Buckethead

At 55 years old, Buckethead has this physical status:

Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1970), better known as Buckethead, is an American multi-instrumental guitarist who has received critical acclaim for his innovative electric guitar playing.

His music spans many genres, including progressive metal, funk, blues, bluegrass, ambient, and avant-garde.

He performs primarily as a solo artist, but he has collaborated extensively with a number of well-known artists, including Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Iggy Pop, Les Claypool, Serj Tankian, Bill Moseley, Margaret Moseley, Mont Ventura, That 1 Guy, Bassnectar, and others, from 2000 to 2004.

He has recorded 306 studio albums, four special editions, and one EP. He has also appeared on more than 50 other albums by other artists. Buckethead's head is emblazoned with an orange bumper sticker that reads FUNERAL in block letters, as well as an expressionless plain white mask influenced by Halloween 4: Michael Myers' Return to form.

At one point, he converted to a plain white bucket with a KFC emblem, but without a funeral sticker.

"Buckethead is also included in Guitar World's top ten Most Popular Guitar Shredders of All Time" and "50 fastest guitarists of all time" in their list of the "Best Guitar Shredders of All Time" and "50 Best Guitarists of all time."

Buckethead has produced and performed music for major motion pictures, including Saw II, Ghosts of Mars, Beverly Hills Ninja, Mortal Kombat, Last Action Hero, and Mortal Kombat: The Movie soundtrack.

Early and personal life

Brian Patrick Carroll was born on May 13, 1969, to Tom and Nancy Carroll, and he was the youngest of five siblings, as well as Lynn, Lisa, Lori, and John. His father was the Athletic Director at Damien High School in La Verne, California, from 1973 to 2013.

Carroll grew up in a Disneyland suburb in Southern California. He was an introvert in his youth and spent the bulk of his time in his room filled with books, games, martial-arts movie memorabilia, and toys. He spent a lot of time at Disneyland.

Carroll began playing guitar at the age of 12. He learned to play from an elderly man down the road. After moving from Huntington Beach, California, to Claremont, he became serious a year later. His playing improved after receiving lessons from many teachers at a local music store. Max McGuire, Johnny Fortune, Mark Hammond, Pebber Brown, Joey Tafolla, and Paul Gilbert were among his early teachers. Buckethead performed a tribute to all his early mentors in 2003 as the Deli Creeps performed a show at Styles Music's 25th anniversary. He began recording demos of his playing as well as his writing styles, which would later be released in 2007–2008.

The Buckethead was inspired by the 1988 horror film Halloween 4 and was inspired by the film. After seeing it and buying a Michael Myers-like white mask, he went out right. The bucket idea came later that night while eating chicken:

Carroll gave a rare out-of-character interview in October 2017 in which he discussed all aspects of his life, the Buckethead character, his parents' deaths, his health, and how he copes with fear. He revealed on the podcast that he had been diagnosed with heart arrhythmia, which could cause life-threatening diseases. He said he had a heart arrest and uses drugs to resolve the issue.

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Career

Carroll began playing "Brazos" in 1988, shortly after he left the band Class-X. It was a runner-up, with editors writing: 'Itayeh's words:

When Carroll and his parents left a demo tape at Obrecht's reception desk, the magazine's editor, Jas Obrecht, learned of Buckethead. He rushed into the restaurant where Buckethead and his parents were eating lunch and encouraged him to make the most of his talents. They soon became close. In 1989, Buckethead's "Soowee" received a Grammy Award for a second song contest. Buckethead shifted into Obrecht's basement in 1991. The song "Brazos" appeared on his band's 1991 demo tape titled "Tribal Rites" and then as bonus content on Buckethead's Secret Recipe DVD in 2006. Luke Sacco was his tutor.

Buckethead and Derek Bailey's Company contribution in 1991 was produced by him and two others, John Zorn and Alexander Bălescu, culminating in the production of a triple album titled Company 91.

Bucketheadheadland was released on John Zorn's Japanese Avant record label in 1992 after his first two demo tapes, called Giant Robot and Bucketheadland Blueprints. Despite the fact that the record was only available as a high-end import, it gained praise and deserved some notice. Buckethead came into the orbit of prolific bassist/producer Bill Laswell, himself a rare Zorn collaborator, and composer, Robin "Brain" Mantia, who gave Laswell a video of Buckethead performing in his room. Buckethead followed him as Laswell's second most popular guitar player soon after, after Nicky Skopelitis.

Buckethead, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, and Bryan "Brain" Mantia formed the supergroup Praxis in 1992. Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis), the band's first album, was well-received. Bill Laswell's idea was born, and many others have been involved, including Serj Tankian of System of a Down. Except for the initial 1984 and Mold (1998), Buckethead appeared in every release except for the first 1984 and Mold (1998).

Buckethead tried to play for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993. Arik Marshall and later Dave Navarro joined the band and later Dave Navarro. Buckethead released his 1994 album Dreamatorium under the name of Death Cube K (an anagram).

Buckethead's second studio album, Giant Robot, features many guest appearances by artists such as Iggy Pop and Bill Moseley. The album's name came from the Japanese series Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot, of which Buckethead is a huge fan. Sacrifist and Metatron have also released two other albums with Praxis, their second and third studio releases.

Buckethead did not have any solo albums in 1995, but rather collaborated with many artists including Jonas Hellborg and Michael Shrieve (Octave of the Holy Innocents). In addition, he has worked on numerous movie soundtracks, including Johnny Mnemonic and Mortal Kombat.

Buckethead's solo album The Day of the Robot was released in 1996 with the support of English producer DJ Ninj and Laswell, as well as another album with Brain and keyboardist Pete Scaturro of the small Japanese label NTT Records named Giant Robot. Both albums were only available in small amounts and are now collector's items. The Deli Creeps' second demo tape was also recorded.

Many Sega Saturn television ads featuring a screaming mask-like face poking through the Saturn logo's blue orb were also released in 1996, with music by Buckethead.

According to his Web page:

Buckethead appeared on Beverly Hills Ninja and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, the sequel to Mortal Kombat, in 1997.

Arcana's second and final studio album Arc of the Testimony, in which he collaborated with noted drummer Tony Williams and the one-off project Pieces of Brain, was among the many new developments. Two live albums by Praxis, Transmutation Live and Live in Poland (featuring recordings from European concerts), were also available.

Disembodied, Death Cube K's first album, was released this year.

Buckethead released Colma, an album dedicated to his mother, who was suffering from colon cancer at the time. Praxis's Collection, a collection of photographs from the same year, was released.

Buckethead's fifth album, Monsters and Robots, a Les Claypool of Primus' collaboration, was released in 1999 — his second album of his career — and it was his best-selling album of his career. "The Ballad of Buckethead," his first music video ever was made on this album, is included on this album. Buckethead began three new projects this year, the first being the band Cornbugs, a project with actor Bill Moseley, drummer Pinchface, and later keyboardist Travis Dickerson. Pinchface, Bryan "Brain" Mantia, DJ Disk, and Bill Laswell were all featured on Cobra Strike's album, The 13th Scroll. Buckethead began a collaboration with actor Viggo Mortensen, who he first encountered in 1996 via a recording project called Myth: Dreams of the World. One Man's Meat, One Less Thing to Worry About, and The Other Parade were all released by the man. Buckethead performed on the 1999 album Devil Dub, which featured "Dr. Ware" and "House" (Limbomaniacs, Tommy Guerrero, Buckethead's Giant Robot, MCM & the Monster).

Buckethead rose to international prominence as the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses from 2000 to 2004. He performed the much-awaited album Chinese Democracy with the band and appeared on stage in 2001 and 2002, including Rock in Rio 3, MTV's Video Music Awards, and a portion of the Chinese Democracy Tour.

Despite being a member of GN'R, Buckethead released his sixth studio album, titled Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse in 2001, as well as his first EP, KFC Skin Piles. He has released two albums with his band Cornbugs and a third under his 'Death Cube K' pseudonym. Buckethead's second and last album by Cobra Strike, Cobra Strike II - Y, Y+B, X+Y. During this time, he was involved in two new ventures. The first was the progressive rock band Thanatopsis (named after a William Cullen Bryant poem) with Travis Dickerson and drummer Ramy Antoun; the band went on to produce four albums. Some Thanatopsis stuff has also appeared on Buckethead and Dickerson's albums. During this time, Buckethead's second side project was with Bill Laswell and Japanese producer Shin Terai, who were unveiled as the album Unison.

Buckethead released three studio albums in 2002: Funnel Weaver, a series of 49 short tracks, Bermuda Triangle, and finally Electric Tears, a calming album that is similar to his earlier release, Colma. Les Claypool demanded to jam with Brain, Bernie Worrell, and Buckethead at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, forming Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, a special supergroup. The jamband project was enough to warrant further live dates.

Bucketheadland 2 was the sequel to his debut Bucketheadland, which was later revealed in 2003, marking the introduction of his tenth studio album. He produced PandemoniumfromAmerica with actor Viggo Mortensen and Thanatopsis, the company's second iteration, Axiology.

Despite contractual obligations, Buckethead's relationship with Guns N' Roses was somewhat sporadic in the last year. In a recent interview with Rose, he seems to have left' the band without not warning anyone and has returned' in a similar fashion in February. "His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have virtually no way of contact with him." Guns N' Roses was Buckethead's first love in March 2004. Guns' inability to finish an album or tour was cited by his manager.

Since that time, his following in underground music clubs has steadily increased. He appears regularly at festivals and clubs around the country, as well as tours as the featured performer.

Three new studio albums were released in 2004: Island of Lost Minds, his first tour-only album to be re-released by TDRS Music; Population Override, a blues-rock tour de force with Dickerson; and The Clocks of Hell, his heaviest attempt to date. The latter two films "Spokes for the Wheel of Torment," for which Syd Garon and Eric Henry produced a music video based on Hieronymus Bosch's famous triptychychs. Buckethead's collection of the Cornbugs, Brain Circus, and Donkey Town's final two albums, as well as another from Viggo Mortensen called Please Tomorrow and a second with Shin Terai titled Heaven & Hell, was also released. C2B3's The Big Eyeball in the Sky, their only album, was also released in North America, and they toured it in North America.

Ozzy Osbourne said in an interview with Revolver that he had offered to have Buckethead play guitar in his Ozzfest band but decided against it after meeting with him and realizing that he would not take off his costume:

Buckethead's debut, Enter the Chicken, was released in 2005 through Serj Tankian's record label Serj Tankian's Serj Tankian's Serj Tankian's album Serj Tankian's album name, Serj Tankian's Serj Tankian's album 'Enter the Chicken. Tankian himself, Maximum Bob (of the Deli Creeps), Death by Stereo singer Efrem Shulz, Bad Acid Trip, and others are among the album's highlights. Its leaning toward more traditional song arrangements while still featuring classic Buckethead guitar skills. As a single, "We Are One" was released as a single and was also included on the soundtrack to Masters of Horror. The soundtrack of Saw II's horror film "Three Fingers" was used for the music. "Nottingham Lace," the final track on his website, was first released on his home page, and soon became a concert staple and one of his most popular songs. In 2005, Buckethead released two more solo albums, Kaleidoscalp and Inbred Mountain, the latter being the first album as a solo artist on the label TDRS Music. Both albums were originally sold exclusively at concerts, and only after that was announced officially on the label's website, a few years later.

During the year, Buckethead released albums with other bands: with Cornbugs, he released two compilation albums named Rest Home for Robots and Skeleton Farm. Based on recording sessions from Buckethead's album Population Override, the self-titled album was released in 2004.

Guitar Hero II, a single-console video game, was released in 2006, with Buckethead's song "Jordan" as an unlockable bonus track. Despite the fact that the song has been performed live in the past, the online game version is the only known studio recording of the song. Buckethead would almost always perform the verse and chorus of "Jordan" before transitioning to the next song if playing it live. However, the Guitar Hero II version features a special solo made specifically for the game.

Buckethead Vol. 2 was released in the same year as the previous one, titled Young Buckethead Vol. The first and Young Buckethead Vol. 1: Rare footage from 1990 to 1991 was included in the sequel. The DVD also includes three complete Deli Creeps shows, a sound check, backstage video, and a solo video of just Buckethead. Both The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock and Crime Slunk Scene were released on his tours, but they were later sold on the TDRS Music website. "Soothsayer (Dedicated to Aunt Suzie) is one of his most popular songs on the album, and it's often performed live. Celebrity Psychos, Buckethead's final compilation album with the band Cornbugs, was released. Travis Dickerson's album Chicken Noodles was also released, marking the start of a four-year friendship with the keyboardist. Thanatopsis, Buckethead's band, would also debut Anatomize anatomize that year.

Buckethead published an extraordinary amount of new content in 2007. In February, a box set titled In Search of The, which contained 13 albums of original material, was released. Buckethead's masterpiece was handcrafted, numbered, and monogrammed, and it was packed with over nine hours of music. In March, Pepper's Ghost, a regular solo album, was released. Acoustic Shards, a collection of acoustic improvisations, was also released, marking the twentieth studio album by the artist in his solo career. He reissued his demo tape Bucketheadland Blueprints in mid-year, with two alternative album covers: a limited edition with a hand-drawn cover crafted by him, or a standard edition with the original cover art. In October, he released Decoding the Tomb of Bansheebot and Cyborg Slunks, his last two albums of the year. The latter appeared in both a hand-drawn limited edition and (some weeks later) as a standard CD. In 2006-07, Buckethead recorded three songs dedicated to Aunt Suzie (Crime Slunk Scene), "Aunt Suzie" (Cyborg Slunks), and "Soothsayer" (Decoding The Tomb Of Bansheebot).

Death Cube K. Buckethead released two albums in 2007: an album called DCK, limited to 400 hand-numbered copies and published in August; and in December, a 5-CD box called Monolith, which featured one unbroken track per CD.

During 2007, Buckethead collaborated and appeared on numerous albums with other artists. By the time you read this article, Chicken Noodles II, a Travis Dickerson research team, was released by the TDRS in December. Praxis, titled Tennessee 2004; Shin Terai's third album; and Kevin's Noodle House; were also released throughout the year.

Buckethead was also revealed to be involved in a project dubbed Science Faxtion, which featured bassist Bootsy Collins and drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia, with Greg Hampton providing lead vocals. Living on Another Frequency was postponed several times before being finally released in November 2008.

The band Praxis, a long-awaited album, was released in Japan on January 1, 2008. The album had actually been released in 2005, but it had to be cancelled when the original label went bankrupt. Buckethead came from the Coop under the name Avabella (where he released Acoustic Shards), consisting of the demos Buckethead gave to Jas Obrecht in 1988. The artist's first ever "official" biography was also included on this CD. Albino Slug, a tour-only CD, was announced later this year (a tour-only CD until its official launch on December of the same year). He appeared on the album The Dragons of Eden, along with Dickerson and Mantia, and the Frankenstein Brothers as the Frankenstein Brothers, Bolt on Neck was released. The 1 Guy and Buckethead performed songs from this album during their tour together in the fall.

Buckethead appeared in the documentary American Music: Off the Record, in which he appears only playing. Serj Tankian's brand, Serjical Strike, reissued Enter the Chicken as an extra song. In addition, Buckethead appeared on At All, an actor Viggo Mortensen's album At Any, as well as Travis Dickerson and filmmaker Alix Lambert on the album Running After Deer.

Buckethead appeared in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Bootsy Collins, to encourage the vote in the 2008 US presidential election for the group Rock the Vote. He also joined Collins on the Fallen Soldiers Memorial, which raises money for the National Fallen Heroes Foundation.

Chinese Democracy was made available more than four years since Guns N' Roses' demise. Buckethead appears on just two songs and was given writing credit on "Shackler's Revenge" (which appeared in the popular video game Rock Band 2); "Scraped"; and "Sorry," which features guest singer Sebastian Bach. The album includes eleven of Buckethead's guitar solos.

Buckethead released two new songs on December 30, 2008, to celebrate basketball player LeBron James' 24th birthday. These tracks were later released on the album, Slaughterhouse on the Prairie, which was released a month later via TDRS Music. He released the albums A Real Diamond in the Rough and Forensic Follies, which were first sold at some of his tour dates but then released on TDRS. He also introduced The Homing Beacon, a tribute to Michael Jackson, who had an early influence on him. The song was later included on his 2012 album Electric Sea.

Buckethead released Shadows Between the Sky on February 5, 2010, and Gibson introduced the Buckethead Signature Les Paul guitar later this month.

Bucketheadhead's website was updated on April 29, 2010 with a photo saying: "Bucketheadland, Buckethead... Buckethead wants you to know he appreciates your help all these years, "thanks so much to him." Buckethead is getting some animatronic parts rebuilt, Slip Disc snuck into the park and caused some mayhem." The mention of Slip Disc on the Bucketheadland album refers to a Bucketheadland nemesis. Bootsy Collins continued to update his Twitter Web site with information about Buckethead's illness, saying that he had just started doing therapy for a few months.

However, on July 15, 2010, Buckethead, along with Brain and Melissa Reese, announced the first volume in one of three 5-CD box sets called Best Regards, despite recovering from injury. Buckethead's latest album, Spinal Clock, showcases his banjo abilities on August 25, 2010. Two albums in collaboration with Brain were released in October, the first called Brain as Hamenoodle, and the second installment of the Brain and Melissa Reese series titled Kind Regards. Both projects were eventually launched on October 13. Captain EO's Voyage, a new solo album released on iTunes earlier this month, was the first to be available on iTunes. A physical version would be released on December 1, according to announcing later that a physical version would be published on December 1. This, as well as Buckethead's last Travis Dickerson album, was out on November 29. Buckethead began to record albums in May 2010 under the premise of a kiosk inside Buckethead's fictional "abusement" park, "Buckethead Pikes." The albums that were released within the scheme were designed to resemble a comic book style and be shorter in length than his previous works, which were about half an hour in length.

In 2011, Buckethead and the Frankenstein Brothers formed Praxis in 2011, and Brain in 2013. In 2011, he appeared on two tracks on Lawson Rollins' album Elevation. He also dropped out of his live touring schedule, with his last performance taking place on December 31, 2012. Buckethead's solo release schedule increased speed during his absence from touring and other projects in 2015, with 118 albums, one every three days on average. Buckethead has been unveiled on the front page of Pike 13, the first such photograph to be released to the public. Pike 13's cover features no of the Pikes series's characters, but rather a snapshot of Buckethead as he grew up, wielding an acoustic guitar and hugging his father. Buckethead continued to record albums throughout the year, occasionally breaking the numerical order (for example, Pike 34 Pikes was announced three weeks after Pike 35 Thank You Ohlinger's). Wishes' final album of the year was released on December 24, free of charge for a limited period.

Buckethead also began releasing albums in 2014, at a much faster rate. Sixty albums were released throughout the year, with one album selling every six days. Hold Me Forever, my mother Nancy York Carroll's, was honored in honor of Buckethead's mother, who had recently died. On December 31, Pike 101 In the Hollow Hills, the year's final launch of the year, took place.

Buckethead's production soared once more during 2015, nearly tripling his output. Heaven is your Home (For My Father, Thomas Manley Carroll) was released free on June 21 (Father's Day) and in honor of his late father, who was the 150th in the series and 180th overall, and the 150th overall.

Buckethead unveiled The Silver Shamrock Series, a Halloween-themed collection in which the guitarist performed one dark ambient album per day, on October 1, the guitarist's first dark ambient album per day. Starting with Pike 176, 31 Days Til Halloween: Visitor From The Mirror Each subsequent album continued the countdown to Halloween's eve, with Pike 206's Happy Halloween: Silver Shamrock. Buckethead's next film, 365 Days Til Halloween (Released on November 1) referred to the countdown but not as part of the series. In October 2017, a physical version of the series was released on a pumpkin-themed USB key with all 31 albums on it.

Pike 219, "Rain Drops on Christmas," was the year's best album of the year. The album was originally released as a free digital download on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and featured a dedication "to those who lost loved ones" in the title track.

Buckethead's album sales plummeted during 2016, with just 24 albums being released. On the 53rd birthday of basketball player Michael Jordan, Pike 266's "Happy Birthday MJ 23" was announced. After a four-year absence, Buckethead returned to touring in 2016.

With 30 albums being released in total, 2017 saw a marginal increase in speed relative to the previous year. In addition, Buckethead began to repress part of his older catalogue in vinyl format, the first time in more than a decade that his albums have been published in a physical form other than CD. So far, Inbred Mountain, The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock, Crime Slunk Scene, and The Tomb of Bansheebot, Albino Slug, Slaughterhouse on the Prairie, A Real Diamond in the Rough, and Shadows Between the Sky have all been revealed so far. Several reissues are available in a variety of boxes, each with their own uniqueness. Signed copies, limited-edition posters or photographs, personalization, etc. were among other things included in some of these. The albums Albino Slug and Decoding the Tombs of Bansheebot underwent significant changes as a result of the reissues, and their album cover and name changed as well. On vinyl, Pike 241's "Sparks in the Dark" has also been announced.

Also announced was the debut of "Bucketheadland 5-31," an entirely new album to be released exclusively on vinyl on Halloween. It's the first album since 2012's Electric Sea not to be part of the Pike series. Bootsy Collins also revealed that he is currently working with Buckethead on a joint album that is set to be released in the year.

Buckethead revealed in August 2017 that he would fly to the United States in September and October. During the tour, Buckethead performed with a live band made up of Bryan "Brain" Mantia on drums and Dan Monti on bass, breaking with his old touring style in which Buckethead was the only performer on stage. Buckethead also revealed the debut of his first live album "Live from Bucketheadland" on vinyl in January 2018. Buckethead's tour continued in 2018 before reverting to a solo display. In 2019, Buckethead toured around the United States for the second time.

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