Battle Axes: A Hard Rockin' History of Pointy Guitars

A Deep Dive into the Wildest Electric Guitars of ’70s and ’80s Hard Rock From Flying V to Firebird, Explorer to Warlock—this is the untold story of the most outrageous guitars in rock history. Why did rock’s greatest guitarists choose instruments that looked like weapons, spaceships, and abstract art? In Battle Axes, guitarist and music historian Sean Kelly explores the cultural and musical evolution of the world’s most iconic “pointy guitars”—and how they helped define the sound and image of ’70s and ’80s hard rock and heavy metal. From the Flying V, Explorer, Firebird, and Moderne, to the rise of aggressive 1980s designs from Jackson/Charvel, Kramer, B.C. Rich, Dean, Ibanez, Hamer, and Lado, this is the story of how guitar design went from odd curiosity to arena-rock essential. Through deep research and interviews with legendary players, builders, and insiders, Kelly reveals how these instruments became more than tools—they became symbols of rebellion, speed, volume, and attitude. KISS, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row, Autograph, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, Megadeth, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Stryper, Racer X, MSG, Triumph, and more. The…