Claudio Paul Sanchez (born March 12, 1978) is the lead singer and guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, a progressive rock group.
Claudio Sanchez, a drummer and another guitarist formed from a trio called Shabűtie (Shabűtie is from African tribal dances meaning "naked prey") in 1997, but changed their name and rotated in Josh Eppard and Mic Todd in 2000. To date, they have released 4 studio albums: The Second Stage Turbine Blade (2002), In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003), Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005) and Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (2007). In the summer of 2006, Todd and Eppard officially left the band. Todd rejoined in April of 2007, just in time to record the next album, which was released on October 23, 2007. Sanchez also writes all of the band's lyrics and most of their primary song riffs, as well as The Amory Wars comic series, which recounts the science fiction story of Coheed and Cambria in further detail. He is noted for his high vocal range, often extending into an alto register in the manner of Geddy Lee, the unique enunciation of his vocals, and for his long hair with tightly-wound curls. While primarily playing rhythm during his vocals, Sanchez also plays lead, often alternating with guitarist Travis Stever in a "competitive, yet respectful guitar solo" fashion.
He is of Puerto Rican heritage, and is one of 4 children (sisters Maria and Josephine and brother Matthew). In early 2006, Coheed and Cambria was forced to cancel several European tour dates after Sanchez broke his hand while "sparring" with younger brother Matthew, a professional boxer(hence Claudio's brother in the Amory Wars, along with his sister Maria), due to this he is often seen sporting a form of wrist support. Sanchez apparently suffers from acid reflux; in early 2003, he would complain that his throat was hurting on stage after singing in his upper range. Sanchez is reportedly a "movie fanatic", and watches at least 2 movies a day while touring. Sanchez is engaged to his longtime girlfriend Chondra Echert as of March 2008.
Sanchez is in a side project called The Prize Fighter Inferno. Their first album, My Brother's Blood Machine, was released October 31, 2006. Claudio claims "When we were called Shabűtie, the initial idea for Coheed and Cambria was to be an acoustic/electronic side project. So I guess The Prize Fighter Inferno is kind of the original idea for Coheed and Cambria,". Sanchez also appears on his bandmate Travis' side project dubbed Fire Deuce (backing vocals) which released Children of the Deuce in 2005, an 80s style rock album reminiscent of Iron Maiden - hence the album's title.
According to an interview with former Coheed and Cambria drummer Josh Eppard in Alternative Press, "Claudio has a hip hop side project that no one will ever hear."
In a recent interview with The Lantern, Sanchez mentioned a new project entitled "Spencer Doll" and mentioned there were several others that the public did not know about, but did not elaborate any further about any of them.
