I was 16, went to an in-store record signing the day of their show (WASP and Armored Saint were opening for Metallica) and of all the guys, Chris was the only one who would talk me. We chatted about the pins I had on my jacket, what he did the previous night, etc... he was such a cool dude to this kid! I will always remember and cherish that memory - and I still have his autograph in an album.... 34 years later!
That is beyond cool!!!!! Chris Holmes knows who puts a roof over his head, clothes on his back, and food on the table; and he is not afraid to show you the fans that he appreciates it all and your support is priceless to him. That is a class act!!!!! Please forgive my terrible grammar and punctuation mistakes because English is not my first language.
I am the tattooed face man at 1.55 in the video. Chris is a pleasure to talk to and be around, he is very down to earth, warm and friendly. He spoke about Blackie, W.A.S.P and his own ability as a guitar player and vocalist, giving me an incredible insight into how he now operates as a solo artist. His wife too was lovely, no airs and graces at all. He had just left the tattoo studio, having had his Mean Man tattoo when we met. Chris is also awesome live, giving his all, and playing lots of W.A.S.P songs, including Fuck like a Beast. This man is the real deal, the ultimate Mean Man.
Man talk about going all out,I got my first ink in 1972 when the only people with them were convicts or Navy.Ended up with about 15 of them.I loved ink but stopped when it became a fashion statement and you'd see them on 3rd grade teachers.I'm sure you understand.But nobody's calling you a hipster.Man, you are hard core! P.S. that shot looks like U.K. I got inked in Kings Cross by Tattoo Jock in 86'.Loved it there!
@@kevmac1230 Wow Kev, what an interesting comment. First of all, thanks for the compliment, yeah I am certainly hard-core for sure. The shot was taken in Camden before Chris's gig at The Underworld. I was also tattooed by Jock in 1973, through to about 1975, and you are correct in saying that only the working class, armed forces or criminals were getting them, I heard Jock saying that once too. Find me on FB if you want to talk more.
He was definitely stinking drunk in that scene but if he had consumed that much alcohol he would have died. Still, as a 12 year old I believed it and thought it was amazing.
@@christopholies5617 May have been drinking water. Not pool water. Pool water is chlorinated to stop plants growing on it and tastes awful. The number of people that are amazed he's still alive after seeing that.....
At age 51 I am still playing guitar. I was very much inspired by Chris. I have never herd another guitar tone sound as tear your face off raw. I saw w.a.s.p at the Orphium theater in downtown Minneapolis. Raven then slayer then w.a.s.p on stage. They were on tour for the electric circus.
Looking forward to this. Been so fortunate to have met Chris and his wife Cathy Sarah. Chris is a pure rock and roller of heart . 🎸🎶❤.Kudos to Cathy Sarah believe in him and helped him restored his confidence in himself again .❤❤
i was a big fan, i used to play covers of wasp when i was in my barracks while i served in the Army, it drove some nearly crazy and i loved it !!! rock on Chris !!!
I sat with Chris for a couple of hours before a show in Dallas. He had some great stories he was telling while playing with a yo-yo. Then I shot them live in concert. Helluva night and a very cool guy!
Met him in 2000 in Clinton, IA at the Pigpen when Wasp was touring for Helldorado. Really cool dude. Very approachable. Very laid back. And actually had a small conversation with me. Didn't try to blow me off. Love Chris Holmes!!
I just fucking LOVE Chris and Blackie, man. This is the one and only case for an LA band of that era I can think of where shifting the gears completely, ditching any aspect of "LA shock rock", and getting out before and in front of Guns and Roses on the "fuck this hairspray and silly ass clothes"-movement, WASP could have been something REALLY colossal and on its way to the top of the heap. And I know that people will say, "but that's who and what they were", and I get that. I was at the record store as a 15 year old kid buying these records and loving that they scared the piss out of parents and "nice kids" with all the blood and the Black & Decker pecker protector, so don't think this is hindsight coming from some annoying-assed Millennial rock archivist. What I mean with this is that if you're "forced" to listen to WASP without your eyes, you've got a killer guitarist and an absolutely, fucking DEVASTATING singer who is 1,000,000% underrated to the point of being a literal crime against rock and roll. And I believe with every fiber of my being that if you follow up "The Last Command" with a stripped down and more organic, natural big rock sound with the guitars, bass, and drums combined with Blackie's voice and songwriting chops, you've got a MONSTER break-out record that puts WASP on its way to the next level.
@@dr.phibesinred6066 Seriously? That's like asking "Who's Elvis" in the guitar world. Odd that Jimi Hendrix is Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page is Jimmy Page but Eddie is Eddie.
Awesome! Looking forward to this! Still remember all those early strip shows - Irvine Meadows etc. Love that Chris hasn't given up and keeps kickin' ass!!! Yes Chris always talks with the fans always cool just like Lemmy and Frankie Banali. Real greats - legends.
As a 13 year old kid that dude always scared the shit out of me. No other band or band members ever had that effect on me. He genuinely seemed like he wanted to knock the fuck out of people most of the time...
He is everywhere. I went to the final Slayer show on Nov. 30 at the Forum in L.A. I have a connection, so can get a free pass to the Forum Club backstage for free dinner and dessert (the bar costs money, lol) no matter who is playing--also can get free tickets, usally, but my friend had already purchased the tickets months prior. The band has its own hangout nearby, but there are usually many in-crowd people back there. There was Aquaman himself, Jason Mamoa, and a couple other actors my friends recognized. The lead singer to Testament was bigger than life. My shit-faced friend even recognized King Diamond sans makeup (who invited my friend to see his show the following night, but since my friend was too drunk, didn't really get himself on the list, lol), and lo and behold! Joey Belladonna, and guess who? Scott Ian!!
@@irvan36mm Best thing about a Chris Holmes documentary - Chris Holmes. Second-best thing about a Chris Holmes documentary - no Dave Grohl or Tom Morello.
LET'S FUCKIN GO! Cant wait for this, love Chris. Met him in Wolverhampton, UK couple of years ago after a gig. I stayed in the same hotel and met him at breakfast the next morning. He talked to me for ages and ages. We spoke about Johnny Rod and why he isnt playing with him right now. Such a fucking great guy, the real deal.
“Met” Chris backstage at another band’s concert in Hollywood when I was in high school. He was not yet married to Lita then. He stepped on my foot and looked at me like it was my fault. A big mean man is right.
American cup....Christ....🤘🤘🤘..always liked the way Chris would bounce around the stage like Bambi...the shit he got after that documentary well and truly set up.... GRT to see him back...
The BADDEST. I mean BADDEST Dude to EVER Presence the Heavy Metal Stage....... P.E.R.I.O.D. You all were the EPICENTER of Metal........ P.E.R.I.O.D........
@@mackiejohnson8498 what a time... I Almost...ALMOST Saw them at CATILLIAN BALLROOM in Wichita Ks 84-85 tour on ORIGINAL TOUR. I MISSED THE ORIGINAL.....GOD Forgive me.....
I saw WASP open for some body back in the day maybe motley crue, believe it or not based on the look and rep they had , holmes in particular they were very tight and his guitar sounded great. also we got to go backstage and meet Lita Ford at a show and I believe he was there with her but he was very quiet and let her get all the attention it's great to see him still alive and kickin playing gigs
Like others on here i honestly thought Chris had passed years ago. Pretty stoked to see he's alive and well. Wasn't he dating Lita Ford at some point in the eighties? I remember hearing that and thinking "lucky bastard"!! .......when is this coming out????🤘🤘🤘
If he wrote the riffs he deserves publishing, if he played riffs Blackie wrote then he doesn't get publishing. Drummers don't get publishing for making up beats to the riffs, Bassists don't get publishing for writing a bassline to a riff. But it's not so black and white, you have to explain what they composed and whether it was a a significant enough contribution to deserve publishing. Usually it is key riffs and lyrics, chord progressions matching to vocal melodies etc that are considered the significant parts. Also I don't think W.A.S.P made any real money after the first few albums. They sold millions of those early albums and never even came remotely close to those numbers so maybe the money Chris wants isn't even there.
Awesome can’t wait for this Chris Holmes is a fucking great guitarist and was the only reason I listened to WASP it was just way different with him more intense more evil 😈 and most of all more metal thank you mean man Chris Holmes 🧐🤔🤘🇺🇸
Me n my childhood friend Eddie V saw WASP n Metallica in March of 85 in downtown PHX...can't remember the theaters name...crazy show. Metallica were great of course...Cliffy did his bass solo..awesome. WASP then...ALL were great.. just the 2 bands..no AS...wtf were they? WASP kicked ass too...CH was the wildest on stage actually...fun to watch..n played very well despite guzzling JD like a madman. His guitar playing...rhythm n leads...were near spot on. He added some extra notes as if it were planned...Chris... you rock....
The next year i just happend to be in Cinncinatti OH on a weekend amusement park trip to Kings Island with my parents. WASP was headlining down the street from our hotel @ the Riverfront Gardens. Walked to the show just to find out the almighty SLAYER was the opening act, it was 1986 and Reign In Blood had just came out.
Is a movie 🎥 coming out about Chris Holmes ? When will it be released? I saw some WASP concerts in the 80s begin 90s. Surely I remember the Headless Children and KFD concerts. After the departure of Chris I wasn't interested in WASP anymore. The magic was gone. I remember he tried to make a band after but his records were difficult to find. But I would love to see what happened after.
This dude has been to hell & back...Wasp was awesome back in the day, i saw em with Metal Church , not sure how sober he was, fairly sloppy but pulled it off..
