Christmas of 1970, my parents got me a racing car set that went under the name "Johnny Lightning." It was a competitor to Mattel's Hot Wheels. We set it up, and then my dad and my uncle Wayne proceeded to play with it all morning, and I got angry because I couldn't get a turn on my own gift. I was five at the time.
I was telling this story to a graphic artist who was doing some work for me in 2001, and it inspired him to create a trademark for me, a little figure holding a lightning bolt in such a way that the bolt can be interpreted either as a powerful idea harnessed or a stylized guitar. It was perfect, and most of the people who know me know that little figure, Johnny L.
Johnny L is laser engraved on the back of the headstock of my custom guitars, and now is also embroidered upon the protective gear I had made for my favorite guitar amp and cabinet.
That graphic artist was married to a friend of mine. He turned out to be a total scumbag and was extradited to his native Canada. But that's another story altogether.
