Chris Holmes (Christopher John Holmes) is a musician who was born in Glendale, California and grew up in La Cañada, California. Together with Blackie Lawless he was one the founding members of the heavy metal band W.A.S.P..
Career
Chris Holmes is a talented lead guitarist who was among the break-out crop of rock musicians in the Pasadena area in the late 70's and early 80's. Known for being a very heavy drinker as well as for his musical talent, Holmes left W.A.S.P. after the Headless Children tour and formed a band called Psycho Squad. He also played for Animal (with Randy Piper), Sister (with Blackie Lawless), Lax, and Slave. He was briefly married to Lita Ford. He was briefly a touring guitarist for L.A. Guns, after they parted with Tracii Guns. Holmes is often very drunk on stage during performances as well as off stage.
He is also well known for floating in a swimming pool, extremely intoxicated and pouring vodka in his mouth and all over himself, downing nearly an entire bottle in front of his own mother, in the 1988 documentary movie The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years.[[1]] There are claims the scene was actually staged, and the "vodka" was really water. Chris has been sober since 1996 to date.[[2]]
Reception
The song "Mean Man" of The Headless Children album is a tribute to Chris Holmes.