Dustin Milotte: The great masked guitarist!
Who is Buckethead? The question has been in the air for fifteen
years now. He's become one of the most innovative heavy metal artists of his
time, but still no photos exist and no interview requests are granted. We
know his real name is Brian Carroll, or is it?
This mystique has gained him an international cult following and Tuesday at the Bijou Theatre will be Knoxville concert goers' chance see something that they've definitely never seen before.
It was fall 2003 when bandmate Chris Peck and I attended our first
Buckethead show. As we passed through the door of Nashville's Mercy Lounge,
the music was already in progress. Our view of the stage was blocked by the
crowd, but the initial aural picture was that of a three or four-piece
progressive metal band. We moved in and the picture came into focus. It was
one man. One man with a KFC bucket on his head and a white mask on his face,
his left hand tapping a rabidly ferocious guitar melody while his right hand
gripped the hair of a dangling severed head. This is an average night for
the persona known as Buckethead.
I know what you're thinking, but if you grew up in a chicken coop
watching silent drive-in movies you might have some issues too. You'll have
to take a trip to www.bucketheadland.com to
see what I mean. Here you will find an amusement park inspired by his
cooped up childhood. You can go on the graverobbing adventure, ride the
cattle prod, or snack on some delectable Kadbury Kream Eyes. Complete with a
staff of bucketbots to do the maintenance and a terror tram, Bucketheadland
is like Dollywood's gothic sibling.
those in attendance Tuesday should expect to see guitar chops on a
disturbingly new level displayed over tasteful compositions. On recent
releases, like 2005's Enter the Chicken, you'll find elements of funk,
hip-hop and even some softer sounds. This keeps the record from getting
monotonous while letting his signature metal compositions shine.
Buckethead arrived at his present musical conclusion due to a number
of influences, some actually grounded in reality. He has studied under
guitar shred master Paul Gilbert (some initially thought Gilbert to be
Buckethead¹s true identity), participated in dozens of musical projects and
even composed movie scores. His recent boost in popularity is due to his
role as lead guitarist in the last incarnation of Guns and Roses, as well as
taking part in the jamband scene through collaborations with Les Claypool
(Primus) and Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic).
Tuesday's performance will also include another intriguing solo
artist- That One Guy. With what appears to be a homemade instrument, That
One Guy simultaneously plays bass, drums and other sound patches while
delivering vocal hooks that are known to move the crowd.
For tickets, visit www.knoxbijou.com.