We recently connected with Flynn Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Flynn, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

In 1988, there was a concert tour called Monsters of Rock, and I had been building guitars for a year or two by then when my friend said she had tickets. So I decided to make a guitar as a gift to my favorite guitarist of the time, George Lynch of Dokken. I actually got back stage to deliver him the guitar, but also, when I saw the controlled chaos of the what it took to make this scale of an event happen, I knew I wanted to be a part of it, and have been consistently working in Live Sound and Events ever since. Dial forward about 35 years, and moving to Los Angeles to be more active in Live Music production and Events, I decided it was also time for Foo Dog Custom Guitars to become a reality, and I am now focusing on building that brand and business.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always loved guitars. I don’t really understand where it came from. Perhaps Elvis, The Rolling Stones, early Eagles, Bad Company or ZZ Top. But I do remember learning that in one of my favorite bands, the guitarist Eddie Van Halen would build his own guitars. I then wanted to build my own, so at 15 years old, my sister helps me buy a Les Paul copy, and I quickly stripped the guitar to make my own version of a BC Rich Warlock.

But when I saw the hand carved Skeleton guitar played by George Lynch of Dokken in the “It’s Not Love” music video, I truly understood what guitars COULD look like. Literally almost anything, and still sound amazing! I made my own copy of that carved Bones guitar, and have made several versions of it since then.

I get asked why “Foo Dog” for a guitar name? Well, Foo Dogs are usually seen at building entrances, and in Far-Eastern philosophy, are the Guardians of the Temple. I think of Luthiery like a classical knowledge that hasn’t changed for centuries, and Luthiers are the Guardians of that lineage of Making Sound-creating Instruments that are used by other artists to create more Art. Using the same basic principles to make a guitar, but also delving into the new technologies like C&C routing, laser etching, and 3D printing.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I grew up in an era of non-smart phones, and no internet. Artists needed to actually put themselves into live environments, move a little slower, and we also listened a bit more.

While using the latest & greatest tech to get ourselves and our messages out there, don’t forget to listen, and continue to find new favorite songs that punctuate the moments of our lives. Keep making Favorites Playlists.

Most of all, I miss being part of a real music scene. Going out to great venues that weren’t charging so much for a night of drinking with like-minded people, while supporting your friend’s band, etc. I think there needs to be a couple of great venues that act like talent percolators, and a re-invigoration for Artists, while fostering a more community oriented vibe. And they need to get over the Pay to Play business model where the Live Nation-owned cash-cows that are actually choking the Creative Communities I see here in Los Angeles.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During Covid in 2020, I was forced with finding things to do with my time, since we still could operate within our homes, but I hadn’t really had time to focus on making my guitars until then. But it jump-started a re-investment I myself and my unique skill set.

So, within the epic isolation, I was given the time to return to seeing what I could produce in my own small woodshop. But moreover, I was reminded that to be an entrepreneur, you can be any professional career you want, just provide a top-shelve product or service, and act professionally. Even in a small room the size of bedroom.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foodogcustoms.com
• Instagram: #FooDogCustoms
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/FooDogLuthiery

Image Credits

Several photos taken by Harmony Gerber at Photo-Grafitti.com. Others by myself, or un-noted.