You can't follow music news without being aware of the smashing success of Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning farewell concert last weekend. Not only did Ozzy and the band deliver a memorable, career-defining performance for fans to remember them by, but the lineup of legendary metal acts was one that could only be summoned by the father of the genre himself.
Among the storied bands that appeared last week? San Francisco's thrash-metal icons, Metallica. And, guitar geeks, did you notice shredder Kirk Hammett wielding a regal silver SG during Metallica's cover of Sabbath's "Hole in the Sky?" Well, that guitar, known as the CEO4, happens to have been hand-built by Gibson's CEO, Cesar Gueikian.
You heard that right. Apparently the CEO of one of the world's most high-profile guitar companies still manages to get his hands dirty in the shop every now and then. I, for one, didn't know that the CEOs of guitar companies could also be accomplished luthiers! I guess my faith in humanity is restored...
Hammett and Gueikian are known to have enjoyed a close relationship, previously having worked together on other guitar collaborations, including the replica of "Greeny," AKA the Peter Green Les Paul owned by Hammett.
Gueikian presaged the CEO4 collaboration with an Instagram post in May:
What's more, Gibson is auctioning off the guitar through Gibson Gives, which will enable a lucky fan to own this unique instrument—and give to a good cause.
According to Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, who served as musical director of the event, Back to the Beginning already raised over $180 million for charity, with all proceeds going to three charities chosen by Osbourne and Sabbath: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice.
And the auction of CEO4 is likely to earn in the tens of thousands more.
Image credit: John Gilhooley
Comments
Loading…