Chris Chameleon

Chris Chameleon, born on July 28, 1971, in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a multifaceted South African musician, actor, and solo artist renowned for his four-octave vocal range and dynamic stage presence. He first gained prominence as the lead singer and bassist of the “Monkipunk” band Boo!, formed in 1997, which achieved international cult status, performing over 800 shows across 17 countries and earning a South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Pop Album in 2002. After Boo!’s bandmates departed in 2004, Chameleon embarked on a solo career, exploring his Afrikaans roots and eclectic musical styles, including folk, rock, punk, gospel, and classical.
His debut solo album, Ek Herhaal Jou (2005), set poems by iconic South African poet Ingrid Jonker to music, earning a SAMA nomination and achieving platinum status by 2007. Other notable albums include 7de Hemel (2006, double platinum), Shine (2006, SAMA-nominated), Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou (2009, SAMA winner), As Jy Weer Skryf (2011), and collaborations with Daniella Deysel, such as Posduif (2014), Firmament (2016), and Jy en Ek en Ek en Jy (2017). His discography spans Afrikaans and English, with three SAMA wins, a Medal of Honour from the SA Academy of Science and Arts, and multiple platinum and gold records. In 2007, he signed with Excelsior Recordings in the Netherlands, boosting his international presence, particularly in the Benelux countries.
As an actor, Chameleon debuted in the early 1990s in SABC dramas such as Meester, Sonkring and Konings. He appeared in 7de Laan as musician Liam, and starred in Binnelanders and films like Suurlemoen and Fanie Fourie’s Lobola. In 2023 he was awarded the ‘Best Male Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture’ SAFTA award for his role as the psycopathic murderer ‘Wilhelm’ in the Netflix film ‘Wild is the Wind. His stage work includes the award-winning one-man theatre piece Boy (1989) and its sequel Man. He has also written columns for South African publications like Stage, Insig, De Kat, Maroela Media, Die Volksblad, Die Burger and Beeld.
Known for his versatility, Chameleon has toured extensively in 30 countries in 4 continents, performing up to 150 shows annually. He performed at the 46664 Mandela Day Concert in New York in 2009 alongside artists like Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban and Stevie Wonder. Posts on X reveal a personal side, noting his humble beginnings, including working jobs like newspaper delivery and security, and surviving a violent home invasion that left him with 60 stitches.
Chameleon’s career reflects a commitment to artistic evolution, blending genres and languages while challenging cultural and personal boundaries, cementing his status as a South African musical icon.