‘Laid to Relaxation’ Actor Nick Principe Brings Chromeskull to the World of Muay Thai [Interview]

Launched in Robert Corridor’s 2009 slasher Laid to Relaxation, intimidating villain Chromeskull minimize a hanging determine onscreen, with multi-pointed shark blades in every hand and a shiny cranium masks sat atop his pitch black swimsuit. Co-created by the person behind the masks, Nick Principe, Chromeskull has been absent from screens for the final fourteen years, although Corridor tried to craft a trilogy capper with Laid to Relaxation: Exhumed earlier than his premature loss of life in 2021.

After we final caught up with Principe, he detailed plans to maneuver the slasher into one other medium with the upcoming comedian e-book The Reflection of Worry. Now, he’s pushing the character additional nonetheless, this time into the world of…Muay Thai combating?!

Bloody Disgusting lately interviewed Principe and Valiant Coaching Heart’s head coach/supervisor Jeff Peterson about Chromeskull’s latest ventures into the ring…and onto 100% cotton.

Bloody Disgusting: Nick, you’ve been a hardcore punk singer, a stuntman, an actor, a screenwriter, and a comic book e-book creator. Why Muay Thai, and why now…?

Nick Principe: So through the SAG/WGA strike, I had an inconsolable despair. My household had misplaced round $40K-$50K from initiatives that had been canceled, and that despair was quickly shifting to rage. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I used to be already casually coaching Muay Thai.

About seventeen years in the past, I took a minor try at novice MMA and had a pair fights, however at the moment I had a main drug dependancy. Whereas you may get away with appearing with a needle hanging out of your arm (for a protracted whereas, a minimum of), it’s completely unimaginable to be a full-fledged heroin addict and attempt to combat, as onerous as I did attempt.

So I knew what to anticipate in a hoop/cage. I simply stated to myself, “Effectively, if I’m gonna break my nostril and face, now’s the time to do it since we’re on strike.”

Additionally price noting, I’m right-handed, however to problem myself I used to be coaching as a southpaw…simply to make issues tougher for myself. So I went to my coach on the time, this man Eric, and stated “I’d prefer to e-book an novice combat.” I did it and received, rapidly. So, excessive off my extremely small win. I jokingly stated to my coach “Effectively, it’s fairly clear, it’s time to go professional!” Utterly joking. Eric dead-faced checked out me and stated, “You’ll by no means combat professional. Ever.”

I laughed. He didn’t. Huh.

“So even when I completely devoted all my time to this? Lived and breathed it?”

He stated… “Get it out of your head and keep on with films.”

So, I requested some buddies, some household what they thought. All of them stated, “You’re too outdated. It’ll by no means occur.”

Now, Eric didn’t know – however my family and friends ought to have identified – being a singer? Being an actor/stuntman? That every one was born from folks laughing in my face, saying I couldn’t do it or was loopy for attempting. Telling me I’m not able to doing one thing is a hardbound promise that I’m actually going to do “it,” or fucking die attempting.

So my household ought to’ve identified higher, however Eric had no clue absolutely the bonfire all of them had lit. I shook his hand, wished him nicely. If I used to be going ahead with this, he was positively not the man to educate me, so I began going to a different health club.

At this new spot I shacked up with Waylon Jenkins, ex-pro MMA man coaching out of a health club in El Cajon. I began going there religiously, two hours a day. Whereas I needed to coach eighteen hours a day, having youngsters and payments make it actual onerous.

So we began taking fights. I’m doing actually good, Waylon has me combating correctly, ditching the southpaw type and combating orthodox. 9 novice fights/people who smoke later – people who smoke are unsanctioned fights arrange both between gyms, or inside them – and whereas on the time, one of the simplest ways to explain my type was “2am combat at a Waffle Home,” I’m feeling actually comfy in a combat. It’s nothing like a “avenue combat,” however I’m dropping folks half my age or getting the choice.

“I’m really doing this, and I’m kinda good!” Effectively, downside – Waylon is transferring to Utah.

Fack. He strikes. It sucks.

On the identical time, I’m provided a nice function in a Theo Rossi/Ron Perlman film referred to as Soiled (directed by Tom DeNucci, coming quickly to Tubi!), and I depart city for 2 weeks.

I come dwelling and have a giant assume. For me to maintain going, just a few issues must fall into place. The health club must be pretty shut. I stay on a mountain, my schedule is tight, and once I tag my spouse in to observe the youngsters, I’ve a 15 minute window to get to the health club.

Additionally, I want a brand new coach. If you happen to’re simply seeking to do Muay Thai/MMA to only get in form, you’ll be able to go anyplace. It doesn’t matter. Any certainly one of these locations will usually swimsuit these wants.

However if you happen to’re attempting to do that, like actually do that…a great coach is your instructor, your boss, your father determine, virtually. You possibly can’t or don’t simply choose anybody. You gotta vibe. It’s not so simple as it looks like it needs to be.

So once I landed at Valiant’s doorstep. They didn’t understand it, however they had been my final probability left to see this by means of. If it didn’t work out? This complete factor is over. Typically life simply doesn’t permit you to stay the way in which you need. But it surely labored out.

I’ve handed on work/jobs, I’ve completely no social life. At 46, I’ve 100% devoted myself to this.

‘Chromeskull Combat Membership’

BD: Jeff, are you able to discuss a bit about first taking up Nick as a pupil?

Jeff Peterson: I first began coaching Nick within the spring of 2024, I imagine. He began coming to Valiant and taking my kickboxing and boxing lessons. He match proper in to the vibe across the health club. We have now comparable tastes in music, in order that helps.

BD: Had been you conscious of Nick’s work as an actor/author/stuntman earlier than working with him? Have you ever seen any of how work since, if not?

JP: All I knew about Nick was that he was a stuntman. I believed he was like an novice stuntman or one thing, perhaps he had been in some commercials. I used to be extra serious about coaching Nick and making him a greater martial artist greater than I used to be serious about his day job. It most likely took a great 4 or 5 months earlier than I noticed that dude is a horror film legend! It was positively a visit to see Chromeskull chopping faces off realizing that’s Nick.

BD: Nick, have there been any drawbacks to beginning out this sort of profession later in life?

NP: The drawbacks are actually attempting to mentally break me!

As a result of I’m 46 years outdated, I’ve to get a litany of medical clearances to get my license to combat. In correct fights, not the BS I’ve been doing. It’s totally insane.

All the three letter procedures – EKG, MRI – and a bunch I’ve by no means heard of. Since my health club doesn’t precisely get many center aged guys attempting to combat professionally, all of us came upon the onerous method in regards to the medical necessities.

So for the previous two months I’ve been getting all this BS arrange. It’s an enormous bitch. However, I’ve come this far. I’m not stopping till I bodily can’t.

BD: Jeff, what had been a number of the particular challenges you confronted in taking Nick on and coaching him?

JP: There’s at all times going to be challenges with a brand new pupil. Nick already had a variety of prior coaching earlier than beginning to work with me. The large problem working with somebody who already has habits ingrained in them is the unlearning of the dangerous habits.

BD: What are his strengths and weaknesses as a fighter?

JP: Strengths: top, size, gentle on the toes, good motion, good selection. Weaknesses…dangerous music is like Kryptonite for Nick. Play some dangerous music and he’ll simply disintegrate.

BD: How far do you wish to go, Nick? How lengthy do you see your self combating?

NP: Effectively, imagine it or not, I’m not delusional right here. I do know my limitations. I know MMA is off the desk. On no account, form or kind am I pondering, “If I do good, the UFC will name.” Completely not. Not even shut. That is unimaginable. I’m too outdated and I don’t have anyplace close to the grappling talent even when I used to be youthful.

However Muay Thai, Glory kickboxing, karate fight – these are onerous, however they’re not unimaginable.

Shit, me and coach have already got BKFC [Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship] lined up. I need two extra correct Muay Thai fights, then I’m 100% doing BKFC by late summer season.

Sooo, I actually must get my license as quickly as potential. I determine I’ve 4 to 6 years, tops. And that’s if there are not any huge accidents. One huge harm, and it’s throughout. There can be no “Take a yr off,” it’d be completely over. However I do know all that going into it. I’m cool with it.

‘Chrome Balboa’

BD: Jeff, how a lot potential does Nick have as a fighter, and the way far do you assume he can go?

JP: Nick has the potential to take combating so far as his abilities and work ethic will take him. We haven’t fought collectively but, so I haven’t actually seen what he can do within the ring beneath the intense lights but. Our plan is to take it so far as we are able to. We’re gonna get a pair novice wins after which see if we are able to make a professional run afterwards.

BD: Nick, will you proceed to work within the different areas we all know you for?

NP: That’s onerous to say, it truly is. Most of my life, I attempt to have 5 to 6 initiatives, generally in numerous mediums. Whichever one is getting probably the most consideration or I’m having enjoyable with, I’m gonna put my give attention to it, and the opposite stuff goes to the facet.

When this was popping off, I used to be prepping a fundraiser for a movie I’d written and was enthusiastic about. I’ve received the Chromeskull comedian, which is taking years, if I’m being trustworthy. It’s such a chore, and I actually don’t wish to do a crowd-funder. I actually don’t. So it’s gonna be a minute.

Then auditions and writing gigs.

However as of proper now, the way in which I see it, I’ve a burning fuse over my head. This isn’t one thing I can cease and choose up and check out once more in just a few years. It’s now or by no means, so I’m doing the whole lot I can to be one of the best that I could be.

BD: Now the massive query for horror followers – why convey Chromeskull into the combo together with your burgeoning combating profession?

NP: Ahhh, the combat sport and nicknames.

You can’t give your self a nickname. If you happen to might, there can be a shit ton of individuals referred to as “Laser” or effin’ “Knife” or some fake badass shit. It’s gotta occur organically, or by no means.

Now, I don’t precisely stroll round telling anybody who will hear what I do for a dwelling, or previous roles. I’d talked about early on to my current health club that I work in leisure, however that’s fairly broad? I don’t like saying I’m an actor. Folks deal with you in another way, often for the incorrect causes. So I keep away from it.

I’m identified for taking part in a masked function, so that you kinda gotta be a giant horror fan to know who I’m. And that’s superior to me. As a result of being acknowledged by strangers is bizarre, and I’ll by no means get used to it. But it surely seldom occurs anyway.

It wasn’t till months later it got here out that I’d performed some slashers and monsters, and all the health club was simply kinda like, “Yep. You’re Chromeskull, prefer it or not!” So I embraced it.

Then, after an particularly heated and violent sparring session. Mark stated I used to be “Fairly fucking harmful.”

In order that’s it. “Chromeskull – Nick ‘Fairly Fucking Harmful’ Principe.” It’s received appeal, ha. It rolls nicely.

And at all times preserving it true to horror, I stroll out to the Halloween theme…however with a twist. You’ll should see it to grasp.

However I actually wish to thank all my coaches for believing in me, and actually making me really feel supported. And an enormous colossal shoutout to my spouse! From leaving work early, to serving to with tech, to taking the youngsters to work along with her and by no means complaining. I’m so blessed to have this lady, and completely with out her assist none of this might occur. I can’t imagine how a lot she helps me. Contemplating how ridiculous the entire thing is?! Grown-ass man taking over professional combating…at center age? Most wives would simply snicker at that, and with good cause. She’s simply one of the best. She’s my coronary heart. At all times.

BD: Inform us in regards to the merch! Chromeskull followers are sadly underserved in terms of cool stuff to purchase, what can they sit up for now because of your new profession?

NP: To mark this special day of coming into the combat sport, and to assist pay the staggering medical charges of the license, I received my extremely gifted buddies Tom “The Dude Designs” Hodge and Alan Robert (Great thing about Horror artist, bass participant for Lifetime of Agony) to every design a shirt for me. I can’t thank them sufficient for serving to me.

Tom did the Chrome Balboa shirt in black or sizzling pink, and it’s obtainable in a crewneck sweatshirt.

Alan did the *sick* Chromeskull Combat Membership shirt, obtainable in black or grey. He even received the tattoos and the whole lot!

Examine them out right here.

BD: What’s subsequent for you?

NP: So I’ve that Tubi movie that’s dropping soon-ish, some writing gigs, however my focus is the combat. I want my license by March on the newest, with a combat to observe in April in San Diego.

Large because of Bloody for at all times having my again and assist by means of the years. Even when I didn’t do what I do, they’ve at all times been my favourite supply for horror information and it’s at all times a real honor.

Say “Hello!” at Bluesky (@Nickdachrome). I’ll submit updates there.

From Left to Proper: Valiant supervisor/Head Coach Jeff Peterson, Hanging Coach Mark Anthony Keene, Boxing Coach Kim Peterson, Nick Principe (Picture by Maritza Garcia)