Nick EVIL TWIN Cataneseby Eric McKenna Black Label Society guitarist. Zakk Wylde’s ‘Evil Twin’. Guitarist extraordinaire. Endorsements galore including a Signature Washburn guitar. The driving force behind his band, Speed X. And on. And on. Nick Catanese. Nick is all of the above and much more. To me – including all the above – he is my friend. As it’ well documented, Nick’s rise to hard rock prominence came with an email to Zakk Wylde in 1995. But before all that, he was Pittsburgh’s premiere performing guitarist – in Pittsburgh’s premiere late 80’s metal band – High Voltage. His work ethic and extreme dedication to the instrument became legend around here. I met Nick back in the High Voltage days – at some smokey bar From that point in 1991, I ran into Nick a few times but it was not until I started BSG that I had a significant conversation with him in 2001 about guitars and the like. Then, in late 2003, when BSG fostered our And work together we did. The first runs of Red and Black USA Custom ‘ET’ Idols. The first 60 regular import ‘ET’ idol guitars ever. A run of 50 blue quilt import ‘ET’ When I first encountered the Washburn Idol in 2000, the WI68 USA custom shop guitar, I was really impressed. I kept saying to myself if Washburn would only make the guitar thicker it would really be a rival to the Gibson Les Paul. Well, once Nick was aboard with Washburn – the USA ‘ET’ Idol was born. Not only with a thicker body – but with the most impressive, pronounced maple carved top I had EVER seen on any guitar. What a work of art! Not only did Washburn now have a guitar to rival the Les Paul – but they created a truly ‘unique’ single-cut guitar that was easier to play, better balanced and with a look so distinctive there was not mistaking it for an LP. It’s been Nick who has driven home the promotion for the Washburn The Nick Catanese Signature Series guitars came to an end in early 2009 as Washburn and Nick parted ways. However – it was a tremendous run and I’m proud to have been a part of the creation and marketing of the some of the finest singlecut guitars to EVER hit the guitar market – bar none. Nick is branching out with side projects as well as writing and composing music for various interests. All the while playing still with Zakk Wylde in Black Label Society and with Speed X. Whichever direction Nick ventures in his career, the BSG family and the McKenna family wishes him all the best.
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Leetsdale, PA – seems to be ‘91 or so. I had been called to the bar by a buddy who bartended. He said it was finally time for me to check “High Voltage”. So I came straight from work – wearing my suit. By the end of the night – I was up singing ‘Cold Gin’ with Nick and the band.
relationship with Washburn, by sheer coincidence, Nick was signed as a Signature Artist by Washburn – with his own Signature Idol guitar. And working with Nick just became the natural thing to do!
idols. A run of 50 green quilt ‘ET’ idols. A run of black ‘Sime Rebel’ USA Custom ‘ET’ idols. A run of ‘No Logo’ USA Custom ‘ET’ idols. A run of ‘Indigo’ USA Custom ‘ET’ idols. And many, many ‘one offs’. And projects just continue.
Idol and it’s been Boogie Street Guitars who has done most of Washburn’s marketing for the Idol series since 2004. And it’s been my pleasure. The guitar is THAT good!
