Falling In Reverse lead guitarist Christian Thompson recently shared his perspective on what it takes to succeed as a musician in today’s rock industry. He addressed the importance of physical appearance and professional value in an interview with Nick DeLaCruz.

Thompson discussed the realities of being a guitarist in modern rock bands, where traditional five-piece setups with equal splits are increasingly rare.

“If you’re a guitar player in this industry, more than likely it’s not going to be a traditional band where it’s like a five-piece and you guys are splitting everything evenly,” Thompson said. “It’s going to be the singer writes everything or the guitar player writes everything. So you’re probably not going to be the main guy.”

He then emphasized the importance of physical fitness and stage presence for musicians.

“You need to be good, you need to look the part. That’s where the working out comes in. Nobody wants to see a fat slob on stage. I’m sorry they don’t. Not unless you were unbelievable at singing. Like you can get away with it,” he explained. “But like for the most part it’s like you want to look the part. You want to be good. You got to be a good hang. You got to be able to like talk to people.”

Thompson also shared his philosophy on making himself irreplaceable in the band.

“I have this philosophy where I’m like okay if I go on vacation or if I call in on a sick day and then I come back to work and I go how was it? I want them to be like, ‘Dude thank god you’re back.’ I don’t want to come in and they’re like, ‘It was fine,’” he said. “That means that you could be fired. You don’t have any value.”

He illustrated this mindset with a story about joining Falling In Reverse. He was initially advised not to reveal his singing abilities to frontman Ronnie Radke.

“The drummer asked me, ‘Can you sing?’ And I go, ‘Yeah.’ And he goes, ‘Don’t tell Ronnie.’ And I was like, ‘Why?’ And he’s like, ‘He’s going to make you sing. You already got a lot on your plate,’” Thompson recalled. “Within the end of the first tour, I’m like, ‘Hey, Ronnie, I can sing.’ And then that drummer was like, ‘Should have done that.’ I’m just like, ‘Dude, you’re a wimp. My values up.’ That’s why I’m still here. He’s not.”

Thompson’s competitive approach has proven effective in maintaining his position within a band known for its frequent lineup changes and high professional standards.

Wikipedia reported that Falling In Reverse formed in 2008 and has experienced numerous member changes throughout its history. Original vocalist Ronnie Radke remains as the band’s leader. Thompson officially joined the group in November 2015, following the departure of previous guitarist Jacky Vincent, as Famous Birthdays noted.

Beyond his lead guitar duties, Thompson also contributes backing vocals to the band. This dual role has helped him stand out and secure his position within the group’s evolving lineup. He made his recording debut with Falling In Reverse on the 2017 album Coming Home. This further solidified his role as both a performer and collaborator.

The current roster of Falling In Reverse includes Ronnie Radke on vocals, Christian Thompson on lead guitar, Marc Okubo, Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz, and drummer Luke Holland. The band’s ability to maintain its presence in the rock scene despite lineup changes speaks to Radke’s leadership and the professionalism of its current members.

Thompson’s comments reflect the competitive nature of the modern music industry. Musicians must offer multiple skills and maintain peak performance to remain valuable to their bands. His philosophy of making himself irreplaceable has clearly paid off, as he continues to be a core member of one of rock’s most dynamic acts.