As a music enthusiast, I can’t help but share an astonishing fact: I’ve crafted a completely functional electric guitar – named ‘Skelecaster’ – using my late uncle’s bones. It doesn’t get any heavier or more metal than that!
His name is Prince Midnight, and he’s made quite an impression – appearing as a special guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and having his work showcased at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Hailing from Tampa, Florida, Prince Midnight embodies metal music enthusiast to the core, crafting his unique tunes and intricate artwork – one piece of which has become a viral sensation on social media.
The ‘Skelecaster’ is an electric guitar crafted from the spine, pelvis, and rib cage of the maker’s Uncle Filip, complete with Telecaster components from Fender. In the video below, you can see him performing a brief piece from Dark Throne’s Transylvanian Hunger on this unique instrument.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Prince Midnight (@princemidnightx)
The most metal guitar ever created
However, one might wonder, why craft a guitar from an ancestor’s bones? For Prince Midnight, this unique tribute served as a way to commemorate his uncle Filip, who he recalls taking him to his initial heavy metal concerts as a child and igniting his passion for the genre.
Following an unfortunate motorcycle mishap that took my nephew Filip’s life at just 28 years old, his skeleton became an invaluable tool for teaching medical students at a university. Once their learning needs were met, the care of his remains fell upon me, Prince Midnight, as his parents had also passed away by then.
As the musician explained, his Greek Orthodox faith prohibits cremation, offering him only two possible courses of action – either he could pay for storage or be buried. However, Prince Midnight proposed an alternative solution.
In his conversation with CBC, he mentioned, “An unexpected thought came to me – I’ll transform Uncle Fil into a guitar.” He further explained, “I believe this is the most fitting tribute. The concept delights me, and I’m sure it would do the same for him.
Although his plan faced some opposition initially, his mother vehemently dismissed the idea at first, labeling it as “sacrilegious” and a work of the devil. However, when he inquired if she’d rather see his uncle “six feet under” or involved, she eventually consented to the project.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Prince Midnight (@princemidnightx)
Making the Skelecaster was a week-long challenge
Creating a guitar using a genuine human skeleton proved to be quite tricky. Instead of drilling into the intricate network of spinal vertebrae, he decided to affix a metal structure to the spine and adorned it with red and blue cables, which gave the appearance of veins reminiscent of an ’80s fantasy novel’s cover illustration.
He also wanted to use his uncle’s skull as the guitar’s headpiece, but said it was too damaged.
In summary, it took approximately a week for him to construct the entire instrument, with the observation that drilling bone was more unpleasant than soldering wire. The instrument is somewhat challenging to play due to the obstruction of the ribcage, which restricts him from playing anything beyond the 13th fret. This guitar is designed for power chords and serves as an ideal tribute to honor his uncle’s legacy.
Prince Midnight pointed out that this isn’t your standard guitar, and as such, it has its unique idiosyncrasies. However, he noted that often, these constraints in our tools can lead to creating exceptional products.
In a more straightforward way, you might say, “Uncle Fil seems to be with me both physically and spiritually right now. I’m actually embracing him in spirit as I imagine him crafting those powerful heavy metal tunes.
Prince Midnight persists in posting videos where he performs on an unusual device, noting that its legality prevents him from offering it for sale due to its macabre nature – being made from a human body.
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2025-06-12 23:48