Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in American underground and
experimental music since
Parliament-
Funkadelic birthed their bevy of cosmic characters in the mid-'70s. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist best known for his virtuosic command of the electric guitar,
Buckethead is one of the instrument's most recognizable contemporary innovators, his rapid-fire riffing, near-robotic fretwork, and idiosyncratic lead lines combining elements of
Yngwie Malmsteen,
Adrian Belew,
Slayer's Kerry King,
P-Funk's
Eddie Hazel, and avant-improv artist
John Zorn's Scud-attack sax abuse. His first group, the San Francisco-based metal-
funk combine the Deli Creeps, were a regional success, but disbanded before they could release anything.
Buckethead's solo career has been more productive, thanks mostly to the motivation of
Zorn and
Bill Laswell, the latter of whom
Buckethead has also recorded and toured with in
Praxis.
Laswell has also produced a number of
Buckethead's solo albums (including Dreamatorium and Day of the Robot) and included him on more than a dozen one-off recordings with the likes of Hakim Bey,
Bootsy Collins, Anton Fier,
Jonas Hellborg, and
Bernie Worrell. In addition to releases including 1998's
Colma,
Buckethead has also contributed
soundtrack material to such films as Last Action Hero and Street Fighter.
Buckethead returned in 1999 with
Monsters and Robots, after which he joined the short-lived reformation of
Guns N' Roses. A steady stream of releases followed into the 21st century ranging from the contemplative
Electric Tears to more
electronica/
rock hybrid, and collaborations with San Francisco's underground
hip-hop scene. In the following decade, he averaged a few releases a year, teaming up with dozens of artists, including Les Claypool, Iggy Pop, and Mike Patton, and in 2008, he collaborated with actor/musician Viggo Mortenson for Pandemonium from American. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide
