Ben Christo
 |
Ben Christo | |
|---|---|
 Ben Christo wielding his axe during a Sisters of Mercy Show | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 22 March 1980(age44) Bristol, England |
| Genres | Industrial rock,alternative rock,alternative metal,gothic rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
Benjamin David Christodoulou[1](born 22 March 1980) is an English rock musician, guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, lyricist and session musician, he is best known for his tenures withThe Sisters of Mercy,Night By Nightand Diamond Black.
Early life[edit]
Christo was born inBristol,England and began playing music at seven years old. During a 2023 interview he said: "At a very young age, I gravitated toward any pop music that featured rock guitar. Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Michael Bolton, even stuff like Belinda Carlisle! If there was a guitar solo or heavy guitar, I would be drawn in".[2]He continued performing in a number of rock, metal and punk bands in his early to mid-teens. At 15, his school group, Balanced State, won the South West of England's regional battle of the bands, leading to his first TV appearance.
AKO[edit]
He first saw national success in the hardcore punk/metal/rock band AKO, which he co-founded in 1998, whose debut album received favourable reviews inKerrang!,Metal HammerandTotal Guitar.The band's unique combination of punk, hardcore, nu-metal and melodic rock caught the attention ofTony Iommi’s management, who gave Christo one of Iommi's oldLaneyamplifiers and arranged for the band to meet with renowned producerBob Marlette(Alice Cooper,Shinedown,Rob Zombie), to discuss collaboration on their second album. However,9/11severed trans-Atlantic links to such an extent that the plans were shelved indefinitely.
AKO released two more EPs and toured in support ofAlkaline Trio,AFI,Stiff Little Fingers,Avenged SevenfoldandStonesour,amongst others, and were featured onMike Davies’BBC Radio 1show The Lock Up atMaida Vale Studios.The AKO song, "Tread Easy" was used onBBC 2’s "Football Diaries".
The band's final show was at the 2005South By South West Festivalin Austin, Texas. AKO decided to call it a day shortly thereafter and Christo moved to London.
In October 2020,Cherry Red Recordsbegan re-releasing the back catalogue on worldwide digital platforms, including previously unreleased single "The Death of Us", which includes never-before-heard B-sides from the "Tomorrow Night's Regret" sessions.
The Sisters of Mercy[edit]
In 2006, Christo joinedThe Sisters of Mercy,as lead guitarist and backing vocalist. He was first invited to the band via phone in December 2005. Said Christo, "I got a call one afternoon, from an unknown number. With very little preamble, the caller, without introducing himself, stated, ‘We might want you to be in our band".[3]’He has toured extensively with the band,[4]headlining festivals worldwide such asSonsiphere,Fuji Rock,Nova Rock,Tuska OpenAir Metal Festival,M’era Luna,Greenfield Festival,Spirit of Burgas,AmphiandSoundwave Australia.The 2019 – 2020 world tour showcased a number of new songs that Christo had co-written withAndrew Eldritchand new guitarist Dylan Smith, with additional new works being premiered during the 2022 tour dates.
2023 saw the band return to the USA for the first time in 14 years, commencing atSystem of a Down'sSick New World Festival,which led to features inLA WeeklyandSpin.com.During the Los Angeles date, at theHollywood Palladium,the band were joined onstage byBerlinvocalistTerri Nunnfor a performance ofTemple of Love.During the tour, Christo was professionally photographed by and withLamb of GodfrontmanRandy Blythe.
In May 2024, TSOM announced a return to the USA for fall, supported byBlaqk Audio,featuringDavey HavokandJade PugetofAFI.The 26-date tour goes coast to coast and includes Canadian shows in Vancouver and Toronto.[5]
Night by Night[edit]
In 2008, Christo foundedNight By Night,where he was lead singer, guitarist, primary songwriter and key lyricist for the band. Their first EP, "Just Tonight", was produced by Paul Tipler (Idlewild) and released in 2009.Later recruiting an additional lead singer and expanding to a 5-piece, Night by Night's debut album, "NxN", was released to critical acclaim in 2014.
Produced and mixed by Romesh Dodangoda (Motorhead,Funeral for a Friend) andJohn Mitchelland released onSun Hill Production/Cargo Recordsthe album was publicly applauded by several musicians including those fromDef Leppard,[6]Kane Roberts,Harem ScaremandFirehouse,claiming 6th place inFireworks Magazine’s Top 10 Albums of 2014, alongsideMr. BigandNight Ranger.In his review,[7]Classic Rock Magazine’sGeoff Bartonscored the album 8/10 and made a point of commending both Christo's lead playing (comparing him toNeal Schon) and lyrics.
In addition to substantial touring across the UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, Germany and Switzerland (including shows supportingAlannah Miles,The Quireboys,Lord of the LostandJettblack), Night by Night was selected as sole tour supports to bothEuropeandY&T,and also appeared atDownload(2013) andHard Rock Hell(2012 and 2015) festivals. In June 2015, the band announced that they would be on hiatus until further notice.
Diamond Black[edit]
In 2016, Christo established dark-rock quartet, Diamond Black,[8]with Finnish singer J.I. Turunen and Finnish producerJaani Peuhu(Swallow the Sun,Lord of the Lost), with artist & bassist Adam Lightspeed joining shortly after to help create the band's identity. Renowned drummerJan-Vincent Velazco(Pendragon) was recruited soon after, completing the group. The debut single was released on 20 October 2017 and received public praise fromMetal Hammer,W.A.S.P.andDeathstars,withPiggy DofRob ZombieandMark ThwaiteofThe Missionsharing the video on their social media.Sony Pictures TelevisionchannelScuzzset the track on rotation andBass Guitar Magazineran a feature on the band. On 12 December, a limited-edition physical copy of the single was released from the band's website, selling out in 2 hours, which included Christo's hand-written lyrics as part of the CD package. In March 2018, Diamond Black toured the UK as sole support toCellar Darling,to positive feedback from public and press. Soon after, the sophomore single,Ghost in the Glasswas released, gaining public acclaim fromTherapy?'sMichael McKeeganand scoring the band rotation on one ofSpotify's new music playlists, seeing the band's Spotify plays shoot to 70K+ in a number of days. In June 2019, the band signed toCargo Records,and with first release with the label,The Scarlet,publicly hailed by Michael Rainbow ofThe Birthday massacreand with the promotional video clip winning first place in both the New York Cinematography Awards and Paris International Music Awards. This activity caught the attention of live booker,United Talent Agency,who signed the band, leading to a support slot to Finnish rockersThe 69 Eyes.In June 2020, during worldwide lockdown, the band released singleIf You Kill My Demons.In August 2022, it was announced that the band would move forward as a three-piece, with Christo adopting lead vocal duties, with a UK tour supportingEsprit D'Airscheduled for February 2023.
The band released singleThough the Miseryon Cargo, whichJyrki 69lauded as "Goth AOR... DB are creating a new scene!" and was featured inSonic Seducer.Summer 2023 UK dates followed withLord of the Lostand in spring 2024, Diamond Black embarked on another tour with Esprit D'Air, this time expanding into mainland Europe.
June 30th saw the band perform atHellfest,with dates either side in France and Belgium. The set featured a cameo byNeonflyguitarist Freddy Thunder.
Session and other work[edit]
As a studio session guitarist and vocalist, he has recorded with Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers),Tom Dalgety(Royal Blood,Pixies,Ghost),Raymond Watts(KMFDM,PIG), Steve Lima (Corrine Bailey-Rae) and Bob White of NFD. He has also composed music and lyrics for various international artists, including the no. 2 chart position albumJudasbyLord of the Lost.
As a live musician, Christo has also headlined or played shows and festivals alongsideDepeche Mode,Metallica,Placebo,Editors,Strung Out,Serj Tankian,The Cult,Faith No More,Marilyn Manson,Tricky,OMD,Machine Head (band),Linkin Park,Rob Zombie,Iron Maiden,Skunk Anansie,Manic Street Preachers,Prophets of RageandLimp Bizkitand headlinedBloodstockandGrona lund.
In 2002, Christo was selected as one of eight songwriters, alongsideJonny Kalsi,chosen from thousands of members ofPRSfor Music for theirThe Song's The Thingworkshop, led byBoo Hewerdine.Around the same time, he appeared in a promo feature forRoadrunner Records.
In 2004, Ben co-wrote and directed a comedy short, "Sold Out",with fellow University of Bristol graduate David R. Watson, featuring Ninian Doff (Kasabian,Royal Blood,Miike Snow,Chemical Brothers,Get Duked!) as the D.O.P, Nick Gadd (Sherlock, TV Series) as starring role andJohn Heffernanin a cameo. The short won aDazednational film award, selected byRhys Ifans.
From 2008 to 2016, Christo has featured as a live guitarist and backing vocalist withRichie Faulkner,Therapy?,Mike Tramp,Chris Dale,Doogie White,Stephen Gilchrist,Chris Catalyst,Jon Poole,Boysetsfire,Claytown Troupeand members ofUriah Heep,Breed 77,Rachel Stamp,Ben and Jason,DragonForce,Cradle of FilthandSikth.
In 2011, Christo wrote and performed live forLauren Harris’s band,Six Hour Sundown,when previous guitaristRichie Faulkner,who left to joinJudas Priest,personally asked Ben to take his place.
In 2014, Christo composed and played guitar parts forAnzi Destruction’s "Black Dog Bias".
From 2016 - 2020, Ben was performer and promoter at Shot Through the Heart, an eighties cover act and monthly rock club night in at The Lounge in London, with whom he performed at Stone Free Festival alongsideScorpionsandMegadeth.
In June 2018,Pigreleased full-length album "Risen", on which Christo co-wrote and performed. The album also featuresEn Esch,Tim Skold,Marc HealandMark Thwaite.The album release promoted by a US tour, including a 3-week support slot forKilling Jokeon the U.S.A. leg of their fortieth anniversary world tour.[9]In May 2019,The Revelation,a song Ben co-wrote and performed with Raymond Watts was featured inDC Comics'Legends of Tomorrow,asJohn Constantineprepares to battle demons in the night club ‘Hell’.
April 2019 saw Christo invited by Chris Dale to perform a special show in Sarajevo, Bosnia, commemorating 25 years sinceBruce Dickinson’s band,Skunkworks(featuring Dale on bass), had played there during the war (as documented in the award-winning movie "Scream for me Sarajevo" ). The show was a sell-out success, filmed for national television and with Dickinson himself in attendance.
In May and August 2018, Christo accompanied Nathan Gray (Boysetsfire) on his solo tour of Germany as guitarist, backing vocalist and keyboard player, the recordings of which were released in February 2019 as a live album and DVD. The physical copies of the album sold out in just 4 days. A European tour followed in March, with many shows being sold out. Ben then co-wrote and performed guitars and backing vocals on a number of Nathan's new recordings, featured on the 2019 EPSplit(with Jesse Barnett ofStick to Your Guns) and the 2020 albumWorking Title,both produced byPete Steinkopfofthe Bouncing Souls,the new songs from which were debuted on a February 2020 European tour. In August 2022, he rejoined the band for three European festivals.
During lockdown 2020/21, Ben composed and performed parts for Lev Kerzhner and Noa Gruman'sTogether On Our Own,a remotely-recorded collaboration featuring members ofKamelotandSubway to Sally.He also appeared on Rob Lane'sStraight to Videopodcast, joining a roster of guests that includes members ofSteel Panther,Slashand the Conspirators and TheAlice CooperBand.
Spring 2021 saw Ben remix 'Tribe' for an EP by Caroline ofSunshine Blind,with Christo's version appearing alongside remixes byMark ThwaiteandAndee BlacksugarofKMFDM.
In July 2021,Lord of the Lost'sJudaswas released, on which Ben contributed music, lyrics, guitars and vocals (Argent- composed lyrics and co-wrote music with Chris Harms andJaani Peuhu) andStill Life to Die For(composed lyrics, vocal melody, sang all vocals and played lead guitar). The album reached no. 2 in the German mainstream chart.
On January 18, 2022, it was announced that Ben would joinRicky Warwick(The Almighty,Black Star Riders,Thin Lizzy) on his upcoming solo tour of the UK and Ireland, as lead guitarist and backing vocalist, alongside Jack Taylor (Tax the Heat) andRichard Vernon(The Mission).
In summer that year, IANAI'sSunirrecord was released, on which Ben sang backing vocals. The album also featured members ofHIMandMassive Attack.
That year, Ben contributed to theOceansalbum, by award-winning J-rock artist,Esprit D'Air.Ben wrote lyrics and vocal melodies and sang guest lead vocals onDead Zone,which was released as a single on March 11 and publicly lauded byCradle of Filthguitarist Richard Shaw.
A further collaboration with Esprit D'Air followed in 2023: a cover ofIron Maiden'sThe Trooper,also featuring ex-Judas PriestvocalistTim "Ripper" Owens.The track peaked at #1 in theiTunesUK Metal Charts.
Mid 2023, Ben contributed a guitar solo to Khalil Turk & Friends'Don't Surrender,featuringRobin McAuley(Michael Schenker) andRudy Sarzo(Quiet Riot,Ozzy OsbourneandWhitesnake).
2024 saw the release ofOvdanby Tomorrow's Rains, on which Ben composed and recorded guitar parts onTurnaround (Gothic Rock Version),featuring John Denner ofMercyful Fate/King Diamond.The album also featured cameos byXmal DeutschlandandMayhem.
Equipment and endorsements[edit]
Christo usesGibson&Fenderguitars, Kemper amplifiers,RotoSoundstrings,DiMarziopick-ups and InTune guitar picks, with clothing endorsements fromAlexander McQueenandDr Martens.
Recorded work[edit]
The following represent the body of recorded work with which Christo has been involved:
| Date | Band | Title | Format | Label |
| 1997 | Disrupt | D.D.K. | E.P. | Clocktower |
| 1998 | KAT>DNA | 13%/Myrrh | Single | (Self Release) |
| 1999 | AKO | Cover My Eyes | E.P. | (Self Release) |
| 2000 | AKO | Fragments of Reason | E.P. | (Self Release) |
| 2001 | AKO | Find Yourself | Album | Trash City |
| 2002 | AKO | Tomorrow Night's Regret | E.P. | Naked Ambition |
| 2004 | AKO | The Last Goodbye | Single | Naked Ambition |
| 2005 | Ben Christo | At The Brink | Single | (Self Release) |
| 2008 | Night By Night | Just Tonight | E.P. | (Self Release) |
| 2009 | Night By Night | Can't Walk Away | E.P. | (Self Release) |
| 2013 | Night By Night | Tune Out the Static | E.P. | Sun Hill Production |
| 2014 | Anzi Destruction | Black Dog Bias | Album | Chemical Music Enterprises |
| 2014 | Night By Night | NxN | Album | Sun Hill Production/Cargo Records |
| 2014 | Night By Night | A Thousand Lies | Single | Sun Hill Production/Cargo Records |
| 2017 | Diamond Black | Sorrow | Single | (Self Release) |
| 2017 | Pig | Prey and Obey | EP | Metropolis Records |
| 2018 | Pig | Risen | Album | Metropolis Records |
| 2018 | Diamond Black | Ghost in the Glass | Single | (Self Release) |
| 2019 | Nathan Gray | Live at Dechenhöhle Iserlohn | Album | End Hits Records |
| 2019 | Diamond Black | The Scarlet | Single | Cargo Records |
| 2019 | Nathan Gray / Jesse Barnett | Split | EP | End Hits Records |
| 2019 | Nathan Gray | Never Alone | Single | End Hits Records |
| 2020 | Nathan Gray | Working Title | Album | End Hits Records |
| 2020 | Passion | Passion | Album | Frontiers Records |
| 2020 | Noa & Lev | Together On Our Own | Single | LMH Records |
| 2020 | Diamond Black | If You Kill My Demons | Single | Cargo Records |
| 2020 | AKO | The Death of Us | Single | Trash City/Cherry Red Records |
| 2021 | Lord of the Lost | Judas | Album | Napalm Records |
| 2021 | Mercury Circle | Killing Moons | Album | Noble Demon |
| 2021 | Caroline Blind | Tribe - The Remixes | EP | Motherofskye Creations |
| 2022 | Esprit D'Air | Oceans | Album | Starstorm Records |
| 2022 | Esprit D'Air | Dead Zone | Single | Starstorm Records |
| 2022 | IANAI | Sunir | Album | Svart Records |
| 2023 | Plasmata | You Call Him The Devil (Ten Bells - Christo Version) | Single | Plasmata |
| 2023 | NFD | Surrender to My Will (Ben Christo Insurgent Version) | Single | Gothic Citadel Records |
| 2023 | Diamond Black | Through the Misery | Single | Cargo Records |
| 2023 | The 69 Eyes | Death of Darkness | Single | Atomic Fire Records |
| 2023 | Esprit D'Air | The Trooper (feat.Tim "Ripper" Owens& Ben Christo) | Single | Starstorm Records |
| 2023 | Khalil Turk& Friends | Turkish Delight II | Album | Escape Music |
| 2024 | Tomorrow's Rain | Ovdan | Album | AOP Records |
References[edit]
- ^"BUT GENEVIEVE".ASCAP.American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.Retrieved14 November2023.
- ^Belter, Matthew (30 March 2023)."Ben Christo, The TVD Interview".The Vinyl District.Retrieved29 May2024.
- ^Yücel, Ilker (17 April 2023)."InterView: The Sisters of Mercy – Merciful Confessions".ReGen Magazine.Retrieved29 May2024.
- ^"Der Kult aus der Nebelwand –" The Sisters of Mercy "on Tour".worteffekte(in German). 28 March 2016.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^"THE SISTERS OF MERCY announce fall North American tour".Revolver.6 May 2024.Retrieved29 May2024.
- ^"NIGHT BY NIGHT – NxN – Screamer Magazine".Screamer Magazine.30 June 2014.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^"Melodic Rock Round-up: Summer 2014".Classic Rock.18 June 2014.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^"The Sisters Of Mercy Guitarist Ben Christo launches Diamond Black – HighWire Daze".HighWire Daze.15 October 2017.Retrieved3 February2018.
- ^"PIG Announces Fall 2018 Tour With Killing Joke Shares" Chosen Few "Video -".mxdwn Music.5 June 2018.Retrieved14 November2018.
