Buckethead: the guitarist Axl Rose found impossible to work with
Guns N’ Roses might have been the biggest band on the planet after the release of their 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction, and swiftly cemented this position with its 1988 follow-up G N’ R Lies, but it wouldn’t be long before the wheels flew off. Egos and drugs took their toll, and although they sustained success with Use Your Illusion after the classic lineup fractured and lead guitarist Slash left in 1996, it was up to frontman Axl Rose to lead the band through a period in the wilderness. This era remains one of the most bizarre a band of their size has experienced.
Due to the factors listed above, by the end of 1998, Guns N’ Roses had experienced a period of painful metamorphosis. Rose was the last man standing out of the classic lineup that had brought world rock hits such as ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ and ‘Welcome to the Jungle’. With 1999 about to dawn, the band was comprised of Rose, Nine Inch Nails touring guitarist Robin Finck on lead, Paul Tobias on rhythm guitar, former Replacements member Tommy Stinson on bass, Dizzy Reed on keyboards, multi-instrumentalist Chris Pitman and drummer Josh Freese.
In many ways, it was the oddest and most incongruous of supergroups ever formed. Since 1994, a new Guns N’ Roses studio album had supposedly been in the pipeline. However, due to factors such as not finding the right producer, lacking any substantial sonic direction and shifting lineups, fans would have to wait 14 years. The record eventually arrived in the form of 2008’s Chinese Democracy, but it took a lot of toil for Rose, the band, and their label Geffen, to get it out.
One of the many obstacles to the album’s release was Finck’s replacement by Buckethead, the mysterious masked guitarist, in March 2000. While the avant-garde guitarist brought a lot to the band, as reflected in his live shows with them and his commanding presence on Chinese Democracy, his enigmatic personality and way of operating eventually led to the end of his time with them. Even Finck returned in late 2000 to complement his lead work, indicative of his enigmatic nature.
Ironically, during his four years with the band, Buckethead released an array of material, including 2003’s Pandemoniumfromamerica with The Lord of the Rings star, Viggo Mortensen. Somehow, he managed to remain prolific and earn further acclaim for his work, but Guns N’ Roses bore the brunt of his time being spread so thin.
In March 2004, Buckethead quit the band, reportedly due to their “inability to complete an album or tour,” according to his manager. The irony is not lost that this led to them cancelling their scheduled Rock in Rio Lisboa show in May. However, Rose would have his say and claim that it had been “impossible” to work with Buckethead in their four years together.
Rose said: “The band has been put in an untenable position by guitarist Buckethead and his untimely departure…. During his tenure with the band, Buckethead has been inconsistent and erratic in both his behaviour and commitment … His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have nearly any form of communication with him whatsoever.”
It remains a marvel how Buckethead managed to be so prolific and still play most of the guitar parts on Chinese Democracy. He’s always been an enigma; that’s why Guns N’ Roses hired him. It couldn’t have ended any other way.
