Chris Wolstenholme facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Wolstenholme
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Wolstenholme performing with Muse in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Tony Wolstenholme |
| Also known as | Chromes |
| Born | 2 December 1978 Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
Christopher Tony Wolstenholme (born December 2, 1978) is an English musician famous for being the bassist and a backing singer for the rock band Muse. He is known for creating powerful, distorted bass sounds using special electronic tools called effects and synthesisers. This unique sound is a key part of many famous Muse songs.
Chris also wrote and sang the main vocals on two songs from Muse's 2012 album, The 2nd Law. In 2024, he started his own music project called Chromes.
Contents
How His Music Career Began
Chris Wolstenholme was born in the English town of Rotherham. He later moved to Teignmouth, a town in a county called Devon. There, he started out as a drummer for a local rock band.
While practicing, he met Matt Bellamy and Dominic Howard, who were in another band. Matt and Dom were impressed with Chris and asked him to learn the bass guitar and start a new band with them. Chris agreed, and they formed a group called Rocket Baby Dolls, which they later renamed Muse in 1994.
A Unique Style of Playing
Chris Wolstenholme's bass playing is a very important part of Muse's music. Instead of just playing simple background notes, his bass lines often act like a lead instrument. A great example of this is the song "Hysteria" from 2003.
Creating the Muse Sound
To get his signature sound, Chris uses his bass guitar with electronic effects and synthesisers. This helps him create a heavy, fuzzy sound that fans love. Like his bandmate Matt Bellamy, Chris has touch-screen controllers built into his instruments. These let him control his sound effects, such as Kaoss Pads and Whammy pedals, right from his bass.
Most of the time, Chris plays the bass with his fingers instead of a pick. He believes this creates a better sound for most of Muse's songs. According to music producer Rich Costey, who has worked with Muse, Chris plays the strings with amazing strength, which gives his music a powerful feel.
Working on Other Projects
Besides his work with Muse, Chris has helped other musicians. In 2015, he played bass on a song called "Bones" for the band Moriaty. He also played on the album Over and Out by Rick Parfitt, which was released in 2018 after Parfitt's death.
In August 2024, Chris launched his solo project, Chromes. He released his first songs, "Imaginary World" and "The Good Life," showing another side of his musical talent.
Personal Life
Chris Wolstenholme is married to Caris Ball. Together, they have a large family with ten children. He is a big fan of his hometown football team, Rotherham United. In 2008, the University of Plymouth gave him an honorary doctorate degree in arts to celebrate his achievements in music.
For a time, Chris struggled with a serious health problem. It began to affect his life and music, especially while recording Muse's album The Resistance in 2009. He knew he needed to make a change for his health.
He found that focusing on music helped him recover. He poured his energy into writing songs in a way he hadn't done for years. This experience inspired him to write two very personal songs for Muse's next album, The 2nd Law (2012). The songs, "Liquid State" and "Save Me," were the first ones where he also sang the lead vocals.
See also
In Spanish: Christopher Wolstenholme para niños
