Louder, Harder, Faster!
The wicked ‘76 Gibson Les Paul Custom “White Lightning” strikes!
Howlin’, growlin’ molten-rock action rolls large and in charge in the form of the 42-year-old axe of the ages, owned by platinum rocker Erik Turner, founding member of the L.A. Sunset Strip’s own Warrant, 34 years in existence, and counting!
“I used her a lot on the recent Louder Harder Faster record (on Frontiers Records),” Erik says. “And on my solo in ‘I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,’” the band’s dirty-rock cover of the 1980 Merle Haggard classic, finely done in Warrant’s great foot-stompin’, rip-roarin’ Blood, Sweat and Beers tradition.
“I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” also stands as the party theme for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization, one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet: Millions in prize packages, raucous fireworks and of course, hard-hitting rock n’ roll and the best international bull riders on board for epic multi-second throw downs vs some of the best bulls in the business; The Greatest Show on Dirt!
Erik’s ‘76 Gibson Les Paul Custom “White Lightning,” whose once-pristine Alpine White finish has morphed wonderfully into exquisite bar-smoke dirty cream, or bad-molar yellow, depending on whether you’re a whiskey glass is half-full or half-empty player, delivers the goods.
“I also used the guitar on a lot of music for film and TV,” Erik says, referencing much ‘76 Custom LP work done for his Down Boys music label.
Buttery playability, black-as-night-ebony board; Erik’s Gibson ‘76 Les Paul Custom “White Lightning” strikes like bolts of white-hot Inspiration, available now as the axe man thins his collection herd, preparing for the arrival of a pair of triple-dick-wicked GMP Custom guitars from the legendary hands of Dan Lawrence.
“I played this Gibson Les Paul Custom years ago in Santa Monica and just had to have her,” Erik says in no uncertain terms. “Just plug her in, listen and drool!”
- Doug Diamond
