Blackie Lawless Urges Fans to Support Chris Holmes' Cancer Battle

An Appeal to the W.A.S.P. Nation

On Saturday, August 1, Blackie Lawless issued a public plea via the band's social media channels, asking the global fan base to rally behind Chris Holmes. The guitarist, an original member of the Metal group, is currently facing a severe health crisis just years after overcoming throat and neck cancer.

"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. 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. Let him know what he's meant to you. W.A.S.P. Nation Support You All !!"

— Blackie Lawless

Diagnosis and Treatment Details

Holmes, who is 68 years old and has resided in Cannes, France, since 2014, received his prostate cancer diagnosis in February 2025. The discovery occurred during a routine check-up for his previous throat ailment. Holmes noted that while the situation is serious, the cancer is considered 100% curable.

"What happened was last February [of 2025] I went in for the check on my throat, to the doctor here [in France], the throat doctor. And I told him about a year ago, 'Hey,' I go, 'Hey, doc, I've been kind of like whizzing weird. And I wake up three, four times a night, whiz, go right back to sleep. Wake up. It's weird. I have never done that.' And I go, 'I think I got a problem down there.' And he goes, 'Ah, you're just getting old. That's just your prostate.' And for a year I just was, like, 'I'm just getting old. And that's okay.' And then I went in. They did a scan. They did a full body, all the way down past my knees this time. Usually they just do the neck to see if the cancer from my throat's coming back. And this time then I went in to see him and he goes… I went in and I thought he was gonna go, 'Chris, everything's cool. We'll see you next year.' And he goes, 'Everything's not cool.' He showed it up on a screen, he goes, 'See that? You got prostate cancer.' I go, 'Damn!' My dad had it, and they say it's hereditary or whatever. And the good thing is it's 100% curable. It's just going through what I gotta go through."

— Chris Holmes

Holmes is currently undergoing chemotherapy and a five-week radiotherapy program, which requires him to be calibrated by a computer using laser-aligned tattoo marks. He receives treatment every day except weekends.

Financial Crisis and Fundraising Efforts

The guitarist's wife, Catherine, revealed that an administrative error regarding their marriage registration has left Holmes with "emergency only" health insurance coverage in France. This status only covers radiotherapy during the month of July, leaving the couple responsible for hormone therapy, PET scans, biopsies, and daily hospital travel. They have already accumulated €20,000 in medical debt.

"The treatment is essential and cannot be interrupted. Because of an administrative error linked to our marriage registration, the health insurance system placed Chris under 'emergency only' coverage. Chris was forced to wait three months before receiving any care at all, and only the radiotherapy given during the month of July is covered. Everything else falls to us. Chris must remain in France to receive radiotherapy. Leaving the country would risk his emergency status lapsing, so he cannot travel and therefore cannot work. Chris has given everything to his music and to the people who listen to it. It is his whole life. Today we cannot carry this alone."

— Catherine Holmes

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched with a target of €50,000. To date, nearly €25,000 has been donated. The financial strain previously forced Holmes to cancel a scheduled May 2026 tour of the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. While the cancellation was initially attributed to a "minor prostate issue," the severity of the situation became clear as medical bills mounted.

Historical Context and Band Relations

Holmes was a member of W.A.S.P. during two periods: 1982 to 1990 and 1996 to 2001. Despite Lawless's recent call for support, the relationship between the former bandmates has been complicated. Following Holmes's 2022 diagnosis of throat and neck cancer, the guitarist claimed he had not heard from Lawless personally, though he received significant financial help from Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE.

Lawless has previously addressed Holmes's claims regarding unpaid royalties and songwriting credits from the band's first four records, stating in February 2022 that such assertions are "not true" and that Holmes was "paid quite well" through past settlements. Regarding a potential musical reunion, Lawless stated during a 2017 press conference in Moscow that it would "never happen."