Chris Youngless is a musician, a writer, and a filmmaker who has been a member of several prominent Cleveland-area bands. He contributed bass and vocals to Secret Six.

     Chris began his music career while still in high school. In 1994, he and several classmates started Choice, an outfit that in its earliest incarnation was heavily influenced by hardcore and punk. The original line-up (which featured future Secret Six member Nate Nieding on bass) recorded two demos in the span of one year. Over the next few years, Choice evolved into a full-fledged hardcore band that shared the stage with many of the top names of that genre and more often than not outshined the headliner. Several line-up changes ensued that eventually brought Shane Post (who contributed bass and vocals to Secret Six) into the group as a guitarist. That version of Choice performed regularly throughout Ohio, contributed tracks to a number of hardcore compilations, and in 1997 recorded a six-song cassette at Spider Studios which the band sold at its shows. After some time, Shane moved to Florida where he started another band and Nate rejoined Choice as its second guitarist.

     After nearly six years together, Choice went their separate ways in 1999. By this time, Chris, Nate, and Shane (who had moved back to Ohio) and two other musicians formed the grindcore band Hatemail. The group was unique in that it featured a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer like most bands, but also two lead vocalists—Chris handling higher parts and Shane providing the lower-end vocals. Chris soon became renowned for his ability to hit ear-piercing, high-pitched shrieks that stood in stark contrast to Shane’s low-pitched growls. Hatemail’s collaborative group songwriting quickly produced over 20 songs which were recorded for the band’s debut CD, Hit Me With Bats. A number of the tracks were played on local college radio. The band supported the CD with regular live shows, including a memorable performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Over time, priorities in the members’ lives changed leading Hatemail to give its last performance in June 2003. From there Chris joined the F-Bombs (featuring Nate and Chris’s now-wife Aryn) as its bassist and played with the band until their final show in October 2004. Presently, Chris and Aryn are rehearsing with other musicians as Project: Baby Metal Fish and anticipate a return to live performing in the near future.

     In addition to his musical pursuits, Chris is also a fledgling filmmaker, bolstered by classes at the Cleveland Film Institute. In 2001, Chris began filming Bradley, a psychological thriller/horror that centered on a reluctant serial killer and the social network that influenced him. He has continued to pen screenplays and produce short films, some of which he has entered into contests. Presently, Chris is completing his film Murder Capital, U.S.A., the story of a renegade assassin seeking revenge on the post-apocalyptic gangs he suspects of enslaving and killing his wife.