old Virgin, Bass
2006 Employee of the Month, Bass
2007 300 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Collector's Edition), Tyler Bates, Bass (Electric)
2007 Treasure Planet (Original Motion Picture Score), James Newton Howard, Bass
2009 2012, Thomas Wander, Bass
2009 Watchmen (Original Motion Picture Score), Tyler Bates, Bass (Electric)
2010 Burlesque, Bass
2010 Date Night, Bass
2010 Due Date, Bass
2010 Red, Bass
2010 Dinner for Schmucks, Theodore Shapiro, Bass
2010 Get Him to the Greek, Bass
2011 Arthur, Bass
2011 Sucker Punch, Bass