Gilby Clarke is best known as a guitarist for Guns n’ Roses during the Use Your Illusion era, but he is a rock n’ roll journeyman. His first taste of success came in the mid-80s with Candy, a glammed-up power pop band. They released one album, the forgotten classic Whatever Happened to Fun. After leaving GNR in 1995, Clarke released several solo albums and toured with Heart on a national tour. In addition to touring with his solo band, he also is a successful record producer. I sat down with Gilby after his set at the M3 Rock Festival to discuss the freedom of being a solo artist, touring with GNR and the possibility of a Candy reunion. His website can be found here: www.gilbyclarke.com
How are things going?
Gilby Clarke: It’s going alright. This was fun. I didn’t think I’d have such a good crowd this early, I’m surprised. When I saw the schedule, I thought I was going to be the soundcheck (laughs).
What have you been up to?
GC: I just finished up a lot of production. I always go back and forth between producing and performing. I just finished working with a band called Motochrist, and have you ever heard of a band called The Alarm?
Yes.
GC: I just finished their new record.
I love that band.
GC: The record is coming out in the fall.
Is it still just Mike Peters?
GC: Yeah, it’s Mike and James Stevenson who played with Generation X and Gene Loves Jezebel.
Do you tour with your own band often?
GC: Not that much this year. This is a slow year because of the economy and everything. I’m a mid-level act, and things are slower with everything going on.
How do you write a song?
GC: Jeez. It’s been so long (laughs). I’m a guitar player, so I start with the riff. I’ll hear something in my head and play with it. A song is when it all comes together: A good riff, a catchy melody and a good lyric.
Is it easier to write with a band?
GC: Yes, for me anyway. Some people are really prolific, but I like working with a band. I like hearing what the drummer and bass player have to say, and I like watching it all come together.
But now you are happy as a solo artist?
GC: Yeah, I like it. It’s a lot of freedom. I can do whatever I want. When I do a headlining set, I do some Stones covers, some Beatles, some Bowie. I throw a lot of different stuff in there and it’s kinda like the perfect gig. It’s a lot of fun. We only had a short amount of time today, but it was still a lot of fun.
There’s still a demand for it.
GC: Exactly. People just like good music.
It’s the stuff you grow up with that resonates.
GC: Yup. Exactly.
Who are your influences?
GC: Wow, I go way back. Nowadays, it’s pretty much anything. I get influenced from watching Fall Out Boy, that’s something different and something new. As for older stuff, I’m influenced by the Stones, the Beatles, George Harrison, Keith Richards, Mick Jones from The Clash. When I see a guitar player, I like to watch them and see what they are doing, and not necessarily steal from them, but get ideas. Sometimes it’s like, “Wow, I never thought of that before.” For me, it’s a work in progress. A guitar player should always keep learning
Are there any current bands you are listening to?*
GC: Besides Fall Out Boy…let me think. You know what I saw recently that I really liked? That new movie Anvil: The Story of Anvil. Have you seen it?
No, but I really want to.
GC: Oh man, you gotta see it. It’s really great.
They are lifers.
GC: Oh yeah man, definitely.
When I first saw them, they reminded me of Quiet Riot. I saw Quiet Riot a few years ago in a half-empty club and they played it like it was Madison Square Garden.
GC: Of course. They are lifers. They aren’t a new band, but I saw Jane’s Addiction with Nine Inch Nails a couple days ago, and the new stuff they are playing is really great. It’s a lot more jammy.
Did they play a long set?
GC: Actually no. They were headlining that night, but they only played for about an hour and 15 minutes.
So Jane’s and NIN are switching the headlining spot?
GC: I don’t know if they are switching off or not, but when I saw them Jane’s headlined. I just thought of another great band I just saw. Street Sweeper, Tom Morello’s new band. They are outrageous. I actually did a show in New York City with Tom and Wayne Kramer from the MC5, and Street Sweeper opened and I was just blown away.
Is it different from Audioslave?
GC: Oh yeah. You can’t even say it’s like Rage, because its definitely on the funkier side of rock.
This is the ten year anniversary of the original ‘80s rock nostalgia tour, which featured Poison, RATT, L.A. Guns and Great White. Ten years later there are festivals like this all over the country, why do you think that is?
GC: Well, there’s an audience for it. I think for a long time, people were trying to figure out what the whole ‘80s rock thing was. Was it just a fad? It was a music scene and a lot of good bands came from it. I think it took people a while to realize that it was a really good time and it’s OK to remember the good times.
Do you think that people got caught up in the look?
GC: Oh yeah, everyone got caught up in it back in the day. I think the scene finally has an identity now. There have been so many styles of music since then, and I think people realize that it’s not just hair and makeup, its music. Besides, there are really only two make-up bands, Mötley Crüe and Poison. That was really it, the rest of them were rock bands.
And Pretty Boy Floyd. They were a makeup band.
GC: (laughs) Exactly.
Some bands have a problem with being labeled an ‘80s artist, do you have a problem with it?
GC: No. I just make a record when I have ten good songs. I kinda do things differently. I’m touring as a solo artist. I was in a band during this period, I wasn’t on my own. It’s kinda strange for me to be involved in something like this.
You are probably best known for being in Guns n’ Roses during their heyday. What was it like?
GC: Oh man, that was as good as it gets. For me, joining GNR was everything I wanted to be at 17. You have your dreams of being successful, and everything was there in GNR. It was the perfect rock band.
You had some pretty scary experiences with that band.
GC: (laughs) Oh yeah. We had riots, we had it all.
Did you ever have a time when you asked yourself “Is this really what I signed up for?”
GC: No, because I knew what I was getting into. Realistically compared to the stuff I read about The Rolling Stones back in the day, this wasn’t a big deal. It’s rock n’ roll. When you sign up for rock n’ roll, you sign up for everything that comes with it. It’s a lot of fun. Of course it can be dangerous sometimes. That’s not fun, but it’s a part of it.
Do you still keep in contact with those guys?
GC: Yeah, some of them. Duff (McKagen) and I hang out quite a bit. He has a new band that I’ve checked out a couple times. I saw them when they were in Velvet Revolver, I went to quite a few shows.
Duff’s a big financial columnist now. Do you see yourself doing something like that?
GC: (laughs) I don’t know about that. Duff went to college.
Have you ever thought about writing a book about your experiences?
GC: I’ve thought about it, but I don’t think I’d do a Guns n’ Roses book. I think I’d just write it from the perspective of a musician, you know? The struggles and successes of a musician.
So is a Candy reunion ever going to happen?
GC: (laughs) We all had dinner together in LA two weeks ago, so you never know.
*This question was asked by Jon D’adamo