June 6th 1970, James Christian Shaffer was born in Rosedale California. He began playing guitar after a 3 wheeler accident. He was sneaking off to a party one night and the chain on the 3 wheeler slipped off, he went to quiet it down so he wouldnt get caught and slapped the chain with his hand, and it cut the tip of his left index finger off. The doctor told him he needed to rehabilite his finger with an instrument of some sort, and Munky remembered a guitar he had in the back of his closet.
In highschool Munky and Head would practice guitars together. Munky joined a band called LAPD. Brian called him up one day and asked if he wanted to join, as Munky says "It wasnt that i could play, it was because i had long hair."
James gets his nickname "Munky" from when he spreads out his toes, they look like monkey feet.
When hes asked about why he wears the uniforms on stage, his reply is "I wanted to wear something on stage that was like...kinda trashy...dirty, you know? Because when I'm up there I feel like...sick. Really what it is, it's like that person I don't like in me, all the things I hate about myself, that's who I am up there."
James married Stephanie Roush in January of 2000.
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