Chris Weber

Christopher Garrison Weber (born October 16, 1966) is an American musician best known as the guitarist and founder of the groups U.P.O. and Hollywood Rose (which featured future Guns N' Roses members Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler). With U.P.O., he released two albums, No Pleasantries and The Heavy (2004), while the Hollywood Rose demos, recorded in 1984, were released in 2004 titled The Roots of Guns N' Roses.

Career

Hollywood Rose (1983–1984)

Prior to forming, Chris Weber was introduced to Lafayette native Izzy Stradlin, in the parking lot of the Rainbow Bar and Grill, by friend Tracii Guns, and L.A. Guns singer William Bailey . At the suggestion of Bailey, the group called themselves AXL They played their first gig at The Orphanage in North Hollywood and played a few more shows The group soon changed their name, for the final time, to Hollywood Rose when Weber discovered that the name Rose was already being used by a New York band. After playing a number of more shows, Rose fired Weber from the band with former Road Crew guitarist Slash joining the group. They would disband soon after.

The group reunited, briefly, with Rose, Stradlin, Weber and Darrow returning along while L.A. Guns drummer Rob Gardner also joined the group. Weber, who left to move to New York City, and "Reckless Life" and "Move To The City" re-released on 1988's top-5 GN'R Lies. Weber also co-wrote "Ain't Going Down" from Guns N' Roses Pinball and "New Work Tune" and "The Plague" from the Appetite for Destruction deluxe edition. Weber claimed to have co-written "Shadow of Your Love" (appears as a b-side on various releases, released as a single in 2018) and "Back Off Bitch" (from Use Your Illusion I), suing the band over songwriting credits, although the case was settled and Weber did not receive songwriting credits.

U.P.O. (1997–2004)

After meeting in the mid '90s, at the Reading Festival in England, Weber and singer Shawn Albro began working on material that eventually gained some major label interest. with the album peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart while the singles "Godless" and "Feel Alive" peaked at number 6 and 25 while the group toured with the likes of Slipknot, Slayer, Mudvayne and Sepultura as part of the Tattoo The Earth tour with the song "Dust" being included on the live album Tattoo The Earth: The First Crusade. After further touring in support of the album, the group went on hiatus with Albro auditioning for "The Project" (later known as Velvet Revolver) during this time.

The group returned in 2004, recording and releasing The Heavy, the same year through DRT Entertainment/Nitrus Records. The group toured in support of the album, however, after an October concert later that year, however, Weber suffered a seizure before being rushed to a hospital. It was soon revealed that he had a meningioma brain tumor The group seemed to go on hiatus soon afterwards with bassist Zoltan Bathory, who had replaced Ben Shirley, going on to form Five Finger Death Punch.

Discography Title Release Label BandNo Pleasantries 2000 Epic U.P.O.The Heavy 2004 DRT Entertainment/NitrusThe Roots of Guns N' Roses Cleopatra Hollywood Rose

Guest credits Title Release Label Band CreditsDopesnake 2007 Deadline Hollywood Roses Guitars on "Come Down"