Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  1. Guitars

7 guitars we'd like to see in Mad Max

News
By Michael Brown
Published 3 June 2015

Weaponised axes for Coma the Doof Warrior aka flamethrower guitar guy

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Mad Max: Fury Road - Coma the Doof Warrior

Mad Max: Fury Road - Coma the Doof Warrior

Ignoring the explosive action, jaw-dropping scenery and surprisingly feminist subtext, it's the high-octane, flame-throwing guitar work of Coma the Doof Warrior that's set Mad Max: Fury Road audiences' imaginations alight.

It got our minds ticking over as to what other instruments could have worked in the franchise, especially considering the actual double-necked guitar had to be supported by bungees because it was too heavy (60kg!) to hold.

So, with more Mad Max sequels on the way, join us as we explore what we reckon would make the Doof Warrior's shopping list…

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
ESP Ghost Soldier

ESP Ghost Soldier

Skull? Check. Bullets? Check. Rifles? Check. Now imagine if those rifles were rigged up to actually fire. We'd like to see ol' Rockatansky dodge that.

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Gene Simmons axe bass

Gene Simmons axe bass

It's not kitted out with flamethrowers, but Gene Simmons' signature basses double up as serious weapons – the colour scheme is a perfect fit, too.

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
FireHero 3

FireHero 3

Now, this is cool. After experiments with Guitar Hero controllers, tech whiz Chris Marion utilised a Roland GK-3 pickup and GI-20 processor to send MIDI signals to custom software and computers, which trigger six separate flame cannons.

Admittedly, it could be a little technically advanced for Immortan Joe and co, but just imagine if the flames were triggered in time with the war drums…

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Avril Lavigne's circular saw guitar

Avril Lavigne's circular saw guitar

Now, pop-punk starlet Avril Lavigne is no weapons expert, but in the video for Rock And Roll, she wields a Flying V that's had its bottom half replaced with a freakin' saw, which she then uses to kill some kind of bear-shark hybrid. Lethal enough to make the Doof's hitlist, easily.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Rammstein's ESP and Gibson flamethrowers

Rammstein's ESP and Gibson flamethrowers

The world's most outrageous purveyors of onstage pyrotechnics, Richard Z. Kruspe and Paul H. Landers have had flamethrowers strapped to custom ESP and Gibson guitars for years. We'd wager the Mad Max team took a cue or two from these guys when designing the Doof's guitar.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Johnson AK47

Johnson AK47

Most famously wielded by Alice Cooper guitarist Kane Roberts and, oddly enough, Ke$ha, Johnson Guitars' Machine Guns not only look like weapons, but they can be equipped with rocket launchers and flamethrowers. A natural fit for the Mad Max universe, we reckon.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Nikki Sixx's Gibson flamethrower

Nikki Sixx's Gibson flamethrower

Trust Mötley Crüe to take things one stage further: in recent years, Nikki Sixx has equipped his signature Gibson bass with a long-range flamethrower. His back story's probably just as twisted - in an LA sort of way - as Coma the Doof Warrior's, too…

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Michael Brown
Michael Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Read more
Jared James Nichols takes a solo on his 1952 Gibson Les Paul, aka Dorothy.
Artists “A lot of people lost the plot”: Jared James Nichols on what's wrong with vintage guitar culture
 
 
Pete Townshend with a freshly smashed Rickenbacker in 1966
Artists Pete Townshend on how Stevie Wonder's producer inspired him to smash guitars
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Brian May attends the "Masters Of The Universe" UK premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on May 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Artists How Brian May ended up playing his 'Sword of Power' Red Special on the Masters of the Universe theme
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Oliver Ackermann of A Place to Bury Strangers throws it down live in Texas
Guitars Oliver Ackermann on the break-stuff tone philosophy behind guitar's most unorthodox pedal brand
 
 
PRS SE Rock Lady
Guitars “One of the most creative, out-of-the-box things we have done in a while”: PRS Guitars just made a signature guitar for an anime character
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Jam Pedals Tiny Amp Destroyer
Artists Stu Mackenzie and Jam Pedals team up to bring you the secret behind his KGWL guitar tone
 
 
Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr Booster
Guitar Pedals “It starts out polite but then gets loud, dirty and nasty”: Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr Booster review
 
 
Harley Benton ST-62LA MN BK
Electric Guitars “Makes you realise just how good budget guitars have become”: Harley Benton ST-62LA review
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II HH RW HT in Purple Metallic finish with gold hardware. Shot on white surface.
Electric Guitars “This is a difficult guitar to put a review score on”: Harley Benton Fusion-T II HH RW HT PM review
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore takes a solo on his Fender Stratocaster
Guitarists The guitar genius of Ritchie Blackmore in 5 classic tracks
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore performs with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
Guitarists Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform onstage with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
 
 
Latest in News
Jam Pedals Tiny Amp Destroyer
Artists Stu Mackenzie and Jam Pedals team up to bring you the secret behind his KGWL guitar tone
 
 
lucid
Tech Minimal Audio's Lucid is a granular powerhouse that could be a rival to time-tested tools like Output's Portal
 
 
The Killers. (Photo by Frank Mullen/WireImage)
Artists Brandon Flowers says that every major label passed on Mr Brightside
 
 
Drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2023 Stagecoach Festival
Drummers Frank Beard, ZZ Top drummer, dies aged 77
 
 
AI Font 3D in digital cyber space
Tech Nearly 40% of music released last month used AI
 
 
Rush andf Angine de Poitrine composite image
Bands "They're fantastic!": Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson give thumbs up to Angine De Poitrine
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...