T3RMINAL: Chris Holmes Opens Up About the Ambitious New Supergroup Rock Interview Series #147 – 05/14/2026

Welcome to episode #147 of the Rock Interview Series, recorded on May 14th, 2026. The guest for this feature is legendary guitarist Chris Holmes, formerly of W.A.S.P., the hard‑hitting metal band. Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1983 and helped propel the group into one of the biggest, and most controversial acts of the era, remaining until 1990 and returning again from 1996 to 2001. After leaving the band for good, Holmes carved out a steady solo career and continued collaborating with musicians such as former bandmate Randy Piper. Today, however, Holmes is entering a new chapter one that may become one of the most ambitious projects of his career: T3RMINAL

T3RMINAL brings together an unexpected but powerful lineup: Brian Wheat of Tesla, Tommy Skeoch of Bad Marriage and formerly Tesla, and Josey Scott, the unmistakable voice behind classic line-up Saliva. According to Holmes, the project began simply—just him and Wheat writing together in Europe. “Brian and I started it. Holmes states ‘I’m going to be in Italy. Bring your guitar down. We’ll write a few songs.’” That casual invitation turned into a creative spark, and soon the two were shaping the foundation of what would become a full-fledged supergroup.

What makes T3RMINAL stand out is the scope of the project. Wheat, who owns the studio where the band is recording, pushed for a massive creative undertaking. Holmes recalled asking how many songs they planned to record: “Brian looks at me and goes, ‘We’re going to try to get 24.’ I was like, 24? That’s a double album.” Wheat’s reasoning was strategic—he wanted two full records completed before the band even hits the road. As he told Holmes, “After the first record and tour, nobody wants to get right back together and write. So that’s why I want two records in the can.” Holmes admitted the logic made sense, remembering how difficult it was returning to the studio immediately after touring with W.A.S.P.

Another major turning point came when vocalist Josey Scott entered the picture. Before Scott laid down his tracks, Holmes wasn’t sure what the band’s final sound would be. But once he heard the vocals, everything clicked. “When Josey came in and sang, it made a difference… it’s different than I expected. I like it. It’s cool.” Holmes emphasized that the music doesn’t sound like an ’80s throwback. Instead, Scott’s younger, modern vocal style pushes the band toward a 2000s–2010s hard‑rock edge, giving T3RMINAL a fresh identity rather than a nostalgia act.

Despite the band’s modern direction, the creative process hasn’t been without friction—particularly when Wheat pushed for shorter, radio‑friendly songs. Holmes laughed as he recalled Wheat rejecting one of his six‑minute tracks: “He goes, ‘Chris, that’s six and a half minutes. It won’t work.’” Holmes’ response was pure Holmes: “You can take you and your radio play and shove it up your ass. I don’t give a [ __ ] about it. I write songs from here.” But ultimately, Holmes respected Wheat’s vision. “Brian, you’re the main guy making final decisions… whatever you want to do, I’ll do it.” That balance—Holmes’ raw instinct and Wheat’s structured approach—may be the key to T3RMINAL’s unique chemistry.

With most of the songs completed and only a few ideas left to finalize before sending them to Scott—“He puts the icing on the cake,” Holmes said—the band is closing in on a massive debut. T3RMINAL isn’t just another side project; it’s a carefully engineered, creatively charged collaboration between musicians who know exactly what they want to build. And if the early vision holds, fans may soon be getting not one, but two full albums of brand‑new material from one of rock’s most intriguing new supergroups.

Check out my interview with Chris Holmes below, and please subscribe to the Rock Interview Series.

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