Chris Steffler

Toronto based musician Chris Steffler first gained national attention as the drummer for the popular Canadian band Platinum Blonde. Steffler grew up in Wasaga Beach, where his parents owned a 12-acre trailer park and campground called Jell-E-Bean Park. He started playing drums in 1972 and also became handy — learning everything from carpentry to plumbing — from his dad and uncle. At the same time he was playing drums in local bands, one being called Sledge. After high school, he worked at the shipyards in Collingwood and then in 1978 he moved to Toronto and started playing in bands, eventually he became a founding member of Platinum Blonde. He played with the band during their most successful time, over their first two albums, Standing In The Dark and Alien Shores. He left the band in 1987 (ligament and tendon issues in his right ankle caused by the repetition of playing the electronic drums being one reason).Steffler later opened a restaurant and nightclub on Queen Street West in Toronto called Twiggy. He also taught drumming and sight reading as well as buying, selling and repairing music gear. On March 10, 2010, Platinum Blonde played their first reunion show at The Mod Club Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, with the original line up of Mark Holmes, Sergio Galli and Chris Steffler. Platinum Blonde were inducted into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame on March 12, 2010 at the Canadian Radio Music Awards in Toronto. In 2010, drummer Chris Steffler had to leave the reformed band after developing tinnitus.