Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes has officially canceled his upcoming May 2026 tour across the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, citing pressing medical concerns that require immediate attention. Fans holding tickets for his later summer appearances can breathe a sigh of relief, however, as performances scheduled from July onward are currently expected to proceed as planned.
The unfortunate news broke on Friday, April 10, when The Abyss, a popular venue in Gothenburg, Sweden, slated to host the veteran musician on May 27, issued an official statement provided by the guitarist and his wife/manager, Catherine Holmes.
Addressing the abrupt cancellation, the statement reads:
“Due to health issues that require immediate attention, we must unfortunately cancel the May tour. We will keep you updated as soon as we have more information. We would like to thank each and every one of you for your understanding, and we ask that you please accept our apologies.”
While the Holmes camp has not disclosed any specific details regarding his current condition, the heavy metal icon is unfortunately no stranger to severe medical battles. In February 2022, he received a devastating diagnosis of throat and neck cancer, which forced him to immediately step away from all touring commitments. He underwent a grueling seven-week regimen of radiation therapy to combat the disease. Thankfully, five months after completing his treatments, he delivered a triumphant update to his supporters, officially declaring that the cancer was “gone.”
Chris Holmes originally cemented his legacy in the heavy metal scenes as a key member of W.A.S.P. Joining the Los Angeles outfit during its infancy in 1982, his searing guitar work helped define the band’s classic era before his initial departure in 1990. He later returned to the fold for a second stint spanning from 1996 to 2001. Following his final exit over two decades ago, he has remained completely focused on his solo endeavors and has not shared a stage with his former bandmates since.
