Chris Holmes talks his friendship with Eddie Van Halen

The Mitch Lafon and Jeremy White Show welcome Chris Holmes, founding member of W.A.S.P.
In this clip, we talk about Chris lending #EddieVanHalen his Destroyer for the recording sessions of "Women and Children First", plus what it was like being his friend in the late 70's in Pasedena!
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[@thestarseeker8196]

Chris’ playing and tone is waaaay underrated. That sound on “Last Command” and “The Headless Children” is just signature stuff, hasn’t been duplicated.

[@ModernDayWarrior2112]

Chris is so humble. He’s a great player in his own right. I get misty eyed hearing him talk about his friend EVH.

[@taylorjeremy71]

Own right be damned. He's just a great player. A totally natural musician.

[@standingvertical3048]

Now here is a Guy that is truly humble, and knows his way around a fret board as well.

[@rubenreza]

I played through Chris’ Marshalls that were passed on to him by Edward. Had the Variac, etc and was the total early Edward tone - just wicked.

[@MadHatterND]

I never really knew about Chris Holmes, but I can listen to him talk all day. What a breath of fresh air. 👍🏾

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

OG guitarist for WASP! 🤘🏻

[@trrrythomas1834]

I heard that after VH II went platinum, the Bros went to their Mother to tell her the good news , but her vome back wasnt we h at they expected but the boys reassured her that they were now Millionaires and their future was secure. To that , Mama Van Halen said something like "" well thats really nice boys , im glad. Now i hope you got that outta your system, so now hopefully you 2 can settle down and get yourselfs some real jobs !

[@bigbobbitchinii123]

Check out the 1st 3 W.A.S.P L.P's. He was the lead guitarist. Good albums. Especially the 1st.

[@graymine2949]

Chris Holmes is a legend in my mind. For many reasons...

[@RockFan89]

He was married to Lita Ford in the 80s

[@meotv2336]

We love you Chris

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@pulse4503]

Nice guy Hope Is doing ok

[@raulnovoa6098]

Chris. Is. Awesome. In his. Own. Right. Such. A humble. Individual

[@Leo_Safko]

Great interview, and on my 50th birthday too! Thanks for this!! 🤘

[@craiglemelin4176]

Great stories man noodling is a good way to create good songs rip king Eddie.

[@mattkruger3801]

See ? Music is not a competition, it's not a sport. It's music.

[@johnpaikopoulos7691]

Glad to see Chris is doing well, man does he sound different from recent years! Great interview guys 🤘🏽

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Cancer will do that! He’s doing good.

[@sebastienlavoie9334]

What a cool guy Chris is, i missed his appearance last friday at the Piranha Bar cuz i was too ill to go, i wish he will comeback next year for a full show.

[@tednugentlives]

Any one who judges themselves against Ed will be dejected and fail. Those who are inspired like me when I was 12 and wanted to play guitar, well he set the bar for our lifetime. Great interview..Chris, im grateful for your honesty and determination. Rock star you are sir, hope you are healing and on the mend.

[@ericandrews1661]

I started when I was 12 too and am 53 now

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks man! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@HenryMPerez]

@@ericandrews1661right- I m 55

[@JohnDoe-jc3cl]

Thanks Chris Holmes. Eddie was a mad scientist.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Agreed!!

[@JohnDoe-jc3cl]

@@JeremyWhiteShow First, by his chordal choices. Then his syncopated rhythms. Then his boogie woogie influences. Then putting in a Gibson paf in a strat. Then the strat trem with graphite on the nut and no drag on the nut. Then the light dimmer. Then the variac. And monkeying around with the Marshall. Genius?? Idk. But really smart guy un afraid to try things. 😁👍 🔈🔌🎛🎼🎸

[@barbaradascalos4411]

"Boogie Woogie" His dad played Big Band clarinet..his dad brought family over to play music..but Big Band era was over so he did weddings and janitorial work..DLR brought in Big Bad Bill to have the father play on a VH record.

[@jsr-uz3oj]

I'm surprised he's still alive, with the way he drank, but this was nice listening to him talk about his life I'm 59, and I listened to WASP and saw them many times in concert along with Van Halen from David Lee to Sammy great days and great bands very fond memories.

[@tojorozombie]

How rad, to be regular pals, he experimented and innovated on your guitar and he called on you to hang after touring abroad!👍 Bless your humility, Sir! Thanks for being a rad axe-slinger, yourself!!🤘🔥💀😎

[@captainflamson]

I've really been digging Chris's solo stuff that he has been doing over the past few years, great stuff!!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Agree!

[@glencampbell136]

Great interview

[@3TVforall]

Whenever I see CH I think of the Ibanez guitar & when he was in the metal years movie . He was blasted in a pool & his Mom sitting poolside . Also fan of his work with Wasp .This interview is really good , thanks !!!

[@coryfrey6199]

Awesome show!!! Love Chris Holmes and WASP!! Watching some of his new stuff from over seas when I can find it.....I hope Blackie and Chris can make another WASP Album together....!!!

[@mikaelbergman9108]

Chris is a really cool guy and player/writer

[@californiasurfpunkmetal6207]

I jammed with Chris in San Gabriel he had a rehearsal space lock out next door. Went to his spot for a beer and that Ibanez Explorer was laying against the wall. It was destroyed and unplayable, but I picked it up took all the mojo in. Eddie recorded VH1 with that guitar..

[@mindeloman]

According to Ed interviews I've heard over the years, his number one regret with an instrument is cutting up his destroyer. It looked great for photo shoots and live playing, but ruined the tone for recording. His second biggest regret was painting the black and white Frankie, red. He spoke about how he should've never done that.

[@Disciple0fMetal]

​@mindeloman yes! And now frankie is just as Iconic as Eddie because of that paint job.

[@rayprevailer8454]

Chris is a fantastic guitarist. His sound is in the top few for me. W.A.S.P does not sound the same since he left. He has a great sense of humor too.

[@trrrythomas1834]

Anybody out there who isnt familiar with Chris Holmes or WASP, but are curious about what they and him sound like, I'll just say this. If some aliens came to Earth and wanted to hear some Rock n Roll , I would pullout 2 WASP albums. Inside the Electric Circus and play the first 2 cuts. The title track and then the melter . The cover of I dont need no Doctor. That song Chris just blows the fuckin roof off. Then i'd pull.out the album The Headless Children and play Mean Man. A song bandmate Blackie Lawless wrote about Chris himself. Tbe song ,has it all, the tempo , the attitude it all fits Mr Holmes to a tee or i should revert to a line in the song that says "" here comes trouble with a Capital T. But the 4th song would be me saving the best for last, as in last song on the album. Rebel in the FDG is the F-35 fighter jet to all others bands cropduster hsardest and best effort to play Rock n Roll. You hear it and you say , now THIS IS ROCK N ROLL ! AND IF YOU CAN GET SOME VIDEO OF CHRIS ONSTAGE, GRAB IT STEAL IT WHATEVER. HE IS A EXTRAORDINARY GUITARIST AND JUST AS GOOD TO WATCH AS HE IS TO HEAR. A COMPLETE ENTERTAINER TO THE FUCKIN MAX !

[@taylorjeremy71]

Eddie popularized the Brown sound through a Plexi; it could be argued Chris popularized the Marshall metalface 80's metal tone.

[@hollylewis5302]

Great stories Chris! Ty. ❤🤍🖤

[@notkrapmusic]

Great interview!

[@scottpeters4401]

Chris is so cool….He has such a great perspective knowing Ed from the beginning…..I always wondered if Chris’s pitch detuned guitar sound maybe influenced Ed in the late 80’s and 90’s?…

[@ananias8382]

I have always liked Chris...that was great. I wish him the best and don't stop rocking my man...I hope some day you write a song for the creator we will all meet on judgment day!

[@standingvertical3048]

No! not all people will meet on Judgment Day. This is from the 1611 KJV >>> This is the Seat of Christ Judgment, for Believers ONLY. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 } These are the Scriptures that show Proof that a Believer can get Rewards, as in Crowns. >>>>>>>>> 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 } A Believer is Saved from the Fire. Amen } Do not Defile yourself, for you are the Temple of God. Amen } The 1st Resurrection is for the Believer Only! Revelation 20:6 } This is the Great White Throne Judgment >>>> Revelation 20:11-15 } These are the ones that will never hear the Voice that they believe they will hear. They are Worms that will never Die in the Everlasting Fire.

[@hollywoodjoe3259]

Right side of the stage at the troubadour was where it was at .Chris was a bad ass even back then.

[@stevekonbass]

Great interview.

[@JesseJuup]

❤ Thanks for this! 💪

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@johnnysizemore4301]

I used to sit in my bedroom and play Wasp live in the raw and play along on my les Paul studio! Chris was one of my earliest influences and is definitely one of the better guitarist from that time. Love how you can find stuff like this on KZbin

[@richiecunningham7968]

Very cool conversation Jeremy. I like how he mentioned the old Marshall’s not having a pre-amp and you had to crank the amp… Eddie innovated the variac or the “light dimmer” for the amp! Cheers - R

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

The variac was a game changer haha

[@BillDerBerg]

Ed using the Variac worked because he had a non imported 220v Plexi hence his "crank (the variac) to 140 volts" comment which actually lowered the voltage to the amp.

[@bahabusky4230]

The band "Stormer" (feat. Jimmy Bates) that Chris mentioned also had a bass player called Timothy "Tim" Gaines, who later joined the famous Christian Metal band Stryper. Jimmy Bates died in October, 2020.

[@BillDerBerg]

Stephan Williams was also in Stormer. Early 80s Stephan worked along with Tim at Hanich Music in West Covina which were I met both. Stryper was still Roxx Regime at the time. Sadly Stephan passed away Jan 14th 2015.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@vanhenry98]

For chris and blackie being known for a wild band like WASP they sure are very listenable guys ,not like alot of musicians that dont remember or forgot ,LOVE the interview

[@jimhurlbut3649]

Yeah, seem to still have their wits about them. Great insights, too.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@nerdhalen]

So Rad!

[@backstageguitartech6161]

Love You Chris And Sarah ...

[@zemlidrakona2915]

"I hope the neighbors think that's me playing" ...... Ha ha.

[@gordon9177]

wow, cool info. do you guys have the full interview?

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

EXCELLENT.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Cheers!

[@jeffgagawood3741]

Wolfs doing his thing and I’m glad he’s being himself, I honestly believe that was Eddie’s wish!! I’m glad I was blessed the EVH Tone and the bands freaking unforgettable sound!!! I believe Wolfies doing it as well!!! Ed is gleaming with joy in Heaven

[@jeffgagawood3741]

Chris Holmes and Eddie smoking Thai weed!!! Hell yeah

[@HenryMPerez]

I STill have my TASCAM 424 Portastudio multitrac Cassette Recorder (purchased in 200?) and have recordings from back thennn!!!! I have customized it a little, well - i bought it at a Pawn Shop and did not have a Users Manual

[@adamfindlay7091]

Guitar talk pretty fun😅!

[@stevenfunderburg1623]

"I was hoping that the neighbors assumed it was me playing". This is from a dude with his own gold records. RIP EVH🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@jamesnorton7601]

Ed played his blues scales very differently and very unique. Rhythm was on point, soloing he didn't care too much about it after a certain point.

[@MayweatherjrWONandsoTrump]

People who really knows about guitar 🎸 (Tommy Iommy and Eddie Van Halen) listened and liked Chris Holmes tone and playing style.

[@akfreed6949]

From the way Chris was talking , it sounds like the family still lived in the Pasadena house after a few albums . They were still paying off the "loan" from the crappy contract with Warner Bros .

[@BillDerBerg]

Ed and Val were living in the backyard shack at the house in 1981

[@jimhurlbut3649]

@@BillDerBerg Really? Did the jackyls at WB rip them off or what?

[@akfreed6949]

@@jimhurlbut3649 fukk yeah . Look @ the videos of Dave BSing with Alex and Edward talk a little bit about the crappy record deal there's like 2or3 videos that were released when they were promoting A Different Kind of Truth . They talked like buds at the time . Like I typed , the record deal sounds like a ripoff high interest loan to pay for studio time and $ to buy and pay cost to tour .

[@DavidSmith-is4ph]

Where the hell did you hear that?

[@akfreed6949]

@@DavidSmith-is4ph They talked about it in the VH3 promo issue of THE INSIDE MAGAZINE . Also there's a 2 part ADKOT promo video on KZbin . Dave talks to Al and Ed . They talk about what Ed calls the "Motown deal" the band got .

[@dalepiwek]

Fuck yeah 😂🤘

[@hidraaegi]

we hope in a next future interviews with tommy victor(prong),peavey(rage),shortino,lizzy borden, juan croucier,don dokken,lphil soussan,bob daisley,scott ghorham,vanderberg,impelliteri,neil carter(ufo),queesryche,michael monroe,tate,jeff annihilator,,corabi,vanderberg, etc.Thanks!

[@dalevermillion9567]

When Mike was working at Discount Music I said “you guys hit the big time huh?” And he said I hope so

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@Twotontessie]

Would like to ask Holmes about Randy Rhoads in general and the Edward/Randy dynamic.

[@iddddaduncan]

Why was he so down on Michael Anthony?

[@BlazingShackles]

in 100 years we'll all be gone. but you can bet your ass people that havent even been born yet will be listening to Van Halen.

[@fiddlyphuk6414]

Just hook a few light bulbs in series with the amps power cord. It'll do the same as a Variac for a lot cheaper.

[@richiegrohs9137]

I have the same story about Michael Portnoy of Dream Theatre

[@user-rt9zq8rs9k]

Its cool to hear stories of the old days . Chris knows how dirty the record companies are . Warner Bros really screwed the band over their high interest losn of a record contract and getting ripped off over royalties . The brothers were forced to move out of their Pasadena home because it got burglarized and their Platinum awards . I wish there were more stories about the old days . Plus they couldn't get a break . The band owed Warner an album a year which is probly why the Dave era albums were just over a half hour mostly . They had little real play time : make a record , tour , come back and they would already owe Warner another record .

[@lukecold8562]

Tim Gaines was the bassist in Stormer, I believe

[@jamesnorton7601]

Ex Stryper dude, love him.

[@frankrichards3089]

He mentioned Jimmy Bates. Grover Jackson said dude was legit too

[@JIMJAMSC]

I had a original Ibanez Destroyer iirc bought it for $600 and carved it up.... Yup but before I had a whole lot of demo tapes and noodling with it before. Thing is I cannot tell any difference betreen the original and Shark recorded. None. But if you hold it against your chest and play it unplugged you can feel and difference in vibration as the cut out of course eliminated a lot of resonance. I suspect Ed tried to fix that by tying that gap together.

[@tanneryordan]

I theorize that eddie was upset with the idea that he ruined the visual look of the destroyer, and the neck probably started to dive more with less body mass which affected the playability, eventually changing the "tone" of the guitar by being harder to play. Watching and listening to recordings from the first tour in which he played the chopped destroyer, it's hard to hear the "loss in tone" that he claims. His playing and tone were still mind blowing and it was all in his head.

[@aviduser1961]

Edward was also an untrained engineer and a damned good one.

[@flyinghighwithairportjimmy1962]

Is Ed home..Mom …no he’s on tour..

[@jimhurlbut3649]

Ed probably appreciated dude's knowledge from working at Cerwin Vega, they complemented each other.

[@michaelfineo6400]

Cool story

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks for watching man! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@fredericklangbein635]

I remember seeing Metallica, Wasp and Amoured Saint at Reflections club in St Louis in 84.

[@Allguitarinfo]

Man Chris was the guy Van Halen borrowed guitars and gear from..Chris was too nice as a person.because he just loved to play. wish he had found more than just Blackie lawless .cause he is 1000percentvsame guy on and off stage ..Blackie was a poser..who dudnt give credit where it was due..Rock on Chris

[@tojorozombie]

It’s odd, being a part of a generation, who came up during the transition between analog and digital…

[@frankrichards3089]

if you want to hear some serious noodling check out Steve Rosens 1980 interview w Eddie.

[@jakejohnson7714]

why do they keep calling citizen trump president trump this is bs!