Christian Olde Wolbers

Christian Olde Wolbers (born 5 August 1972) is a Belgian musician, songwriter and producer. He is the bassist and backing vocalist of the rap metal/nu metal band Powerflo, and the bass player of the thrash metal band Vio-lence. He is also a former bassist, guitarist and backing vocalist of the industrial metal band Fear Factory, and the hardcore punk/crossover thrash band Beowülf.[1]

Christian Olde Wolbers
Olde Wolbers with Powerflo at With Full Force 2018
Olde Wolbers with Powerflo at With Full Force 2018
Background information
Born (1972-08-05) 5 August 1972
Antwerp, Belgium
GenresHeavy metal, nu metal, industrial metal, thrash metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, upright bass
Years active1987–present

Musical career

Olde Wolbers was born in Antwerp, Belgium, and moved to the United States in 1993. He was asked to join Fear Factory in December 1993 as a bass player. He recorded five albums with them. The group disbanded in 2002 and when it reformed in 2003, Olde Wolbers had switched to guitar, replacing Dino Cazares.

Olde Wolbers is the only bassist that played on a Fear Factory album, as the other bassists only played live (with Dino Cazares recording the bass in the studio).

In 2003, he was offered a position of bassist in Ozzy Osbourne's solo band after he jammed with Ozzy, guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Mike Bordin for a few weeks.[2] He eventually turned down this offer in order to fully concentrate on Fear Factory.[3]

In 2006, Olde Wolbers played three shows with Korn on their European tour.[4]

In 2008, he formed a new band, Burn It All,[5][6] which also feature Raymond Herrera (drums) and former Damageplan singer\Halford guitarist Patrick Lachman. They have posted a demo sampler on its MySpace page.[7]

In 2009, Olde Wolbers and drummer Raymond Herrera parted ways with Fear Factory when vocalist Burton C. Bell chose to reform Fear Factory with Dino Cazares, bassist Byron Stroud, and drummer Gene Hoglan.[8]

Olde Wolbers has a project Arkaea with fellow ex-Fear Factory drummer Raymond Herrera[9] and Jon Howard and Pat Kavanagh of the band Threat Signal. On 14 July 2009, Arkaea's debut album, Years in the Darkness was released. He also played with Beowülf and co-produced their 2011 album Jesus Freak.

In early 2014, Olde Wolbers was in a serious motorcycle accident in which he sustained severe injuries, including broken arms, legs and ribs. He conducted guitar and bass lessons on Skype to help cover his medical bills.[10]

In July 2016, Olde Wolbers joined Threat Signal as their bass player on the Under Reprisal Anniversary tour. In 2020, Olde Wolbers joined Vio-lence as the replacement of original bassist Deen Dell, who had left the band for personal reasons.[11][12]

In October 2022, Olde Wolbers was announced as the new bass player of Bloodclot,[13] a project formed by former Cro-Mags vocalist John Joseph.

In 2023, Olde Wolbers was the touring upright bassist for Cypress Hill's live performances with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Powerflo
Main article: Powerflo

In 2017, Olde Wolbers formed a new band called Powerflo with Senen Reyes, Roy Lozano, Billy Graziadei and Fernando Schaefer. The band released their self-titled debut album the same year. Olde Wolbers is the band's bassist and backing vocalist.[14]

Contributions

He contributed upright bass to Devin Townsend's second album Infinity in 1998. In 2006, he helped produce and mix Mnemic's third album, Passenger, and also produced Bleed the Sky's Murder the Dance and Threat Signal's debut album, Under Reprisal. In 2008, he produced End of the Rope's new album, Till It Bleeds and in 2009, Wolbers produced Years in the Darkness for Arkaea and the album Fallen Empires for Our Last Enemy. He filled in as live guitarist for Korn for the first three shows of their European tour. He appears as a guest guitar player on the EP This World by breakbeat production group The Autobots.[15] He produced the vocals for God Forbid's Earthsblood, co-wrote and played bass on Snoop Dogg's album Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss. He helped Cypress Hill with their rock outfit and wrote songs for their Stoned Raiders and Skull & Bones albums. He also played on two songs on Soulfly's debut in 1998. In 2017 he played bass for Isolated Antagonist for their album Oblivion.

Sport

As a teenager, Olde Wolbers was a goalkeeper at the youth academy of Belgian professional football club Germinal Ekeren, and was the team's reserve goalkeeper for several games in the Belgian Second Division. At 17, he was suspended for having long hair and tattoos, and chose to concentrate on his music career. Olde Wolbers also played wide receiver and defensive back for the Antwerp Diamonds of the Belgian Football League.[16] Since moving to the United States, he has played regularly for the Los Angeles-based amateur team Hollywood United, and currently played for Angel City FC in the semi-professional Los Angeles Premier League.[17] Olde Wolbers is also the founder and owner of Aviata Sports,[18] a manufacturer of goalkeeper gloves.

Discography

With Powerflo
Albums
Singles
  • Resistance (2017)
  • Victim of Circumstance (2017)

With Beowülf
  • Jesus Freak (2011)

With Arkaea

With Fear Factory

With Vio-lence

Guest appearances

Production credits

References
  1. "Beowulf – Home". Beowulfbwf.com. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  2. "Jason Newsted Leaves Ozzy Osbourne, Is Replaced By Rob Zombie Bassist". Blabbermouth.net. 4 December 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  3. "Fear Factory's Christian Olde Wolbers Says He Turned Down Ozzy Osbourne Gig". Blabbermouth.net. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  4. "Guitarist Patterson Back With Korn After Stint By Fear Factory's Olde Wolbers". Blabbermouth.net. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. "Ex-Damageplan Frontman Promoting New Band Burn It All On XM Radio Next Monday". BraveWords.com. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  6. "Burn It All Featuring Fear Factory, Ex-Damageplan Members: Audio Samples Available". Blabbermouth.net. June 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  7. "Burn It All Featuring Fear Factory, Ex Damageplan Members: Audio Samples Available". Blabbermouth.net. 1 June 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. "BLABBERMOUTH.NET – ARKAEA Featuring Ex-FEAR FACTORY Members: New Audio Samples Available". Archived from the original on 4 May 2009.
  9. "Blog Archive " Fear Factory Interview Part 2!". Metal Hammer. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  10. "Christian Olde Wolbers". Facebook.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  11. "VIO-LENCE Singer SEAN KILLIAN Says New EP Will Be 'Bridge' Between First Two Albums And 1993 Demo". Blabbermouth.net. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  12. "PHIL DEMMEL Says VIO-LENCE's Newly Recorded Cover Song Should Arrive 'Pretty Soon'". Blabbermouth.net. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  13. BraveWords. "BLOODCLOT Feat. Former CRO-MAGS Vocalist Streaming New Song "War Castles"; Former FEAR FACTORY Bassist CHRISTIAN OLDE WOLBERS Joins Band For Next Record". bravewords.com. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  14. "POWERFLO Feat. BIOHAZARD, CYPRESS HILL, Ex-FEAR FACTORY Members: 'Resistance' Lyric Video". blabbermouth.net. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  15. "Autobots, The* – This World (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  16. "christian_oldewolbers Instagram". Christian Olde Wolbers. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
  17. "LA Premier League". LA Premier League. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  18. "Aviata Sports". Aviata Sports. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
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