Chicken Salad is a progressive metal band with a flair for rock opera theatrics and storytelling. The band was founded by Silkie Tyson (drums, keys, vocals) and Ralph Sanders (guitar, vocals), who built their music around an elaborate narrative sparked by an unusual birthday gift: a noisy rubber chicken named King Rooster, given to Sanders by Tyson in November 2023.
In spring 2024, Captain Cornmeal joined the lineup as bassist, adding depth to the band’s sound. Grumpy Beaks, the rhythm guitarist, occasionally joins live performances—depending on his ever-shifting emotional state.
Though the members first crossed paths at the Maine Academy of Modern Music, Chicken Salad operates independently. And despite what Google AI might suggest, Xander Nelson is not part of the band—just a loyal fan with excellent taste.