Christopher Lee DeGarmo was born on June 14,1963 and is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the former co-guitarist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter in the progressive metal band Queensryche from their formation in 1980 until 1997, and with whom he played during their most commercially successful period.
23 Facts About Chris DeGarmo
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Chris DeGarmo briefly returned for collaborations in 2003 and 2007.
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Since departing from Queensryche, Chris DeGarmo has made his living as a professional private jet pilot.
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Chris DeGarmo was nominated for three Grammy Awards as a songwriter.
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The song describes Chris DeGarmo's cherished relationship with his grandfather, and the emotional experience of his biological father trying to make amends after years of absence.
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Chris DeGarmo joined Interlake High School as a sophomore in 1979, and joined his school-mates in garage bands such as Joker, which included guitarist Michael Wilton.
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Chris DeGarmo was the sole writer for the band's 1991 hit "Silent Lucidity", which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, was Grammy nominated in two categories at the 1992 awards, as well as five VMA nominations and one win, and which earned the guitarist a BMI songwriter's award.
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Chris DeGarmo left Queensryche for undisclosed reasons in late 1997 following the band's tour in support of the band's sixth studio album, Hear in the Now Frontier.
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Chris DeGarmo's departure was not made public until January 28,1998.
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Chris DeGarmo's remarks appear to be in line with later statements from other band members that burnout and a desire to pursue interests outside of Queensryche were the reasons for his departure.
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Chris DeGarmo felt like he had done what he wanted musically in his life, and wanted to move on.
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Chris DeGarmo was succeeded in Queensryche by Kelly Gray, Mike Stone, and Parker Lundgren.
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Chris DeGarmo had written both the music and lyrics to the song "Justified", but it was not included on the album since he prematurely left the recording sessions.
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Chris DeGarmo holds an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, which he acquired during Queensryche's most commercially successful years.
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In 2013, Rockenfield said that "he [Chris DeGarmo] is very successful at it".
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On February 18,2005, Chris DeGarmo joined the remaining members of the popular rock band Alice in Chains and other Seattle area artists for the Tsunami Continued Care Relief Concert.
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Chris DeGarmo assisted the rock band Dredg with the production and arrangement of their 2005 studio album Catch Without Arms, and he has written a few film score songs with Dredg's frontman Gavin Hayes.
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Chris DeGarmo has been working on a project called The Rue with his daughter Rylie DeGarmo since 2009.
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Chris DeGarmo recently told me, that he is absolutely happy with his life the way it is.
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In 2018, Chris DeGarmo played acoustic guitar on the track "Drone" from Alice in Chains' sixth album, Rainier Fog.
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Chris DeGarmo was at the studio around that time, so Cantrell decided to let him play the acoustic guitar instead.
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In 2020, Chris DeGarmo accompanied Lily Cornell Silver on a rendition of Black Gives Way to Blue as part of a tribute made by various artists to Alice in Chains, as they were the receivers of that year's Founders Award by the Museum of Pop Culture.
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Chris DeGarmo played guitar for Silver, who sang and played the piano.