In an unconventional and bizarre tribute to his late uncle, Tampa-based YouTuber and musician Prince Midnight created a fully functional electric guitar made from the skeletal remains of his uncle, Filip. ‘
This extraordinary creation, which he has named the “Skelecaster,” has captured the attention of people around the world, sparking both fascination and shock. In a world where musicians often pay tribute to loved ones through song, Midnight has taken it a step further, incorporating his uncle’s very remains into the music.
YouTuber Makes Guitar with Uncle’s Skeleton
The inspiration behind the Skelecaster started with a painful and unusual family dilemma. Prince Midnight, whose real name is not publicly disclosed, wanted to honor his late Uncle Filip, a man who introduced him to the world of rock music and left a lasting influence on his musical journey.
Filip, a passionate metalhead and guitar player, tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident in Greece in 1996. His remains were donated to a local medical college for educational purposes, where students studied his body for over two decades.
However, when Greece banned the use of actual human skeletons in medical research, Filip’s remains were returned to the family. In accordance with Orthodox religious customs in Greece, cremation is prohibited, leaving the family with no option but to pay a significant amount of money to store Filip’s remains in a cemetery.
This financial burden led Midnight to search for a creative and meaningful way to honor his uncle without further accumulating costs.
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It was in this context that the idea for the Skelecaster was born. Instead of simply keeping his uncle’s remains in storage, Midnight decided to transform them into something truly special.
As a musician deeply rooted in the world of rock and metal, what better way to honor his uncle—who had introduced him to these very genres—than by turning his uncle’s bones into a guitar? The Skelecaster would serve as both a tribute and a functional instrument, allowing Filip’s legacy to live on through music.
Crafting the Skelecaster: A Musical Masterpiece with a Dark Twist
The transformation of Filip’s skeletal remains into an electric guitar was a process that involved meticulous craftsmanship and creativity. Prince Midnight used the spinal column and ribs of his uncle’s skeleton as the guitar’s body, carefully attaching guitar components such as the pickups, neck, volume knobs, and electric board to complete the instrument.
The bones were preserved and repurposed in a way that respected their integrity, turning them into a functional and artistic piece of music technology.
While the Skelecaster might not be perfect—struggling with certain chords and offering a unique tonal quality—it is a working guitar, a testament to Midnight’s innovation and the deep connection he felt to his uncle. This was not just a macabre curiosity but a meaningful tribute to a man who had shaped Midnight’s musical identity.
The guitar’s uniqueness lies not only in its physical form but in the emotional bond it carries. As Midnight explained, “I believe part of my uncle Filip is still there, literally and figuratively.
Just a warm presence, maybe enjoying his next life as a totally metal guitar.” This belief that his uncle’s essence lives on in the instrument underscores the profound sentiment behind the project.
The Skelecaster serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting the living with the deceased through music. For Midnight, the guitar is not just a tool for making music but a powerful symbol of his uncle’s life, influence, and memory. It’s an expression of gratitude, creativity, and a tribute that goes beyond the conventional.
The Skelecaster is both eerie and extraordinary, turning what could have been a sad and financially burdensome situation into something that celebrates life, death, and the enduring bond of family.
Paying Tribute Through Music: The Song and Its Impact
Once the Skelecaster was completed, Prince Midnight wasted no time in showcasing it to the world. He released a YouTube video where he performed a song using the newly crafted guitar, a heartfelt tribute to his late uncle.
This musician built a working guitar with his late uncle’s skeleton 💀🎸 pic.twitter.com/sN17cCgrdy
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) March 10, 2021
The video not only highlights the unique creation of the Skelecaster but also features Midnight playing his uncle’s favorite style of music—metal. Through the video, viewers witness not only the hauntingly beautiful sounds the guitar produces but also the raw emotion that goes into every note played.
The song Midnight created for his uncle is a fitting tribute to the man who had introduced him to rock music and influenced his career. The Skelecaster itself, with its combination of death and music, brings a sense of immortality to Filip’s presence in the world of rock.
As Midnight himself stated, his uncle “continues to shred in death.” The guitar is not merely an instrument; it is a channel for his uncle’s spirit to keep rocking in the afterlife.
The impact of the Skelecaster is multifaceted. On one level, it is a conversation starter, sparking discussions about life, death, and the strange but beautiful ways people choose to honor their loved ones. On another level, it serves as a poignant reminder of the deep emotional connections that music can create.
For many fans of Prince Midnight, the Skelecaster adds an element of mystery and intrigue to his already unique YouTube persona. It’s a perfect blend of the macabre and the musical, showcasing how personal loss can be transformed into a tribute of creativity and passion.
Through the Skelecaster, Midnight also highlights the importance of remembering loved ones in ways that feel true to their personalities.
Filip’s love of metal music and his influence on Midnight’s own musical journey was the perfect foundation for this tribute. It serves as a testament to how music—whether played on a traditional guitar or a skeletal one—can be a powerful tool for remembrance and healing.
The Reception and Legacy of the Skelecaster
Since the release of the Skelecaster video, Prince Midnight has gained widespread attention for his bizarre but heartfelt tribute to his uncle. The internet has been divided over the creation—some finding it disturbingly fascinating, while others applaud its creativity and emotional depth.
Regardless of public opinion, the Skelecaster has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the world, showcasing the lengths to which people will go to honor their loved ones.
The legacy of the Skelecaster is more than just a viral YouTube moment. It serves as a reflection of the power of art, family, and the deep connections that bind them.
It reminds us that death is not the end, and that the spirit of those who have passed on can continue to influence and inspire through creativity. For Midnight, the Skelecaster is more than just an instrument; it’s a celebration of his uncle’s life, his own journey as a musician, and the bond that transcends death.
In a world full of conventional tributes, Prince Midnight’s creation stands as a reminder that art can be as strange, creative, and personal as the individuals who make it. The Skelecaster may be odd to some, but to Midnight, it is a meaningful way to keep his uncle’s memory alive and ensure that Filip’s rock spirit never fades.
Prince Midnight’s creation of the Skelecaster, a guitar made from his uncle’s skeleton, is a bizarre and unforgettable tribute that blends rock music, family love, and the eerie reality of death.
The guitar serves as both an homage to Uncle Filip, a dedicated metalhead, and a functional instrument that continues to shred in the afterlife. Through this unique creation, Midnight proves that death does not have to separate us from our loved ones but can instead inspire creativity, passion, and remembrance.
By repurposing his uncle’s remains into a musical instrument, Prince Midnight has created something truly extraordinary—an eerie, yet deeply meaningful tribute that continues to capture the imagination of viewers around the world.