John Christ
Band Story
From the opening statement of “I’m back,” John Christ boldly proclaims his long-awaited return with Flesh Caffeine, his stunning solo debut. “I’m back” isn’t just the opening line of Flesh Caffeine—it’s a declaration of independence for guitarist/songwriter John Christ, marking his first album since his departure from the million-plus-selling rock group Danzig.
As a well-established rock guitarist, one might expect a simple instrumental album for his solo debut—but the opposite is true. John Christ not only played every instrument (electric and acoustic guitar, bass, and keyboards), except for drums (handled by session percussionist Stefan Svensson), but also stepped up to sing on nine of the ten tracks. The decision not to hire an outside vocalist came naturally.
“I couldn’t find a singer that I was happy with,”
explains John.
“I tracked my own vocals on the demos and people told me I sounded pretty good.”
So he ran with it—and just a few tracks into the album, it’s clear that the self-admitted vocal novice is exploring all aspects of his range. He’s even drawn comparisons to James Hetfield, Rob Zombie, and Ted Nugent. On tracks like the album’s title song and “Talkin’ Dirty,” tongue-in-cheek erotic lyrics fuse with hip-thrusting grooves, paying homage to John’s earliest rock inspiration—when, at age twelve, he first heard Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent.
As humble as he may be, John isn’t entirely new to singing. He sang background vocals throughout five Danzig world tours and actually got his first performance experience as a child.
“As a kid I sang in community theater for the church,”
he says,
“and my whole family acted and sang in shows like Mame, Brigadoon, and Carousel.”
Not exactly the beginnings you’d expect from someone who came out of a band known for its "evil, death, and satanic" imagery, but with Flesh Caffeine, it’s clear that John’s lyrical interests lean more toward sexual deviance, love, and lust. Still, longtime Danzig fans have nothing to fear:
“I wanted to retain a little of the intensity, flavor, and mood for the hardcore fans,”
he notes.
And John Christ’s signature guitar tone is unmistakably present—particularly on the eerie, psychological retrospection of “Judgement Day” and the prowling allure of “Slow Down.” After all, for eight and a half years, the guitar sound of Danzig was John Christ.
Due to irreconcilable differences within Danzig, both John and original bassist Eerie Von left the band on the same day in July 1995.
“I hung in there as long as I could,”
John explains,
“but after Chuck Biscuits left the band, it just wasn’t the same,”
referring to Danzig’s original drummer and the first major rift in the classic lineup.
John first stepped into the world of rock stardom a year shy of completing a BA in jazz composition at Towson State University in Maryland, when he landed the gig as lead guitarist for punk-metal band Samhain and moved to New Jersey. Samhain soon evolved into Danzig, transforming into a gothic-leaning rock ensemble. In addition to recording and touring for five Danzig albums, John also contributed to various guitar compilations, recording two solo instrumentals: “For Christ’s Sake” (on Guitars Practicing Musicians, Vol. 3, 1991) and “One Song” (an acoustic ballad on Guitars That Rule the World II – Smell the Fuzz, Metal Blade, 1997).
John even spent time as the house guitarist for Australia’s top TV variety show, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, backing big-name talent such as Tom Jones and Lou Rawls.
But John Christ’s talents go far beyond guitar god status (he’s also an avid bodybuilder and health enthusiast). He’s a seasoned rock journalist as well. When Guitar for the Practicing Musician asked him to interview White Zombie from a musician’s perspective, it opened the door to further writing opportunities. He went on to write a column, Mind Jam, for the magazine, along with a Danzig tour diary and an Ozzy Osbourne feature for RIP Magazine. He even fulfilled a lifelong dream: interviewing his guitar idol—none other than Ted Nugent himself.
Nowadays, John’s creative focus is squarely on his new musical direction, Flesh Caffeine. This labor of love is currently premiering exclusively at JohnChrist.com.
Don’t be scared. It won’t hurt.
John Christ is truly back—and one tantalizing taste of Flesh Caffeine is all the proof you’ll need.
Written by Stephanie Cabral and Katherine Turman
As a well-established rock guitarist, one might expect a simple instrumental album for his solo debut—but the opposite is true. John Christ not only played every instrument (electric and acoustic guitar, bass, and keyboards), except for drums (handled by session percussionist Stefan Svensson), but also stepped up to sing on nine of the ten tracks. The decision not to hire an outside vocalist came naturally.
“I couldn’t find a singer that I was happy with,”
explains John.
“I tracked my own vocals on the demos and people told me I sounded pretty good.”
So he ran with it—and just a few tracks into the album, it’s clear that the self-admitted vocal novice is exploring all aspects of his range. He’s even drawn comparisons to James Hetfield, Rob Zombie, and Ted Nugent. On tracks like the album’s title song and “Talkin’ Dirty,” tongue-in-cheek erotic lyrics fuse with hip-thrusting grooves, paying homage to John’s earliest rock inspiration—when, at age twelve, he first heard Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent.
As humble as he may be, John isn’t entirely new to singing. He sang background vocals throughout five Danzig world tours and actually got his first performance experience as a child.
“As a kid I sang in community theater for the church,”
he says,
“and my whole family acted and sang in shows like Mame, Brigadoon, and Carousel.”
Not exactly the beginnings you’d expect from someone who came out of a band known for its "evil, death, and satanic" imagery, but with Flesh Caffeine, it’s clear that John’s lyrical interests lean more toward sexual deviance, love, and lust. Still, longtime Danzig fans have nothing to fear:
“I wanted to retain a little of the intensity, flavor, and mood for the hardcore fans,”
he notes.
And John Christ’s signature guitar tone is unmistakably present—particularly on the eerie, psychological retrospection of “Judgement Day” and the prowling allure of “Slow Down.” After all, for eight and a half years, the guitar sound of Danzig was John Christ.
Due to irreconcilable differences within Danzig, both John and original bassist Eerie Von left the band on the same day in July 1995.
“I hung in there as long as I could,”
John explains,
“but after Chuck Biscuits left the band, it just wasn’t the same,”
referring to Danzig’s original drummer and the first major rift in the classic lineup.
John first stepped into the world of rock stardom a year shy of completing a BA in jazz composition at Towson State University in Maryland, when he landed the gig as lead guitarist for punk-metal band Samhain and moved to New Jersey. Samhain soon evolved into Danzig, transforming into a gothic-leaning rock ensemble. In addition to recording and touring for five Danzig albums, John also contributed to various guitar compilations, recording two solo instrumentals: “For Christ’s Sake” (on Guitars Practicing Musicians, Vol. 3, 1991) and “One Song” (an acoustic ballad on Guitars That Rule the World II – Smell the Fuzz, Metal Blade, 1997).
John even spent time as the house guitarist for Australia’s top TV variety show, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, backing big-name talent such as Tom Jones and Lou Rawls.
But John Christ’s talents go far beyond guitar god status (he’s also an avid bodybuilder and health enthusiast). He’s a seasoned rock journalist as well. When Guitar for the Practicing Musician asked him to interview White Zombie from a musician’s perspective, it opened the door to further writing opportunities. He went on to write a column, Mind Jam, for the magazine, along with a Danzig tour diary and an Ozzy Osbourne feature for RIP Magazine. He even fulfilled a lifelong dream: interviewing his guitar idol—none other than Ted Nugent himself.
Nowadays, John’s creative focus is squarely on his new musical direction, Flesh Caffeine. This labor of love is currently premiering exclusively at JohnChrist.com.
Don’t be scared. It won’t hurt.
John Christ is truly back—and one tantalizing taste of Flesh Caffeine is all the proof you’ll need.
Written by Stephanie Cabral and Katherine Turman
Band Members
John Christ and Stefan Svensson
John Christ and Stefan Svensson
Location: AMERICA NORTH: USA: California (CA)
Genre: Metal