# Axe-zappedly **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507 "2003-06-26T13:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/1 "2003-06-26T13:51:48Z")
[Is playing the electric guitar dangerous?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mguitarelectrocute.html) Is this the first Staff Report for Q.E.D.? Congratulations on a good job. You note that > [@](#): > > former Yardbird Keith Relf reportedly bought it while plugging in his electric guitar in 1976. It’s commonly believed that he was in the bath at the time. So commonly that it might be worth noting that he wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/2 "2003-06-26T13:59:12Z")
Yes, this is my very first ever Staff Report, and thanks for the kind words. In doing my research on the Internet, I went with “majority rules”, and nearly all the sites I visited claimed he was killed as I mentioned, or some version of it, with no mention of him being in the bath. Admitedly, I didn’t dig into it that deeply, as I only wanted a couple of additional examples to mention. I’d be interested in seeing a more complete account of what happened, if you have a link. ---
**Author:** ![coosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@coosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coosa)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/3 "2003-06-26T15:15:48Z")
My congratulations, also, **Q.E.D.** , on an excellent debut report. I would also like to offer a bit of safety advice based on personal experience - nothing life-threatening, to my knowledge, but definitely painful. I might also specify that for some reason I am personally prone to developing very strong charges of static electricity, especially in the wintertime. Many years ago I had a serious romantic relationship with a guitar player. One day I strolled across our _nylon_ carpet to kiss him while he was practicing, and when our lips were about an inch apart, a charge strong enough to generate a visible spark jumped between us. I was merely jolted, I guess by the discharge, but his lips were blistered! Talking, eating, and (unfortunately) kissing were very painful for him for about a week, so it was a fairly significant injury. We discovered that this ‘zap’ only occurred if his hands were actually touching the strings of the guitar. I know very little about electricity so I don’t understand what and why this was the case, but I thought the experience was worth the posting of this warning. Kissing electric guitar players can be hazardous to _their_ health! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/4 "2003-06-26T15:44:38Z")
Congrats on a rawkin’ first report, **Q.E.D.** How did you get the call to do that one? ---
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/5 "2003-06-26T16:11:09Z")
I agree – great report. When you say “electrocuted”, do you mean “died by electrocution”? Because, as **coosa** notes, it’s possible to be electrocuted with consequences slightly less dire than death. I can’t decide if one musician died or three. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/6 "2003-06-26T16:17:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*Congrats on a rawkin’ first report, **Q.E.D.** How did you get the call to do that one? \*\* Well, they have this big hook, see… **Stypticus** , electrocution means “death or execution by electricity”. So, we’ve got three dead musicians here. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/7 "2003-06-26T16:55:18Z")
Allow me to add my congratulations to **Q.E.D.** , as well. Great report. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/8 "2003-06-26T17:50:22Z")
Yup, that’s what I’m here for too. Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/9 "2003-06-26T17:53:11Z")
I apologize for not being here earlier to congratulate **Q.E.D.** on a report that is shocking… absolutely shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/10 "2003-06-26T18:27:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > \*\*I apologize for not being here earlier to congratulate **Q.E.D.** on a report that is shocking… absolutely shocking. \*\* **Dex** , I’m currently appalled at you. Wire you making such an obvious pun, when you could socket to us with more energetic humor? I hope this is just a phase, or I’ll have to wonder watt you’re thinking. At least you didn’t plug the latest SD book. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/11 "2003-06-26T18:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\ ***Dex** , I’m currently appalled at you. Wire you making such an obvious pun, when you could socket to us with more energetic humor? I hope this is just a phase, or I’ll have to wonder watt you’re thinking. At least you didn’t plug the latest SD book. \*\* Oooh! The pain! Seriously, **Q.E.D** Congratulations on your first article. I’m always amazed at the amount of information you are able to come up with, either on your own or through your remarkable google-ability (is that a word?). Hope to see more in the future. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/12 "2003-06-26T19:15:10Z")
Pun? I? Make a pun? the lowest form of humour? Certainly not. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/13 "2003-06-26T21:13:27Z")
I was going to give **Q.E.D.** a pat on the back for the report, but since several people have already done so, instead I’ll give each of those people a kick in the shins for beating me to it. _kick **kick** kick **kick** kick **kick** kick_ _kick **kick** kick **kick** kick **kick** kick_ ---
**Author:** ![stypticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@stypticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stypticus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/14 "2003-06-27T01:46:05Z")
Well, **Q.E.D.** apparently has a high capacity for puns, though I don’t know what induced him to share them with us. Too true about electrocution and death. I learn something new every day, hard as I may try to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/15 "2003-06-27T01:54:03Z")
Just jumping in to offer more **applause** for **Q.E.D.**! I’d make a witty pun, but next to you dear I’m just a dim bulb.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/16 "2003-06-27T06:57:45Z")
This seems to have sparked a pun craze. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Cobweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Cobweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Cobweb)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/17 "2003-06-27T15:00:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\ ***Dex** , I’m currently appalled at you. Wire you making such an obvious pun, when you could socket to us with more energetic humor? I hope this is just a phase, or I’ll have to wonder watt you’re thinking. At least you didn’t plug the latest SD book. \*\* Posts like that have the potential to generate a real current of resistance among readers, many of whom get a very negative charge out of such punishment. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/18 "2003-06-27T15:13:28Z")
Some links regarding Relf: [The Dead Musician Directory’s “electrocuted” page](http://elvispelvis.com/electrocuted.htm) [International Relf Society [!]](http://members.madasafish.com/~relf/rock.html) [Armageddon](http://www.markprindle.com/armageddon.htm) Other sites mention the bath aspect, but it appears to me to be an urban legend. The puns, by the way, sully this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/axe-zappedly/184507/19 "2003-06-27T16:10:23Z")
[praise shower] **Q.E.D.** , I’ve always been amazed at your GQ answering ability and I’ve always thought that you would make an excellent writer for staff reports because not only do you seems to know everything about everything (or at least know where to look), but you always answer in a very clear and concise manner. Congrats[/praise shower] Anyway, I amp so happy to c you writing on the SD front page these days. Watt’s next? The lecture circuit? The AP wire? It must be your technical capacity that gives your writing such a charge. Here’s hoping the frequency of your posts continues to go up? Sorry to be rambling but my head hertz, so I’m goin’ ohm.