Photo courtesy W.A.S.P. Facebook
“He’s a malignant narcissist, and I don’t wanna be around people like that anymore.”
— Chris Holmes on Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P.
MS NEWS / May 17th 2026 — The Los Angeles based heavy metal shock rock group W.A.S.P. are 1 of those bands who have had a series of member changes over the years and currently the group’s founder and lead singer Blackie Lawless remains the lone classic member still on board.
Lawless first made waves with W.A.S.P. in the early 80’s on the Hollywood club circuit with twin guitarists Chris Holmes and Randy Piper with Tony Richards filling the drum throne.
However soon after the release of their self-titled debut “W.A.S.P.” in 1984, the band parted ways with Richards who was replaced by the late Steve Riley.
Over the years the lineup moved around a few more times with names like Johnny Rod, Frankie Banali and Stet Howland lending their talents whether touring or in studio.
But there is one name that is nearly an equal to Lawless with the W.A.S.P. band, and that name is Chris Holmes.
Holmes was a key figure in the band during 2 stints, the first was 1983-1990 and the second being 1995-2001, in addition Holmes was instrumental in the recording of all W.A.S.P. releases from “Animal (F**k Like a Beast)” (1984) to The Headless Children (1989), and from Kill Fuck Die (1997) to Unholy Terror (2001).
Now 25 years later, the question is still being asked, “What if…” there were an opportunity for Holmes to return to W.A.S.P. and just like clock-work, the same question has been asked again.
We grabbed the following from our friends over at Blabbermouth: “In a new interview with Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of the Rock Interview Series, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes was asked if he would ever consider rejoining the band if W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless asked him to. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “No. No. Do you know what happened with my publishing? Why would I play with [Blackie] again? It’d be pretty stupid, wouldn’t it? He’d have to pay me my publishing [before I would even consider going back], and he’s not gonna do that. I’d be an idiot. I’d be an idiot to go back.”
Reflecting on why he feels he was wronged by Blackie, Chris said: “Listen, we’re on the road, and [then-W.A.S.P. drummer] Frankie Banali‘s not gonna tour unless he gets $1,850 [a week], okay? And I’m getting $500 a week, okay? I went to Blackie, ‘Well, it doesn’t seem right. I’m one of the guys, main guys that people come to see, and Banali‘s not. But he’s getting $1,850. I get five [hundred]? That’s almost four times as much.’ Blackie grabs me and puts his arm around me and he goes, ‘You’re gonna make more off your publishing. What are you worried about?’ When he knew he was taking my money. When he knew they already wrote me down as a session player. What kind of person is that? You think I’d ever wanna even sit in a room with that guy? No. No. No. So it’s not worth it; it’s not worth it to me. And plus — how can you say it? He’s a malignant narcissist, and I don’t wanna be around people like that anymore. There’s no money in the world that’s [gonna make wanna be around people like that]. I wanna be happy. I wanna be around people I enjoy being with, that make me smile, that crack jokes. I don’t need to be around people like that. Plus, from [1997’s] ‘Kill Fuck Die’ on, W.A.S.P. was nothing but a depression to play with live because they were sampling, and it’s not live to me. And it hurt me in my heart to be playing, knowing that I was faking it to p[eople] — or the band was faking it. I wasn’t. But knowing that it was faking it. I really hated myself doing that.”
Chris added: “Why do you think I don’t like signing the [W.A.S.P. records]? I never got a penny of my publishing. I can’t stand that band. I can’t stand the band. I can’t stand what he’s done. So, that’s the way it is. And that’s why I wanna play with people I enjoy.”
Read more at Blabbermouth.
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