For any musician, a parent’s unwavering support is a priceless gift. Mark Wood, a metal musician from Beverley, East Yorkshire, experienced this firsthand with his late father, Keith Wood. After his dad’s passing on Christmas Day 2022, Mark found a truly unique and deeply moving way to keep his biggest supporter by his side at every gig: he had his father’s ashes worked into the neck of his beloved Fender Telecaster guitar.
The Heartfelt Inspiration Behind a Unique Memorial
Keith Wood, a retired teacher, was more than just a dad to Mark; he was his first guitar teacher and his most dedicated fan. “Dad was my biggest supporter,” Mark shared with the BBC. “He just used to rock up at gigs and we’d just have a beer and a catch up.”
Keith’s support knew no bounds, with him traveling “miles to see his gigs” in places as far-flung as Glasgow, London, and Berlin.
His sudden death at 68 left a “big hole” in the family. As his sister Katie opted for memorial jewelry, Mark pondered a fitting tribute of his own.
He wanted something that would allow his dad to continue sharing in his passion for music. The idea of incorporating his ashes into his guitar’s fretboard inlays was a stroke of genius, albeit one he wasn’t sure was even possible.
Crafting a Legacy: The Skillful Work of a Friend
Mark approached his close friend and fellow musician, Sam Orr, who owns Sam’s Guitars in Chester. Sam, who also knew Keith, was deeply honored by the request, even though he’d “never been asked to do this before.”
Initially, Sam wondered “how it would work.” But after some “test runs on a spare guitar neck,” he realized it was achievable.
An Emotional Experience
The painstaking process involved mixing a small amount of Keith’s ashes with a special glue to create the custom inlays.
Mark described watching the process as “an emotional experience.” He recounted how they “put some music on in the background and had a couple of beers and made a thing of it,” with Sam working carefully and respectfully after hours.
A Father-Son Duet That Will Last a Lifetime
The result is a truly remarkable instrument that embodies a powerful bond. Mark recently felt ready to play his transformed Telecaster, and when he did, “it felt great.” The first song he played? “Stranglehold by Ted Nugent,” a tune his dad “always asked me to play as a kid.”
Mark, who has played in bands like Manchester’s Winterfilleth and is currently a member of Impurist, hopes to debut the guitar at a gig in Hull on July 18th. This unique tribute ensures that Keith Wood, his biggest supporter, will continue to be with him on stage, a silent, yet powerful, presence at every show.
What a beautiful way to honor a loved one’s memory! Have you ever heard of such a unique memorial? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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