Why doesn't Buckethead get any love here? [Archive]

dughaze

05-11-2012, 01:50 AM

I'm over 50 and I think he's awesome. I've always liked harder rock with guitars, singers, bass, drums, and some keys, but not so much the instrumental only stuff. Steve Vai, Buckethead, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, and all the other virtuosos are incredible players and I love to hear them play but I can only take about 5 or 10 minutes typically of their playing and then I am good for a while. Too much weedly weedly is like listening to someone that doesn't take enough breathes when they're yakking almost non-stop.

dughaze

05-11-2012, 01:54 AM

I'm not the worlds biggest Buckethead fan but the dude's got chops and a huge variety of styles he does well.

Much better than re-hashing the same 15 blues licks into an album like many who get held up as "great" on here.

amen brother...due respect for the chops
<high five's Madryan>

charley

05-11-2012, 02:22 AM

My absolute favorite Buckethead is the stuff he did with Les Claypool's Colonel Claypools Bucket of Bernie Brains. Even better is some of the Buckethead/Les Claypool/Brain trio stuff on Youtube.

Boytbpc

05-11-2012, 02:34 AM

I've never paid him any mind because of the whole bucket thing. I'm just not into that nonsense.

dr.morton

05-11-2012, 04:00 AM

I love "Bucky" and own several of his recordings.

Even prefer him to the usual guys.
He is weird and IMO weird is good. Every new project is bag of surprise.
And he did some cool collaborations:Claypool, Laswell etc.

But good tone he has noT...!

RussB

05-11-2012, 04:45 AM

Maybe 'cause this is the amps & cabs forum? Try the lounge. ;)

Tom Gilroy

05-11-2012, 05:32 AM

Yup

and we oldies tend to like music

as opposed to the farting out scales, out of pace and timing

YOMD, of course

I'm not a big Buckethead fan, but I can't imagine anybody could listen to an album like Electric Tears or Colma and decide it wasn't "music."

He has an extraodinarily diverse catalogue (more than 35 studio albums). He's not only a very capable hard rock and heavy metal player (which he would normally be associated with), but he also has played a lot of funk (with Bootsy Collins for example), fusion and clean/acoustic ballads (as on the albums I mentioned above).

While you might find his playing very scalar, I also can't imagine anybody criticising Buckethead's rhythm or timing. If anything, he's inhumanly precise.

I guess this is TGP, and a younger guy like myself has no hope of convincing anybody here to for get about the bucket and the mask, and just listen to the beautiful music that the man underneath has created.

Scott L

05-11-2012, 06:33 AM

I've never paid him any mind because of the whole bucket thing. I'm just not into that nonsense.

Your missing out on an amazing musician - something for everyone.

Your short changing your ears if your letting your eyes decide on if a player is any good or not. Hit YouTube tons of his music there, and minimize the screen. The stage persona aside, the man is amazing.

QRSS

05-11-2012, 06:35 AM

what amps and speakers does he use?

zorak

05-11-2012, 06:40 AM

If you think about guitarists as "entertainers" and very few of them ever become that, Buckethead is close to the top. He is incredibly original, and his schtick is his schtick. He's carved out his own personality on guitar and on stage, which isn't the easiest thing to do in this processed-music world we live in.

Plus, he's buddies with Bill Laswell, the baddest dude on the planet! And that counts for something.

mannish

05-11-2012, 06:48 AM

maybe cause this is the Amp Forum..? ,

BudLite

05-11-2012, 06:59 AM

This

maybe cause this is the Amp Forum..? ,

tonegangster

05-11-2012, 07:06 AM

Because he wears a freakin' KFC bucket on his head!!?? HELLO

:facepalm

MLC

05-11-2012, 07:12 AM

Because he wears a freakin' KFC bucket on his head!!?? HELLO

:facepalm

:rotflmao

jpage

05-11-2012, 07:16 AM

Buckethead has inhuman skills, and is more of a musician than a lot of the guys TGPers worship. Folks here are a stubborn bunch and will never be able to get past the costume or NPM (notes per minute). It truly is their loss though.

jlagrassa

05-11-2012, 07:21 AM

I think he is a great player but dont care for that stupid Bucket on his head but guess thats cool for the teenagers!

alguit

05-11-2012, 07:23 AM

What string gauge does he use?

Nahhhh, I'm just yanking yer chain...I don't care...
;)

Seriously, I saw him on some tv special, and I was fascinated by him-I, too, like "different." His soloing isn't something I want to listen to for long periods of time-I am more into players who try to phrase as if they're breathing, more horn/Miles Davis-like...but the man can play his tail off and has some beautiful music.

Certainly, I take him seriously and wish him a great career-more Bucketheads and fewer Biebers, and the music world will be richer for it...

Alan

BudLite

05-11-2012, 07:25 AM

Oh Dear, Buckethead is not getting enough praise on TGP, my gosh!!! I hope I can sleep tonite....

mannish

05-11-2012, 07:25 AM

I do not know anything about him except he wears a bucket on is head and hangs out in amp forums

jpage

05-11-2012, 07:26 AM

I think he is a great player but dont care for that stupid Bucket on his head but guess thats cool for the teenagers!

Buckethead is definitely NOT aimed at teenagers. :bong

morglan

05-11-2012, 07:53 AM

Who?

mjt335

05-11-2012, 08:11 AM

He's one of those guys that I enjoy watching just because he's so phenomenally talented. Not unlike watching a troop of Chinese acrobats... that being said, I don't really enjoy his music.

muffinMan74

05-11-2012, 08:18 AM

I love me some Buckethead, from his many solo efforts new & old, back into the Praxis catalog, to the LC collaborations. He plays with a lot more character, feel, and understatement than his technical peers could to hope to have on their best day. For example, I highly doubt, as much as I love their music, that an 'Electric Tears' album would be forthcoming from the usual shred masters. Point is, in addition to phenomenal skills, the man has serious songwriting chops too.

and yeah, maybe try the lounge next time instead of the amp forum?

teefus

05-11-2012, 08:20 AM

i fall back on a buddy's observation of buckethead's music........."he certainly doesn't let the guitar get in the way of his playing".........

Ultron

05-11-2012, 09:11 AM

Buckethead for teenagers?

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5992

05-11-2012, 09:13 AM

I'm a big Buckethead fan from way back. In fact, I picked up a copy of Transmutation (by Praxis) about 20 years ago. I was totally blow away. That album completely re-defined what I wanted to hear out of a guitar on a fundamental level.

I've got a great many of his albums on CD: most of his work with Praxis, his solo stuff, a few collaborations. Most of his early stuff was phenomenal. But then I felt kind of a shift in the early-to-mid 2000s. He was putting out utter crap. Most of it felt rushed, and by this time he was putting out 4 or 5 albums a year. A lot of it sounded like he just hit the record button and then went for it, without a clear idea of what he wanted to do; i.e., Noodling just to be noodling and capturing it for posterity. Up until that point, I just bought anything that he put out, but I was so disgusted by several forgettable/throwaway (IMHO) albums that I just stopped. Haven't bought one since.

As far as the KFC bucket/chicken coop/Bucketheadland schtick goes, I find it mildly entertaining. He definitely marches to the beat of his own drummer and I think that is a good thing. In fact I think it is brilliant. At any time if he gets tired of the whole Buckethead persona, he can abandon it and become Brian Carroll.

Edit: here's a link to his equipment:

http://www.uberproaudio.com/who-plays-what/219-buckethead-guitar-gear-rig-and-equipment

Some TGP approved, some TGP reviled.

I don't think of him as having a distinctive tone. He has played so much stuff over the years and has been all over the map with guitars, amps and pedals. I can always recognize his playing, but his tone often leaves a lot to be desired. (IMHO, of course)

semi-hollowbody

05-11-2012, 09:18 AM

He wears a KFC bucket on his head and claims to live in a chicken coup...

I actually like his playing, but I honestly cant get past the schtick...

clothwiring

05-11-2012, 09:24 AM

When I was a teen I dug the first Praxis album. Cool stuff but his playing wore thin for me as time went on. Some of the live stuff with Claypool I've seen is cool, but outside of that it's just not my thing.

DcM

05-11-2012, 09:37 AM

BIG B!! He spends more time playing and doesn't get too caught up in the gear chase. He used the Recto's for many years before he went with the new Marshall/Bogner rig.

This video is aimed right at TGP. :eek: :stir

_t0s7o3NKUw

MikeDojcsak

05-11-2012, 10:01 AM

I don't get huge enjoyment out of playing his albums/collabs but the dude can really play. That being said, I don't care for his imagery/style. But where it counts, he is a far superior player to the same 10 blues guys that are praised around here.

BudLite

05-11-2012, 10:32 AM

Hmmm, and who are the 10 blues guys is he a far superior player than?

I don't get huge enjoyment out of playing his albums/collabs but the dude can really play. That being said, I don't care for his imagery/style. But where it counts, he is a far superior player to the same 10 blues guys that are praised around here.

jbraun002

05-11-2012, 11:20 AM

He wears a KFC bucket on his head and claims to live in a chicken coup...

I actually like his playing, but I honestly cant get past the schtick...

I'll second this. He's no doubt a phenomenal player. But there are lots of phenomenal players, so... what's really compelling about the music he's producing?

I actually think schtick is fine - I mean, KISS is pure schtick and that's ok for what it is. But at a certain point the schtick gets in the way of being taken seriously. And before anyone moans about that, please realize that that is precisely what it's supposed to do (i.e., to subvert traditional expectations of seriousness). Else it wouldn't be a gimmick.

There's tons of examples of this stuff in other genres: modern art, free jazz, etc. Sometimes it works - and when it does it's great. But I don't personally find a musical Andy Kaufman compelling.

But more power to those who do.

Blauserk

05-11-2012, 11:22 AM

Insanely talented and fun to watch--particularly his insanely fast picking and his multiple-finger tapping. Deeply weird. Like some of his music. Give a listen to "Jordan" sometime, haters. He plays about the first half of the song one-handed.

PS. I don't think of the bucket and mask as a "schtick." He doesn't think, "hey, if I wear this bucket and mask, I'll make tons of money." I just think he's deeply weird. He lost a gig with Ozzy because he wouldn't (couldn't) be more "normal." From Ozzy's interview with Revolver:

"I tried out that Buckethead guy. I met with him and asked him to work with me, but only if he got rid of the ****ing bucket. So I came back a bit later, and he's wearing this green ****ing Martian's-hat thing! I said, 'Look, just be yourself.' He told me his name was Brian, so I said that's what I'd call him. He says, 'No one calls me Brian except my mother.' So I said, 'Pretend I'm your mum, then!' I haven't even got out of the room and I'm already playing ****ing mind games with the guy. What happens if one day he's gone and there's a note saying, 'I've been beamed up'? Don't get me wrong, he's a great player. He plays like a mother****er."

jpage

05-11-2012, 11:23 AM

Hmmm, and who are the 10 blues guys is he a far superior player than?

I'll play--I'll throw out 5 off the top of my head:

Robben Ford
Slash
Carlos Santana
Eric Johnson
John Meyer

DcM

05-11-2012, 11:31 AM

Interesting to see many dismiss him based on the persona. His schtick is way more entertaining than watching a blooze rock player just stay in one spot and play. Those are the guys that make me stand in the back of the room with arms folded. :D I mean Jimi Hendrix dressed like a dude firing a cannon during some Napoleonic battle and humped his rig. Page dressed like a wizard with bell bottoms waving a bow. Slash with the hat...

With Buckethead I am compelled to work my way to the the front to see whats happening and how he works the stage,crowd and gear. He has serious attitude and brings it every time along with the multi genre chops.

jpage

05-11-2012, 11:40 AM

Interesting to see many dismiss him based on the persona. .

Amen--those people should be ashamed. I wonder if they all have the same haircut and Men's Warehouse for work/Old Navy on the weekends wardrobes...

jbraun002

05-11-2012, 11:59 AM

Amen--those people should be ashamed. I wonder if they all have the same haircut and Men's Warehouse for work/Old Navy on the weekends wardrobes...

The onus is not on me to find him or his "brand" compelling.

As a fellow human, he can elect to be as oddball or avant-gaarde as it pleases him.

But if he wants me to take his art/music seriously, I need a reason to dig in and take interest. There are so many great musicians out there (many not even guitar players!), so if I'm gonna spend the time _really_ listening to Buckethead as opposed to X, then I need not to be burdened with getting past an artist's "eccentricities", especially when they appear trite and gimmicky (unless it's really not a gimmick - maybe I'm wrong there). I'm sure Buckethead could care less - but _I_ need a reason to care about him if I'm gonna spend the time.

Finally, what I've heard so far doesn't make me think I'm missing out on the next Thelonious Monk. It makes me think I'm missing out on the next Les Claypool. Speaking for myself _only_, that's ok.

BudLite

05-11-2012, 12:08 PM

WoW, you think Buckethead is a far superior player to Ford and Johnson, now that's hard for me to believe....:messedup

I'll play--I'll throw out 5 off the top of my head:

Robben Ford
Slash
Carlos Santana
Eric Johnson
John Meyer

Modulator

05-11-2012, 12:29 PM

Not one mention of his awesome nunchuckery?!:peenut

I'm a kinda old guy in my mid 40s. First time I heard Buckethead I was amazed, but the videos that amazed me into seeing how soulful he can play are his acoustic tracks and backyard video tapes that look like a family gathering or something. Sure he can play fast with those spiderleg looking fingers, and is a goofball, but he is no slouch. Maybe overpraised by some, but also under appreciated by a lot more. He's the only "speed metal" type (and this is just one facet of his) guitarist I could listen to for a whole set and not want to leave or wish they would finish already. Trios are hard enough, but a one man show plinking away on his guitar at lighting speed with the stutter thing, etc. And hold your attention for more than a 10 minute solo? I think that says a lot, and if you see him live, you'd be surprised that it's not a bunch of kids at an all ages show.

He's better appreciated reading between the lines. And the bucket...I wish I were a famous guitar virtuouso who could go anywhere I want w/o a single soul bothering me or treating me differently. I wouldn't be surprised if once in a while Jimmy page wishes he weren't recognizable...what if he wore a bucket? Is Bootsy a bad bassist because he weres crazy glasses and huge boots that probably both get in the way sometimes.

buddyboy69

05-11-2012, 12:34 PM

I took a week or so a while back to check out buckethead. I was really brought in by his slower songs, really unique and great listening. After checking out as much as i could on youtube and other audio, i came to the conclusion that he is an old 80s shredder. Basically that is his sound with a little more. His technique is great, but in the end it became a bit redundant as well as his stage show. The nunchuck and robot are pretty 80s as well. So if 43 year old 80s throwback shredders are what the kids are into these days, i guess there is still hope for all. Only my opinion.

Mr. Kite

05-11-2012, 01:05 PM

The stutter button is pretty innovative. If he came up with that then, well he's an amazing player and a gear innovator. That's pretty cool. He gets younguns into guitar which is cool too.

pbmw

05-11-2012, 01:07 PM

I don't think it's the age of people on TGP. I'm over 60 adn have something like 27 ro 28 of his albums.
He's got some chops...

stratovarius

05-11-2012, 01:15 PM

Most people prefer extra crispy? :confused:

Tuberattler

05-11-2012, 01:55 PM

I like the bucket just don't like the dweedly... you can be phenomenal but sometimes it just get's in the way of a song...IMO

jackevorkian

05-11-2012, 02:20 PM

I've never paid him any mind because of the whole bucket thing. I'm just not into that nonsense.

Sort of agree.

Monster chops, but his image and playing have very little personality. I'm more likely to get into a technically average musician that I can connect with on a more personal level. It's tough to connect with someone with a KFC bucket on their head.

RocksOff

05-11-2012, 02:35 PM

Count me in the camp that says, 'The bucket is dumb.'
I honestly can't even stand to think about how much grease must be on that dude's face and hair.
Yuck!

:)

muffinMan74

05-11-2012, 03:35 PM

I'm laughing at the thought that in order to 'connect' with a musician, one needs to be visually engaged by a pleasing or desirable façade, by that rationale Punky Meadows from Angel should be the clear favorite.

"I can't understand when I'm supposed to be impressed and holler unless I see <<guitarist of your choice>> making his 'I'm squirting now!' face."

Maybe gazing at the mask and uncomely & absurd visage helps one realize that attention is focused on the wrong thing; just close your eyes and listen....

I get it if someone doesn't like the songwriting or finds the overwhelming chops, well, too overwhelming, but to those who are judging a book by its cover: you're doing yourself a disservice.

Crate love

05-11-2012, 04:40 PM

Apparently, he is a youngun, yet this guitarist is a good player, perhaps he will even become more so as he develops what he really wants to do. I don't see why he needs to cover up his face and promote KFC. Alice Cooper really did this back in the 70s and wasn't taken seriously at first. Then he started touring and scaring the heck out of folks with his theatrics - the rest is money in the bank! Oh, and he didn't support/promote any large corporations that I am aware of. Anyway, he deserves a listen for what he can do with a guitar.

Tuberoast

05-11-2012, 05:23 PM

I'm over and really like him. He is an original!

forum_crawler

05-11-2012, 05:28 PM

I think that if he played a tele and a -15W fender amp he would be the rage here...

MikeDojcsak

05-11-2012, 05:31 PM

Hmmm, and who are the 10 blues guys is he a far superior player than?

Do you really want to get into that?

Burst59

05-11-2012, 05:37 PM

Do you think he likes BBQ or original recipe?

jtm622

05-11-2012, 05:45 PM

I'm just thankful that he eschewed the idea of using a bedpan for a hat... We can only speculate what his stage name would be had he chosen that particular metal utensil instead...

:)

elron hoover

05-11-2012, 05:51 PM

Count me in the camp that says, 'The bucket is dumb.'
I honestly can't even stand to think about how much grease must be on that dude's face and hair.
Yuck!

:)

Probably not as much grease as SRV had on his face and hair underneath that silly cowboy hat with feathers in it. He was a great player, but let's face it - cowboy hats with feathers in them are pretty dumb. I was never able to enjoy any of his music because all I kept thinking every time I heard it was, "those feathers in his hat are so stupid!".:D

jackevorkian

05-11-2012, 06:24 PM

NorCal_Val

05-11-2012, 06:27 PM

Totally dig Buckethead!
"Octave of the Holy Innocents" is an amazing album. And
on the opposite end "Death Cube K".
I like everything I've ever heard by Bucket. Even the
wacky stuff.

Stratobuc

05-11-2012, 06:36 PM

I like his playing. The act is different - but doesn't really bug me. Hell, I've seen way worse..... (slipknot).

Why the heck is this in the amps forum?

madryan

05-11-2012, 06:43 PM

I just appreciate anything that's interesting from a creative standpoint. It's rare that you get someone who can do the monster talent and chops thing without falling into the typical "shredder" trap.

To me there's a very few guitarists who can pull it off and he's one of them.

ukslinger

05-11-2012, 07:04 PM

Super talented and super musical. He's a different cat and thats fine by me. Probably could have been in a hundred super groups and made a ton of cash but seemed to rather do his own thing. Although I think he was in GNR for about a minute and discussed playing with Ozzy. But Ozzy couldn't get past the bucket either.

I don't get into the stuff Vai and others have put out. But I find Buckethead very cool to listen to. IMHO the best of the "modern" guitar players. Very tasteful and musical use of the speed playing when needed. But its definately not all shred and scales like some guys in that camp.

cugel

05-11-2012, 07:11 PM

chops is putting it far too mildly. amazing musician with a mind-boggling command of the instrument. buckethead is his guitar's daddy

elron hoover

05-11-2012, 07:38 PM

I don't get into the stuff Vai and others have put out. But I find Buckethead very cool to listen to. IMHO the best of the "modern" guitar players. Very tasteful and musical use of the speed playing when needed. But its definately not all shred and scales like some guys in that camp.

If you listened to more Vai you would see that his catalog is at least as diverse as Buckethead's, and not nearly all "shred and scales". I like Buckethead and catch his shows whenever he comes near, but IMO don't feel he's at the same level as Satch or Vai. It would be great to see Big B on the next G3 though.

Ben S.

05-11-2012, 07:42 PM

Search the archives. He has been discussed for years and received lots of praise. TGP isn't made of just one year of conversations.

BigPapiFan

05-11-2012, 07:54 PM

Count me in the camp that says, 'The bucket is dumb.'
I honestly can't even stand to think about how much grease must be on that dude's face and hair.
Yuck!

:)

Be careful what you say about buckets, you wouldn't want Chuck to hear you!

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a398/23miles/chuckethead.jpg

semi hollaback

05-11-2012, 07:55 PM

I love him with all my ****ing heart. I rarely listen to him now, but he's definitely the reason I decided to play for a living. If you know about his backstory, you know he's just a quiet, great human being who created a character as a beacon to express himself freely.

I can understand being leery of his image or persona at first, but his original writing and playing should put that to rest pretty quickly if you listen with open ears.

Jerry Lundegaard

05-11-2012, 08:07 PM

He's obviously a gifted guitar player, but he's off the charts weird. It doesn't do anything for me I guess.

LPMojoGL

05-11-2012, 08:25 PM

Dig me some Buckethead.
I have several of his cds, and each one is different than the other.
Each one has some amazing playing, and some great music.

As far as the persona thing, dude carved out a little place for him in the rocknroll world, and entertains in a unique manner. Fun to watch.

I often wonder if he'll lose the bucket someday when he gets older, or if he is gonna be this long, gray-haired, bucket-wearing dude. When no one remembers what the bucket was used for.

And amps, now he is using a JVM and a Bogner Uberschall, some choice effects.

stratzrus

05-11-2012, 08:31 PM

I love Buckethead and have seen him live a couple of times.

I'd go to see him again if he was playing with the trio, particularly with Pinch Face.

But seeing him play a whole set solo didn't work for me. The playing was great but once was enough.

...and yes, I'd rather see him that any of the blues players previously listed.

They are some great players but if I wanted to hear the blues I'd want to hear the real deal, not "Blues: The Next Generation". The blues rock chops guys don't really rock my world.

Here's a decent HQ clip:

AVCOKbYKQm8

LavaMan

05-11-2012, 08:35 PM

Answer: Because he has a bucket on his head.

Lucky Jack

05-11-2012, 08:44 PM

Man, the bucket's no weirder than the ZZ Top beards. It's all stagecraft, just like Kiss & the other guys with funny hats.

I think it's also intended as a poke at the whole "I'm a rock star with a rock star persona" deal.

In the meanwhile, the man can play his guitar . . .

Jason417

05-11-2012, 08:47 PM

He's obviously a gifted guitar player, but he's off the charts weird. It doesn't do anything for me I guess.

Definitely. He wears a chicken bucket. On his head.

He doesn't take himself seriously, either.

tsar nicholas

05-11-2012, 09:14 PM

The man is a genius. "Colma" is an overlooked classic

cue311

05-11-2012, 09:36 PM

The man is a genius. "Colma" is an overlooked classic

Yep, great.

sanrico

05-12-2012, 12:01 AM

I thought he was the strangest choice for Guns n Roses. When I saw them play with him and he finished a song and then started break dancing, I found myself bewildered. It was interesting, but not what I expect from Guns n Roses.

I'm also really turned off by the weedly weedly thing. I just can't make myself like it, and shouldn't have to "make myself" like anything.

jpage

05-12-2012, 12:31 AM

WoW, you think Buckethead is a far superior player to Ford and Johnson, now that's hard for me to believe....:messedup

Absolutely, every day of the week.

jpage

05-12-2012, 12:34 AM

If you listened to more Vai you would see that his catalog is at least as diverse as Buckethead's, and not nearly all "shred and scales". I like Buckethead and catch his shows whenever he comes near, but IMO don't feel he's at the same level as Satch or Vai. It would be great to see Big B on the next G3 though.

I've seen each of the three a half dozen times and while I respect all of them, satch and BH are a clear step above vai IMO.

jpage

05-12-2012, 12:38 AM

So if 43 year old 80s throwback shredders are what the kids are into these days, i guess there is still hope for all. Only my opinion.

You diminish your opinion by consistently attempting to pigeonhole BH as some sort of "fad" that teenagers and immature critics are happening to embrace. If you can't see that the man is blatantly the exact opposite of that you have your cranium halfway up your intestine.

aynirar27

05-12-2012, 04:34 AM

I'm astonished by all the people here posting about buckethead who don't know an F'n thing about him. "weedly weedly", besides making you sound dumb, in no way describes this dude.

jlagrassa

05-12-2012, 05:50 AM

Rocknrollampsinc

05-12-2012, 06:35 AM

I'm 59 and imho BHead is an amazing technician. What comes out is either jaw dropping or gobldygook. But, even the gobldygook requires amazing guitar technique.

DrumBob

05-12-2012, 11:02 AM

Because he wears a freakin' KFC bucket on his head!!?? HELLO

:facepalm

+1. Thank you. Yes, the man can play the guitar well. Either you like the kabuki mask and KFC hat getup or you don't, and if you don't, you tend to dismiss him, which is shame, really.

firefitz65

05-12-2012, 11:23 AM

Yup

and we oldies tend to like music

as opposed to the farting out scales, out of pace and timing

YOMD, of course
:nuts

amigo30

05-12-2012, 11:29 AM

Because he wears a freakin' KFC bucket on his head!!?? HELLO

:facepalm

I know, right? How can he ever expect to
gain an audience with that schtick.

He could stand to learn a few things from the old rockers. All the good music comes from days when no weird image was needed.

http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/gene-simmons.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.spinner.com/media/2007/10/alice-cooper-200-100807.jpg

http://www.manowar-collection.de/Manowar1984Poster.jpg

http://kastatic.com/i2/artists/10611543.jpg

http://static02.mediaite.com/styleite/uploads/gallery/most-ridiculous-stage-costumes/ejj.jpg

http://www.offshoreechos.com/forts/images/Lord_Sutch.jpg

http://collider.com/wp-content/image-base/People/L/Liberace/liberace_image.jpg

http://train4tradeskills.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ozzy_osbourne.jpg

firefitz65

05-12-2012, 11:30 AM

[QUOTE=DcM;13075867]BIG B!! He spends more time playing and doesn't get too caught up in the gear chase. He used the Recto's for many years before he went with the new Marshall/Bogner rig.

This video is aimed right at TGP. :eek: :stir

_t0s7o3NKUw[/QUOTE
he also has been using an engl

sutoman

05-12-2012, 11:37 AM

There are so many great artists and guitar players out there - nobody has enough time to invest in getting in to all of them. I stay away from guys with buckets on their head, or top hats with cigarettes dangling from their mouths, or short skirts, or whatever. It takes to much effort to sift through the shtick. Too often there is not a good enough payoff to overlook the ridiculousness. Buckethead can play, but he wears a mask and a KFC bucket on his head. I'ld rather not have the distraction and move on to someone else. More power to him.

pete692

05-12-2012, 11:39 AM

This is kind of a strawman OP. Buckethead gets plenty of props, and has a large following. Now, with that being said, is he for everyone? No, because no artist is for everyone.

Eskimo_Joe

05-12-2012, 11:46 AM

1) I don't connect with his persona. Maybe if I was 12 yrs old, I would think wearing a bucket and a mask and creating a faux identity is cool. But I don't, I think it's lame.

2) The reason I'm attracted to the guitar is because of what it offers in the midst of a traditional song --- not the purpose and centerpiece of the music itself. I could care less about techinical prowess -- same reason I've never gotten in Via, Satriani, etc.

3) Buckethead and his music lack relevance within popular culture. He's a 'for guitar geeks only' guy.

firefitz65

05-12-2012, 11:54 AM

mudster

05-12-2012, 11:57 AM

I'm over 50 and my most frequently played song at this time is "Minds under construction" by Bootsy Collins with Buckethead. The long version.
Buckethead rules.
I wonder what that switch is on is guitar that he pushes on.

Sidmore

05-12-2012, 11:59 AM

mad skills, quirky fun stage persona, I appreciate him in small doses.

Polynitro

05-12-2012, 12:26 PM

hes great! if he took the bucket off his head his name would not make any sense at all.

I knew it was the bucket that keeps people here from liking his music, as the great western philosopher andre agassi used to say 'image is everything', especially on tgp...if you dont have a blues hat, rediculous O face, and frilly shirt you dont deserve a listen. :facepalm

RocksOff

05-12-2012, 05:13 PM

It's ok for people not to like buckethead's music. It may not be your thing, although he plays multiple styles, but to say that he is not a great guitar player, tells me that you are clueless on guitar playing

Well, I dont think he's a great guitar player, at least not in the sense of writing great tunes. He's a shredder, which I abhor. Your assertion that anyone who thinks he isn't great is clueless clues me in that you haven't yet realized that not all people hold all things of equal value.

I think he's exceptional at what he does, however. But I have to say that what he plays doesn't make him a great guitar player. It makes him great at what he does. Nitpicking, you say? It's just how I feel about it.
Apologies in advance.

aynirar27

05-12-2012, 06:12 PM

if only he wore khaki pants....

ukslinger

05-12-2012, 06:38 PM

If he had a Dumble clone and played a muzac version of mustang sally at a dive bar on the east coast he'd be a gear page legend.
A tan pants legend. :dude

stratzrus

05-12-2012, 06:39 PM

Some cool stuff and no doubt a monster player... but I got bored about half way through it.Agreed, and I'm a big fan.

That's why I said I'd drop everything to see him play with his band but once was enough for seeing him play solo. It may even sound the same but it's not nearly as engaging.

I wonder what that switch is on is guitar that he pushes on.It's a "killswitch" that mutes the volume when pressed.

Here's another one from the young lad...

9yt0YEj3qdA

And for those who would dismiss him as an "'80s shredder"...

siGFWtbLmpA

mudster

05-12-2012, 07:23 PM

Cool that this thread came up as I've been groovin' to the KFC wearin' master all day.

ldp1959

05-12-2012, 09:01 PM

You diminish your opinion by consistently attempting to pigeonhole BH as some sort of "fad" that teenagers and immature critics are happening to embrace. If you can't see that the man is blatantly the exact opposite of that you have your cranium halfway up your intestine.

You know dude, in order to be taken somewhat seriously, you need to be able to make your point without being an ass. You don't judge other people's opinions. Seems that you are personally devastated that some folks don't like him. Get over it.

Gearopenia

05-12-2012, 09:09 PM

I'll play--I'll throw out 5 off the top of my head:

Robben Ford
Slash
Carlos Santana
Eric Johnson
John Meyer

Call you on this one, he rips all to shreds that you named. The only One that you listed that doesn't make me curse under my breath is Robben Ford.
He only mildly spanks him!!! Haha

dlguitar64

05-12-2012, 09:22 PM

Well, I dont think he's a great guitar player, at least not in the sense of writing great tunes. He's a shredder, which I abhor. Your assertion that anyone who thinks he isn't great is clueless clues me in that you haven't yet realized that not all people hold all things of equal value.

I think he's exceptional at what he does, however. But I have to say that what he plays doesn't make him a great guitar player. It makes him great at what he does. Nitpicking, you say? It's just how I feel about it.
Apologies in advance.

Total non sequiter-what he does is exactly what makes him a great guitar player-the context he puts it in is another matter but to deny the tools he has at his disposal is to be willfully ignorant.

aliensporebomb

05-12-2012, 09:22 PM

I'm a longtime enthusiast of his music - I was well aware of him way back in the deli creeps days - predating Praxis by a good bit.

If you want to hear two releases where he plays "music" as opposed to using his guitar as a concussion/stun grenade listen to "Colma" and "Captain EO's Voyage".

There you will find melodies, song construction, no mention of his imaginary theme park, no funny voices saying silly things or flimsy riffs for an excuse to fart around or the like.

I'm pushing 50 myself and I realize that Bucket has over FIFTY releases to date, it's nearly impossible to sort the wheat from the chaff sometimes. I enjoy some of his "explorations" but realize the average listener (and the average TGP listener) probably wants straight ahead playing with some kind of melodic construction.

There's a lot of releases he's done that he would have benefitted from "adult supervision". So, my recommendation is to try those two ("Colma", "Captain EO's Voyage"). I'm told that "Electric Tears" and the forthcoming "Electric Sea" are along those lines. I personally enjoyed his "Bucketheadland" japanese release (the one on CBS Sony japan, not the one on Avant Japan - that one has some good playing but an insufferable bunch of goofing around and making funny voices).

There's also "Giant Robot" on the NTT label that's out of print that's sometimes considered some of his best playing BUT that record is out of print and will likely never be re-released. I know some have found pirated copies floating about but why not support the guy buy buying some of his legitimately released music? There's tons.

If you want to hear guitar played incredibly with a top notch band of full grown adults utilizing him to his best, then try "Praxis: Transmutation". But there's a lot of crazy speed guitar here as well as what I'd call unusual textural guitar too and melodic emotional guitar too. That was a stunner of a record, unlikely to be topped.

Oh. And as for his persona - read the interview in Guitar Player from about half a decade or so ago. It explains his decision to become Buckethead in detail and in light of that information I agree with his decision. If he was just this guy who came out onstage playing like that it would seem very strange. But here he has a persona that lets him focus on EVERYTHING he likes: guitar, shred guitar, monsters, robots, nunchucks, Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies, breakdancing, you name it. The persona lets him integrated a bunch of things that don't have a lot of common ground.

My two cents.

pete692

05-12-2012, 09:44 PM

Gearopenia

05-12-2012, 10:20 PM

Well, I dont think he's a great guitar player, at least not in the sense of writing great tunes. He's a shredder, which I abhor. Your assertion that anyone who thinks he isn't great is clueless clues me in that you haven't yet realized that not all people hold all things of equal value.

I think he's exceptional at what he does, however. But I have to say that what he plays doesn't make him a great guitar player. It makes him great at what he does. Nitpicking, you say? It's just how I feel about it.
Apologies in advance.

I dont think You haven't listened. He can shred, but he is more than the garden variety shredder. There are some tunes that are no more than noise..... But there are many that have more emotion, melody and build than the highly acclaimed blues guy of the week.

alguit

05-12-2012, 10:48 PM

I can appreciate Buckethead...AND some of the "blues guys" the Buckethead fans seem to want to dismiss on here...

When the heck are people on here going to be able to have an adult discussion without having to attack other's likes/dislikes and put down certain types of players?

I'm done with this thread-it's too rife with posturing and too lacking in attempts to advance reasonable discourse.

To turn music, one of the greatest things in the world, into competition, into pi**ing contests, this is a waste of time and and insult to something we all love.

-Alan

voodoochile

05-12-2012, 10:51 PM

I thought the whole bucket thing was a stupid gimmick too- until I listened to some of his stuff. Then I disliked the music on its own accord. He does have a few things I have listened to that sounds great, but most of it has been nonsense. I am not over 50, but find that I do have plenty of other choices that I do spend me time on...jazz, blues, fusion, rock, progressive...

I've never paid him any mind because of the whole bucket thing. I'm just not into that nonsense.

Bassomatic

05-13-2012, 12:26 AM

I thought the whole bucket thing was a stupid gimmick too- until I listened to some of his stuff. Then I disliked the music on its own accord. He does have a few things I have listened to that sounds great, but most of it has been nonsense. I am not over 50, but find that I do have plenty of other choices that I do spend me time on...jazz, blues, fusion, rock, progressive...

Funny that in six years of music schooling I never heard a single prof refer to a single piece of music as "nonsense". That's a lazy and inadequate descriptor.

Blix

05-13-2012, 01:01 AM

I often see my favorite guitarists being talk about in unflattering terms, both on personas and playing/musicality, but I just shrug, because everyone can't like everyone, that's just how it is.

Getting all butthurt and throwing condescending rants towards those who doesn't like your hero is just childish and makes you look like an ass.

Just saying....

Some like Buckethead, some doesn't.
Some like Santana, some doesn't.
Some like Yngwie, some doesn't.
Some like Robben Ford, some doesn't
Some like Satriani, some doesn't.
Some like Vai, some doesn't.
Some like Eric Johnson, some doesn't.
Some like EVH, some doesn't.

Gearopenia

05-13-2012, 01:13 AM

The reason I started this thread was so that you all ( brothers in guitar) would not make the same mistake I did. Which was dismiss him as some lame guy that played in slip knot or something and couldn't play so he put a mask and bucket on his head as a gimmick. Thought that for years.
Theni listened to a recording of soothsayer. Found out right then that this guy could really play. I dove into other tracks he's made.
Some are the most melodious tunes in instrumental guitar I can think of.
Like his persona or not, I hope those that heard some of the dissonant tunes and were turned away would at least check out one of these five songs.

1. Soothsayer(melody and some well built ripping)
2 dawn at the deuce-(melody)
3. The fairy and the devil- incredible mix of ugly and beauty
4. Nottingham lace- plain rockin
5. Big sur moon-really cool delay tune.

RocksOff

05-13-2012, 01:29 AM

I dont think You haven't listened. He can shred, but he is more than the garden variety shredder. There are some tunes that are no more than noise..... But there are many that have more emotion, melody and build than the highly acclaimed blues guy of the week.

Well, there you have it. I don't subscribe to the 'highly acclaimed blues guy of the week' thing, either.
I like songs. Preferably with good vocals. Preferably not all about muscular riffing or soloing. I guess I just don't prefer music in which the guitar is the primary instrument, but rather part of a team of players who are constructing a song to support an interesting vocal.
Give me some Arctic Monkeys any day of the week. To me, that's good guitar playing that is done tastefully, but very creative.

VQH8ZTgna3Q&ob=av2e

hudpucker

05-13-2012, 07:14 AM

Because he wears a freakin' KFC bucket on his head!!?? HELLO

:facepalm

So what? Look at the dyed rat on Jeff Beck's head these days.

fan of both Beck and Buckethead

forgivenman

05-13-2012, 07:26 AM

5992

05-13-2012, 07:37 AM

It's always seemed to me that Buckethead is channeling EVH in this tune:

zHxcWvO-WTo

In his weird, twisted way natch.

One of my favorite Buckethead tunes.

jpage

05-13-2012, 09:50 AM

You know dude, in order to be taken somewhat seriously, you need to be able to make your point without being an ass. You don't judge other people's opinions. Seems that you are personally devastated that some folks don't like him. Get over it.

Thanks for the advice there little fella, but I'm doing just fine. If you don't like the man's music there is nothing wrong with that. If you judge him because of his stage persona, you have your head up your ass.

jamdogg

05-13-2012, 04:13 PM

I love buckethead.

Gearopenia

05-13-2012, 04:29 PM

Well, there you have it. I don't subscribe to the 'highly acclaimed blues guy of the week' thing, either.
I like songs. Preferably with good vocals. Preferably not all about muscular riffing or soloing. I guess I just don't prefer music in which the guitar is the primary instrument, but rather part of a team of players who are constructing a song to support an interesting vocal.
Give me some Arctic Monkeys any day of the week. To me, that's good guitar playing that is done tastefully, but very creative.

VQH8ZTgna3Q&ob=av2e

I am open to all kinds of music too, as I like the art form.. It doesn't surprise me that bucket doesn't float your boat if you are into the arctic monkeys. They sound pretty good. I'll check them out.
But wouldn't you agree that they are about as different as they could befrom BH? It's comparing race cars to eating utensils.

iamdavea

05-13-2012, 05:09 PM

I've seen Buckethead live about a dozen times, and two of those concerts rate as among the finest I have seen in my 35 years of concert going. He gets a lot of attention for the speed licks, but his ability to improvise extended, soaringly melodic and evocative solos is his greatest attribute. His gift for piercingly lyrical leads is matched by only a very few players. Dismiss him for whatever reason suits you, but Buckethead is a guitar player of the highest order.

stratzrus

05-13-2012, 05:23 PM

He gets a lot of attention for the speed licks, but his ability to improvise extended, soaringly melodic and evocative solos is his greatest attribute. His gift for piercingly lyrical leads is matched by only a very few players.:agree

dlguitar64

05-13-2012, 05:56 PM

Well, there you have it. I don't subscribe to the 'highly acclaimed blues guy of the week' thing, either.
I like songs. Preferably with good vocals. Preferably not all about muscular riffing or soloing. I guess I just don't prefer music in which the guitar is the primary instrument, but rather part of a team of players who are constructing a song to support an interesting vocal.
Give me some Arctic Monkeys any day of the week. To me, that's good guitar playing that is done tastefully, but very creative.

VQH8ZTgna3Q&ob=av2e

I kept waiting for the creative part but all i heard was recycled 1969 English heavy riffs.

Cap'n Fingers

05-13-2012, 06:41 PM

I'm not the worlds biggest Buckethead fan but the dude's got chops and a huge variety of styles he does well.

Much better than re-hashing the same 15 blues licks into an album like many who get held up as "great" on here.

+1 Bucket has the goods.
A lot of great blues guys only have a dozen licks but they own them. :)

sahhas

05-13-2012, 07:11 PM

If you are on the fence about bucket head, check out "electric tears" it's an ambient masterpiece. The is also a version of "sketches of Spain" on there that is subtitled "for miles" (as in Davis). He's the real deal. He can play pretty scary chicken stuff also. His death cube K album is also very good as is "monsters and robots". On his DVD from a few years ago there is a snippet of him playing piano, he's scary good on that too. I know people sort of write him off based on his stage persona, but he is a performer also, and I think he is entertaining!

sahhas

05-13-2012, 07:14 PM

That should be"chicken pickin' " stuff, iPad not letting me edit post!!

DrumBob

05-13-2012, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the advice there little fella, but I'm doing just fine. If you don't like the man's music there is nothing wrong with that. If you judge him because of his stage persona, you have your head up your ass.

You don't seem to understand that there's no way in hell you can't be influenced by his stage persona. Seeng a human being with a KFC bucket and white kabuki mask has got to elicit some kind of response, either positive or negative. Some people only hear the playing and love it. Some people hear the playing and like the persona too. Some love the playing but don't understand his persona, and some are completely turned off by both. They're entitled to feel what they feel and express their opinions here on this forum, without you insulting them.

I've heard there are other forums out there where flaming another member is tolerated and even encouraged. Why don't you spend some time at one of them and grow up while you're at it.

The Ratchet

05-13-2012, 07:37 PM

I've never paid him any mind because of the whole bucket thing. I'm just not into that nonsense.

+5

If your tone and chops are that 'killer', you don't need f'n schticky gimmicks liek a frickin bucket on your head.

Especially a branded one. Does KFC pay him yet or what?

jpage

05-13-2012, 08:40 PM

You don't seem to understand that there's no way in hell you can't be influenced by his stage persona.

I've heard there are other forums out there where flaming another member is tolerated and even encouraged. Why don't you spend some time at one of them and grow up while you're at it.

Ah, Internet muscles! You have been to those other forums, havent you?

Your argument is a familiar one--it was used back before Jackie Robinson played ball and when Elton John just hadn't met the right girl. Grow up indeed...

tonejunky

05-13-2012, 08:46 PM

+5

If your tone and chops are that 'killer', you don't need f'n schticky gimmicks liek a frickin bucket on your head.

Especially a branded one. Does KFC pay him yet or what?

That 'shticky gimmick' is probably the only reason anyone ever has the pleasure of seeing/hearing him perform live.

:dunno

RocksOff

05-13-2012, 09:10 PM

dl: yeah, the creative parts started at 0:00 and lasted til the end.
Hearing recycled 60s heavy English parts? Don't know what to tell you.
As for me, I think it's quite good. Of course, I suppose if you require something completely original, you'll have to look elsewhere, as Buckethead seems like a hodge-podge of recycled shredder wankery thinly veiled as some sort of new wave 'jazz' or something. I mean, everything comes from somewhere... Yes, even Buckethead.

iamdavea

05-13-2012, 11:54 PM

+5

If your tone and chops are that 'killer', you don't need f'n schticky gimmicks liek a frickin bucket on your head.

Especially a branded one. Does KFC pay him yet or what?

I go to his concerts to hear what comes out of his amp, not to obsess about what he wears on his head. All I know is that he shows up for the gig on time, plays his ass off, hands out gift toys to lucky audience members, and leaves the great majority of us in a state of awestruck contentment. I leave the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual at home.

bluesjuke

05-14-2012, 01:44 AM

Could be the bucket.

The Ratchet

05-14-2012, 03:01 AM

I go to his concerts to hear what comes out of his amp, not to obsess about what he wears on his head. All I know is that he shows up for the gig on time, plays his ass off, hands out gift toys to lucky audience members, and leaves the great majority of us in a state of awestruck contentment. I leave the Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual at home.

:spit
This is exactly the type of Chuck E. Cheese nonsense I'm talking about.

So in addition to being so awesome he's also a walking Happy Meal?

Nickstrtcstr

05-14-2012, 03:44 AM

I don't like him because he didn't share any of that KFC chicken with me.

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 06:35 AM

Yup

and we oldies tend to like music

as opposed to the farting out scales, out of pace and timing

YOMD, of course

Excuse me?

How many of the 120+ albums that he's featured on have you listened to, exactly?

Enjoy the masterful and tasty pieces below, of which there are hundreds more if you scrape below the surface.

uKUYSl8c-90

oVVCavjaltM

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 07:08 AM

A couple more non-shred (well minimal anyway) pieces. Perfect background music for browsing TGP. Enjoy, fella's :)

8T_ygxO3qfY

Zne2aFaPEjE

FohIvmqsazU

pZoFeTQmfs4

B-EqqOnzTNs

W2WsPN-rr9o

4mVjxCitVL0

w9gjo5oDp6s

05S5YuUbsfc

stratzrus

05-14-2012, 08:13 AM

You don't seem to understand that there's no way in hell you can't be influenced by his stage persona. Seeng a human being with a KFC bucket and white kabuki mask has got to elicit some kind of response, either positive or negative.Personally, I like it.

It's entertaining, unique, and he works it really well.

jtm622

05-14-2012, 08:29 AM

Who woulda thought that a guitar player who wears a wax-coated cardboard bucket on his head while performing in public could be taken seriously enough to get the bowels of so many TGPers in an uproar???

I mean, it's really obvious that the guy doesn't take himself that seriously...

:)

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 08:36 AM

:spit
This is exactly the type of Chuck E. Cheese nonsense I'm talking about.

So in addition to being so awesome he's also a walking Happy Meal?

Well, if you want to focus on that and ignore the musical experience--which is 99% of it--have at it. You can stay at home, and the folks with their eyes on the prize, so to speak, will have a great time. Simple.

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 08:39 AM

An explanation of the schtick from the man himself can be found in this interview: http://qfg2.info/misc/destroyallmonsters.txt

Scott Auld

05-14-2012, 09:10 AM

This thread has been informative. (Caveat: I have never considered myself a fan)

Some of the stuff in his online bio was a surprise to read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead#Career

IMHO this is a guy who works his brains out, and does not fit well into a pigeonhole and does not mind being seen as extremely quirky. Sort of like the Johnny Depp of music?

Lution

05-14-2012, 09:28 AM

firefitz65

05-14-2012, 10:01 AM

^^^^^^ Fantastic video samples. I have no idea what the hell tgp'er "ekkybedmond"
is talking about. obviously he is all caught up in the negativity and not a good researcher.

guitrr

05-14-2012, 10:19 AM

I've never paid him any mind because of the whole bucket thing. I'm just not into that nonsense.

Bingo. The guy has chops, but I have never been able to get past the trite gimmick of the bucket. If you're really that good, just play; Satriani, Petrucci, and Albert Lee don't need a bucket, they just get onstage and wail.

And I'm in my 50's.

stratzrus

05-14-2012, 10:35 AM

If you're really that good, just play...If you don't want someone telling you to wear a bucket onstage do you really want to tell someone not to?

I really like his on stage persona. It may not work for you and that's okay but it really has nothing to do with what Satriani et al. do though does it?

beorn

05-14-2012, 10:48 AM

It's not so much the bucket as the specific choice of endorsement.

KFC is known in my social circle as Kentucky Yucky for reasons both numerous and overwhelming. The eleven herbs and spices chosen by the Colonel seem to include rancid fat and, possibly, ethanethiol. The end result is what I might call pre-barf.

Bottom line: I think Buckethead would look much better with, say, a Starbucks venti latte cup, a McDonald's Happy Meal, a Chipotle burrito wrapper, a Burger King mask such as one sees in their commercials (which I find extremely creepy) or even a cow's head as drawn from the Chick Fil A campaign.

That he would reject all those superior options and go with KFC is unforgivable.

stratzrus

05-14-2012, 10:56 AM

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 11:07 AM

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 11:26 AM

And BTW: it takes Buckethead about a minute to put on the mask and the bucket. Compare that to how long it must have taken Motley Crue to get fully glamourized back in the mid-80s. But, somehow, that was "cool."

bsuite

05-14-2012, 12:42 PM

I don't care how great he plays (and he does) dude, He wears a chicken bucket on his head! :nuts

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 01:10 PM

I don't care how great he plays (and he does) dude, He wears a chicken bucket on his head! :nuts

"I can't see the forest! There's a tree in the way!"

firefitz65

05-14-2012, 01:13 PM

I am done with this thread

RocksOff

05-14-2012, 01:21 PM

If by any chance you are serious, let me explain.

He usually has a sticker that says FUNERAL on it and it's a protest against all of the chickens, who he considers to be his extended family, that are slaughtered by KFC.

The bucket is a protest, not an endorsement by any means.

Huh? He considers genetically modified chickens to be part of his extended family? You can't be serious.

silky_sam

05-14-2012, 01:30 PM

bucket~hat is a real boondoggle for me

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 01:30 PM

Huh? He considers genetically modified chickens to be part of his extended family? You can't be serious.

He is serious. And don't call him Shirley. Buckethead is a strange cat, no doubt--and we would probably be shocked if we knew the true depths of his weirdness. But who cares? I'm a listener, not a psychologist. I mean, Heaven forbid!, a MUSICIAN being strange?!?!? Alert the media!

Burst59

05-14-2012, 01:51 PM

I don't care how great he plays (and he does) dude, He wears a chicken bucket on his head! :nuts

I never took him seriously due to the bucket, I know he can play but I never really took to his shtick. I have low tolerance for guitar instrumental music anyway. back in my 20's I was more into it because I was not really working on my songwriting as much. Now I'm more into the song overall not a bunch of solo wanking. Joe Satriani and Jeff Beck are the exception to that.
If I want that kind of thing I'll throw on some Shawn Lane or Vinne Moore.

Dipintoplayer

05-14-2012, 02:18 PM

Little story....I played with a Drummer years ago..This guy was incredibly talented on par if not better than 90% of the best monster touring bands drummers out there at anytime in music..
I'm not the type person who really cares about 10 minute long drum solo's but i remember with this guy it amazed me to hear and watch him play...

The only thing though he was extremely eccentric and thats putting it nicely...Regardless how great he was we couldn't deal with him.(To make things clear his stage actions not work ethic.His antics on stage was the problem)...It all came to a head at the third large venue show we had and blew up in the middle of the show..

After about 10 years i saw him this past weekend..It was a musicians benefit..I was standing outside the venue when once again i heard this incredible drummer playing..
Even though i had not heard or seen him in 10 years i recognized who it was right off because of how great his playing is...

He has never made it more than a few gigs with any band..

My point is this ...

..................Music is what the ears hear............
.................Entertainment is what we are doing when on stage...........

If a person does not like the performer because of the way they present themselves they will never like the performance to the extant of a performer they do like....

With music performance/entertainment goes hand in hand with music/talent..

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 02:38 PM

Little story....I played with a Drummer years ago..This guy was incredibly talented on par if not better than 90% of the best monster touring bands drummers out there at anytime in music..
I'm not the type person who really cares about 10 minute long drum solo's but i remember with this guy it amazed me to hear and watch him play...

The only thing though he was extremely eccentric and thats putting it nicely...Regardless how great he was we couldn't deal with him..It all came to a head at the third large venue show we had and blew up in the middle of the show..

After about 10 years i saw him this past weekend..It was a musicians benefit..I was standing outside the venue when once again i heard this incredible drummer playing..
Even though i had not heard or seen him in 10 years i recognized who it was right off because of how great his playing is...

He has never made it more than a few gigs with any band..

My point is this ...

..................Music is what the ears hear............
.................Entertainment is what we are doing when on stage...........

If a person does not like the performer because of the way they present themselves they will never like the performance to the extant of a performer they do like....

With music performance/entertainment goes hand in hand with music/talent..

Not really sure what the first part of this post has to do with Buckethead. No one has ever accused him of being difficult to work with, and he has, in fact, been working with many of the same musicians for years now.

stratzrus

05-14-2012, 02:44 PM

It's not so much the bucket as the specific choice of endorsement.

KFC is known in my social circle as Kentucky Yucky for reasons both numerous and overwhelming. The eleven herbs and spices chosen by the Colonel seem to include rancid fat and, possibly, ethanethiol. The end result is what I might call pre-barf.If by any chance you are serious, let me explain.

He usually has a sticker that says FUNERAL on it and it's a protest against all of the chickens, who he considers to be his extended family, that are slaughtered by KFC.

The bucket is a protest, not an endorsement by any means.Huh? He considers genetically modified chickens to be part of his extended family? You can't be serious.I am serious in that when I say "he" I mean Buckethead the persona, not Brian Carroll, the actual human, who I know absolutely nothing about.

Trust me, Buckethead is not into eating fried chicken no matter who makes it.

Dipintoplayer

05-14-2012, 02:47 PM

Not really sure what the first part of this post has to do with Buckethead. No one has ever accused him of being difficult to work with, and he has, in fact, been working with many of the same musicians for years now.

Ask Ozzy you know that dude that has all them high selling albums .Bucket heads persona kept him from being taken into the band...
With the Drummer i was speaking of.I may have failed to make it clear..His work ethics and talent was impeccable..His stage persona and weirdness carried over in live performances which caused issues of epic proportions.....

stratzrus

05-14-2012, 02:50 PM

Ask Ozzy you know that dude that has all them high selling albums .Bucket heads persona kept him from being taken into the band...But it didn't stop him from working with Guns and Roses did it? Looks like he played some pretty big crowds to me...

Kz17ZU3RJWE

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 02:55 PM

My understanding is that "Buckethead" is not meant as a joke or a put-on, and that Brian Carroll is much more comfortable being Buckethead than he is being Brian Carroll. This is a deeply eccentric guy who has done the Buckethead thing for 20 years now, and isn't about to stop.

iamdavea

05-14-2012, 02:58 PM

Ask Ozzy you know that dude that has all them high selling albums .Bucket heads persona kept him from being taken into the band...

That doesn't mean he's difficult to work with. It just means Ozzy didn't want what you get when you hire Buckethead. And good for Buckethead for passing on the gig.

Blix

05-14-2012, 03:23 PM

To make him more real, here's a couple (very old) photos of him without the silly mask and bucket:

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/032/a/8/buckethead_unmasked_3_by_mick_mars51-d4obm9t.jpg

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/032/d/f/buckethead_unmasked_2_by_mick_mars51-d4oblz5.jpg

GulfportBound

05-14-2012, 03:52 PM

85 years ago, the grandfathers of some of these guys were leaving the movie theater saying, "What's with this whole 'tramp' get-up that Charlie Chaplin wears? And what's with the cane? He walks just fine. Why can't this guy just dress like a normal person? How can people laugh at this guy's schtick?"

I think there's a considerable difference between a character devised as a comic persona by a filmmaker whose intention was to fashion all sort of comic stories about and around the character, and a musician who found himself a merely arresting appearance that doesn't seem to have all that much if anything to do with his actual music or its themes. (Fair disclosure: I'm a longtime fan of Charlie Chaplin and still consider By the Sea, A Dog's Life, The Kid, The Idle Race, City Lights, and The Great Dictator works of comic genius.)

That said, the best part of Buckethead to me is his willingness to experiment, a quality I respect in any musical genre to which I listen. The fact that he hasn't really figured out consistently that less is more, or that enough of his experiments don't come out all that well in the finished product, shouldn't be held against him when acknowledging that at least he is willing to experiment. For that willingness, you can only admire and respect him.

The Ratchet

05-14-2012, 03:56 PM

Lution

05-14-2012, 04:46 PM

I think there's a considerable difference between a character devised as a comic persona by a filmmaker whose intention was to fashion all sort of comic stories about and around the character, and a musician who found himself a merely arresting appearance that doesn't seem to have all that much if anything to do with his actual music or its themes. (Fair disclosure: I'm a longtime fan of Charlie Chaplin and still consider By the Sea, A Dog's Life, The Kid, The Idle Race, City Lights, and The Great Dictator works of comic genius.)

That said, the best part of Buckethead to me is his willingness to experiment, a quality I respect in any musical genre to which I listen. The fact that he hasn't really figured out consistently that less is more, or that enough of his experiments don't come out all that well in the finished product, shouldn't be held against him when acknowledging that at least he is willing to experiment. For that willingness, you can only admire and respect him.

I feel you're forgetting about live shows. Buckethead shows are about Buckethead and the music at his shows, which can be compared to Chaplin's performances for their entertainment purposes. People go to see Buckethead perform as that character and the musical entertainment being created by that character. I feel it is a worthy comparison that doesn't offer much substance for differences to be expressed.

Something to also keep in mind is that Chaplin, while he created works of genius, also created a stinker or two as well in his career. ;) So genius ability doesn't always equal or guarantee consistency.

Not trying to piss on things here. Just offering more perspective and respect for both Chaplin and Buckethead.

harmonicator

05-14-2012, 04:57 PM

I really dig his Colma album.

Some really cool melodies on there.

AD_

05-14-2012, 05:06 PM

I love listening to Buckethead. I don't like every one of his songs, which is fine, but some are just fantastic.

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 05:43 PM

Not Bucket, this is a french guitarist called Stephane "Fanalo" Alaux from the french band "Plug-In".

Please do some research next time.

To make him more real, here's a couple (very old) photos of him without the silly mask and bucket:

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/032/a/8/buckethead_unmasked_3_by_mick_mars51-d4obm9t.jpg

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/032/d/f/buckethead_unmasked_2_by_mick_mars51-d4oblz5.jpg

firefitz65

05-14-2012, 05:46 PM

s2y

05-14-2012, 05:50 PM

Dang, I was hoping to make a joke that when he wants respect he takes his mask off and calls himself Smoking Joe something or another, but alas there is a pic of him without the mask. :facepalm

stratzrus

05-14-2012, 05:51 PM

This is the only photo of Brian Carroll that I'm aware of:

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/61575.jpg

Chrome Dinette

05-14-2012, 05:52 PM

I don't have any records with Buckethead on them, but I should probably check out the Praxis record mentioned, at least.

I actually think his schtick is pretty good and amusing. He doesn't look any stupider than, say, Steven Tyler, for example.

LOL at the idea that "Ozzy couldn't work with him" is in any way a meaningful indictment of any musician.

GulfportBound

05-14-2012, 06:28 PM

Something to also keep in mind is that Chaplin, while he created works of genius, also created a stinker or two as well in his career. ;)

Well, I did mention a few specific films. (I could have mentioned that I still think Modern Times is badly overrated. On the other hand, one of his most underrated films is his non-Tramp film, Limelight.)

So genius ability doesn't always equal or guarantee consistency.

Well, for me the jury is still out on whether Buckethead is a genius, but I think going in that when someone mentions a proclivity for experimentation there's a root assumption that the proclivity almost by definition doesn't guarantee consistency. Or even listenability.

But I think a comparison between a Buckethead and a comedian is rather foolish, if only because I don't think Buckethead himself is trying to make people laugh. (A lot of people might laugh at him, as you've probably gathered from this thread, but I've never gotten the impression that he's going for laughs or amusement consciously.)

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 06:32 PM

Well, for me the jury is still out on whether Buckethead is a genius,

Listen to the tunes in this post then make a decision: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=13091740&postcount=135

If they don't do anything for you then no problem, though at least you're basing the opinion on music, not image.

Music is an aural art, after all.
Cheers

GulfportBound

05-14-2012, 06:36 PM

Listen to the tunes in this post then make a decision: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=13091740&postcount=135

I've heard them.

For me, the jury's still out on his genius.

To each his own. Nobody's going to like everyone, or everything by everyone, for better or worse.

ukslinger

05-14-2012, 07:02 PM

Here's my opinion on the bucket if anyone cares, ha ha. In the context of the music he plays it works pretty well. Look at all the metal/hardcore/whatever guys that wear masks and/or costumes. Slip Knot comes to mind. And there's many others. Even pop guys like Wes Borland from limp biscuit wore crazy crap. In that genre one could easily get away with it.

Now if he was a blues player, jazz, soft rock, whatever it would be way off the charts strange. But in a metal context it falls right in line with a lot of other very popular acts.

I would think Robben Ford doing his smiling thing would be just as strange if he was at a metal show playing a Slip Know song.

Both work well for each artist in their respective music crowds. Not better just different.

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 07:08 PM

Musically you can't compare Limp Biscuit/Slipknot with Buckethead.

ukslinger

05-14-2012, 07:47 PM

Musically you can't compare Limp Biscuit/Slipknot with Buckethead.

Not really comparing them muscially. Just saying they loosely fit into a darker metal-ish vibe. Painting with a very, very wide brush. :rimshot

And the limp biscuit reference was only about the stage attire.

Gearopenia

05-14-2012, 07:58 PM

Here's my opinion on the bucket if anyone cares, ha ha. In the context of the music he plays it works pretty well. Look at all the metal/hardcore/whatever guys that wear masks and/or costumes. Slip Knot comes to mind. And there's many others. Even pop guys like Wes Borland from limp biscuit wore crazy crap. In that genre one could easily get away with it.

Now if he was a blues player, jazz, soft rock, whatever it would be way off the charts strange. But in a metal context it falls right in line with a lot of other very popular acts.
Z
I would think Robben Ford doing his smiling thing would be just as strange if he was at a metal show playing a Slip Know song.

Both work well for each artist in their respective music crowds. Not better just different.

Have you ever looked at what Hendrix or SRV wear?
No mask, but pretty corny.

Blix

05-14-2012, 08:09 PM

guzman

05-14-2012, 08:15 PM

This is a music forum, why the f does everyone here care what's on his head?

Lution

05-14-2012, 08:39 PM

I've heard them.

For me, the jury's still out on his genius.

To each his own. Nobody's going to like everyone, or everything by everyone, for better or worse.

Well, at least your opinion has the jury still in deliberation on the fate of his legacy for you. ;) Everyone has their own personal criteria for that.

For me, the first time I saw him with his bucket on his head roboting, handling his nunchuks like a boss, and then ripping through some crazy fast lick I knew that he was a mad mad genius. :)

Having said all that, this delicate little song is probably one of my favs of his:
zLmfpncII5k

GulfportBound

05-14-2012, 08:45 PM

This is a music forum, why the f does everyone here care what's on his head?

Well, why the f did (does) everyone give two about what was across Kiss's faces?

For that matter, why the f did everyone give two about what was on the Beatles' heads back in 1964?

Like it or not, B-head chose a, shall we say, novel mask and chapeau to wear. Now, I'll grant you that I couldn't have cared much about it (I've seen crazier than his headgear---as anyone who ever saw and survived the Crazy World of Arthur Brown could tell you, to name just one), even if I addressed a corollary issue with another poster earlier.

But it would be somewhat fatuous to suggest a) that he wasn't looking for a little extra attention or a little extra door-opener, and b) that other people aren't going to notice, care, or comment much about the combination of a waxed KFC bucket and a kabuki mask.

The flip side, of course, is that on that day when B-head decides (if ever he does) to lose the helmet and mask, he's going to get a reasonable taste of what, to name one, Kiss got when they shenked the facepaint . . . and it would be wishful thinking to think it won't happen, whatever you or I think individually about the matter.

mcmurray

05-14-2012, 08:51 PM

FWIW, here's my opinion on Mr.Bucket:

Extremely gifted, amazing chops, does a wide variety of styles with killer confidence.
But, personally I just can't connect, his playing just don't speak to me.
That's just how it is.

Totally fair assesment and deserves respect.

I feel exactly the same way about Satch and Vai. Buckets music speaks to me while those guys do not.

Blix

05-14-2012, 09:03 PM

Totally fair assesment and deserves respect.

I feel exactly the same way about Satch and Vai. Buckets music speaks to me while those guys do not.

:beer I can't stand Satch, yet I love Vai. And it's awesome you find your thing in Buckethead.

hudpucker

05-15-2012, 05:48 AM

He doesn't look any stupider than, say, Steven Tyler, for example.

Ladyfriend: "What's that old man doing wearing nail polish?"

"Uh....that's Steven Tyler."

"......daaaaaaamn."

guzman

05-15-2012, 05:51 AM

Well, why the f did (does) everyone give two about what was across Kiss's faces?

For that matter, why the f did everyone give two about what was on the Beatles' heads back in 1964?

Like it or not, B-head chose a, shall we say, novel mask and chapeau to wear. Now, I'll grant you that I couldn't have cared much about it (I've seen crazier than his headgear---as anyone who ever saw and survived the Crazy World of Arthur Brown could tell you, to name just one), even if I addressed a corollary issue with another poster earlier.

But it would be somewhat fatuous to suggest a) that he wasn't looking for a little extra attention or a little extra door-opener, and b) that other people aren't going to notice, care, or comment much about the combination of a waxed KFC bucket and a kabuki mask.

The flip side, of course, is that on that day when B-head decides (if ever he does) to lose the helmet and mask, he's going to get a reasonable taste of what, to name one, Kiss got when they shenked the facepaint . . . and it would be wishful thinking to think it won't happen, whatever you or I think individually about the matter.

So to enjoy an artist he has to look a certain way? No wonder all the old men here are saying rock is dead.

Lution

05-15-2012, 08:19 AM

So to enjoy an artist he has to look a certain way? No wonder all the old men here are saying rock is dead.

It's only dead for them.

RocksOff

05-15-2012, 08:26 AM

So to enjoy an artist he has to look a certain way? No wonder all the old men here are saying rock is dead.

That's a bit of a straw man argument. In essence, the vast majority of people are visually stimulated before they dedicate their other faculties. The eyes provide instant feedback to the brain which cannot be dismissed as easily as information from most of the other senses.

It's really just a fact of life that most people judge most things by whether or not they find them visually stimulating. You might not like the appearance of the AMC Gremlin. In that case, it would be hard to imagine that you would actively seek one out for purchase, regardless of any merits it might have in the eyes or another.

Ultron

05-15-2012, 08:47 AM

Ask Ozzy you know that dude that has all them high selling albums .Bucket heads persona kept him from being taken into the band...
With the Drummer i was speaking of.I may have failed to make it clear..His work ethics and talent was impeccable..His stage persona and weirdness carried over in live performances which caused issues of epic proportions.....

You say that like it's a bad thing.

stratzrus

05-15-2012, 09:08 AM

Well, for me the jury is still out on whether Buckethead is a genius, but I think going in that when someone mentions a proclivity for experimentation there's a root assumption that the proclivity almost by definition doesn't guarantee consistency. Or even listenability.I think the "genius" tag is too loosely thrown around in connection with musicians. I don't have a clue what his actual IQ is.

I don't know if he considers his work "experimentation" or not, but if he doesn't, he may resent people sticking the tag on him since "experimental" seems at least a step away from "legitimate composition" whatever your notion of that is.

Well, why the f did (does) everyone give two about what was across Kiss's faces?

For that matter, why the f did everyone give two about what was on the Beatles' heads back in 1964?

Like it or not, B-head chose a, shall we say, novel mask and chapeau to wear. Now, I'll grant you that I couldn't have cared much about it (I've seen crazier than his headgear---as anyone who ever saw and survived the Crazy World of Arthur Brown could tell you, to name just one)...Dude, you must be as old as I am, I saw him here in Philly at the Electric Factory during the sixties...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KnEyWoblcwM/S-xMgNJDwxI/AAAAAAAAAOc/T_XEeTab3jk/s1600/The%2BCrazy%2BWorld%2Bof%2BArthur%2BBrown%2BCrazyw orld.jpg

Zingeroo

05-15-2012, 09:13 AM

I don't have any records with Buckethead on them, but I should probably check out the Praxis record mentioned, at least.

I actually think his schtick is pretty good and amusing. He doesn't look any stupider than, say, Steven Tyler, for example.

Nothing more ridiculous looking than an old pedophile (Tyler) trying to stay hip in the scene with AI and Burger King commercials.

Years ago I had the Praxis CD, and it was pretty wild. Not for everyone's tastes, but I could hear where they were going with that, and it was interesting.

bsuite

05-15-2012, 09:13 AM

"I can't see the forest! There's a tree in the way!"

Oh, I see. I should step back & take a look at the big picture right.(Whatever that is). :huh

Keifer

05-15-2012, 11:07 AM

Love Buckethead. Brilliant player, composer and very entertaining. I found it interesting that he's one of Pat Metheny's favorites

iamdavea

05-15-2012, 11:12 AM

Oh, I see. I should step back & take a look at the big picture right.(Whatever that is). :huh

OR, you could make the decision to evaluate a musician with your ears and not your eyes. What a concept!

stratovarius

05-15-2012, 11:25 AM

OR, you could make the decision to evaluate a musician with your ears and not your eyes. What a concept!

I think he's saying don't judge a book by its cover might be a more appropriate metaphor than the one you used.

GulfportBound

05-15-2012, 12:21 PM

So to enjoy an artist he has to look a certain way? No wonder all the old men here are saying rock is dead.

That's not quite what I said. I did say that I couldn't have cared much or less about Buckethead's look. But like it or not, people do note such things and, people being only human, they factor into the general impression.

GulfportBound

05-15-2012, 12:35 PM

Dude, you must be as old as I am, I saw him here in Philly at the Electric Factory during the sixties...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KnEyWoblcwM/S-xMgNJDwxI/AAAAAAAAAOc/T_XEeTab3jk/s1600/The%2BCrazy%2BWorld%2Bof%2BArthur%2BBrown%2BCrazyw orld.jpg

I saw him in New York circa 1968, not long after "Fire" was a blockbuster hit. And if anyone thinks Buckethead looks bizarre, they sure don't remember this gentleman, on his first tour under his own name (well, sort of, it was his first tour as a leader and not an expatriate session man), in the same year Arthur Brown's act caught (ahem) fire (for awhile, anyway) . . .

http://img.youtube.com/vi/IhOqtCuP1yQ/0.jpg

That was Dr. John---when he was calling himself Dr. John, the Night Tripper, and he was serving up an unusual hybrid of New Orleans R&B and voodoo in his music (Gris-gris still may be his best album; the followups, Babylon and Remedies continued in a similar vein) and in his stage performances. (I remember someone calling Dr. John's stage appearances the place where the Mardi Gras got spiked with LSD.) The whole thing was of a piece.

kWvdO3l4_P8

Maybe that's one reason why there are those who either cringe or dismiss Buckethead's appearance---maybe they think it doesn't tie to his actual music. Who knows?

Fred Farkus

05-15-2012, 01:38 PM

After seeing this thread I checked out some youtube vids. I think he's pretty great. Good instrumental hard rock (which I love) and nice LP tone. Not too shreddy but man, he can play! IMO what's not to like? Re. the persona- I didn't watch that much (was listening while working on something) but the mask reminds me of early 70s Gabriel, i.e. much ado about nothing. People get put off by gimmicks but maybe the point is: don't watch- LISTEN!!!

I'm 53 fwiw.

GulfportBound

05-15-2012, 01:44 PM

. . . the mask reminds me of early 70s Gabriel, i.e. much ado about nothing.

Peter Gabriel in those years was costuming and masking (and changing them almost every number!) in stuff that actually tied to the songs. (Those who didn't see Genesis in those years can only imagine what he came up with for playing "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" . . . )

Gearopenia

05-15-2012, 02:15 PM

the persona is not my favorite, but I would classify him as a genius.
i am glad to see all the interesting discussion and some people that took a second look.... ahem, listen and found a great player. the chicken coop thing and the hat stood in my way for a long time. thank God I watched him play once on youtube. now I own all the melodic albums, I usually dont buy the technical noisy ones.

Electric Sea is new and awesome
Diamond in the rough
electric tears
colma
all could be played while I put my 5 year old to bed. HE IS NOT A "SHREDDER".

mcmurray

05-15-2012, 06:11 PM

That's a bit of a straw man argument. In essence, the vast majority of people are visually stimulated before they dedicate their other faculties. The eyes provide instant feedback to the brain which cannot be dismissed as easily as information from most of the other senses.

Evidently there are people that base their musical tastes on image (the pop world especially), though I would suggest that their ears are firmly out of the equation and rely on looks and what is fashionable to decide on what they like. I wouldn't say this applies to the vast majority though.

An example - no one knows definitively what Mozart looks like, yet millions enjoy his music. What he looks like has absolutely ZERO bearing on the quality of his compositions.

iamdavea

05-15-2012, 07:19 PM

I think he's saying don't judge a book by its cover might be a more appropriate metaphor than the one you used.

"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his bucket."

stratzrus

05-15-2012, 07:49 PM

http://img.youtube.com/vi/IhOqtCuP1yQ/0.jpg

That was Dr. John---when he was calling himself Dr. John, the Night Tripper, and he was serving up an unusual hybrid of New Orleans R&B and voodoo in his music (Gris-gris still may be his best album; the followups, Babylon and Remedies continued in a similar vein) and in his stage performances. (I remember someone calling Dr. John's stage appearances the place where the Mardi Gras got spiked with LSD.) The whole thing was of a piece.I saw Dr. John at the Electric Factory around the same time I saw Arthur Brown.

I listened to this about half a million times...

b4J8VrprrGE

S.W.Erdnase

05-15-2012, 11:20 PM

Could be the bucket.

Lol. bingo!

Even his fans, deep down, have to admit the bucket is the problem.

S.W.Erdnase

05-15-2012, 11:27 PM

This is a music forum, why the f does everyone here care what's on his head?

A) because he looks stupid.
B) because we all got long ago that it might be a statement on the cult of personality in music.
C) because if it is about B) then he isn't the first to make the observation, and he's not the first to do it in this way.
D) because, as you note, it's a music forum.

:banana

iamdavea

05-15-2012, 11:28 PM

Lol. bingo!

Even his fans, deep down, have to admit the bucket is the problem.

His fans, deep down, simply couldn't care less about the bucket. Tell you the truth, once the music starts, I forget about the bucket for the entire concert. Funny how great playing will do that to you.

hudpucker

05-16-2012, 06:38 AM

A) because he looks stupid.
B) because we all got long ago that it might be a statement on the cult of personality in music.
C) because if it is about B) then he isn't the first to make the observation, and he's not the first to do it in this way.
D) because, as you note, it's a music forum.

:banana

http://assets.flavorwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Alice.jpg

I have to wonder about those who have this ability to "listen" with their eyes....

mcmurray

05-16-2012, 07:04 AM

Since people are still reading, here's some more background music. The first one should satisfy you blues aficionados;

UJjjZ2M2CCM

dVcIPwpoWig

ZHev16zVDrY

Something a little heavier;

Nf2rjK4228s

XP2VRQuANQQ

Best GNR solo ever imo;

FHMcXmYYgw4

Gearopenia

05-16-2012, 12:24 PM

mcmurray- nice spread of killer tunes. too bad axle rose was singing cause that guiter playing was killer!

Lution

05-16-2012, 01:03 PM

Lol. bingo!

Even his fans, deep down, have to admit the bucket is the problem.

Sorry, wrong.
I consider myself a fan and, deep down, I don't care what he's wearing.

S.W.Erdnase

05-16-2012, 04:05 PM

http://assets.flavorwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Alice.jpg

I have to wonder about those who have this ability to "listen" with their eyes....

And I have to wonder about people who can't make the mental leap that Buckethead dresses the way he does so that some folks will talk about it.

If it isn't a part of his artistic expression - then why do it?

Finally, though it's been said and should be completely redundant, when people start a discussion thread in a discussion forum, members are being invited to discuss.

If music is only to be enjoyed or studied via your ears, then perhaps you should turn off your computer and stop wasting your energy on reading and writing on this forum? (That's a rhetorical question. I look forward to many more insightful posts emanating from your laptop.)

S.W.Erdnase

05-16-2012, 04:11 PM

Sorry, wrong.
I consider myself a fan and, deep down, I don't care what he's wearing.

That you love him regardless of his shtick doesn't negate the fact that the bucket is the problem in the sense that it generates these threads where people say, why don't Bucketbong get no lurve?

Dude can play. No doubt about it. But if you dress like a clown,somee of the population are bound to ask, "Heeee-e-e-eey... Why is that dude dressed like a clown?" It's a legitimate question, and one you no doubt asked yourself the first second you saw him.

Lution

05-16-2012, 04:42 PM

That you love him regardless of his shtick doesn't negate the fact that the bucket is the problem in the sense that it generates these threads where people say, why don't Bucketbong get no lurve?

Dude can play. No doubt about it. But if you dress like a clown,somee of the population are bound to ask, "Heeee-e-e-eey... Why is that dude dressed like a clown?" It's a legitimate question, and one you no doubt asked yourself the first second you saw him.

Yeah, I'm sure I asked that question, but unlike yourself and some others here it seems, it wasn't asked to form a judgement or a comparison. It was because it was different than anything I had experienced before.

iamdavea

05-16-2012, 05:10 PM

Yeah, I'm sure I asked that question, but unlike yourself and some others here it seems, it wasn't asked to form a judgement or a comparison. It was because it was different than anything I had experienced before.

And also, if Lution doesn't mind me extending his point, many of us just kind of shrugged and said, "OK, that's his thing, whatever." It also helped that Buckethead explained his "discovery" of the Buckethead persona in Guitar Player MANY years ago, and his explanation had its own legitimate logic, so his fans just went with the flow. You might try that yourself sometime.

guzman

05-16-2012, 05:12 PM

It seems like this board actually listens to pictures rather than music.

RocksOff

05-16-2012, 05:19 PM

stratovarius

05-16-2012, 05:29 PM

Ok, I'll have to admit the guy is good, but I am just not sure if he is finger lickin' good. :D

RonH

05-16-2012, 05:35 PM

I am a huge fan of his. The guy is a genius and can play pretty much anything he wants. He seems to have an endless wealth of music and melody in him. It blows me away. He isn't like those that put out the same album over and over again. He is always doing something different and that is what I respect.

It doesn't bother me if a bunch of guys on a music forum don't like it. Who cares if they have bad taste in music? :D

iamdavea

05-16-2012, 05:47 PM

It seems like fanboys can't understand that the OP asked why a lack of love for Buckethead, and that people only responded to his question.
Don't take it so personally. No one is saying you're wrong or anything else. They're just telling you why they don't love the guy.
Holy crap.

And all we're doing is suggesting a way for them to get around their narrow-minded insistence on judging Buckethead on a strictly visual perspective. I don't take it personally because I am not Buckethead. And I'm sure Buckethead wouldn't care, either.

RocksOff

05-16-2012, 09:08 PM

That's not true. There are few suggestions towards 'here's how to like Buckethead', and many assertions that 'if you don't like Buckethead you don't have good taste in music, are closed-minded, etc.'

Lution

05-16-2012, 09:24 PM

That's not true. There are few suggestions towards 'here's how to like Buckethead', and many assertions that 'if you don't like Buckethead you don't have good taste in music, are closed-minded, etc.'

You're not getting it, I feel.

The only people being addressed in that way are the people who have admitted in this thread that they can't get past the bucket on his head and have dismissed his musical contributions only because he wears a bucket on his head.

iamdavea

05-17-2012, 12:53 AM

A guy walks into a bar.
He has a duck on his head.
The bartender says, "Can I help you?"
And the duck says, "Yeah; get this guy off my ass!"

S.W.Erdnase

05-17-2012, 01:17 AM

You're not getting it, I feel.

The only people being addressed in that way are the people who have admitted in this thread that they can't get past the bucket on his head and have dismissed his musical contributions only because he wears a bucket on his head.

I haven't dismissed his musical contributions. Just the stunt of dressing like a clown.

I have addressed the question if why other people might dismiss his contributions. After all, that's the whole point of this thread.

j.s.tonehound

05-17-2012, 04:40 AM

I like Buckethead; lotsa fun to listen to, mildly distubing to see. I think if he played his solo stuff without the funky getup it would be less fun. It's like when Paul Gilbert wears an orange space suit and Vai puts his mad shirts and animal hide trousers on; it's just more fun!

jpage

05-17-2012, 06:58 AM

If you don't like the mans music, fine.
If you don't like what the man wears on his head, fine.
If you don't like the mans music BECAUSE of what the man wears on his head you are too closed minded.

RocksOff

05-17-2012, 07:33 AM

If you don't like the mans music, fine.
If you don't like what the man wears on his head, fine.
If you don't like the mans music BECAUSE of what the man wears on his head you are too closed minded.

...or perhaps just exercising your right to not like something for whatever reason you see fit.

ssites

05-17-2012, 07:37 AM

This is the only photo of Brian Carroll that I'm aware of:

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/61575.jpg

I find it amazing in this day and age, with all the cell cameras etc, that there is ONLY one picture of him?!

mcmurray

05-17-2012, 07:40 AM

...or perhaps just exercising your right to not like something for whatever reason you see fit.

I.e. close minded :rimshot

aliensporebomb

05-17-2012, 07:43 AM

I find it amazing in this day and age, with all the cell cameras etc, that there is ONLY one picture of him?!

It's because with the new pinky extensor he can't fit into the frame.

RocksOff

05-17-2012, 07:55 AM

I.e. close minded :rimshot

So be it. Personally, I just don't like instrumental guitar music OR prodigious wankery. The chapeau is quite secondary.

clothwiring

05-17-2012, 08:00 AM

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ocLjbdR2Hzw/TUXt0E1kjsI/AAAAAAAAN_M/TdIXk2SPjJA/s1600/Buckethead+%25281%2529.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ocLjbdR2Hzw/TUXwhtBZO-I/AAAAAAAAN_Q/0FGTOxhmoIY/s1600/Joey.jpg

mcmurray

05-19-2012, 12:54 AM

:facepalm

That ain't him.

Gearopenia

05-19-2012, 05:09 AM

Definately not, pretty sure he wears a bucket and mask

tnvol

05-19-2012, 05:19 AM

Killer musician. I don't get into all his stuff but I really enjoy a lot of it. I can understand how the bucket can throw some folks off. Oh well. That's on them. Pretty good bass player too.

Afa-e9aT1-0&

aliensporebomb

05-19-2012, 06:24 AM

True story: back in the Praxis days maybe 1991-1994 timeframe I forget exactly when I dressed up as Buckethead for halloween: I'm short (5' 6") but I had the bucket, the white face mask, I had my Charvel superstrat with me, I dressed kind of like he did - white basketball shoes, the type of shirt and jeans - etc. I went to a party that a friend was hosting and I knew maybe 1/3rd of the people but nobody knew who the hell I was and I actually seemed to terrify some of the people at the party - they weren't sure what the deal was. That was fun.

tnvol

05-19-2012, 10:03 AM

I don't know if the tall guy in the pics that clothwiring posted is really him, but there are lots of pics out there of that guy with various famous players. Just do a search on google images. They are there. I agree with you though. It's amazing that he is able to keep so many people guessing. The dude certainly lives his gimick to the max. lol

I find it amazing in this day and age, with all the cell cameras etc, that there is ONLY one picture of him?!

wstsidela

05-19-2012, 11:02 AM

I remember when he was just Brian from Claremont

levous

06-03-2012, 04:12 PM

So the bucket and mask doesn't bother me. It the pantomime, stiff posture and robotic stance that makes him hard to watch. I actually like artists who do silly things things like masks, make-up and cross dressing. Probably TMI but just saying'

I was listening to turntable.fm and heard a beautiful, sad, haunting guitar song and, wouldn't you know it! Buckethead - "Wishing Well"

It illustrates that he doesn't always show off and can play in that way that tears at your heart strings. He truly is a talented musician and, for whatever reason, he feels the need to hide behind some facade that alienates some of us.
4nu1DyDQPeg

After hearing that, I will no longer fault him for his choices. He's not composing music for me, he's doing it for himself in the hopes it will reach me on a very deep level. If I don't like it, tough sh*!

Gearopenia

06-04-2012, 11:03 AM

I like his playing. The act is different - but doesn't really bug me. Hell, I've seen way worse..... (slipknot).

Why the heck is this in the amps forum?

to discuss the tone..... I like his tone too.

Gearopenia

06-04-2012, 11:05 AM

guitarrhinoceros

06-04-2012, 11:10 AM

He scares me. The fact that we are talking about him scares me. He/she is too mysterious and quite unnerving to look at.

Please remove thy bucket from thy head ...

Stinky Kitty

06-04-2012, 11:57 AM

I never was a Kiss fan for the same reason I'm not a Buckethead fan. I'm sure the guy has amazing chops and can squeeze some chilling notes from his instrument but I won't buy art from an elephant and I don't like my music from people hiding behind face paint and from those who look like they should be chasing Jamie Lee Curtis down a flight of stairs.

My loss? Probably....but my decision.

Gearopenia

06-04-2012, 12:42 PM

they are your ears... you put anything you want in them.

I never was a Kiss fan for the same reason I'm not a Buckethead fan. I'm sure the guy has amazing chops and can squeeze some chilling notes from his instrument but I won't buy art from an elephant and I don't like my music from people hiding behind face paint and from those who look like they should be chasing Jamie Lee Curtis down a flight of stairs.

My loss? Probably....but my decision.

nevernamed

06-04-2012, 12:48 PM

Wont even give him a chanced based on the bucket.. and prior to the GNR comeback featuring him, I never even heard of him. Must be a reason

Gearopenia

06-04-2012, 01:03 PM

Wont even give him a chanced based on the bucket.. and prior to the GNR comeback featuring him, I never even heard of him. Must be a reason

i was like that for years too. then I did something crazy. I listened to his playing. then I found out how low he stooped to play in GNR.

i respect your decision to not check it out due to the bucket.
i wonder what would happen if you did check it out.
Its scary to step out of your confort zone.

may all players come in one image from here on out!!

too bad they cant all just have a mullet and spandex anymore. cause that was way cooler!

Gearopenia

06-04-2012, 01:06 PM

Wont even give him a chanced based on the bucket.. and prior to the GNR comeback featuring him, I never even heard of him. Must be a reason

in your defense Lemonlang is very different than the type of tune Buckethead turns out.

HurricaneJesus

06-04-2012, 02:01 PM

Is it true when he arrives at a venue he stands silently in a dark room til showtime?

pete692

06-04-2012, 02:13 PM

i was like that for years too. then I did something crazy. I listened to his playing. then I found out how low he stooped to play in GNR.

i respect your decision to not check it out due to the bucket.
i wonder what would happen if you did check it out.
Its scary to step out of your confort zone.

may all players come in one image from here on out!!

too bad they cant all just have a mullet and spandex anymore. cause that was way cooler!

Maybe he got burned by checking out Slipknot. Once he got past the shitty silly image, all that was there was silly shitty music.