Category: Uncategorized

8-Track Tape – Intro and Inspiration to Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath

While the 8-Track tape music format had many frustrating aspects and was somewhat limited for sound quality versus vinyl, it is still held in high esteem here at KnuckleBonz. 8-track tape is not only a 70s era tentpole, it’s the format that I was first introduced to Black Sabbath and Tony Iommi. Can still see the blistered covers of the first Sabbath recordings, Black Sabbath, Paranoid and Masters of Reality strewn throughout the car floorboard. We called on these memories when designing our Tony Iommi Rock Iconz Ltd. Edition Statue. The design captures Tony Iommi circa 1973 when he was wearing the long white sleeved shirts and white platform shoes. His red guitar was equipped with the classic monkey decal.

The Tony Iommi Rock Iconz statue is entering the later stages pf production and is scheduled to ship before the end of the year. Stay tuned to KnuckleBonz here and on social media for updates on the Tony Iommi Rock Iconz Limited Edition and all the KnuckleBonz products.

Check out all the new KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl and On Tour collectibles now at www.knucklebonz.com

Rock Iconz® 3D Vinyl and Rock Iconz ON Tour™ are trademarks of KnuckleBonz, Inc.

Making Jimmy Page – The “Poppy Suit” in the KnuckleBonz® Rock Iconz® Collector Series

It’s been over a decade since we first had the pleasure to work with Jimmy Page, founder of Led Zeppelin, on the original Rock Iconz Statue. The original “Poppy Suite” statue design had us travel to London to meet with Jimmy Page and view this iconic piece of music history live. A fashion model was hired to pose in the suit. This allowed us to capture some amazing detail for the hand-sculpted finer points. It was important to Jimmy that we see the suit live and we were of course thrilled to oblique. We were able to talk about the entire production process with Jimmy Page, we will never forget it. He was so great and was genuinely interested in our processes for production and design. Jimmy Page is the ultimate production professional as you probably know if your reading the KnuckleBonz Blog. Toward the end of the photo shoot, Jimmy was suddenly whisked away by his assistant.  He was late for “rehearsal.” We did not think much of it at the time, but little did we know, he was going to band practice with Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham. The following week, we found out along with the rest of the world, that Led Zeppelin would reunite for the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concerts at O2 Arena in London. This was a high point for KnuckleBonz. In the next “Making Jimmy Page” installment, will share one of the low points that happened the night of this Led Zeppelin reunion show some months later. It would serve as the inspiration for the 2^nd Jimmy Page Rock Iconz design “The Stormtrooper.”

Check out at the Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl and On Tour collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl and Rock Iconz On Tour all registered trademarks of KnuckleBonz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

KnuckleBonz Commemorating 40th Anniversary of Motörhead Ace of Spades with Rock Iconz® Statue…

Lemmy Kilmister began his musical career in the early ‘60s with acts such as the Rockin’ Vickers and Sam Gopal before finding fame in the pioneering space rock legends Hawkwind. After departing in 1975, Lemmy formed Motörhead and would go on to create a non-stop 40+ year barrage of the loudest music in the world. This would combine his love for the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, and heroes like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, with an innovative quality that would spawn a new level of speed and aggression. A straightforward, no-nonsense style of bass playing and song writing found favor with both rockers and the emerging punk scene of the late 70s. But, the meat-on-this-bone also appealed to heavy metal fans.  Motörhead had forged new ground and laid the tracks that speed/thrash metal would follow.  Lemmy and Motörhead had created something that went beyond a single musical category, something that stood alone, and something that remains true today almost 2 years after losing Lemmy in late 2015. His war cry will never die….

“We are Motörhead, and We Play Rock n Roll!

See all the current Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl® and On Tour Collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

An obvious subject for the new Rock Iconz® On Tour Collector Series was the Pink Floyd Pig, nicknamed “Algie”. It spanned 40 ft. and was floated over Battersea Power Station on the south bank of London’s River Thames as part of the photo shoot for the “Animals” album. During the 3-day shoot in December 1976, the pig broke free from its cable and began a sojourn that would ground flights at Heathrow Airport, and soar over the English Channel before finally landing in Kent. The pig then took up its place as staple during Pink Floyd’s live shows debuting on the “In the Flesh” tour in January 1977.  It’s remains one of the most iconic concepts in live music performance. Check out this Rock Iconz On Tour Limited Edition here

“Big man, pig man,ha ha, charade you are!”

The Rock Iconz® “On Tour” Series brings music fans and collectors moments in and around the world’s great live performances and world tours. Each On Tour collectible is hand detailed and is an officially licensed limited edition.

Rock Iconz® ON Tour is a Registered Trademark of KnuckleBonz, Inc. © 2019 Pink Floyd (1987) Ltd. Under license to Perryscope Productions, LLC

See all the KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl on On Tour Limited Edition Collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

Here at KnuckleBonz, we take pride on traveling the  while creating the Rock Iconz® and 3D Vinyl® Collectible Series. This was our thinking when releasing our most recent Jimi Hendrix statue. We always look to give fans and collectors something that others might not value or ignore because it’s not the most popular. We do this because we are super fans 1^st and create things that we want to have in our own collections. Our 2^nd design of Jimi Hendrix captures the original Guitar Hero from his 1968 documentary film performance of “Hear that Train a Comin.” An iconic moment for Jimi in his dashing red jacket and hat, but certainly not the most well published image of Hendrix. This is the only film of Jimi performing this country-blues inspired song, and the only known footage of Jimi playing the acoustic 12-string guitar. Sculpting Hendrix seated on the very slight legs of the wooden stool used in this performance presented some special problems that we had to solve for shipping and assembly. We really dig the way this Rock Iconz statue appears in a lighted display and it also photographs really well. You get the great “live music moment” that we always strive for in the Rock Iconz series. Check it out and travel back to 1968 with Jimi Hendrix and KnuckleBonz here https://knucklebonz.com/product/jimi-hendrix-ii-rock-iconz-statue-2/

You can see all the current Rock Iconz Statues and other killer KnuckleBonz music collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

Rock Iconz®, 3D Vinyl® and On Tour™ are registered trademarks of KnuckleBonz, Inc.

 

KnuckleBonz® Rock Iconz® Building the “Lighted Stage”

For 17 years, KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz has brought the greatest music artist to life in limited edition statues. We began with the great Randy Rhoads of the original Ozzy Osbourne solo lineup, and are honored to continue to work with the music industry’s biggest artists. Photo shoots at KnuckleBonz are always exciting, but we felt like something was missing with the typical photo set up on white or black backgrounds. While those Rock Iconz shots are necessary to allow fans to see the work clearly on their PC or mobile phone, we wanted something more.

We always talk about those amazing moments of being at a live show just before the lights go out. The road crew is done with the set up and the stage is empty. The crowd noise builds with anticipation, we all sense the band is about to emerge…then the lights go out and your eyes are assaulted by the lighted stage! Are far as we are concerned, there is not greater moment in life. That was the inspiration for us to build our own lighted stage here at the KnuckleBonz studio. With live music on pause, we are still energized to come in to the studio every day and place our favorite Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl or On Tour collectible center stage and hit the lights! The lighted Stage gives us all energy as we continue to make new KnuckleBonz collectibles for music fans worldwide. #Rock Hard!

Stay tuned for more great Knucklebonz collectibles in 2020, “we have got such sights to show you”…#staytuned.

You can see all the current Rock Iconz Statues and other killer KnuckleBonz music collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

Rock Iconz®, 3D Vinyl® and On Tour™ are registered trademarks of KnuckleBonz, Inc.

41 Years ago today I remember driving to the beach and hoping the radio would play something from the new AC/DC record “Highway to Hell.” As you know, this is the last to feature the great Bon Scott and was the worldwide breakthrough for AC/DC. Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd and Bon went from a smaller venue support act to a major headliner and would never look back. The iconic album cover photo, with the masterful retouch on Angus’s devil horns, is perhaps the most iconic for AC/DC as well as rock music on whole. We really admire this album art as it was done before the advent of digital retouch and editing. The color on the original pressing was stunning.

We have paid homage to this Highway to Hell era for AC/DC with our Rock Iconz® “On Tour” road case. This limited edition AC?DC collectible looks like it’s fresh off the road in 1979 with the setlist and tour itinerary taped to the outside. A 14” cloth stage backdrop of this great album art is also included, a great addition to any KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz AC/DC collectibles that might be in your collection. Hand detailed and numbered, only 3000 of these are being created for AC/DC Super-Fans worldwide.

You can see all the current AC/DC Collectibles, Rock Iconz Statues and other killer KnuckleBonz music collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

Rock Iconz®, 3D Vinyl® and On Tour™ are registered trademarks of KnuckleBonz, Inc.

 

Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd – The Alpha, Rock Iconz, and Crazy Diamond

Syd Barrett perhaps had more impact on rock music, over a shorter span, than any song writer and frontman in history. Syd’s life began with a simple and pleasant childhood in Cambridge, England. He then gained prominence as a local art and musical bohemian figure, who would become the original creative genius behind of one of the world’s greatest bands, Pink Floyd. In 1965, Syd joined former school mate, Roger Waters, in the band that Syd named Pink Floyd, along with Richard Wright & Nick Mason. Syd immediately emerged as the main creative and songwriting drive that would lay the groundwork for the UK psychedelic music scene. This would grow beyond an underground movement and become the massive musical genre we know today. Syd’s early compositions “See Emily Play” and “Arnold Layne” were the original Floyd tent poles, and their first UK chart singles. The epic “Interstellar Overdrive” fused a long musical jam session and an elaborate live visual performance, these elements forming the road map Pink Floyd would follow over the next decade. After appearing on only the first two Pink Floyd albums, Syd began to show serious signs of mental illness that would challenge his creative and personal life going forward. Syd split from Pink Floyd in 1968 and released the well-received solo album “The Madcap Laughs” followed by “Barrett”.  After this period, Syd’s interest and ability to focus on his music waned and he withdrew to Cambridge. He was occupied by his painting and other creative endeavors, far away from the spotlight, never to re-emerge. He had become and would remain the “Crazy Diamond” until his death in July of 2006. You can’t help but wonder what would hav e been ahead for Syd had they the ability to diagnose and treat mental illness like they do today. He was in fact the Alpha, the one that the great David Gilmour and Roger Waters wanted to be, a true unabashed artist. Shine On…

Debbie Harry of Blondie – Rock like a girl! Rock Iconz Limited Edition Statue

Debbie Harry, a seminal rock-n-roll figure, complex songstress, incandescent front-woman, and fashion icon. A vibrant global force whose enduring presence forever changed pop culture when she entered the scene. Debbie’s chart-topping success, fearless spirit, and ongoing creativity led her band, Blondie, to an induction into the Rock “N” Roll hall of fame in 2006.  Since 1976, she has released 11 studio albums with Blondie and 5 solo albums. She also has a notable acting career with over 30 film and television roles to her credit. She is a true national treasure, one whose influence continues to impact the worlds of music, fashion, and art. From an irreverent Lower East Side punk goddess to a bona fide ambassador of New York cool, Debbie Harry will forever be synonymous with that punk spirit that lives somewhere within all of us.  

 

This Rock Iconz design captures Debbie from the late 70’s in the iconic dress created by renowned design Stephen Sprouse.

You can see all the current Rock Iconz Statues and other killer KnuckleBonz music collectibles at www.knucklebonz.com

Rock Iconz®, 3D Vinyl® and On Tour™ are registered trademarks of KnuckleBonz, Inc.