FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's CHRIS KAEL: “how I finally got sober”
15-08-2025
In a new interview with Ramona Fernandez of Gym Rock Crew, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Chris Kael was asked how long he has been sober. He said: “I first got sober in 2018, slipped in 2020 and it’ll be four years October 1st of this year (since I stopped using). There’s still time to fuck it all up, but as of right now, I’m doing pretty good. (Laughs) That’s the comedian in me — self-deprecating comedian.”
Asked what made him finally say that he was “done” using drugs and alcohol, Chris said: “A lot of stuff, honestly. Number one, (I was) just tired of feeling like that. Seeing other people that were doing less than me passing away. I’m, like, ‘What? If those people are gone, what the hell am I doing?’ And then anytime… I was going through a lot of life changes and I was just in some situations that weren’t good for me mentally. So my reaction to that would be depression. And then when you start adding drugs and alcohol — depressants — on to being depressed, it’s fuel on the fire. So, it was really getting dark there for a little while. And you see me now without any drugs or alcohol in there, how positive and how alive I am, and I felt all the positivity and the life draining from me and I just got tired of it, honestly. And after a while of struggling, I reached out to a friend of mine who’d been sober. He drove me to rehab, and that’s where it all got started for me. And then from there, not only practicing abstinence (from) drugs and alcohol and whatnot, really actively doing some deep introspection, the deep work, looking at all things in life. A study of stoicism is a big thing for me as well. And then actively working with other people going through stuff. I always talk about if I keep one hand lifted above for when I need help and then another hand down below to lift others who are in need of help, right there I have the perfect balance to keep me right where I need to be.”
On April 5, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH released the digital deluxe edition of “AfterLife”, featuring the original 12 tracks recorded with the band’s longtime producer Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE) in addition to four bonus tracks: three acoustic versions of the album’s songs “The End”, “Judgement Day” and “Thanks For Asking” plus a brand new song, “This Is The Way”, featuring the late rapper DMX.
Stream/download AFTERLIFE: DELUXE HERE.
“Music is meant to be universal and without boundaries, and it starts at the top with us, the artists,” says Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory. “We have always embraced the mixing of genres, whether it be the remake of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” featuring Tech N9ne as a guest, or our collaboration with blues warrior Kenny Wayne Shepherd, country star Brantley Gilbert, and Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, on the song ‘Blue on Black.’”
“The idea of collaborating with DMX had been in discussion for years, and it was a long and winding road to turn this particular item on our wish list into reality. He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind incorruptibly. We have always viewed DMX as “the metalhead of hip-hop’ because of his aggressive, raw, and untamed style. He growled and snarled, aiming to rattle some cages–an attitude we share, as Five Finger Death Punch has always been drawn to the fearless and the real. It made all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song; it’s a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX‘s memory.”
In other news, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is celebrating three recent platinum certifications for some of the band’s most popular releases: the “Blue On Black” 2019 single featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert and Brian May; the “Blue On Black” 2018 single; and the “Got Your Six” 2015 album.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory says about “This Is The Way (Featuring DMX)”: “Music is meant to be shared, and it starts at the top with us, the artists. We have always embraced the mixing of genres, whether it be the remake of LL Cool J‘s ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ featuring Tech N9ne as a guest or our collaboration with blues warrior Kenny Wayne Shepherd, country star Brantley Gilbert, and Brian May, the legendary guitarist of QUEEN, on the song ‘Blue On Black’.
“The idea of collaborating with DMX had been in discussion for years, and it was a long and winding road to turn this particular item on our wish list into reality. He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind incorruptibly. We have always viewed DMX as ‘the metalhead of hip-hop’ because of his aggressive, raw, and untamed style. He growled and snarled, aiming to rattle some cages — an attitude we share, as FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has always been drawn to the fearless and the real. It made all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song; it’s a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX‘s memory.”
Upon announcement of the digital deluxe version of “AfterLife” today, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has premiered an advance listen to the previously unreleased acoustic version of “Judgement Day” which can be streamed below. The band previously partnered with Covenant House in November 2023 and released an official video for “Judgement Day” during National Runaway Prevention Month to help raise awareness about the Youth Homelessness Crisis.
“AfterLife: Deluxe” track listing:
01. Welcome To The Circus
02. AfterLife
03. Times Like These
04. Roll Dem Bones
05. Pick Up Behind You
06. Judgment Day
07. IOU
08. Thanks For Asking
09. Blood And Tar
10. All I Know
11. Gold Gutter
12. The End
13. This Is The Way(feat. DMX)
14. Judgment Day (acoustic)
15. The End (acoustic)
16. Thanks For Asking (acoustic)
As previously reported, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will embark on a full European tour of headline dates as well as festival appearances this summer. The tour also coincides with the European portion of METALLICA‘s “M72” tour on which FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH continues to tour stadiums around the world as special guest.
For the headline dates of the summer tour, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will bring along ICE NINE KILLS as special guest. The latter band has cemented itself as one of modern metal’s most vicious forces with its current album, “The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood”. ICE NINE KILLS will also be featured on the 2024 lineup of the ongoing METALLICA “M72” world tour.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH 2024 tour dates:May 23 – London, OVO Arena, UKMay 26 – Munich, Olympiastadion, DE *May 28 – Zurich, Hallenstadion, CHMay 29 – Milan, Idays Festival, IT **May 31 – Plzen, Metalfest Open Air Plazen, CZ **Jun. 01 – Vienna, Rancino Rocks, AT *Jun. 03 – Hannover, ZAG Arena, DEJun. 05 – Solvesborg, Sweden Rock Festival, SE **Jun. 06 – Trondheim, Trondheim Rocks, NO **Jun. 09 – Helsinki, Olympic Stadium, FI *Jun. 11 – Tallin, Unibet Arena, EEJun. 13 – Kaunas, Zalgiris Arena, LTJun. 16 – Copenhagen, Parken Stadium, DK *Jun. 18 – Frankfurt, Festhalle, DEJun. 19 – Amsterdam, AFAS Live, NLJun. 21 – Dessel, Graspop Metal Meeting, BE **Jun. 23 – Ferropolis, Full Force Festival, DE **
Jun. 25 – Oberhausen, Rudolf Weber-Arena, DE
Jun. 26 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, Rockhal, LU ***
Jun. 29 – Zilina, Topfest, SK **
Jul. 04 – Bucharest, Metalhead Festival – 20 years aLIVE, RO
Jul. 07 – Warsaw, PGE Narodowy, PL *
Jul. 09 – Budapest, Barba Negra, HU
Jul. 14 – Madrid, Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, ES *
* METALLICA support
** Festival dates
*** No ICE NINE KILLS
“AfterLife” is FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH‘s first album with its latest addition, renowned British virtuoso Andy James, who replaced Jason Hook in 2020. James was previously featured on “Broken World”, a song that was included on the second installment of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH‘s greatest-hits collection, “A Decade Of Destruction – Volume 2”, which came out in the fall of 2020.
Social media