Fernandes Guitars

Mike Riggs, a.k.a. Riggs, is undoubtably the most iconic Vertigo user in the history of the guitar, since he exclusively played Vertigo guitars since joining Rob Zombie band in 1998. His custom Vertigo collection include his signature Custom XR "scumbag", the "blood-filled" and "pig-skin" Vertigo guitars, among many others.

Riggs' career as a musician started at the age of 19 in 1990 when he started the band Demiltry in Austin, Texas for whom he played the rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals. He went on after this to play for another Austin band called Skrew which included future Nine Inch Nails guitarist Danny Lohner. After playing with Skrew for several years, Riggs joined Prong after the release of their studio album Rude Awakening and toured with them for some time. When Riggs was attending a WWF event, he met Rob Zombie, who said he was working on a new album, and had yet to find a guitarist. After playing guitar for Zombie on "Hellbilly Deluxe" and "The Sinister Urge" he left the band to begin his own project, Scum of the Earth for which he plays guitar and sings lead vocals. After signing to Eclipse Records, the band released their first album entitled "Blah...Blah...Blah...Love Songs for the New Millennium" on October 26, 2004 produced by famed producer Ben Burkhardt at Belt of Orion Recording in Los Angeles, California. Songs were featured in National Lampoon's TV: The Movie, on numerous MTV shows, and a slew of action sports DVDs.

Looking ahead. 2001 was a time of progressive changes for Fernandes product line and specially, for the Vertigo Series. Focusing on a more modern aproach, the Vertigo Standard was discontinued and replaced with a pioneering instrument. Following the great and groundbreaking success of the Nomad Deluxe released the previous year, the product development team installed the same digital effect processor designed by Japanese electronics innovator Zoom corporation, creating the Vertigo FX - the first full-size guitar with built-in effects.

Musician interest kept growing that year, artists that joined the Vertigo user list at this time included Todd Youth of Danzig, Randy Torres of Project 86, Mike Miller of Godhead and Kevin Quinn of American Pearl.

Stay tuned for part 9 coming next week!

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American musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist, writer, visual artist and record producer, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band SONIC YOUTH, Lee Ranaldo is certainly an exceptional Vertigo user. He has a few Fernandes guitars in his collection, including a customized Vertigo Standard, fitted with the Fernandes Sustainer.

Lee started his career in New York in several bands and joining the electric guitar orchestra of Glenn Branca. Among Lee's solo records are Dirty Windows, Amarillo Ramp (For Robert Smithson), pieces for the guitar, and Scriptures of the Golden Eternity. His books include several with art or photography by Leah Singer, including Drift, Bookstore, Road Movies, and Moroccan Journal: Jajouka excerpt (from a full-length book of writings on Moroccan travels and music). Lee has also published Jrnls80s (published by Soft Skull Press), as well as a book of poems, Lengths & Breaths, with photography by Cynthia Connolly. His most recent book of poetry, Against Refusing, was published by Water Row Press in April 2010 with cover artwork by Leah Singer. His visual and sound works have been shown at galleries and museums in Paris, Toronto, New York, London, Sydney, Los Angeles, Vienna, and elsewhere.

Lee has produced albums for artists including Babes in Toyland, You Am I, Magik Markers, Deity Guns, and Dutch art rock-ensemble Kleg. He has edited a volume of tour journals from the 1995 Lollapalooza Tour written by himself, Thurston Moore, Beck, Stephen Malkmus, Courtney Love, and others.

Lee has been ranked in many major publications as a top guitarist of all time, including Rolling Stone and Spin magazines.

Building Foundations. At the beginning of the millennium, the Vertigo Series continued their successful presence and evolution in the expanding guitar market, gaining a new generation of followers. The Vertigo Deluxe was revamped with see-thru burst finishes and flame maple tops, giving it a more modern look that enhanced the body shape and broadening the spectrum of colors and variations of the series.

Many well-known guitarists came seeking a Vertigo guitar around this time, including Riggs of Rob Zombie band, Mike Clark of Suicidal Tendencies, Tommy Victor of Prong, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Davey Johnstone of Elton John Band and Kevin Quinn of American Pearl.

Stay tuned for part 8 coming next week!

Make sure you are registered to receive the Fernandes newsletter and follow us on facebook and twitter to get all the updates:

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