Fan-filmed footage of former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes and his solo band performing aboard the 2025 Monsters Of Rock cruise has recently surfaced online.

In a February 2025 interview with The Metal Voice (Canada), Holmes opened up about his experience performing an all-W.A.S.P. setlist at several of his solo shows. He revealed that his feelings about playing the band’s classics have evolved over time.

“Before, like years ago or whatever, last year and previous time, I hated it. I didn’t like it. But now — I played, a few months ago, a place called the Patriot [in Crumlin, Wales], and it was sold out, and we played all W.A.S.P., and it was a kickass show,” Holmes shared.

He continued, expressing pride in his contributions to the band’s music: “I had a part in writing every song that we play. I’m not playing something that I didn’t help write. I know my name’s not on a lot of the writing credits, but that’s the way it is. I helped write them. I don’t care what people say, blah blah blah.”

Holmes emphasized that his goal is not to compete with his former bandmates, especially W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless: “I’m not out to try to sound better than W.A.S.P. or Blackie or whatever; I’m not out to try to do better. I’m just here to play Chris Holmes, what I do, and have people enjoy it. That’s all. I’m not trying to be better.”

In a passionate closing statement, he added: “You get on the Internet, everybody’s comparing everything… Hey, go eff yourself, whoever says that crap. I’m tired of it. I just like playing stuff that I play for me, for the people that enjoy it. I’m not trying to be better. But anyway, I enjoy playing the W.A.S.P. stuff. I enjoy it.”