Film + TV

Mad Max’s flamethrowing guitarist totally shreds

by Jesse Locke

Mad Max: Fury Road is a batshit crazy post-apocalyptic action film with something for everyone. Even the little metalhead monster in your family can get down with the Doof Warrior. In a movie full of absurd characters, this blind guitar-shredding mutant in a red onesie bouncing on bungee cords from the front of a truck built from Marshall stacks while flames shoot out from his double neck takes the cake.

Ultimate Classic Rock has shared some more info on the scene-stealing shredder. The role is played by an Australian actor and musician with the stage name iOTA, who has also appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby and released five “critically acclaimed” albums, according to iMDB. Production designer Colin Gibson explained that there was no CGI involved in these high-flying rock moves, making iOTA’s riffage on the gargantuan axe all the more impressive.

In another article from Billboard, we’ve learned that Tom Holkenborg is the musician behind Fury Road’s scorched soundtrack. The Dutch producer is best known for the beat-driven project Junkie XL, but earned his biggest hit with the 2002 Elvis Presley “A Little Less Conversation” remix, and has also teamed up with Hans Zimmer for the score of Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, Holkenborg reached out to Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for some help with Mad Max‘s guitars, so it’s hard to tell whose fingers are behind the Doof Warrior after all. Nicki Sixx of Motley Crue is one high profile fan, pointing out the similarities to his own onstage pyrotechnics in a recent Instagram post.