Well I never. I must be getting old. I met a chap the other night who had to stop me in mid-conversation because he didn’t understand my reference to Cheech and Chong. I guess he was in his early twenties. Definitely a long-term toker, as we’d been discussing the merits of real high class resin over skunk. I mentioned something about skunk having a load of shit added to it these days, which led me on to that scene in “Up in Smoke” where Chong tells Cheech that the joint they’re smoking is made with “labrador” – marijuana and dog feces – because his dog had eaten his dope. I was laughing my arse off as I pictured it again and this guy had no idea what I was on about. He hadn’t even heard of Cheech and Chong. OK, so “Up In Smoke” was made in 1978 – before my cinema-going days too – but, hang on – this a cult classic isn’t it? What does it mean when the future generations are ignorant of such genius? Is the culture of cannabis deteriorating? We must retain our history! Therefore, I have put together a Cheech and Chong biography with plenty of extra links for all discerning smokers to use as a reference…
Cheech and Chong Biography
Thomas Chong and Cheech Marin were both screenwriters.
Thomas Chong was also a director (although not all Cheech and Chong films were directed by him).
They started out as comedy duo, touring Canada and the USA with their hilarious acts based around the hippy movement, free love and drugs. They are now hailed as cult figures and have left their unmistakable mark on the history of cannabis culture.
Their joint filmography includes:
1. 
“Up in Smoke” (1978)
2. “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie” (1980)
3. “Nice Dreams” (1981)
4. “Things are Tough All Over”
5. 
“Still Smokin’” (1983)
6. 
“The Corsican Brothers” (1984)
Cheech Marin
Born Richard Marin, 13th July 1946, LA, California USA.
Cheech’s real name is Richard Marin. He was nicknamed “Cheecharone” (something like pork crackling) either because he ate so much of it or because he looked like it when he was born, depending on who you get your info from. This got shortened to “Cheech”. He is Mexican-American, with seven brothers and sisters. His dad was a police officer. He was born in East LA, then moved to San Fernando Valley. He graduated with straight “A”s even though he spent a lot of time skipping school to mix with the vagabonds and chancers of society.
Cheech sang with a few local bands, including “Rompin Richie and the Rockin’ Robins”, “Captain Shagnasty” and “Loch Ness Pickles”.
He got a BA in English from California State University, Northridge and then decided to study pottery in Calgary.
After his famous collaborations with Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin continued his career in film. He has worked for director Robert Rodriguez in 6 films:
Desperado (1995)
From Dusk ’til Dawn (1996)
Spy Kids (2001)
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
Alongside a prosperous musical and acting career, Cheech Marin married twice. In 1975 he married Rikki Marin with whom he had one child. They divorced in 1984. Two years later, Cheech remarried. Patti Heid remains his wife to this day. They have two children.
Cheech Marin is one of the world’s top collectors of Mexican and Mexican-American artwork. He speaks fluent Spanish and was the champion of “Celebrity Jeopardy”
Tommy Chong
Born Thomas Chong, 24th May 1938, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Tommy Chong really was called Tommy Chong. (Thomas B. Kin Chong to be precise.) His dad was a Chinese truck driver and his mum was Scottish-Irish. He was born in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, then moved to Dog Patch on the outskirts of Calgary. This was a rough area where kids used to box in the streets, so Tommy learned to fend for himself. At 11 years old he got his first guitar and started playing country and western. A couple of years later he began playing rhythm and blues, influenced by local black families. He quit high school when he got his first job as a professional musician. Other jobs he did to support himself included truck-driving and roof-laying.
Chong’s first successful group was “The Shades” – the first R & B band in West Canada. The Shades were so-called due to their ethnic mix of members. They were told to leave town by the mayor after a rowdy gig at the Canadian Legion Hall, Calgary. So they moved on to Vancouver.
Tommy Chong bought a late night bistro in Vancouver called “Elegant Parlour” where he played in the house band “Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers“. Whilst on the road with them, he was introduced to improvisational comedy. He quit the “Vancouvers” and started impro comedy nights at his brother’s topless nightclub “Shanghai Junk”, Vancouver. Until this point, the club’s acts were fairly average and punters were getting bored. Chong’s troupe “City Works” incorporated the topless dancers and injected some much-needed originality to the club.
It was at these impro comedy nights that Cheech and Chong met. Cheech had a go and Chong offered him a job with “City Works”. 2 years later, “City Works” split up and Cheech and Chong formed a touring comedy duo, taking to the road until they reached California.
Alongside his career, Chong also married Maxine Sneed in 1960. They had 2 daughters, then divroced in 1970. He is now married to Shelby Chong with whom he has 3 children. In 2001, Tommy and Shelby Chong performed comic stand-up in many sell-out performances.
After his long stint in the film industry, Chong went on to run an internet business called “Nice Dream Enterprises” which sold marijuana paraphernalia. He was arrested in 2003 on federal drug paraphernalia charges and served 9 months in prison on top of a $120,000 fine. Out of 55 people to be arrested during “Operation Pipe Dreams“, he was the only one to go to prison.
Cheech and Chongs’ joint career
After roaming around with their comedy duo, Cheech and Chong were spotted by a record executive in the Troubadour Club, LA. They were signed and became a great success. Their albums included:
Cheech and Chong
Big Bambu (voted No.1 comedy album in 1972)
Los Cochinos
Cheech and Chong’s Wedding Album
They spent four years touring, then moved onto film-making (see filmography above). They took box offices by storm, clearly capturing the hearts and humour of the international dope-smoking society. Their films were outrageous, extreme, and thoroughly entertaining. Everyone could associate with their characters, no matter how far out they seemed. Cheech and Chong were stoner heroes.
Unfortunately, they split on a bad note. Having been as good as married to each other for many years (though definitely both straight – not trying to start any rumours!), things suddenly went cold and they now have very little to do with each other. It’s a shame that the Cheech and Chong era had to end, but at least we’ve still got their legend to pass on.
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