Cris Kirkwood is an American bassist and founding member of the alternative punk band the Meat Puppets. Their album Too High to Die went gold in 1994.

Born on October 22, 1960, in Arizona, Kirkwood is a Libra. He started playing music at a young age, and formed the Meat Puppets with his brother Curt in 1980. The band became known for their eclectic blend of punk, country, and folk, and their albums Up on the Sun and Too High to Die were both critical and commercial successes.

Kirkwood has struggled with addiction and mental health issues throughout his life, and was arrested in 2006 for assault and drug possession. He entered rehab and has since been sober. He continues to play with the Meat Puppets, and the band was inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2016.