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
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Guitars

7 guitars we'd like to see in Mad Max

News
By Michael Brown ( Total Guitar ) 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…

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.

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.

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…

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.

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Latest in Guitars
Deals of the week logo
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score $140 off a Yamaha Stage Custom, $200 off a Fender Tele, and hundreds off PA and live gear
 
 
Robben Ford [left] wears a dark suit jacket and v-neck t-shirt as he plays a blonde Telecaster onstage. Photographed in 1975, Joni Mitchell [right] plays her Martin dreadnought live onstage at Wembley Stadium.
Robben Ford reveals the Joni Mitchell tone tricks that helped him nail his guitar sound in the studio
 
 
Gibson Mark Ronson Les Paul Custom
Gibson unveils Murphy Lab replica of Mick Ronson’s Bowie-era 1968 Les Paul Custom
 
 
Harley Benton ST-Modern Carlos Asensio
“An absolute steal when it comes to quality and value for money”: Harley Benton ST-Modern Carlos Asensio CGM review
 
 
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush perform live in 2015.
Geddy Lee on honouring Neil Peart and why he and Alex Lifeson are getting back together as Rush
 
 
Wampler Golden Jubilee: the sparkly-green stompbox has gold anodized dials and two channels of drive to play with, placing classic Plexi and Mesa-style sounds into a compact housing.
Love hotrodded Plexi crunch and Mesa high-gain drive? Wampler’s Golden Jubilee serves up both in one sparkly green stompbox
 
 
Latest in News
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 01: Ravyn Lenae performs onstage during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 01, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joshua Applegate/WireImage)
How a warped sample and some Anderson .Paak magic helped Ravyn Lenae to create Love Me Not, her viral hit
 
 
Close-up of a gorilla mask
“Definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career”: The Cadburys ad gorilla remembers his “dream job”
 
 
Thomann compo poster - a man, woman and child playing music
Thomann are on the look out for customers of theirs whose stories “move people and spark inspiration”
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Laufey performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman on January 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
In an era of loudness, Laufey is flying the flag for "the lost art of dynamics"
 
 
keystep 37 mk2
"Spark ideas in your DAW, pilot any synth or patch modular without breaking your flow": Arturia unveils KeyStep 37 Mk2 with redesigned interface, extended connectivity and generative tools
 
 
Suno text prompt
“The hijacking of the world’s entire treasure-trove of music”: Artists’ pressure group launches Say No To Suno campaign
 
 

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
  • 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...