One lesson you would think most musical performers would know by now is not to trust your management in the world of contracts. The list of management that has taken money from the artists they represent is long and wide and goes back to the early days of rock and roll if not before. Unfortunately those lessons were not learned by the heavy metal rockers of the 70s and 80s. Among those taken advantage of was Chris Holmes, lead guitarist for W.A.S.P.
Now Holmes is on the road again promoting a new band and telling his story in the documentary MEAN MAN: THE STORY OF CHRIS HOLMES. What many documentaries like this do is combine long ago footage in a linear format to tell the story of the person being discussed using the timeline to show their ups and downs. This one is different in that it starts at the end with Holmes in the middle of touring and promoting his new band, Mean Man.
This band provides Holmes with the chance to not only be the lead guitarist but the lead singer as well. With a past history of lead vocalists who feel the attention should always be directed their way, Holmes has learned the lesson that it’s best if he just does it himself. Truth be told he does a good job of it.
So we start with this look at what’s taking place now. Holmes on tour in a car, far removed from the days of busses and roadies looking after everything. He’s now managed by his wife Catherine-Sarah, the woman he says is responsible for his being alive today. But you can’t only focus on the here and now. Holmes long history gets looked at as well.
As a rail thin young man Holmes only wanted to be a rock star. After playing in several small bands he got a chance at something big. Called by Blackie Lawless the pair untied to form W.A.S.P. The band not only had a classic heavy metal sound they had a dynamic stage presence as well with the over the top antics of Lawless and the showmanship of Holmes. Their popularity only increased when they became notorious for songs that included profanities and album covers that featured things like a codpiece with a buzz saw blade coming out of it.
Watching the movie you realize that this is going to be one side of the story. Even so while observing Holmes and hearing people who knew him and were part of the band back then you get the impression that this side is factual on all levels. As their popularity grew Lawless wanted the focus to be on him and none of the other band members. While the rest were happy to talk to fans and sign autographs, Lawless made himself unavailable and then chastised Holmes for catering to the fans.
Towards the end Lawless did his best to cut Holmes out of everything. Holmes notoriously did a piece in the film THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: THE METAL YEARS that was controversial and is talked about to this day. But Lawless didn’t approve and was angered by it. The buildup and frustrations felt by Holmes led to his departing the band. What he learned the hard way was that he’d signed over all the publishing rights to all of his songs. To this day he doesn’t get a penny for any of them.
Now rather than just assume this is someone with a grudge the director brings in more people to back up the claim. Other band members. A roadie who worked and toured with the band. Other bands that saw firsthand what was going on. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture
Holmes went on to other bands but none of them shone as
brightly as W.A.S.P. Eventually he became an alcoholic until a reunion of the
band set him straight. That was short lived as old habits of credit where it
wasn’t due kicked in once more. He worked construction and other jobs but
eventually found his love of performing return. Now he’s back.
ority of the film focuses on a tour Holmes and his band Mean Man took in Europe. No arena dates but plenty of clubs that feature heavy metal bands are on that tour. Holmes is now sober and glad that he’s still able to walk. More than that he’s still able to play and sounds great. This documentary is his story. It’s one that needs to be told. And with any luck it will teach future performers to take care of business off stage as well as one.
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