Thal got the name "Bumblefoot" from the bacterial infection, which he learned about while helping his wife review for her veterinary exams. Vigier Guitars later made Thal "The Vigier Bumblefoot Guitar" [1], a custom guitar shaped like a foot, painted like a bumblebee, and with decorative wings that extend from the body when activated by the tremolo bar. This was presented to Thal in January 1998 at the NAMM convention in Los Angeles. His song "Firebrand" is the opening theme song for MXC, the American adapation of Takeshi's Castle.