History Music / Buckethead

* FictionalDocument: Buckethead Pikes is, in-universe, the name of a kiosk in Bucketheadland that sells the Pike - issues of the park's official audio-only comic book.

Brian Patrick Carroll, better known by his [[StageNames stage name]] (or rather [[KayfabeMusic stage persona]]) Music/{{Buckethead}}, is a prolific American experimental/avant-garde/progressive/thrash/jazz/electronica/insanity songwriter and multi-instrumentalist noted for his [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} eccentric persona]], as well as for [[BunnyEarsLawyer being really good with his instruments]]. Also, he only ever performs while wearing an [[WhiteMaskOfDoom expressionless plain white mask]] and [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a KFC bucket on his head]]. To date, he has released over 123 solo albums and performed on over 50 more. Played lead guitar for Music/GunsNRoses from 2000-2004, and for [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_(band) Praxis]] from 1992-1999 and from 2004-present. His discography may be found [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead_discography here]].

** While, interestingly enough, RedHotChiliPeppers thought he was "sweet and normal", which was their reason for not accepting him in the band. And Axl Rose had no qualms with getting him in Guns N' Roses, despite the obvious clash of the musician's gimmicks and the band's style.

Brian Patrick Carroll, better known by his [[StageNames stage name]] (or rather [[KayfabeMusic stage persona]]) Music/{{Buckethead}}, is a prolific American experimental/avant-garde/progressive/thrash/jazz/electronica/insanity songwriter and multi-instrumentalist noted for his [[CloudCuckoolander eccentric persona]], as well as for [[BunnyEarsLawyer being really good with his instruments]]. Also, he only ever performs while wearing an [[WhiteMaskOfDoom expressionless plain white mask]] and [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a KFC bucket on his head]]. To date, he has released over 123 solo albums and performed on over 50 more. Played lead guitar for Music/GunsNRoses from 2000-2004, and for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_(band) Praxis]] from 1992-1999 and from 2004-present. His discography may be found [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead_discography here]].

Sadly, [[PopCulturalOsmosis you probably only know him]] for [[VideoGame/GuitarHero "Jordan"]], the song from the scene where [[Film/MortalKombat Goro beats the crap out of Art Lean]], or the seriously badass rendition of the theme from MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheMovie.

!!{{Buckethead}} provides examples of:

* AmbiguousDisorder: Some have noticed that some of his mannerisms are reminiscent of autism or Asperger's Syndrome, though nobody knows for sure because nobody knows how much of it is in character. Or if he's just [[CloudCuckooLander extremely weird.]]

* CloudCuckoolander: He's...awkward, to put it ''lightly''.

* CommonalityConnection: Over the years he's worked closely with and developed friendships with [[CloudCuckoolander similarly eccentric people]] in the entertainment industry (most of which are mentioned below). For a more funny take on this, he apparently mentioned in a magazine interview that he liked Shavo Odadjian of Music/SystemOfADown because the latter "has a look on his face, where you can tell he dug up something he shouldn't have" and Bucket proceeded to tell Shavo that [[CrowningMomentOfFunny he liked digging holes too and they could dig together sometime]].
* {{Crossover}}: With [[Music/SystemOfADown Serj Tankian]], [[Music/{{Primus}} Les Claypool]], [[MikePatton Mike]] [[Music/FaithNoMore Patton]], Bernie Worrell, [[Music/TheStooges Iggy Pop]], Guns N' Roses, Praxis, Brain, [[Music/GeorgeClinton Bootsy Collins]], Deli Creeps, Science Faxtion, Cornbugs, Bill Moseley, Bill Laswell, Travis Dickerson, Creator/ViggoMortensen, Giant Robot, DJ Disk, Lawson Rollins, Jonas Hellborgs, Michael Shrieve, and That 1 Guy.

Brian Patrick Carroll, better known by his [[StageNames stage name]] (or rather [[KayfabeMusic stage persona]]) {{Buckethead}}, is a prolific American experimental/avant-garde/progressive/thrash/jazz/electronica/insanity songwriter and multi-instrumentalist noted for his [[CloudCuckoolander eccentric persona]], as well as for [[BunnyEarsLawyer being really good with his instruments]]. Also, he only ever performs while wearing an [[WhiteMaskOfDoom expressionless plain white mask]] and [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a KFC bucket on his head]]. To date, he has released over 123 solo albums and performed on over 50 more. Played lead guitar for Music/GunsNRoses from 2000-2004, and for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_(band) Praxis]] from 1992-1999 and from 2004-present. His discography may be found [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead_discography here]].

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: His name is Buckethead and he wears a UsefulNotes/{{KFC}} bucket on his head.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: His name is Buckethead and he wears a UsefulNotes/KFC bucket on his head.

Sadly, [[PopCulturalOsmosis you probably only know him]] for [[VideoGame/GuitarHero "Jordan"]], or the song from the scene where [[Film/MortalKombat Goro beats the crap out of Art Lean]].

* EveryoneHasStandards: He was considered ''too weird'' by [[OzzyOsbourne one of the weirdest people in the music industry]].

* MistakenIdentity: For a time people would find pictures on the Internet of a tall guitarist with long hair, standing next to Music/ShawnLane. Immediately someone rushed to the conclusion that it's Buckethead unmasked, because he knew Shawn Lane personally. Turns out it was the French guitarist Stephane "Fanalo" Alaux, who just happens to be tall like Buckethead and had also met Shawn Lane and even [[Music/MrBig Paul Gilbert]] at one point. Apparently Fanalo got so many e-mails of people [[FanDumb asking him if he's Buckethead]] (despite the fact that Buckethead's American, a few years older, etc.) that he now explicitly states on his myspace and facebook that he isn't. Amusingly enough, Fanalo wrote on his official site that he admits to being guitarist Bumblefoot ([[CaptainObvious which he isn't either]]). He also posted a picture of himself [[CrowningMomentOfFunny wearing a popcorn bucket on his head and covering his face]], as a jest to the many who called him Buckethead.

* MeaningfulName: "Buckethead". Why yes, [[CaptainObvious he does wear a bucket on his head]].

* WhiteMaskOfDoom: Obviously. Doubles as a CoolMask, depending on how you look at it.

* ArchivePanic: Due to a huge amount of output over the last couple of years, his over 100 albums can cause this to happen.

* ManChild: Could be seen as such. He never talks while being filmed or infront of fans without his puppet, Herbie. Also, he often plays with or trades toys during live performances and is a big fan of the DisneyThemeParks.

* AchievementsInIgnorance: See below. As Shawn Lane once mentioned, Buckethead managed (or at least came very close) to play "Kaiser Nancarrow", because he didn't know Lane composed that song in a way that it was unplayable in real time.

* BeyondTheImpossible: He performed a song the original artist composed to be unplayable! (Shawn Lane's "Kaiser Nancarrow")

* MistakenIdentity: For a time people would find pictures on the Internet of a tall guitarist with long hair, standing next to Shawn Lane. Immediately someone rushed to the conclusion that it's Buckethead unmasked, because he knew Shawn Lane personally. Turns out it was the French guitarist Stephane "Fanalo" Alaux, who just happens to be tall like Buckethead and had also met Shawn Lane and even Paul Gilbert at one point. Apparently Fanalo got so many e-mails of people [[FanDumb asking him if he's Buckethead]] (despite the fact that Buckethead's American, a few years older, etc.) that he now explicitly states on his myspace and facebook that he isn't. Amusingly enough, Fanalo wrote on his official site that he admits to being guitarist Bumblefoot ([[CaptainObvious which he isn't either]]). He also posted a picture of himself [[CrowningMomentOfFunny wearing a popcorn bucket on his head and covering his face]], as a jest to the many who called him Buckethead.

Brian Patrick Carroll, better known by his [[StageNames stage name]] (or rather [[KayfabeMusic stage persona]]) {{Buckethead}}, is a prolific American experimental/avant-garde/progressive/thrash/jazz/electronica/insanity songwriter and multi-instrumentalist noted for his [[CloudCuckoolander eccentric persona]], as well as for [[BunnyEarsLawyer being really good with his instruments]]. Also, he only ever performs while wearing an [[WhiteMaskOfDoom expressionless plain white mask]] and [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a KFC bucket on his head]]. To date, he has released over 70 solo albums and performed on over 50 more. Played lead guitar for Music/GunsNRoses from 2000-2004, and for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praxis_(band) Praxis]] from 1992-1999 and from 2004-present. His discography may be found [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead_discography here]].

* AmusementParkOfDoom: ''Bucketheadland'' I and II.

* BucketHelmet: Duh.

* [[CoatHatMask Coat, Bucket, Mask]]: One of his stage outfits throughout the years consisted of this.

* [[DoNotCallMePaul Do Not Call Me Brian]]: He takes his stage persona [[SeriousBusiness pretty seriously]] so unless you're one of his parents/relatives/close friends, he probably won't allow you to call him Brian. No, not even if you're Music/OzzyOsbourne.

* EpicRocking: Many of his songs are around 10 minutes long. Most well known examples are probably "''Siege Engine''" and "''Soothsayer''". Some are split in parts, such as "''Lurker at the Threshold''".
** More recently, there's the album ''Look Up There'', which includes the songs "''Golden Eyes''" (10:59) and the twice as long song "''Look Up There''". And even more recently all the "Pike" songs, some of which are long enough to be considered albums on their own.

* NightmareFetishist: Practically embodies this trope. He adores horror, has a video filmed in a cemetery, owns rubber body parts and scary masks, one of his hobbies is taxidermy, etc. And in both recorded non-serious interviews (20 years apart) he ''still'' talks about visiting slaughterhouses and [[{{Squick}} covering himself in blood]].

* RaisedByWolves: He claims to have been Raised By Chickens. That chicken coop is was his home.

* SoulPower: According to his character biography Buckethead became a better guitarist than ever after putting a bucket of chicken bones on his head and the ghosts of the chickens channeled their power into him.
* TaxidermyIsCreepy: One of his hobbies is this.

* EchoingAcoustics

* NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: Oh, yes.

* [[RaisedByWolves Raised By Chickens]]: So he claims.

* TheVoiceless: {{Subverted|Trope}} in interviews, but even then.

** More recently, there's the album ''Look Up There'', which includes the songs "''Golden Eyes''" (10:59) and the twice as long song "''Look Up There''".

** Buckethead has never gone as heavy as 11 due to being too [[ProgressiveRock progr]][[ProgressiveMetal essive]] and [[AvantGardeMetal experimental]]. Even his heavier songs have quiet moments in them, and that's what keeps him away from his level.

* MohsScaleOFRockAndMetalHardness: While trying to pin down where he lies may be impossible, let's try anyways.

** 10. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3bO8rXc-nM "Spokes for the Wheel of torment."]]
** Buckethead has never gone as heavy as 11 due to being too [[ProgressiveRock progr]][[ProgressiveMetal essivey]] and [[AvantGardeMetal experiementy]]. Even his heavier songs have quiet moments in them, and that's what keeps him away from his level.

* DarkIsNotEvil: His appearance and eccentric behavior usually mark him as creepy and odd to most people. His friends and those who work with him, however, often state that he's a really nice guy.
* DoingItForTheArt: So far, none of his albums have been made with catering to the masses or making huge sales in mind. He seems to only compose whatever he likes and even created ''Death Cube K'' as a side project, just so he could publish several albums without Sony's ExecutiveMeddling.

* OneOfUs: He once mentioned in a written interview that he's an avid video gamer, grew up with a room full of comic books and is also interested in StarWars (one of the knobs on his guitar used to be a [[RuleOfCool storm trooper head]]). And, of course, one of his inspirations - GiantRobo.

* PromotedFanboy: Bucket's a fan of Bootsy Collins and later got to meet him and work with him. Now they often collaborate on albums and the two of them are good friends.

* {{Ambient}}: Not only does he do a-lot of ambient rock music, but he side-project Death Cube K is where he performs nightmare inducing dark ambient.

* {{Ambient}}:Not only does he do a-lot of ambient rock music, but he side-project Death Cube K is where he performs nightmare inducing dark ambient.