Showing posts with label Skull. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skull. Show all posts

Aug 4, 2010

RATT's Warren DeMartini and his Guitars




When I think of  LA,  I think about the good old days.    The days when spandex and stiletto heels walked the Strip.  Then oddly  George Lynch, Jake E Lee, and Warren De Martini comes to mind.  People wanted to become these Iconic figures.  So did I.  To think that these three once shared the same roof is beyond crazy.  Warren talks about playing riffs on the couch with Jake that later became, "Bark At the Moon".  How can three friends become Guitar Hero's of our time.  I had my personal moments with George.  The unforgettable show with Jake at The Stone in San Francisco where he would point at a fan before playing a tune and he would personally hand the used pick to the chosen ONE.  8/3/2010  was the first time for me to actually watch Warren perform up close.  The dream interview I had prepared for the Metal Moment Podcast did not materialize due to last minute scheduling issues but the chance to stand by his Crossed Swords and Frenchie, and his two Snake Skin guitars back stage was just incredible.  This Frenchie is a Charvel San Dimas Warren DeMartini Signature Prototype made back in 2006.  (note: the Frenchie never materialized due to the script being owned by the James Dean Foundation).  The Crossed Swords you see here is the original piece made by Charvel Parts and painted by Glenn Matejzel back in 1984.  (note: you can tell by the two chips on the lower horn, and the chip on the headstock).   The next piece you see is the real Snake Skin guitar that was made by Performance Guitar in HollyWood California as a backup in 1992. (note: no two skins are the same.  The skin patterns of the Python on the neck indicates the piece).  The last one in the back is the most recent Warren DeMartini signature Charvel Dinky Snake Prototype  painted by Dan Lawrence.  As you may have noticed, I am a guitar graphics freak.  Guitars with graphics are the sexiest pieces of art in the World.  I'll talk about the individual artists in another Episode of the Metal Moment Podcast in the near future.  The show started an hour and 45 min behind schedule (long story) but, all the RATT n' Rollers had a blast.  いや〜なんて言って良いのか。Warren のあのギターにやっと出あえましたよ。1984年に作られグレン・マテーゾルの手によって塗られたCrossed Swords Charvel.  ライブ自体はサウンドが今一でしたがこれはサウンド・チェックをちゃんとしなかったせいですな。ともあれ、51才にもなる Stephen Pearcy もまだちゃんと歌えるし Warren のギターさばきも昔と変わらずでした。

A special thanks goes out to the opening band The Butlers who made this Metal Moment possible.  




Dec 2, 2009

Tokyo Skull T-Shirts

So, some people have been asking me about the Tokyo Skull T-shirts. I want to have them available for the public but, since they are not produced in mass quantities, the price is just too high. If anyone knows of a place in the SF BayArea that can make quality shirts for under $15, please let me know. For now here are some recent one-off Tee's made for Zakk Wylde and Nick Catanese. Not sure if they will ever wear the Shirts but, at least I was able to present them with the Tokyo Skull. BLS is a machine. Tokyo Skull is a Machine. Why is it called the Tokyo Skull? Check out the Rising Sun peeking from the top of Mt. Fuji, as the water falls through the neck of Skullage. The design was drawn in April of 2008. Sitting by my Mother's Tea table in Oyamadai Tokyo Japan. Mt. Fuji was glowing while the Cherry Blossoms were dropping all over the busy streets of Tokyo. I will never forget that moment. The beauty of my Homeland. It was a Moment to die for.

The next one will be made for Gerry Ganaden. George Lynch's infamous guitar tech. Can't say enough about the knowledge and the passion he has for gear. I call him, George's Left Ear. I think George trust's Gerry's ear more than his own at this point. George Lynch has three of my shirts. The first, "Mr. Scary" the second "Tiger (written in Kanji)", and the third," Soul (written in Kanji)". All shirts are individually numbered, located under the Tokyo Skull Logo. I still dream of the day that my shirt accidentally ends up on the cover of the Young Guitar Magazine. Young Guitar is a Japanese Magazine published by Shinko Music. Its the most detailed guitar magazine in the World. Just love that Mag!! Enough said. BTW George Lynch is on the cover of the December issue with his 20th Anniversary ESP Kamikaze.



Zakk Wylde (BLS, Ozzy Osbourne)
George Lynch (Lynch Mob, Dokken, SoW)
Rob De Luca (Sebastian Bach, UFO)
Nick Catanese (BLS, Speed X)
Joe Satriani (Chicken Foot, Deep Purple)
Ted Aguilar (Death Angel, Scare Crow)
Rob Cavestany (Death Angel)
Jason Wittle (Goad-ed)
Dave Rude (Tesla, Dave Rude Band)
Masayuki Osada (Concerto Moon)