Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes recently revealed a prostate cancer diagnosis. He has since responded to his former bandmate Blackie Lawless publicly sharing his GoFundMe campaign.
Holmes and Lawless have had a well-documented rocky relationship over the years. When asked directly about the unexpected show of support from the W.A.S.P. camp, Holmes expressed genuine gratitude while acknowledging the complicated history between them.
When asked, “W.A.S.P shared your GoFundMe campaign. It was I believe last night. That’s very nice of them. What are your thoughts on that?” Holmes responded:
“I appreciate it very much. You know, I put my on to the fans. You know, whether Mr. Lawless and I don’t get along and we have our different views and I don’t play anything. I’m an OG.”
Despite the personal differences, Holmes made clear that his connection to the fans remains his primary focus.
“I’m an original gangster of the band, you know, and the people that like the first four albums or five, whatever I played on, if they still like me as a human being, they’ll, you know, and I want to reach out to how many people I can, you know. I appreciate it,” he continued.
The support came after Blackie Lawless posted a heartfelt message on W.A.S.P.’s social media. He called Holmes “our Brother and originator” and urged the W.A.S.P. Nation to stand with him — whether through financial contributions or words of encouragement.
The outpouring of support from both the band and the wider rock community comes at a critical moment for Holmes. He is currently undergoing active treatment in France, where he has lived with his wife since 2014.
Holmes, 68, was diagnosed with prostate cancer after mentioning urinary symptoms during a routine checkup for a prior throat issue. He has since begun radiotherapy in France and has described the disease as “100% curable,” offering reassurance to fans who have rallied behind him. Holmes previously fought throat and neck cancer in 2022, making this his second major health challenge in just a few years.
His wife, Catherine Savean Holmes, launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of €50,000 — approximately $57,000. While insurance covers the radiotherapy itself, hormone therapy, scans, PET scans, biopsies, blood tests, medication, and daily travel costs are not covered. The family is left to shoulder a significant financial load as a result. The campaign has already attracted nearly €25,000 in donations, reflecting the deep loyalty Holmes commands among rock fans worldwide.
Holmes’ legacy within W.A.S.P. is firmly rooted in the band’s classic era. He played on some of the group’s most celebrated records, including W.A.S.P., The Last Command, Inside the Electric Circus, The Headless Children, and The Crimson Idol. These albums defined the band’s identity throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. His raw, aggressive guitar style became inseparable from the W.A.S.P. sound that resonated with a generation of hard rock and heavy metal fans.
His relationship with Blackie Lawless has long been a source of tension. The two have had a historically strained dynamic, with disputes over band control and Holmes’ eventual departures from the group casting a long shadow over their shared history. Lawless has largely been seen as the dominant force behind W.A.S.P. This made his public gesture of solidarity all the more striking to fans who have followed the band’s internal conflicts over the decades.
That Lawless chose to set aside those differences and mobilize the W.A.S.P. fanbase on Holmes’ behalf speaks to the gravity of the situation. For Holmes, the message is clear: whatever the past holds, the fans remain his foundation. Their support, from any corner, is something he does not take lightly.
Source: The Metal Voice
