W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless has issued a public statement in support of former band guitarist Chris Holmes, who is battling prostate cancer.
Lawless expressed the band’s devastation over the news and called on fans across the W.A.S.P. community to rally behind Holmes through financial support or words of encouragement.
“The entire W.A.S.P. family are devastated with the news that our Brother and originator, Chris Holmes is now in a serious fight,” Lawless said.
Lawless went on to urge the fanbase to take action and make their support known to Holmes directly.
“We ask that all of you, who have been moved and touched by the Band stand with us all, to support, as well as to honor him with whatever you can do, be it financial, or words of peace and encouragement,” he continued. “Let him know what he’s meant to you. W.A.S.P. Nation Support You All!!”
The message marks a notable show of solidarity from Lawless toward Holmes, given the pair’s well-documented history of tensions.
The diagnosis carries added weight given that this is not Holmes’ first battle with cancer. The 68-year-old guitarist, who currently resides in Paris, France, successfully overcame throat and neck cancer in 2022. He has since begun radiotherapy to treat the prostate cancer.
Holmes is one of the founding figures of W.A.S.P., having joined the band in 1982. He contributed to some of its most celebrated records, including the self-titled debut, The Last Command, Inside the Electric Circus, and The Headless Children. He departed in 1990 before returning for a second stint from 1996 to 2001. He has not played with the band since.
The relationship between Holmes and Lawless has long been strained by business and creative grievances. Holmes has stated publicly that W.A.S.P. became a “one-man show” following the band’s debut album. He has also claimed he was neither properly credited nor compensated for his contributions. As recently as 2020, Holmes indicated he would not consider a return to the band unless Lawless paid the publishing royalties he believes are owed to him.
Against that backdrop, Lawless’ decision to speak out publicly and appeal directly to the fanbase on Holmes’ behalf stands as a significant gesture. The statement makes no reference to their past disputes. It focuses instead on Holmes’ legacy and the support he deserves from the community he helped build.
Holmes’ enduring connection to the W.A.S.P. fanbase has made the outpouring of support from both Lawless and the wider rock community a reflection of the guitarist’s lasting impact on the genre.
