Living in Greenwich Village in the late 60s and 70s, I was fortunate to see many great musicians and bands. I was at the all night closing concert at the Fillmore East. The Allman Brothers came on at 3AM and closed the concert- playing until dawn. Great Rock n’ Roll guitarists playing with their shirts off tend to attract what were then called “groupies” which were gals that were in the front rows screaming and offering everythingto these then “Rock Gods”. I’m just a music freak and was just blown away by the musical artistry of Duane, Gregg, two drummers and the guys!

Years later, sculpting outside, a new sculpture, arrived in my hands as I was wiring that would be Greg Allman playing. Artistically, I tried to capture the beyond skinny late 60s chic look of the male hippies, with the full mustache and long hair. Yes, I have pictures of myself in bell bottoms and that stash. Although, I hadn’t sculpted clothes, he had to have narrow old wrinkled jeans and boots. I made an unusual shaped guitar, gave him that leaning back closed eyes head dipping to the guitar look that was the photo basis of every rock magazine. It was finished and I had a really great sculpture.

 

But, I had this need for it not to be a “Rock Remington”. The artists curse is not Knowing when your finished and wanting more. It is is also the source of great achievement. So, I thought of the great design of the “Gibson Flying V” that Jimi, Hendrix, Keith Richard and others played. It was really “cool”!The bottom of the guitar was two points of an upside down V. I thought it would add that extra something this already wonderful sculpture needed.

But, that was opening Pandora’s box. The main guitar’s body and neck and headstock became the woman’s body and head. The large V became her thighs and legs. The guitarist’s hands are playing her body in the most sexual way. This was the ultimate statement of the affect and eventual Effect of the Rock stars and their waiting groupies.

There is a long term staple of soft FM rock called Guitar Man by the group “Bread” that spoke of the girls’ adoration for, and the life of these musicians. The sculpture became more than Gregg Allman, it spoke to a sexual self inflicted Chauvinism. The men took advantage and the girls wanted them to take advantage. I cast the original guitar to be left unattached loose lying on the stage floor base…because there was always another song, another town, another girl..until as the song says, “the lights begin to flicker… and the crowds begin to thin”.

Guitar Man is a statue as much as any Civil War general that conquered and pillaged town after town.