Scorpions, Metallica, Megadeth Featured In ‘Flying V’ Documentary

September 11 will see the release of the new DVD, Flying V. Issued as part of the popular ‘Inside Metal’ series, Flying V was directed by Peter Hansen and produced by Hansen and Michael Denner, and features in-depth interviews with countless renowned metal guitarists who have helped make this make/model one of the most instantly identifiable instruments in all of rock. You can check out the doc’s trailer below.

Flying V chronicles the origin of one the most distinctive guitar on earth and its incredible influence on the history of rock and roll and heavy metal. Hear from the rock stars themselves as they describe how, when, and why the Flying V forever changed their careers and altered their entire approach to guitar playing.

Journey inside the minds of the biggest icons of our era as they tell their riveting tales of discovery and passion for their beloved Flying Vs. Included are exclusive interviews with members of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, Scorpions, Accept, Michael Schenker Group and more.

Among the musicians appearing in the documentary are Dave Mustaine, James Hetfield, Kerry King, Michael Schenker, Michael Denner, Hank Shermann, Wolf Hoffmann, K.K. Downing, Mathias Jabs, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Brian Tatler, Andy La Rocque and Michael Amott.

Bob Nalbandian (director of the ‘Inside Metal’ series) declared it as an “awesome doc on the Flying V! Very informative and intimate interviews with some of the greatest guitarists in rock and metal. An absolute must for the guitar enthusiasts!”

James Hetfield used a Flying V on Metallica’s debut album, Kill ‘Em All and the record’s subsequent tour:

“As most kids who love certain bands, you just wanna get the same guitar that guy is playing”, he said in a 2018 Blabbermouth interview.

“I mean, really! I wanted a white Flying V forever — that was it. I mean, c’mon! The Scorpions, Judas Priest…It was a heavy metal guitar. You know, Michael Schenker — white V. It was my dream to have a white V. When I finally got a V, it was kind of weird to play. When you’re standing with it, sometimes it rolls off you. And you’ve seen pictures of The Kinks with a Flying V, and he’s playing through the middle, holding it this way. It’s, like, ‘Wow! That’s weird.’ But actually, when you’re sitting down with it, you’ve got the V down there, it’s super easy. I loved the V shape once I got used to it.”

Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker told JAM Magazine about his trademark Gibson Flying V guitar: “I played a lot of guitars before I was running into the Flying V. I actually started with Framus, a German company, [before] going into Vox guitars. From Vox, I got [my] first Gibson guitar from my father. It’s a Trini Lopez [ES-]175, I think, but this one was, especially when we start playing with the big Marshall amplifiers, very difficult to play because of the feedback floor.

“Then I got, believe it or not, a Fender, which I didn’t like — it’s not my way — but then I saw one picture of Johnny Winter with the Flying V. I said to my brother [Michael], ‘This is my guitar. You think me, for a rhythm guitar player, it’s not too much?’ He said, ‘No.’ I [got] this guitar and started playing it with a fifty-watt Marshall [amplifier]. The sound was fantastic, so from this moment on, I played a Flying V.”

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