Guitarist Honors Dad’s Memory with Unique Ashes Tribute

Quick Smiles:

• A musician finds a unique way to keep his father’s memory alive during performances.
• Mark Wood transforms his guitar into a cherished keepsake with his dad’s ashes.
• The touching tribute brings a sense of closure and connection for Mark.

In a tale of creativity and remembrance, Mark Wood, a 37-year-old heavy metal guitarist, has found a special way to honor his late father, Keith.

He has incorporated his father’s ashes into the fretboard of his beloved Fender Telecaster guitar.

Mark’s father, Keith, who passed away at 68 from a heart attack on Christmas Day, 2022, was not only a retired school teacher but also Mark’s first guitar teacher.

Keith was known for traveling great distances to attend his son’s gigs, where they would often “have a beer and a catch up,” according to Mark.

The idea to use his father’s ashes for the guitar’s inlays was inspired by his sister, who had already created jewelry from them.

Typically, these inlays are made from materials like mother-of-pearl, but Mark wanted something more personal.

To bring his vision to life, Mark turned to his friend Sam Orr, who owns a guitar shop in Cheshire.

Sam mixed the ashes with a special glue to form the inlays, a process that was both thoughtful and respectful.

“At first, I was just wondering how it would work, then the more I thought about it and did a few test runs on a spare guitar neck I had, I realized it wouldn’t be too difficult to complete it,” Sam shared.

The project became a bonding experience for the two friends, as they put on music, shared a few beers, and worked on the transformation.

Mark acknowledges that it took him some time to feel ready to play the guitar again.

However, when he finally did, he felt an overwhelming sense of connection and comfort.

He played “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent, a song his father loved and had taught him during his childhood.

“I wish dad was still here but doing this makes me feel like he’s always going to be here with me and you have always got your memories,” Mark expressed.

“This way he will still be with me at all the shows and this has given me a sense of closure.”

This touching tribute ensures that Keith’s presence will continue to be felt at every performance, a testament to the enduring bond between father and son.

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