I’m at the NAMM 2016 Show this week, which is the National Association of Music Merchants, it’s where musical instrument companies, music dealers, recording equipment companies, etc… all get together to show off their latest and greatest stuff. It’s in Anaheim, California right next to Disneyland, and 140,000 musicians, gearheads, salespeople, and techies from all over the world converge and take over this Orange County city and it’s long hair, dye jobs, tattoo sleeves, and leather jackets as far as the eye can see.
One of the most fun things about the conference is that guitar companies will bring their most outrageous guitars, instruments not that don’t sell that much, maybe, but are showcases for the huge amount of talent that their best craftsmen have. These guys and gals can make unbelievably beautiful instruments and it is terribly exciting to see the most well-crafted and gorgeous instruments ever made.
The occult and rock n’ roll have been linked since Robert Johnson sold his soul at the crossroads and themes of horror have run through the music from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to Alice Cooper to Marilyn Manson and in the modern era with Ghost. Skulls have always been a popular symbol for high testosterone males. In the old days, it was a symbol for all the people that they had defeated in battle, today it represents the aggressive style and fearlessness in the face of mortality that rock n’ roll music has long stood for. But the devil, the Illuminati, and horror movies were all well represented today and here are some of the most fantastic guitars and accessories with occult imagery that I’ve seen at the NAMM 2016 Show so far!
The All-Seeing Eye is watching you from this Dean guitar.
Who are you looking at?
Sweet Megadeth guitar – skulls and money
The future looks terrifying…
This skull guitar is metal as a mutha!
Did you know guitar players like skulls?
This Flying V is hungry!
Enough with the skulls already
The imagery of Rust in Peace was Hangar 18 – the secret base where they kept the aliens before Area 51
Someone really needs to start a Megadeth tribute band here…
Blood on the walls, looks like a Walking Dead zombie attack!
The blood spatter guitar, Dexter would love this Dean special!
Flying V wicked skull
Skull guitar strap and is that a Confederate flag? Yikes!
This devil bird ukulele is for when you wanna do some Hawaiian hula metal!
Starry Night by Van Gogh, not paranormal, I just loved it.
Not occult, but I liked the word for peace in all the languages and cool imagery for the sound hole!
Gibson created an Iron Throne from Game of Thrones made out of guitars instead of melted swords… awesome.
It’s the All-American Pentagram! Of course the Devil lives in the USA…
Coffin-shaped Schecter bass as used by Sean Yseult from White Zombie – a band that knows occult imagery!
Prince’s strange symbol name represented freedom from his record label. Then he had a guitar made out of the symbol!
Classic horror film Nosferatu
More evil birds, perfect for playing our track, “Archaeopteryx”!
Speak of the Devil!
Put up the horns for this Devil and Dragon symbolism
Enter the dragon!
Upside down angel at ESP guitars, just a thing of beauty
ESP Custom makes this unbelievable ninja guitar with it’s own sword hilt, the Shinobi!
Coffin Cases – where you can lay your guitar to eternal rest
Hi everybody! I’m your always smiling reminder of mortality!
Sexy ladies and coffins, I’d say that’s a winning combination but it makes me sound like a sicko.
You carry this into the venue and they’ll call the police.
One…two… Freddy’s rocking for you… Three… four… you better hit the floor!
Very cool tribal symbolism. Like something out of Serpent and the Rainbow.
Some more tribal stuff on guitar straps
Collection of guitar picks included this pentagram
Interesting pentagram guitar pick
You know that Jack Black and Kyle Gass love singing about Satan, so you can play your own Pick of Destiny just like Tenacious D!
Don’t forget that Jesus loves to rock too!
Because summer camp axe murderers need to rock too!
One thought on “The Best Occult Imagery at NAMM 2016”
One thought on “The Best Occult Imagery at NAMM 2016”
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