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Chris Barnes (musician)

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Chris Barnes
Barnes in 2009
Barnes in 2009
Background information
Born (1967-12-29) December 29, 1967 (age 56)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
GenresDeath metal
Occupations
  • Vocalist
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1986–present
Member ofSix Feet Under
Formerly of

Chris Barnes (born December 29, 1967) is an American death metal vocalist who is the frontman of Six Feet Under. He is noted for his low guttural vocals and explicitly violent lyrics.

Barnes was the co-founder and original lead vocalist and lyricist of Cannibal Corpse, staying with the band from 1988 to 1995. He later founded the Florida death metal band Six Feet Under, for whom he also provided lead vocals. In addition, he has also appeared on Torture Killer's second album Swarm! Barnes designed the original Cannibal Corpse logo, the Six Feet Under logo and the artwork for the band's 1997 album Warpath.

Career

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Early career

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Barnes started his career at the age of 19. His first band was a death/thrash band called Tirant Sin, which was formed in 1986 in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. Other members of Tirant Sin included Paul Mazurkiewicz (drums), Bob Rusay, Cam V and Joe Morelli (guitars) and Rich Ziegler (bass guitar). In 1986, Barnes left Tirant Sin to join another New York-based death/thrash metal band named Leviathan that recorded the four-track demo "Legions of the Undead" in 1987, re-released on the 2005 Six Feet Under box set A Decade in the Grave.

Tirant Sin recorded three demos, all privately released: "Desecration of the Graves" in February 1987, "Chaotic Destruction" in fall 1987 with Dennis John on vocals, and "Mutant Supremacy" in 1988. Barnes appeared only on the third demo, when he re-joined Tirant Sin in January 1988.[1][2][3]

1988–1995: Cannibal Corpse

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Barnes wrote all of the lyrics on the albums Butchered at Birth, Tomb of the Mutilated, and The Bleeding and wrote the lyrics on Eaten Back to Life with the rest of the band helping.[4] Barnes became notorious for his explicitly violent lyrics. He said, "I was always interested in horror and stuff like that, and gore, and I read a lot of the stuff on serial killings."[5] Joe DiVita of Loudwire has called Barnes a "deranged lyrical genius".[6]

Barnes left Cannibal Corpse in 1995 due to creative and personal differences with the rest of the band. Barnes later claimed he felt "ridiculed" by the other band members and did not enjoy being in their presence during his waning days with the band.[7] His final vocal recordings with the band were for the "Created to Kill" sessions which were later re-recorded by his replacement George Fisher for the Vile album. The "Created to Kill" demo featuring Barnes was eventually released as part of the 15 Year Killing Spree box set released in 2003.

Barnes designed the original Cannibal Corpse logo, which was used until 1995.

Barnes' departure from Cannibal Corpse allowed him to devote his full attention to the band Six Feet Under, which had been his side project since 1993. Barnes commented that he is "very proud" of his accomplishments with the band. He later said, "being booted out of Cannibal Corpse was pretty memorable but in a good way. I didn't feel I was able to write the way I wanted to so it was a good transition for me."[8]

In response to questions from fans regarding a possible reunion between Barnes and Cannibal Corpse, Alex Webster ruled out the possibility, saying "we have no plans to do anything with Chris Barnes ever again. It's not something any of us are interested in doing."[9] "It's nothing against him, but we prefer to move forward rather than live in the past."[10] Webster also stated that although he and Barnes had been cordial when the two run into each other at festivals, Cannibal Corpse would probably not participate in a tour with Six Feet Under either, saying "you do your thing, we'll do ours".[11] Barnes himself commented:

"I don't have any animosity towards those guys at all, and I don't think they do towards me. It's just that… It would be too confusing for things [if we were to tour together], I think, from their perspective".[12]

Personal life and views

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Barnes has been openly critical about the current state of death metal, going as far to say he "despises" what the genre has become, saying "all the people trolling me, proves my point [...] all the bitch ass “media” making headlines off it proves my point".[13][14][15][16] Barnes espouses coronavirus conspiracy theories[17] and conspiracy theories about the 2018 Parkland school shooting.[18]

Feud with Seth Putnam

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There was controversy surrounding Barnes and Anal Cunt's former vocalist Seth Putnam. According to Putnam, he heckled Barnes during a Six Feet Under set, which lead to an altercation between the two. Ultimately, Six Feet Under's roadies ganged up on Putnam while Barnes fled to his tour bus. Putnam released the song "Chris Barnes Is a Pussy" as retaliation to the incident.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]

Despite the feud, Putnam stated that "Murdered in the Basement" was his favorite song by Six Feet Under.[26]

Artistry

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On early Cannibal Corpse releases, Barnes employed a thrash metal vocal style comparable to the likes of Kreator and The Accused. By the band's second album Butchered at Birth, his growls were drastically lower. Barnes has stated that he developed his guttural vocal style as an attempt to blend into the music, or "become another instrument", as the band's music became heavier.[27]

Legacy

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Gene Hoglan has credited Barnes as one of the "progenitors of the gore style".[27]

Discography

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Six Feet Under

Cannibal Corpse

Torture Killer

  • Swarm! (2006)
  • Phobia (2013) Backing vocals on "Written in Blood"

IHATE

  • IHATE (2014)

Cannabis Corpse

  • From Wisdom to Baked (2014) Backing vocals on "Individual Pot Patterns"

Gorguts

  • Considered Dead (1991) Backing vocals on "Bodily Corrupted", "Rottenatomy" & "Hematological Allergy"

Skribbal

Opening introduction on "The Retribution"

Incite

References

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  1. ^ "Biography of Chris Barnes". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008.
  2. ^ "TIRANT SIN on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads". Archived from the original on October 23, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  3. ^ "Tirantsin.com". Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  4. ^ "Cannibal Corpse interview". Archived from the original on October 23, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  5. ^ "Go back in time with Chris Barnes to the "Eaten Back to Life" album". October 28, 2020.
  6. ^ DiVita, Joe (December 18, 2023). "Best Death Metal Album of Each Year Since 1985". Loudwire. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. ^ Kennelty, Greg (February 7, 2017). "Chris Barnes Says He Quit CANNIBAL CORPSE Because They Ridiculed Him". Metal Injection. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Six Feet Under Interview with Chris Barnes". www.roughedge.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008.
  9. ^ "Official Cannibal Corpse Forum | www.cannibalcorpse.org". Archived from the original on December 30, 2008.
  10. ^ "CoC : Cannibal Corpse : Interview : 5/15/2006". Chroniclesofchaos.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  11. ^ Cannibal Corpse Fanbase (December 5, 2023). Alex Webster on Relationship with Chris Barnes. Retrieved September 24, 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Kennelty, Greg (February 7, 2017). "Chris Barnes Says He Quit CANNIBAL CORPSE Because They Ridiculed Him". Metal Injection.
  13. ^ "'Death Metal Round Table' Made Chris Barnes (Six Feet Under, Ex-Cannibal Corpse) 'Physically Ill' | Comments". lambgoat.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Kennelty, Greg (February 5, 2022). "No Really, CHRIS BARNES Truly Hates The Modern Death Metal Scene". Metal Injection. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  15. ^ MetalSucks (January 28, 2022). "Chris Barnes Inexplicably Cranky About Modern Death Metal, Jamey Jasta's Podcast". MetalSucks. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  16. ^ wookubus (February 15, 2022). "Undeath's Alex Jones On Chris Barnes' Modern Death Metal Hate: "I Need To Send Him A Gift Basket Or Something"". Theprp.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  17. ^ MetalSucks (March 20, 2020). "Chris Barnes Thinks the Coronavirus Is a "False Flag" Because of Course He Does". MetalSucks. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Six Feet Under's Chris Barnes Believes Some of the Florida Shooting Survivors are "Crisis Actors"". MetalSucks. February 23, 2018.
  19. ^ "SP FAQ's". Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  20. ^ "I took Seth Putnam's body because Chris Barnes asked me to, by Gemini/Le Mépris". Gemini/Le Mépris. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  21. ^ "Six Feet Under - Trivia". Metal Storm. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  22. ^ Palmerston, Sean (June 12, 2011). "Seth Putnam of A.C.: The Hellbound Interview".
  23. ^ "Nephrectomy - Chris Barnes Is a Juggalo (RIP Seth Putnam) - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  24. ^ "AmIAnnoying.com". www.amiannoying.com. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  25. ^ Culture Creep (April 24, 2011). Interview with Seth Putnam of A.C. Retrieved September 24, 2024 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "ANAL CUNT's SETH PUTNAM: 'CHRIS BARNES Is A Pussy' - Nov. 4, 2003". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Metal Blade Records (November 20, 2013). Cannibal Corpse - Centuries of Torment - DVD 1 - History (OFFICIAL). Retrieved September 24, 2024 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "INCITE Joined by SIX FEET UNDER's CHRIS BARNES on New Song 'Poisoned By Power' (Audio)". Blabbermouth.net. January 10, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
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