Editing John Christ

{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{short description|American guitarist}}
{{about||the bass guitarist of Avenged Sevenfold|Johnny Christ|the Hollywood Rose drummer with a similar name|Johnny Kreis}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = John Christ
| image =
| caption = 
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = John Wolfgang Knoll
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|2|19}}
| birth_place =[[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
| death_date = 
|genre = [[Hard rock]], [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[gothic rock]], [[blues rock]]
| occupation = Guitarist
| years_active = 
| label = Tang Records
| past_member_of = [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]<br />[[Samhain (band)|Samhain]]
| website = {{URL|johnchrist.com}}
}}

'''John Christ''' (born '''John Wolfgang Knoll''' on February 19, 1965) is an American musician best known as the original guitarist for the metal band [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]]. He has been known for his bluesy hard rock sound and frequent use of the [[pinch harmonic]]. Christ was ranked 63rd in ''[[Guitar World]]'s'' list of 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists'.<ref name="Ultimate Guitar">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/top_metal_guitarists.html|title=Top Metal Guitarists|date=January 26, 2004|publisher=[[Ultimate Guitar Archive|Ultimate Guitar]]|access-date=October 3, 2009}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Christ was born the youngest of five children, with four older sisters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&u=dforce&f=dforce00.txt|title=John Christ Directly from the "Christman's" Mouth|year=1990|publisher=DANZIG Force promo package|access-date=January 5, 2012}}</ref> Christ first started playing acoustic guitar when he was in grade school and began playing electric guitar at age 13.<ref name="GFTPM">{{cite web|url=http://misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=guitfpm.w92|title=John Christ of DANZIG In-Your-Face|last=Alexander|first=Lorena|date=December 1992|publisher=[[Guitar for the Practicing Musician]]|access-date=June 22, 2010}}</ref> He had previously taken piano lessons.<ref name="TV Casualty">{{cite web|url=http://tvcasualty.com/articles/a_jchrist.html|title=Speaking with Former Samhain & Danzig Guitarist, John Christ|date=June 5, 1999|publisher=TV Casualty|access-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref> His first electric guitar was a [[Univox]] [[Les Paul]] copy.<ref name="GFTPM" /> Christ grew up in [[Catonsville, Maryland]] and attended [[Catonsville High School]].<ref name="98 Rock">{{cite web|url=http://thejoint.98online.com/service/displayFullRss.kickAction?username=Christoff&quantity=25&type=US&mediaType=AUDIO&as=13306|title=John Christ with Stash|last=Ash|first=Steve|date=November 19, 2009|publisher=98 Rock Baltimore|access-date=January 8, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220114056/http://thejoint.98online.com/service/displayFullRss.kickAction?username=Christoff&quantity=25&type=US&mediaType=AUDIO&as=13306|archive-date=December 20, 2009}}</ref> He later studied classical guitar at the [[Peabody Institute]]<ref name="Circus">{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=circus.94|title=Danzig's "Mother" Ship Comes In|last=Levitan|first=Corey|date=May 1994|publisher=[[Circus (magazine)|Circus]]|access-date=August 7, 2010}}</ref> and attended [[Towson University]] studying Jazz, theory and composition.<ref name="Guitar World">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=gworld.94|title=The Passion of Christ|last=Gilbert|first=Jeff|date=August 1994|magazine=[[Guitar World]]|access-date=September 25, 2010}}</ref>

== Samhain and Danzig ==
In 1987, Christ dropped out of college and moved to [[New Jersey]] to join [[Glenn Danzig]]'s band [[Samhain (band)|Samhain]], which became the band [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]] later that same year.<ref name="TV Casualty" /> Upon his arrival in New Jersey, Christ would share an apartment with Samhain drummer London May, for whom Christ had performed his first band audition.<ref name="TV Casualty" /> Christ auditioned well, but it wasn't until leaving countless [[guitar solo]]s on Glenn Danzig's answering machine that he was finally invited to join the band.<ref name="Circus" /> When May left the band, Christ shared an apartment with new drummer [[Chuck Biscuits]], where they came up with Christ's original stage name "John Von Christ", before it was shortened to avoid it clashing with bassist [[Eerie Von]].<ref name="TV Casualty" /> Christ played guitar with Danzig from 1987 to July 1995, appearing on the albums ''[[Danzig (album)|Danzig]]'', ''[[Danzig II: Lucifuge|Lucifuge]]'', ''[[Danzig III: How the Gods Kill|How the Gods Kill]]'' and ''[[Danzig 4p|4]]'', and also the ''[[Thrall-Demonsweatlive]]'' EP. In 1990, Christ recorded guitar for the Samhain album ''[[Final Descent (album)|Final Descent]]''. Christ officially left Danzig on July 5, 1995, citing a breakdown in communication within the band as the reason behind his departure.<ref name="440music">{{cite news|url= http://www.440music.com/John_Christ/epk/|title=John Christ|author= Stephanie Cabral and Katherine Turman|publisher=440music|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Metal Sludge">{{cite web|url=http://metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=37|title=20 Questions with John Christ|date=December 14, 1999|publisher=Metal Sludge|archive-date=September 27, 2007|access-date=September 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225223/http://metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=37}}</ref> During his time with Danzig, Christ's main guitar was a 1983 [[BC Rich]] Bich strung with custom [[D'Aquisto]] strings and fit with [[PRS Guitars|PRS]] pickups.<ref name="Musician">{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/display.php?t=darticle&f=musician.894|title=Danzig Knows the Power of the Dark Side|last=Young|first=Jon|date=August 1994|publisher=[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]|access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref> The guitar was customized with the Danzig skull symbol, and is currently on display at the [[Hard Rock Cafe]] in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].<ref name="Hard Rock Memorabilia">{{cite news|url= http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/?item=012246|title=John Christ Danzig Guitar|publisher=[[Hard Rock Cafe]]|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref>

== Solo career ==
In 1997, Christ was part of the short lived band Juice 13, which also included [[Randy Castillo]], former drummer for [[Ozzy Osbourne]].<ref name="Music Might">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/los+angeles/juice+13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528023950/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/usa/los+angeles/juice+13|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2009|title=Juice 13|year=2009|publisher=Music Might|access-date=September 30, 2009}}</ref> Christ's guitar work has been used by TV stations [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and [[Nine Network]].<ref name="440music" /><ref name="Misfits Central">{{cite news|url= http://misfitscentral.com/bios/john-christ.php|title=John Christ Bio|publisher=Misfits Central|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> During his time with Nine Network, he provided backing guitar for performances by artists including [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] and [[Lou Rawls]].<ref name="98 Rock" /> In 1999, Christ released his debut solo album ''[[Flesh Caffeine]]''.<ref name="Misfits Central" /> In 2003, Christ was involved in a serious crash and suffered injuries to his fretting hand.<ref name="Bravewords" /> As a result of his injuries, he underwent lengthy [[Rehabilitation (neuropsychology)|rehabilitation]].<ref name="Bravewords">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/129719|title=Former DANZIG Guitarist JOHN CHRIST – "Back To Work"|date=January 7, 2010|magazine=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|Brave Words]]|access-date=January 8, 2010}}</ref> On November 27, 2009, Christ returned to the live stage for the first time in ten years with a solo performance in Essex, Maryland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/original_danzig_guitarist_returns_to_live_stage.html|title=Original Danzig Guitarist Returns To Live Stage|date=December 1, 2009|publisher=[[Ultimate Guitar Archive|Ultimate Guitar]]|access-date=January 8, 2010}}</ref>

== Discography ==
=== Danzig ===
* 1988 – ''[[Danzig (album)|Danzig]]''
* 1990 – ''[[Danzig II: Lucifuge]]''
* 1992 – ''[[Danzig III: How the Gods Kill]]''
* 1993 – ''[[Thrall-Demonsweatlive]]''
* 1994 – ''[[Danzig 4]]''
* 2001 – ''[[Live on the Black Hand Side]]''
* 2007 – ''[[The Lost Tracks of Danzig]]''

=== Samhain ===
* 1990 – ''[[Final Descent (album)|Final Descent]]''

=== Solo ===
* 1999 – ''[[Flesh Caffeine]]''

=== Others ===
* 1987 – ''[[Less than Zero (soundtrack)|Less than Zero]]'' soundtrack album by Various Artists (contributed the track "You and Me (Less than Zero)" with [[Danzig (band)|Glenn Danzig & the Power and Fury Orchestra]])
* 1994 – ''Guitar Practicing Musicians 3'' by Various Artists (Contributed the track "For Christ's Sake", also featuring [[Chuck Biscuits]])
* 1996 – ''Guitars That Rule the World, Vol. 2: Smell the Fuzz: The Superstar Guitar Album'' by Various Artists (Contributed the track "One Song")
* 1999 – ''Black Glue'' by Mike Hartman
* 2001 – ''[[Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica]]'' by Various Artists (Contributed the track "[[Enter Sandman]]", also featuring [[Robert Trujillo]], [[Burton C. Bell]] and [[Tommy Aldridge]])
* 2012 – ''[[Ex Lives]]'' by [[Every Time I Die]] (Contributed guitar on the track "Revival Mode")

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.johnchrist.com}}
* [http://www.myspace.com/john7772 John Christ's MySpace]

{{Danzig}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christ, John}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Baltimore]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:Horror punk musicians]]
[[Category:Danzig (band) members]]
[[Category:Towson University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Catonsville, Maryland]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Maryland]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:Samhain (band) members]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]