I consider myself fairly knowledable regarding rock n roll, however, I have never heard of buckethead. Buckethead is a guitarist who has worked with a ton of people and is apparently pretty good. Buckethead wears a KFC bucket on his head. I came across his name for the firt time while reading a NYT story about the Guns and Roses album, Chinese Democracy The most expensive album never made. [No reg required version @ Houston Chronicle]
Here is a brief excerpt from that story, bold added for emphasis:
[Axl] accompanied Buckethead on a jaunt to Disneyland when the guitarist was drifting toward quitting, several people involved recalled; then Buckethead announced he would be more comfortable working inside a chicken coop, so one was built for him in the studio, from wood planks and chicken wire.
Here is Buckethead’s bio from Artist Direct:
Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in American underground and experimental music since Parliament-Funkadelic birthed their bevy of cosmic characters in the mid-’70s. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist best known for his virtuosic command of the electric guitar, Buckethead is one of the instrument’s most recognizable contemporary innovators, his rapid-fire riffing, near-robotic fretwork, and idiosyncratic lead lines combining elements of Yngwie Malmsteen, Adrian Belew, Slayer’s Kerry King, P-Funk’s Eddie Hazel, and avant-improv artist John Zorn’s Scud-attack sax abuse. His first group, the San Francisco-based metal-funk combine the Deli Creeps, was a regional success, but disbanded before they could release anything. Buckethead’s solo career has been more productive, thanks mostly to the motivation of Zorn and Bill Laswell, the latter of whom Buckethead has also recorded and toured with in Praxis. Laswell has also produced a number of Buckethead’s solo albums (including Dreamatorium and Day of the Robot ) and included him on more than a dozen one-off recordings with the likes of Hakim Bey, Bootsy Collins, Anton Fier, Jonas Hellborg, and Bernie Worrell. In addition to releases including 1998’s Colma , Buckethead has also contributed soundtrack material to such films as Last Action Hero and Street Fighter, returning in 1999 with Monsters and Robots.
Sean Cooper, All Music Guide
25 Apr 05
4:10 pm
Buckethead is an AMAZING artist that i only got to hear of through my loving of Guns N’ Roses. He is one of the worlds best.
01 Jun 06
6:38 am
Buckethead IS truly amazing, fun and fantastic. Visit his website and learn more about him and the amusement park! http://www.bucketheadland.com. I was fortunate to see him live this year and he is awsome. If you havent’ heard his stuff you have to give it a go…on his website under news download Nottingham Lace. He is truly a genius and his creativity, and command of the guitar can be no less than respected, and IMHO reveered. He plays everything from easy melodic guitar (COLMA and ELECTRIC TEARS) to Thrash rapid fire metal…and everything in-between. Totally and truely AMAZING!!
06 Feb 07
8:28 pm
God has got to be behind that mask and under that bucket, cause man, on Guitar Hero 2 he has a song on that game called Jordan, and on expert, it is the most insane thing i have ever seen or even tried to play. Those who have played it know what i am talking about. As for a guitarist, definitely my favorite along with Herman Li, Dimebag Darrell, and John Petrucci. Not that i am saying he is God in a literal sense, but you know what i am talking about.
13 May 07
1:14 pm
Buckethead is the Best Guitarist in the world. When he played in guns n roses that isn’t even 1 percent of his true ability. Listen to some of his songs like…..Jordan, Whitewash, Witches On The Heath, Too Many Humans, Big Sur Moon (which both won top 10 guitar solo’s). Spidercrawl, Welcome To Bucketheadland, Lone Sal Bug, Electric Tears, and many more. I have 113 songs from him and i still haven’t found one that i don’t enjoy listing. Some of his songs get under your skin, if you get lost in guitar music like me were you just forget time and you forget who and where you are…then you need to listen to this. Some of his songs are very powerful. Listen to his music no one can compare!!
25 Jun 07
12:56 am
is that the real buckethead commenting? or is it the one who wrote the article above? sorry, just curious, although it may be pretty obvious. lol!
25 Jun 07
12:58 am
well, anyways, anytime man! all the best for the one and only buckethead!
04 Jul 07
2:02 pm
thast not real buckethead, look, i can make my name buckethead too, but im sure not him!
07 Jul 07
1:11 am
lol, thought so.
25 Sep 07
8:12 am
Buckethead is IMHO the worlds greatest guitarist second too none. Everytime i watch him play it leave my jaw on the ground
02 Oct 07
10:15 am
Nottingham Lace is without a doubt the best guitar solo ever. Check it out.
07 Apr 08
8:45 am
buckethead r00lz in maxs butt
06 May 08
1:40 pm
buckethead is AMAZING. i’m sooo obsessed, bt i cn’t seem 2 find his albums anywhere, do they get released in London??
09 May 08
5:29 pm
buckethead is the best guitar player ever! just listen to soothsayer, too many human, nottingham lace, jordan, welcome to buckethead land, king james, the hills have headcheese, pepper’s ghost, brewer in the air and much much more!
28 Oct 08
6:48 pm
Buckethead rules. I remember the first time I saw him. It was at the orginal Bonnaroo. It was a 110 degrees in the shade. Him and Col. Claypool’s Bucket of Burney Brain’s came out and I got cold shills down my spine. The sounds he produces and the way he plays is unreal. I’ve saw two more times in Jacksonville, FL since and both of those times were a experience that everyone should have. No matter what if he comes close to you it’s a must see. No one can play like Buckethead!
22 Nov 09
2:56 am
seen him twice in concert he is the best…i know ppl that have played 30+ years and aren’t anywhere close to matching his speed and clarity