MORTENSEN: 'BUCKETHEAD Is One Of The Most Gifted Individuals I've Met'

"Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen recently spoke to IGN.com about his collaboration with "the outlandishly bizarre" GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Buckethead.

Mortensen and Buckethead have collaborated on several recordings that Mortensen released through his publishing company, Perceval Press. The duo recently released "Pandemoniumfromamerica", which also features turns from Mortensen's "Lord of the Rings" co-stars Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan.

"[Buckethead is] very pure, as a person and as a musician, at least in my experiences with him. I know that's the reason I like working with him," explained Mortensen.

"The reason I think he has a good time when we're in the studio coming up with stuff is because I don't try to make him fit into repeating anything he's done and I don't try to make him fit a certain mold," Mortensen continued in regards to how the two of them interact in the studio. "From piece to piece that we work on, I don't have a set way that I do it, so I allow him to do whatever he wants to a degree, too. I mean we would never put anything out or call it a 'final mix' of any kind if he wasn't completely happy with it. But he also feels safe to experiment and do whatever, you know, mess up. Though I don't think he ever messes up, he's so amazing. It just makes him have more fun when he doesn't feel like I'm trying to steer him [in a certain direction]. I mean [when working with me] he doesn't have to fit into a style of a band, he can just be himself and be appreciated for being himself. And I like working with him, too. He just inspires me and I feel like I can try different things, too or even suggest stuff. Another guitar player might be kind of touchy if a person who is not really a musician in the way they are says 'Well, I know it sounds weird, but what do you think about trying the thing in this style or playing a lot slower or faster in this one section? I don't know, it's just a thought.' Or even the terminology, I might not use the proper term, but he'll know exactly what I mean and it's like no big deal. I mean there's a good back and forth [between us] and it's a safe place to experiment. And what comes out of that is some interesting stuff. I think people have enjoyed it to some degree. I mean we do. We're working up something now that's gonna be one long piece in several movements. He's great. I'm so glad that in my life that I've gotten to know him a little and work with him. He's one of the most original, genuine, most sincere, and most gifted individuals I've met in my life. He's incredible." Read more here.