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
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  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
Ibanez Axe Design Lab Iceman ICMS721
Guitars Ibanez just weaponised the Iceman for metal and refreshed a bunch of its flagship signature models
 
 
Slash
Artists Slash on his enduring devotion to the Gibson Les Paul
 
 
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 monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Harley Benton JB-62HA
Bass Guitars “Its build quality is miles ahead of any other new instrument at this price”: Harley Benton JB-62HA review
 
 
Ibanez Axe Design Lab Iceman ICMS721
Guitars Ibanez just weaponised the Iceman for metal and refreshed a bunch of its flagship signature models
 
 
Tone3000 plugin offers NAM A2 support on your desktop and can be used as a standalone app or in your DAW.
Guitars Tone3000 launches a free open-source plugin for accessing its mammoth library of NAM A2 captures
 
 
Miley Cyrus
Artists As she rocks out with a black Fender Strat, here’s what Miley has said about playing guitar
 
 
George Michael plays his Gretsch Synchromatic 160 onstage during his debut solo tour in 1988.
Artists George Michael’s ‘Faith’ guitar heads to auction and you won’t find a 1940s Gretsch with more ‘80s mojo
 
 
Steve Vai and Joe Satriani pictured with their signature Ibanez guitars
Artists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai officially announce release of their first-ever studio album together
 
 
Latest in News
The Who featuring Zak Starkey
Drummers “We did a rehearsal recently, and Zak was the drummer”: Could Starkey rejoin The Who?
 
 
Prince during Prince "Musicology" Tour Hits United States - "Schools In" at El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage)
Artists "Not everyone will agree": Prince estate clarifies that a newly-released song does feature overdubs
 
 
Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon as Tom and Jerry pose for a portrait circa 1957
Singers & Songwriters “We were very young, learning to produce”: Art Garfunkel remembers how he and Paul Simon started their recording career
 
 
george harrison
Recording "He said, ‘Oh, no – I can’t do that. Nobody’s ever played on a Beatles’ record": The theory behind While My Guitar Gently Weeps
 
 
casio
Samples This free Casio SK-1 sample pack will remind you why everybody loves this miniature lo-fi legend
 
 
Stella Lefty performs at the Whiskey Jam Country CAA Takeover at Skydeck on Broadway on June 03, 2026
Singers & Songwriters Stella Lefty faces more accusations of plagiarism in a Long Way Home album track
 
 

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...