07JanHeyChris2

there through break up, friendships, tour
dates (his and bands), and every road in
between. “It’s not about them, its about
me. And to tear open your chest for the
world to judge is liberating.”
  Journaling began with the short rise of
the band Arma Angelus, which held many
members including Fall Out Boy bassist
Pete Wentz, and Rise Against front man
Tim McIlrath. When Tim left to pursue his
band Rise Against, the band called on
long-time friend Christopher Gutierrez to
fill in the bass spot. “It was a collection of
5 dominant personalities. It made it
explosive and spontaneous because we all
wanted to be the "dude.” But it caused so
many rifts within the band. But that was
the energy that kept that animal alive and
playing shows. Hey, we may have sucked
live but I’ll tell you this, we were NEVER
boring.”
  Many fans of both Rise Against and Fall
Out Boy, as long as old-school Arma fans
have asked for a reunion tour. But Chris
doesn’t see it happening. “I highly doubt
it but then again, I've been wrong before.”
What would it take? “Well, all of us have
pretty chill lives and live in Chicago so it
wouldn't be that difficult to convince us to
get back together. Pete on the other hand
is juggling a million things and doesn't
have time for much, which is totally
understandable.”
  And then, there are all the Fall Out Boy
fans who knew nothing about Arma
Angelus before, that just want to see their
precious front man scream his little heart
out. There is no real connection to the
band. “It doesn’t piss me off that they are
jumping in so late to the party. The simply
didn't have the opportunity to experience
the music. With the rise of FOB comes the
rise of people wanting to know the
background of the band.”
  But that was 2002. This is 2008. And
more people are listening to Christopher
now more than ever. With over 100,000
hits to his live journal a day,
Christopher is a bit apprehensive that
so many people believe in him and
what he says and does. “I don't

think its "me" so much believe in as it is the words...and their not my
words, I'm not the first to feel the way I do, plenty of people have come
before me and said the exact same things and more eloquently at that...
think kids believe in the passion with which the words are written...and
THAT is fucking amazing”
  But why venture into books when he has his live journal to put forth
the same information? “I don’t think they are the same thing. Simply put:
I think books are a form of permanence. Words online aren't tangible. Its
nice to be able to hand someone a book and say, ‘Here, this is me. Put it
in your purse or back pocket.”
  Chris already has started writing his third book, which as of yet is
untitled. “I'm about half way finished as of
now. I'm shooting for a late spring/early
summer release. Its going to be even more
vulnerable, that's the goal. To expose even
more of my life.”
  “When I realized that if you're going to
genuinely try and live your dreams you have
to jump in the deep end without a safety net.
If you're going to do it, do it right. Shit’s hard.
I see what I do now as a step up from doing
what I used to do. I feel I connect in ways I
never could jumping around and screaming
into a microphone. A band is like a grenade in
its reach where as what I do now is like a well-
calibrated bullet.”
  Christopher is one of the most amazing
people I have ever met. He came to a reading in
Florida back in June, and not only spent almost
3 hours doing a reading from his book, but
spent time answering every question that
people asked, and made it a point to talk to and
thank every single person who came that day, individually at the end of
the day. He is an amazing person, with a heart of gold, and speaks the
words I only wish I could. I can honestly say, Christopher Gutierrez, you
are one of my idols.