I actually thought he was shy or had stage-fright as well. Does he not?
There are pictures of him without the costume, right? I don’t’ see many now, but I swear I’ve seen him before. Just a normal enough looking guy.
Oh, and if anyone is interested, here is a recent interview where he was just himself and talked pretty openly about stuff.
Wow, this thread really took off while I was looking the other way, huh?
I knew he put out a shit-ton of albums in the last few years, but I never knew where to access them, this pikes thing is going to help a lot. Thanks a lot for that podcast! I had no idea his health was in jeopardy and now I’m even MORE blessed/excited to see him because of it.
The pod gave me a website that also showed me his entire tour, and we’re the last show. Hopefully someone puts his setlist online so I can make sure I know what to listen to.
Ah yeah; AFAICT Buckethead just isn’t that kinda guy. Allan Holdsworth wasn’t either, FWIW.
Didn’t really answer the question. If he’s so good, and the general vibe is that he is, why the gimmick?
Steve Howe doesn’t wear a KFC bucket on his head.
Damn. Now I want some KFC…
He likes “the gimmick”. He likes being a faceless guitar playing robot. He never wanted to be a spandex-wearing groupie-getting rock-and-roll guitar hero; he just wanted to be the guy behind the mask wearing the bucket on his head and playing guitar.
He says that in the quote in post #7, btw.
Yes, exactly.
Gato, I know nothing about BH, but some folks really need to disappear to perform. Some musicians need to wear jeans and a t shirt, and some need a serial killer mask and a fast food container. A performer’s relationship with the audience is a weird, volatile thing. I have always assumed he was somewhat Asperger-y, but I have no basis for that.
It could also be he just wants to live a regular life offstage. He could be the guy in the next cubicle, or the person in front of you at the grocery store. At any rate, a rare talent.
That’s possible, too, sure. Works for Deadmau5.
You’re in Sacramento? Keep an eye out for the Neon Playboys, a cover band that plays in the area. Really good. Old friends in the band.
Yeah, and some people just like being theatrical and having a schtick and signature look. The kids call it “branding” these days. I mean, hell, look at Bootsy Collins with his trademark star glasses or Slash with his top hat. Maybe not as extreme as always going out with a fried chicken bucket on your head and face mask, but if you’ve got a signature look that works and you like, why not? It also adds to the whole mythos of the character. Here’s this seemingly crazy dude who cranks out album after album at home of original music with wonderful guitarwork and impeccable production who also only performs on stage dressed up fully in his “Buckethead” persona. How can you not like that and not have that make you more curious about who in the hell this guy is.
Yeah I was surprised to think Lord Buckethead was a musician.
He certainly sounded it based on the podcast. Softspoken and his mind was kind of everywhere. Wiki says he was introverted as a kid and spend time with comics and went to Disneyland a lot, so you’re probably not far off.
The podcaster asked him what it’s like to be famous and BH’s response was “well because of the mask I’m not really recognized in the streets so…”
Because of course the freakishly talented guitarist has heart arrhythmia…
Does he have Marfan syndrome, by any chance? He reminds me of a friend of mind who has Marfan, in terms of height, general body type, hands, and even down to the heart problems.
Congrats.
There is a song he does that I like but I can’t find. Since they have no lyrics I can’t google it.
If you Google Buckethead Unmasked there are pics, and yes, one could argue that he bears the bone structure of a person with Marfan’s, IMHO (not a Doc; no clue IRL)
Boom. Found it. Binge and grab
It all makes sense now! He actually manages a KFC somewhere. That is where he gets his buckets. Because NO ONE would put a used one on his head!
That’s cool that you get to see him, he’s a shredding machine.
One of the funnier things I think of when I think of Buckethead is when Ozzy Osbourne interviewed him to play in his band:
Ozzy Osbourne: “I tried out that Buckethead guy. I met with him and asked him to work with me but only if he got rid of the fucking bucket. So I came back a bit later and he’s wearing this green fucking Martian’s-hat thing. I said, ‘Look, just be yourself!’ He told me his name was Brian, so I said that’s what I’d call him. He says, ‘No one calls me Brian except my mother.’ So I said, ‘Pretend I’m your mum then!’ I haven’t even got out of the room and I’m already playing fucking mind games with the guy. What happens if one day he’s gone and there’s a note saying, ‘I’ve been beamed up?’ [Laughs] Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great player. He plays like a motherfucker!”
I’ll be seeing Buckethead June 14th at Vinyl at the Hard Rock! 
I’m no longer jealous of the OP, too!