The music world has a few notable tales of guitarists being laid to rest with six-strings. Bob Marley was buried with a Gibson Les Paul, while Dimebag Darrell was interred with a black-and-yellow-striped 1979 Charvel "Bumblebee" owned and modified by his hero Eddie Van Halen.
And then there’s Chuck Berry, who went into the afterlife with a brand-new Gibson ES-355, his model of choice in the final decades of his life.
Less common, however, is the story of a deceased being entombed within a guitar.
This is one of those.
When Mark Wood’s father died on Christmas Day 2022, it left a huge hole in his life. More than his father, Keith Wood was his biggest fan and would travel miles to see him play in his metal bands.
Two years after his dad passed on, Wood came up with a perfect way to not only honor him but have him at his shows: He had his father’s ashes encased in the neck of his Fender Telecaster — specifically, in the fret markers.
"Dad was my biggest supporter. He just used to rock up at gigs and we'd just have a beer and a catch up," Wood told the BBC.
The guitarist, who lives in Beverley, East Yorkshire, England, said Keith would travel the three or four hours to London and Glasgow, and even hop over to Berlin, just to watch him play. It was Keith, after all, who had taught Mark to play guitar. Once his dad retired from teaching, those jaunts became much easier.
But his dad’s absence proved much harder as a result.
So Wood got the notion to have some of his dad’s ashes worked into his favorite electric guitar. He came up with the idea after his sister incorporated some of their father’s remains into jewelry.
Wood, who plays in the band Impurist, turned to his close friend Sam Orr to see if it was possible. Orr is a guitarist and the owner of Sam's Guitars in Chester, England, where he also does repair work.
Having never entertained such a request before, Orr wasn’t sure it could be done. But after running tests on a spare neck, using a special glue, he was convinced the work could be accomplished.
“I realized it wouldn't be too difficult to complete it," he said.
Out of respect for the deceased, Orr performed the work after hours, away from the eyes of onlookers.
"I wish dad was still here, but doing this makes me feel like he's always going to be here with me,” Wood says. “and you have always got your memories.
“This way he will still be with me at all the shows, and this has given me a sense of closure."
Once he had the guitar back, Wood knew exactly what song he should play first: “Stranglehold,” by Ted Nugent.
"He always asked me to play that as a kid."
Wood’s story brings to mind the tale of YouTuber Prince Midnight, who built an electric guitar from the bones of his late uncle, Filip. It was an appropriate gesture for the man, who had turned his nephew on to heavy metal.
And then there’s late Motörhead bassist Lemmy, who had some of his ashes placed in bullet casings that were given out to a few select friends.
