Christopher Alan Helme (born 22 July 1971 in Howden, Yorkshire) is an English singer-songwriter, formerly the frontman of John Squire's post-Stone Roses band The Seahorses.

A friend of John Squire's long-time guitar technician Martin Herbet discovered Helme busking outside Woolworths department store in York's Coney Street.

[5] Impressed by Helme's version of The Rolling Stones song, "No Expectations", he requested a demo tape and passed it on to Squire.

[6] Another gig was then arranged at the Roadhouse venue in Manchester, where Squire invited Helme to join his new band, for which he had already recruited bassist Stuart Fletcher.

In January 1999, after two years of intensive touring, including support slots to The Rolling Stones, U2 and Oasis, a press release sent to the NME announced the split of the Seahorses "due to John Squire's and lead singer Chris Helme's irreconcilable differences over the musical direction the band should take".

"[10] Following The Seahorses' early demise, Helme undertook a short solo tour across England which culminated with a gig at the Improv Theatre in London.

[8][12] Following these initial gigs, which the NME described as "fairly unambitious rock music",[13] Helme abandoned the band format and returned to his native York where he performed sporadic low-key solo acoustic shows.

[14] With the new band, Helme performed numerous London showcase gigs at Ritz and undertook a short UK tour in November of that year.

Initially named Super Zero,[15] the band originally featured former Shed Seven guitarist Paul Banks who left before the release of their debut EP The Devil Is Alive and Well in D.C. in April 2003.