Chris Warren (musician)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Warren is an American musician who has performed in numerous bands. He is currently the singer in Bro-Kin. He is best known for being the lead singer in The DX Band (sometimes referred to as The Chris Warren Band), a group who performed the entrance theme
of professional wrestling
stable D-Generation X
called "Break It Down".
(head of WWE music) became so impressed with Warren, that he offered him further vocal work. Over the course of the next four years, Warren recorded several songs for the WWF(E). In 1998, Warren made his television debut at WrestleMania XIV
, performing a screeching version of "America The Beautiful
" and the National Anthem, for which he was booed heavily, as the fans and national media in attendance considered disrespectful. However, it was revealed in 2002 that this disrespect was a WWE-instructed work meant to generate further heat
on the DX stable.. Warren and the band also performed the DX ring entrance music later the same night as DX came to the ring, and again five months later at the 1998 SummerSlam
. In 1999, Warren may have recorded parts of the music but not the vocals for "No Chance in Hell," which was used for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (and would later become Mr. McMahon
's theme song in various versions). The "No Chance In Hell" vocal track was done by Peter Bursuker at the studio of Jim Johnston in Stamford, CT WWE HQ. However, Warren does sing in the background of "No Chance In Hell"'s chorus. Later that year Warren recorded the vocals for Triple H
's theme "My Time". This song was featured on the platinum album WWF The Music, Vol. 4
. He also recorded the Superstars
theme from 1997. His last appearance was a cameo on the Run-D.M.C.
"The Kings" music video, directed by David Sahadi
. Warren, along with Bro-Kin, recorded an unreleased song for WWE's Tough Enough II which never made it onto the show.
(TNA), which involved use of the band's music on TNA's TV shows (such as iMPACT!
), PPVs and DVDs worldwide. Their song "Low" was used as the theme for No Surrender 2007, "Separate" for Genesis 2007 and "For The Vein" for Final Resolution 2008. Further cuts of other songs appeared (and continue to do so) on various TNA video packages.
, Amazon
and Napster
which is now available to purchase.
in August 2009 to record vocals to a new DX theme, coinciding with the return of the D-Generation X
stable consisting of Triple H
and Shawn Michaels
, to active WWE competition. The recording session saw Warren re-united in the studio with WWE music composer Jim Johnston
for the first time in over 7 years.
.
Music in professional wrestling
Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
of professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
stable D-Generation X
D-Generation X
D-Generation X was a professional wrestling stable in WWE . The group originated in the midst of the WWF's "Attitude Era" from 1997 to 2000...
called "Break It Down".
World Wrestling Federation (Entertainment)
Warren is known to many as the voice behind the DX entrance music, and after this Jim JohnstonJim Johnston (composer)
James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
(head of WWE music) became so impressed with Warren, that he offered him further vocal work. Over the course of the next four years, Warren recorded several songs for the WWF(E). In 1998, Warren made his television debut at WrestleMania XIV
WrestleMania XIV
WrestleMania XIV was the fourteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation , which took place on March 29, 1998 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts....
, performing a screeching version of "America The Beautiful
America the Beautiful
"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward....
" and the National Anthem, for which he was booed heavily, as the fans and national media in attendance considered disrespectful. However, it was revealed in 2002 that this disrespect was a WWE-instructed work meant to generate further heat
Heat (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, heat refers to both crowd reaction and real-life animosity between those involved in the professional wrestling business. In terms of crowd reaction, heat is usually either cheers for a babyface or boos for a heel...
on the DX stable.. Warren and the band also performed the DX ring entrance music later the same night as DX came to the ring, and again five months later at the 1998 SummerSlam
SummerSlam (1998)
SummerSlam was the eleventh annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on August 30, 1998 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York....
. In 1999, Warren may have recorded parts of the music but not the vocals for "No Chance in Hell," which was used for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (and would later become Mr. McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
's theme song in various versions). The "No Chance In Hell" vocal track was done by Peter Bursuker at the studio of Jim Johnston in Stamford, CT WWE HQ. However, Warren does sing in the background of "No Chance In Hell"'s chorus. Later that year Warren recorded the vocals for Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
's theme "My Time". This song was featured on the platinum album WWF The Music, Vol. 4
WWF The Music, Vol. 4
WWF The Music, Volume 4 is a compilation album released by the World Wrestling Federation in 1999. It features mostly recent theme songs of wrestlers on the roster at the time...
. He also recorded the Superstars
WWF Superstars
WWF Superstars is an arcade game manufactured by Technos and released in 1989. It is the first WWF arcade game to be released. A series of unrelated games with the same title were released by LJN for the original Game Boy...
theme from 1997. His last appearance was a cameo on the Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
"The Kings" music video, directed by David Sahadi
David Sahadi
David Sahadi is an American multimedia producer, currently working for the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Biography:...
. Warren, along with Bro-Kin, recorded an unreleased song for WWE's Tough Enough II which never made it onto the show.
Total Nonstop Action wrestling
In July 2007, Warren and Bro-Kin signed an agreement with Total Nonstop Action wrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
(TNA), which involved use of the band's music on TNA's TV shows (such as iMPACT!
TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
), PPVs and DVDs worldwide. Their song "Low" was used as the theme for No Surrender 2007, "Separate" for Genesis 2007 and "For The Vein" for Final Resolution 2008. Further cuts of other songs appeared (and continue to do so) on various TNA video packages.
Bro-Kin
On March 5, 2009, Warren announced via Bro-Kin's website that the band had released their album "La Violencia" on iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
and Napster
Napster
Napster is an online music store and a Best Buy company. It was originally founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing audio files that were typically digitally encoded music as MP3 format files...
which is now available to purchase.
Return to World Wrestling Entertainment
Warren returned to WWE headquarters in Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
in August 2009 to record vocals to a new DX theme, coinciding with the return of the D-Generation X
D-Generation X
D-Generation X was a professional wrestling stable in WWE . The group originated in the midst of the WWF's "Attitude Era" from 1997 to 2000...
stable consisting of Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
and Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
, to active WWE competition. The recording session saw Warren re-united in the studio with WWE music composer Jim Johnston
Jim Johnston (composer)
James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
for the first time in over 7 years.
Personal life
Chris is now living in Rockland County, New YorkRockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
.
Discography
- WWF The Music, Vol. 3WWF The Music, Vol. 3WWF The Music, Vol. 3 is a compilation album released by the World Wrestling Federation in 1998. It features mostly recent theme tunes of wrestlers on the roster at the time. All of the songs were produced by Jim Johnston; although, a few themes were performed by other bands. This is also the first...
(December 29, 1998) - WWF The Music, Vol. 4WWF The Music, Vol. 4WWF The Music, Volume 4 is a compilation album released by the World Wrestling Federation in 1999. It features mostly recent theme songs of wrestlers on the roster at the time...
(November 2, 1999) - WWF AggressionWWF AggressionWWF Aggression is a compilation album released by the WWF in 2000. It features rap artists performing versions of each wrestler's entrance music...
(March 21, 2000) - WWE AnthologyWWE AnthologyWWE Anthology is a compilation album released by WWE in 2002. It consists of 3 discs titled, The Federation Years, The Attitude Era, and Now!. Anthology contains 86 songs in total. The album is a compilation of some of the best and most well-known entrance music in the WWF/WWE...
(November 12, 2002) - RAW Greatest Hits: The MusicRAW Greatest Hits: The MusicRAW Greatest Hits: The Music is a compilation album released by World Wrestling Entertainment on December 18, 2007.It features theme-music of Raw roster-members of the time - as well as that of former members....
(December 18, 2007) - La Violencia - Bro-Kin (March 6, 2009)
Interviews
- Chris Warren Radio Interview (Part 1 of 4) courtesy of The Squared Circle radio show
- Chris Warren Radio Interview (Part 2 of 4) courtesy of The Squared Circle radio show
- Chris Warren Radio Interview (Part 3 of 4) courtesy of The Squared Circle radio show
- Chris Warren Radio Interview (Part 4 of 4) courtesy of The Squared Circle radio show
External links
- Bro-Kin at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- TNA Genesis 07 Highlights Package Feat. Bro-Kin
- TNA No Surrender 07 Highlights Package Feat. Bro-Kin