Two years ago, the Gibson Flying V model turned 50, and we celebrated with our list of the "Monsters of the Flying V,", a tribute to the axe’s original generation of innovators.
Now there's something new to celebrate in V-ville: the Tribal V, a ferocious rock 'n' roll animal that premiered in an exclusive limited run last year and continues to embody the spirit of today's most snarling, intense sounds. This savage beast of a guitar has Gibson's own uncovered ceramic magnet humbuckers -- a 496R in the neck and a 500T in the bridge -- and sports a tribal tattoo-inspired design on top of its solid mahogany body. Top that off with an unbound ebony fingerboard, a distinctive white custom finish, matching white pickup mountings and black chrome hardware with a factory mounted Kahler tremolo bar system, and this gorgeous growler really comes to life.
And there's no better way to celebrate the Tribal V's Godzilla-sized tones than with a sequel to "Monsters of the Flying V." So in the spirit of Godzilla Raids Again! and other great cinematic follow-ups (Shaft in Africa, anyone?), we present more victorious V players -- a look at another generation of classic musicians with great taste in guitars from all corners of the rock and blues worlds. And the cast members are:
Paul Stanley: Some people have stars in their eyes. As KISS' rhythm guitarist, Stanley had a star on his eye. But he also had a serious array of Flying Vs and other Gibsons in his hands over the decades. For Stanley, the Flying V made a perfect blackboard for teaching a generation of '70s kids how to "Rock 'n' Roll All Nite."
Here's another photo of Paul Stanley and wife Erin Sutton arriving on the red carpet at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 30, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California.
The annual star-studded event was packed with artists and industry VIPs in music, film and television.
Kiss' Paul Stanley (L) and wife Erin Sutton arrives at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards - Salute To Icons Honoring Doug Morris held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 30, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California.
