Formed out of the ashes of local mid-Michigan legends El Smasho & the Actionaries in 1995, the Chinese Millionaires capture the sound of '60s garage rock with an added snotty, punk rock attitude and a matching shirt and tie wardrobe. Having released their first EP, White Collar Criminals, on their own Punkity Rockity Records -- even before their first show -- the Millionaires where a breath of fresh air from all the generic pop-punk and watered down ska that was clogging Michigan's Great Lakes. After their second 7" Juvenile Justice, underground critical acclaim and a deal with California's Rip-Off Records followed in 1996. Two more EPs came about in 1997 -- the one sided Heart on a Chain and This Is Criminal Element -- before their full-length, Detroit Double Cross, finally saw the light of day on Rip-Off in late 1998. ~ Mike DaRonco