Twice in a Lifetime – The Story of Buckethead & Oscar Lopez

In 2018 whilst performing in South Burlington, Vermont, Buckethead invited a fan on stage to perform. One year later it happened again. This is his story.

When did you first hear of Buckethead?

I remember I was checking some website for Guns N Roses and I think that was the first time I ever even heard of Buckethead. They played this show in Rock in Rio and thats when I saw Buckethead for the first time.

What led you yo start a Buckethead guitar cover song channel?

This was back in 2008. I remember I wanted to just play guitar, record a video and out it up on Youtube. It was just a fun thing to do, I never expected it to become something out of the ordinary.

Favourite Buckethead song you've covered?

My favourite song to play is also one of my favourite songs of all time called 'Worms for the Garden'.
If we're talking technically then 'Jordan' is one of them and also 'The Moltrail Part 2'.

Seeing Buckethead live for the first time...

When I was living in Mexico it was complicated, it wasn't that easy. I had come to terms with the fact that I would never have the means to travel to America to see Buckethead live.
2016 was the first time I saw him live. Seeing him live for the first time, I remember it was so intense for me. I remember thinking to myself 'oh my god, there he is!'. I couldn't scream, I couldn't talk, I was just living that moment.

In 2018 Buckethead invited you on stage, what happened?

It was not planned. It was spontaneous. Nobody came up to me beforehand, nobody spoke to me. Nothing. It was just me going to the venue and thats it. I still felt lucky, like 'oh my god this is the second time I'm seeing him live'.

By almost midnight, meta-matic comes on and I press the killswitch. And immediately he reached out to shake my hand, but his own will. I was petrified, I was shocked. Then he pointed the right and I didn't know what he meant. He said something to P-Sticks and the shows goes on and I'm like 'what just happened?'.
And then P-Sticks came and asked “are you the guy who plays our music on Youtube?” and I said “yes” and he said “would you like to come backstage and meet Buckethead?”. My adrenaline was running high and I said “yes! when? now?” and he said “yes, now”. I said “yes, sure!”.

So at that venue, there's these stairs that go down. So I'm going down the stairs and there's these doors, and as I'm approaching these doors behind P-sticks I'm thinking 'oh my god, he's behind those doors'. The doors open, P-sticks goes in and then I see him standing there.
The first thing he said to me was “hi” and I just grabbed my hands and covered my mouth, like, this cannot be happening. I remember there was other people from the venue there and remember saying “ok everyone, just give me a few seconds” and then I took a deep breath and said “oh my god, I cannot believe I'm standing infront of you”. A million things are going through my mind at that moment. And then he talks to me. He said some really nice things to me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I wouldn't want to go to much in details because its a matter of privacy and respect.
So then I start to tell him what he means to me and how he's the reason I moved out and the series of events that led me there. Im so glad I had the opportunity to tell him that he changed my life. So then he tells me some other things, really nice things.
And then he says “would you like to play a song?”. I was so happy and at that moment I actually thought 'yeah, you and me, lets play together!'. So I said “yes, of course!” and then he proposes the song, but I hadn't played that song for years. So I thought we were going to play together.
He opens the door and we go on stage and I'm saying to P-sticks 'oh my god, I'm so nervous'. And he's says 'that alright, you'll do fine'. Then Buckethead puts the guitar on my shoulder and I said “oh wait, I want to play together”. And he says “I only have one guitar”. The song starts and I ask him “do you a pick?”. So he turns and hands me his pick and at that moment I thought 'I have to do this!'.
I think I just went on autopilot. I want to think that he liked it. I finished the song, he came and shook my hands, it was amazing. One moment in my life that I will never forget.

In 2019, it happened again...

I couldn't believe it happened again. In my mind I was just going to enjoy the show. P-sticks came again and I was having a deja-vu moment and he said “would you like to play a song?”. And I said “yes, of course!”. I went off the stage again, down the stairs, same doors and he's there. He extended his hand to say 'hi' but I took his hand and I hugged him. I think he was a bit surprised that I did that. And he says to me “can you play this song?” and in my mind I went over the song in a split second.

If Buckethead is watching, what would you like to say to him?

I hope he remembers some of the things I told him. I would like to tell him that I admire him, I love his music and that I would like to play with him, next to him. Just for the love of it. You changed my life and I hope to see you again someday.

Final thoughts...

Thank you NatterNet obviously, I really appreciate being allowed to share some of my experience. Thank you everyone. Keep rocking, keep supporting Buckethead in any way you can. Be safe. Wash your hands!