Joe Holmes

For the rugby league footballer, see Joe Holmes (rugby league). For other people, see Joseph Holmes (disambiguation).
Joe Holmes

Holmes at Ozzfest in 1998
Background information
Born June 11, 1963
Genres Heavy metal, hard rock
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1983–Present
Associated acts David Lee Roth
Ozzy Osbourne
Lizzy Borden
Terriff
Farmikos
Website

Farmikos.com

Facebook
Notable instruments
Charvel, Fender, Marshall Amplification

Joe Holmes (born June 11, 1963) is an American heavy metal guitarist best known for his stint with Ozzy Osbourne between 1995 and 2001. He has also played with Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth and the L.A. band Lizzy Borden in addition to leading his own bands, Terriff, and currently, Farmikos.

Biography

Born in New Jersey and raised in Los Angeles, Holmes took lessons from guitarist Randy Rhoads in 1979. Holmes formed Terriff in 1983 but left to join Lizzy Borden in 1987, appearing on the Visual Lies album. He left Lizzy Borden in 1988 and reformed Terriff, staying with the latter group until 1990.

David Lee Roth

Holmes then joined David Lee Roth's band for a tour in 1991, replacing Jason Becker who was diagnosed with ALS while recording the album A Little Ain't Enough. Back in L.A., Holmes once again re-activated Terriff trying out and rehearsing with different singers, including former Badlands vocalist Ray Gillen. Eventually, the band recruited Jeff Biebuyck to be their new frontman and changed the name from Terriff to Dogma and, finally, Alien Ink recording an album's worth of material with producer Rich Mouser.

Ozzy Osbourne

In 1995, after Ozzy Osbourne had finished recording the Ozzmosis album, a replacement for Zakk Wylde was needed for the tour.[1] While working on his own band, Joe got a call from Deen Castronovo (Ozzy's drummer) to let him know they were seeking a guitar player. Joe went down to Audible Studios in Los Angeles and played three Ozzy classics. Holmes did not mention that he had taken lessons from Randy Rhoads (former guitarist for Osbourne) as he thought it would hurt his chances at the job. He succeeded though and got the part.[2]

In Ozzy's book "Diary of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne - The Stories Behind the Songs" it says "Always on the lookout for a bright, new talent, Ozzy spotted a guitarist who plays like a motherfucker" referring to Joe Holmes who had previously worked with David Lee Roth and was a pupil of Randy Rhoads. While on tour, Rhodes would himself take classical guitar tuition and arrange workshops in which he gave lessons to young players. "It's really spooky." said Ozzy, "because when Joe plays the Randy Rhoads stuff, he plays just like him - it's like I can see Randy's fingers."[3]

Holmes performed on the Ozzmosis tour with Osbourne.[4] He started the tour 5 September 1995 in Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium on Monster of Rock Festival, Argentina, South America. He remained Ozzy's guitarist playing Ozzfest 96 through 2000 tours. Holmes left the band while recording and writing the Down to Earth album. While Holmes does not play on the album, the songs "Can You Hear Them?", "Junkie", and "That I Never Had", which were co-written by Holmes,[5] appear on the album. The only songs from his work with Ozzy that have been released is "Walk on Water", which first appeared on the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack, before appearing on the bonus disc for Ozzy's 1997's compilation The Ozzman Cometh and "Perry Mason" live from the 1997 Ozzfest Live CD.

Farmikos

In late December 2012, news broke of Holmes' new band Farmikos, featuring former Laidlaw vocalist Robert Locke.[6] The band's name has no particular meaning and was derived from their song "Scapegoat", which was originally titled "Pharmikos". "Pharmikos" was then changed to "Farmikos" for aesthetics. It became the band's name. In early January 2013, the band's website began to stream the song "Scapegoat", the first Farmikos song to surface, with guest contributions from Holmes' former Ozzy Osbourne band mate, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, and Bad Religion drummer Brooks Wackerman.[7] Another song, "The Sound Of My Gun", also featuring Trujillo and Wackerman, premiered in early March 2013.[8] Farmikos continues to record new music with long time Holmes studio affiliate, engineer/producer Rich Mouser. In late July 2013 Farmikos released a video teaser for the song "Exit Stencils" on the official FARMIKOS YouTube channel. The Video features footage of Holmes recording solo tracks in the studio.[9] In December 2013 two more video teasers were released on the official FARMIKOS YouTube channel for the songs "Spoon and Sun" and "Scapegoat". An EP was announced for February 2014. Recorded at the Mouse House in Pasadena, California with engineer/mixer Rich Mouser (SPOCK'S BEARD, TRANSATLANTIC, VAST), the EP also features guest contributions from Holmes' former Ozzy Osbourne band-mate, bassist Robert Trujillo, and drummer Brooks Wackerman.

"Farmikos" EP track listing:

01. Scapegoat
02. Kings Of Dust
03. Sound Of My Gun
04. Exit Stencils
05. Spoon And Sun [10]

However, on March 18, 2014, instead of an EP, FARMIKOS released four digital singles: "Scapegoat", "Kings Of Dust", "Exit Stencils" and "The Sound Of My Gun". The band then continued to release new singles: "Spoon and Sun" was released in May and "Am I One" was released in July, [11] adding, "Fragile", "Ascension" and "I Was Them" as the year went on. In early January 2015, they released "Facing East", just before an album became available on January 15, 2015. This album compiles all the songs released as singles, to date.

On Eddie Trunk's radio show, January 12, 2015, Joe Holmes revealed his intentions to shoot a couple videos in February for the songs "Scapegoat" and "Am I One", as well as doing some live shows in 2015. He also mentioned that the band has six or seven songs almost finished, ready for a future release.

Trivia

The short instrumental "Joe's Blues" on Badlands' Voodoo Highway album is named after Joe who was working as a studio guitar tech for Jake E. Lee at the time. Badlands bassist Greg Chaisson was part of an early Terriff line-up in the mid 1980s.

Discography

with Lizzy Borden

with Ozzy Osbourne

with Farmikos

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Zakk Wylde to Ozzy: "If You're Gonna Can My Ass, Say It To My Face"". Blabbermouth. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "Ozzy Osbourne Family FAQ/Biography". ozzyfaq. 11 September 2005. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Clerk, Carol (20 Nov 2002). Diary of a Madman: Ozzy Osbourne - The Stories Behind the Songs. New York, NY: Thunder Mountain Press. pp. 124, 135. ISBN 1-56025-472-6.
  4. ↑ García, Nehuen (23 Oct 2011). "Musicians who played with Joe Holmes in Ozzy's band". facebook.com. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Osbourne, Ozzy (2001). Down To Earth (booklet). Ozzy Osbourne. Hollywood, CA.: Sony. p. 4. EPC 498474 2.
  6. ↑ "Former OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist JOE HOLMES Returns With FARMIKOS". blabbermouth.net. Retrieved Dec 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "METALLICA Bassist, BAD RELIGION Drummer To Guest On FARMIKOS Debut".
  8. ↑ "Former OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist JOE HOLMES' FARMIKOS: Another New Song Posted Online".
  9. ↑ "Former OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist JOE HOLMES' FARMIKOS: Video Footage From The Studio". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Former OZZY OSBOURNE Guitarist JOE HOLMES' FARMIKOS To Release Debut EP". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "FARMIKOS". farmikos.com. Retrieved 25 August 2014.