Cris Kirkwood (born October 22, 1960) is the bassist and founding member of the Meat Puppets, an alternative/punk rock band. is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. ...

Cris initially began by playing the banjo, after seeing Deliverance, but eventually moved on to guitar before picking up the bass when he started playing together in bands with his older brother Curt. In 1980 the brothers and their friend Derrick Bostrom, on drums, decided to form a band, which they eventually named the Meat Puppets. Besides playing bass Cris' role in the band expanded slightly over the years as he began singing more. Their 1994 gold certificated release Too High to Die, featured songs entirely penned and sung by Cris. Unfortunately, at this time, Cris' indulgence with drugs had begun to spin out of control and he developed a heroin addiction. Following the release of their 1995 album No Joke! Cris' compulsive behavior, coupled with an already stressful period for the band, led to the Meat Puppets falling into a hiatus. Deliverance is a 1972 Warner Bros. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, popping or using a pick. ... Curt Kirkwood (born January 10, 1959) is an American musician, who sings and plays guitar. ... Derrick Bostrom (born June 23, 1960) is an American musician. ... The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. ... Too High to Die is the eighth album by the Meat Puppets, released on January 25, 1994 (see 1994 in music). ... For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ... No Joke! is the ninth album by the Meat Puppets, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music), and third album on their new label London This is also the last album by the original trio. ... The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. ...

Following the inactivity of the group, Cris retreated to his house, and along with his wife, who was also an addict, they led a life in practical isolation. Despite the eventual death of his wife, due to a drug overdose, and numerous attempts of intervention and rehab stays, Cris remained addicted to narcotics for a longer period of time.[1]

In December 2003, Cris got into an argument with a woman over a parking space at a post office. A security guard got involved in the scuffle, which escalated furthermore when Cris grabbed the guard's baton and began striking at him. The guard drew his handgun and shot Cris in the back, leading him to be hospitalized and subsequently jailed. In August 2004 he plead guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.[2] He has since served out his time, been released and is reportedly clean and doing well.

Cris Kirkwood returns to The Meat Puppets

In April, 2006, Billboard announced that Cris and Curt Kirkwood will be recording again as The Meat Puppets. The brothers plan to release an epic album of "big Meat Puppets stuff", as described by Curt, followed by a tour. Original drummer, Derrick Bostrom has been replaced by drummer Ted Marcus.

"I haven't seen my brother since like 1998, but I'm talking to him a lot," Curt says. "He's [been] clean for more than two years and he's all raring to go. Cris' resurrection is no less than miraculous -- it's like a Lazarus-type thing. I was just like, 'If Cris is back, I know his frame of mind.' If he's upright and walking, it's hard to knock him down." [3]

The new album with Cris and Curt together is titled Rise to Your Knees and was released on July 17, 2007. Rise to Your Knees is the confirmed title for the Meat Puppets eleventh full-length studio album, which is set to be released on July 17, 2007[1]. Not only is it their first studio release since 2000s Golden Lies, it is also their first to feature the original... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...