Gilby Clarke

Last updated

Gilby Clarke
Gilby Clarke 2 2012.jpg
Clarke in 2012
Background information
Born (1962-08-17) August 17, 1962 (age 61)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1984–present
Formerly of
Website gilbyclarke.com

Gilbert J.Clarke (born August 17, 1962) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He had a three-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour, and also featured on "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). Following this, Clarke went on to forge a solo career as well playing guitar with Slash's Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine (of The Go-Go's), MC5 and forming his own group Rock Star Supernova with members of Metallica and Mötley Crüe.

Contents

Clarke's production work includes albums by L.A. Guns, Bullets and Octane, The Bronx and Vains of Jenna.

Career

1985–1991: Early career

Gilby Clarke started his musical career during the first half of the Eighties, replacing Candy's original guitarist, Geoff Siegel, who later played with the Nymphs. Gilby eventually replaced the band's lead vocalist and penned several unreleased fan favorites including, "Dance America". He left them to form Kill for Thrills, a metal band which released the EP Commercial Suicide and the LP Dynamite from Nightmareland before eventually disbanding. Kill for Thrills was a supergroup of sorts with Jason Nesmith (son of former Monkees Mike Nesmith) on Guitar, and Todd Muscat formerly of seminal L.A. Punk band Decry, on Bass and then later with Junkyard after Kill for Thrills. Muscat is also the brother of Brent Muscat (Faster Pussycat, L.A. Guns, Sin City Sinners). All members have deep roots in the Los Angeles rock scene.

1991–1994: Guns N' Roses

Following rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's decision to abruptly quit the band, [1] during Use Your Illusion Tour in 1991, citing a combination of Axl Rose's personal behavior (he would consistently delay the start of shows by hours at a time) and his mismanagement of the band [1] and difficulties being around Slash, Sorum, and McKagan due to his new-found sobriety and their continuing alcohol and substance addictions, [2] Clarke was chosen as his replacement, playing out the rest of gigs of the tour which lasted until 1993. His first show with the band was December 5, 1991 in Worcester, MA, USA.

During many shows throughout the tour, Rose introduced Clarke and had him play "Wild Horses", a Rolling Stones cover with Slash.

On November 23, 1993, Guns N' Roses released a collection of punk and glam rock covers entitled "The Spaghetti Incident?" where many of the tracks were recorded with original Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin during the Use Your Illusion I and II sessions and then were later re-recorded by Clarke. [3]

Clarke's contract was not renewed and he was gone from the band by 1995. [4] Slash stated in his book that Rose fired Clarke without consulting anyone, claiming he was only a "hired hand". [5] Clarke was not involved in the recording of "Sympathy for the Devil", stating "I knew that that was the ending [of Clarke's involvement in Guns N' Roses] because nobody told me about it. Officially I was in the band at that time, and they did that song without me". [6] Clarke also mentioned that before the final show of the Use Your Illusion Tour, Rose came up to him and told him "Hey, enjoy your last show". [6] Clarke later sued the band over the use of his likeness in Guns N' Roses Pinball. [7]

Clarke's only other appearances on a Guns N' Roses release would be on the live and compilation albums Live Era '87–'93 and Greatest Hits .

Clarke is featured on Guns N' Roses video releases Use Your Illusion I, Use Your Illusion II and Welcome to the Videos .

1994–1996: Pawnshop Guitars & Slash's Snakepit

In 1994, he released his debut solo album Pawnshop Guitars on Virgin Records which featured contributions from several of his close friends. Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) on guitar, Will Effertz on Bass and Marc Danzeisen (Riverdogs, Little Caesar) Drums and backing vocals, also including all the then members of Guns N' Roses. It went gold in Argentina.

Following the end of the Use Your Illusion Tour in 1993, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash began recording demos of material that he had written during the tour, at his home studio with bandmate Matt Sorum. Clarke and Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez soon started to come around to jam with them. They eventually recorded twelve demo songs. [8] Eric Dover, live guitarist for Jellyfish, successfully auditioned to become the group's singer. Slash and Dover wrote the lyrics for all the tracks, except "Monkey Chow" which was contributed by Clarke and "Jizz da Pit" which is an instrumental written by both Slash and Inez. The album was released by Geffen Records in February 1995 [9] charting at No. 70 on the Billboard 200. [10] For the tour in support of the album, James LoMenzo and Brian Tichy, both members of Zakk Wylde's solo band, joined the band to replace Inez and Sorum who could not tour with the group due to other commitments. [8] With Guns N' Roses regrouping to record a new album, Snakepit disbanded with Clarke resuming his solo career.

1997-2006: Solo career and new projects

Since then he has released another three solo albums, The Hangover , Rubber and 2002's Swag as well as the live album 99 Live .

He formed the band Col. Parker with ex-Stray Cat Slim Jim Phantom and former touring additional GN'R keyboardist Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis, releasing the album Rock N Roll Music in 2001.

In addition, he made a guest appearance on the L.A. Guns album Shrinking Violet , which he also produced. Clarke also produced The Bronx's self-titled album released in 2003 and Girlsplayboys debut album From Ritual to Romance in 2006, and L.A. Guns' 2001 album Man in the Moon .

In 2002, Clarke worked with Nancy Sinatra on her album California Girl and a year later joined Heart on their national tour.

Clarke (far right) along with the reformed MC5 in 2005. MC5 @ The Casbah.jpg
Clarke (far right) along with the reformed MC5 in 2005.

In 2005, he played along with the reformed MC5, joining original members Wayne Kramer, Dennis Thompson, and Michael Davis, along with new vocalist Handsome Dick Manitoba.

2006–2012: Rock Star Supernova and reunion with GNR on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Clarke (right) with Steven Adler in July 2012 StevenAdlerGilbyClarke.jpg
Clarke (right) with Steven Adler in July 2012

In 2006, Mötley Crüe drummer, Tommy Lee, formed Supernova with Clarke on guitars and former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted. The band used the TV show Rock Star to find a new lead singer. Lukas Rossi was chosen as their lead singer. However, there was already a band from California called Supernova. On June 26, 2006, the California band filed a federal lawsuit and on September 12, 2006, U.S. District Judge John A. Houston in San Diego ruled in favor of the original Supernova, granting their request for a preliminary injunction. The injunction stopped the band from Rock Star: Supernova from "performing rock and roll music, or recording, or selling rock and roll music recordings under the same name, pending a trial of this action on its merits, or until otherwise ordered by the court." The band renamed itself Rock Star Supernova.

Clarke produced a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" on Rock Star: Supernova runner-up Dilana Robichaux's 2007 album, also released as a single on digital download websites.

In 2007 he released a best of album featuring tracks from all of his solo albums as well as two songs from the Col. Parker project and a rerecording of the song "Black", featuring vocals by Dilana.

In July 2008 Clarke played at the G-TARanaki Guitar Festival in New Zealand. His solo band included bassist Muddy Stardust and drummer Dennis Morehouse. He then toured North America as part of the Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp.

Clarke reunited with Guns N' Roses members Slash, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan, during the live performance, at the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on April 14, 2012. Clarke himself was not inducted as part of the band.

2021-present: "The Gospel Truth" and touring

In 2021 Clarke released his most successful album to date, The Gospel Truth on Golden Robot Records. It featured a host of well known musicians including Nikki Sixx.

Discography

Albums and EPs

With Candy

  • Whatever Happened To Fun (1985)
  • Teenage Neon Jungle (2003)

With Kill for Thrills

  • Commercial Suicide (1989)
  • Dynamite From Nightmareland (1990)

With The Loveless

  • guest lead guitar on "Wish I Could Fly" (1994) track on album "A Tale of Gin and Salvation".

With Guns N' Roses

Solo

With Slash's Snakepit

With Col. Parker

  • Rock N Roll Music (2001)

With Nancy Sinatra

  • California Girl (2002)

With Rock Star Supernova

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slash (musician)</span> British-American guitarist

Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician who serves as the lead guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Slash has received critical acclaim and is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slash's Snakepit</span> American rock supergroup

Slash's Snakepit was an American rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash in 1994. Though often described as a solo or side project, Slash stated that Snakepit was a band with equal contributions by all members. The first lineup of the band consisted of Slash, two of his Guns N' Roses bandmates—drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Gilby Clarke—as well as Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez and former Jellyfish guitarist Eric Dover on lead vocals.

<i>Use Your Illusion I</i> 1991 studio album by Guns N Roses

Use Your Illusion I is the third studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, released on September 17, 1991, the same day as its counterpart Use Your Illusion II. Both albums were released in conjunction with the Use Your Illusion Tour. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, selling 685,000 copies in its first week, behind Use Your Illusion II's first-week sales of 770,000. Use Your Illusion I has sold 5,502,000 units in the United States as of 2010, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Each of the Use Your Illusion albums have been certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1992. This is their first album to feature drummer Matt Sorum, who replaced Steven Adler following Adler's departure in 1990, as well as keyboardist Dizzy Reed. This is their first album to be recorded as a six-piece band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izzy Stradlin</span> American guitarist

Jeffrey Dean Isbell, best known as Izzy Stradlin, is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and backing vocalist of the hard rock and heavy metal band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of their fame in 1991, and with whom he recorded four studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Revolver</span> American hard rock supergroup

Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland formerly of Stone Temple Pilots. The band formed in 2002 and was active until 2008, when Weiland left the band abruptly to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Sorum</span> American drummer

Matthew William Sorum is an American drummer. He is best known as both a former member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he recorded three studio albums, and as a member of the supergroup Velvet Revolver. Sorum is currently on tour with Billy Gibbons, with whom he also records, is a member of the touring project Kings of Chaos, and is a former member of both The Cult and Y Kant Tori Read. Sorum was also a member of Guns N' Roses side projects, Slash's Snakepit and Neurotic Outsiders, and has released two solo albums, Hollywood Zen (2004) and Stratosphere (2014). He was the touring drummer for the supergroup Hollywood Vampires from 2015 to 2017. His latest project is Deadland Ritual, featuring Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, and Apocalyptica vocalist Franky Perez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duff McKagan</span> American musician (born 1964)

Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician. He played bass in the hard rock band Guns N' Roses for twelve years, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McKagan rejoined the band in 2016, following their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use Your Illusion Tour</span> 1991–93 concert tour by Guns N Roses

The Use Your Illusion Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Guns N' Roses which ran from January 20, 1991, to July 17, 1993. It was not only the band's longest tour, but one of the longest concert tours in rock history, consisting of 194 shows in 27 countries. It was also a source of much infamy for the band, due to riots, late starts, cancellations and outspoken rantings by Axl Rose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Adler</span> American drummer

Steven Adler is an American musician. He is the former drummer and co-songwriter of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Rose</span> American glam metal band

Hollywood Rose was an American glam metal group formed in June 1983. They are best known as the precursor for what would eventually become Guns N' Roses. The group was founded by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber, while they were aided during live shows by Rick Marrs, Andre Troxx, Daniel "DJ" Nicolson, Johnny Kreis and Steve Darrow. Rose, Stradlin and Weber, along with Kreis and Nicolson, recorded a five-song demo on January 1984. However, after a number of lineup changes, which includes Weber, Kreis and Nicolson being replaced by Slash and Steven Adler as well the departure of Stradlin, the group disbanded the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracii Guns</span> American guitarist

Tracy Irving Richard Ulrich, known professionally as Tracii Guns, is an American guitarist best known as the co-founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns, as well as the supergroups named Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also a founding member of Guns N' Roses, but left shortly afterwards and was replaced by guitarist Slash.

<i>Live Era 87–93</i> 1999 live album by Guns N Roses

Live Era '87–'93 is a double live album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on November 23, 1999. The record was the first official Guns N' Roses release since "The Spaghetti Incident?" released on the same day in 1993. Guitarist Slash notes that the album is "not pretty and there are a lot of mistakes, but this is Guns N' Roses, not the fucking Mahavishnu Orchestra. It's as honest as it gets."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Cry</span> 1991 single by Guns N Roses

"Don't Cry" is a song by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, two versions of which were released simultaneously on different albums. The version with the original lyrics is the fourth track on Use Your Illusion I, while the version with the alternate lyrics is the 13th track on Use Your Illusion II. Only the vocal tracks differ, and even then only in the verses; however, in those verses, not only are the words entirely different, but the meter and melody are also slightly different. There is also a third version, officially released only on the single for the song, which was recorded during Appetite for Destruction sessions in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guns N' Roses</span> American hard rock band

Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in March 1985 when local bands Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns merged. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band's "classic lineup" consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. The current lineup consists of Rose, Slash, McKagan, guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese.

Road Crew was an American garage band from Los Angeles, formed in late 1983. The band consisted of future Guns N' Roses members Slash, Steven Adler and Duff McKagan. They auditioned a number of singers while writing material. However they disbanded the same year with no releases.

"Coma" is a song by the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It is the final song on their album Use Your Illusion I. At 10 minutes and 14 seconds, it is the longest track released by the band, and has no choruses.

Teddy 'Zig Zag' Andreadis is an American keyboardist, harmonica player and vocalist, who has worked with many popular musicians, including Carole King, Guns N’ Roses, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Alice Cooper, Bruce Willis, and the Boxing Gandhis. In 1999 he was voted “Outstanding Keyboardist of the Year” by the L.A. Music Awards. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Lisa Goich, an author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretty Tied Up</span> Single by Guns N’ Roses

"Pretty Tied Up" is a song by the rock band Guns N' Roses. Written by rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, it appears on the band's 1991 album Use Your Illusion II. The song opens with the sounds of a coral sitar played by Stradlin.

<i>The Roots of Guns N Roses</i> 2004 compilation album by Hollywood Rose

The Roots of Guns N' Roses is a compilation album containing old songs of Hollywood Rose. It was released on June 22, 2004, by Deadline Music.

References

  1. 1 2 Bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York. p. 344
  2. Bozza, Anthony, and Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York. p. 337
  3. "Guns N' Roses :: Recording Sessions". Heretodaygonetohell.com. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  4. "Four Bust-ups And A Single!". RAW magazine. November 1994. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  5. Slash; Anthony Bozza (October 30, 2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 576. ISBN   978-0-06-135142-6.
  6. 1 2 Giles, Jeff (October 11, 2014). "Gilby Clarke Opens Up About His Final Guns N' Roses Gig". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 25, 2015. My official end was actually at the last show of the last tour," he continued. "Axl was jokingly saying 'bye' to everybody, but he was really saying 'bye' to everybody. He even came up to me and said, 'Hey, enjoy your last show.'
  7. L.A. Weekly staff (May 11, 2015). "Book Excerpt: Duff McKagan Recalls the Bitter Dispute Over the Guns N' Roses Pinball Machine". LAweekly.com. Beth Sestanovich; Voice Media Group. Retrieved May 16, 2015. ... it was a foregone conclusion that Gilby would be in the band ... his picture was included on the big mural on the game ... suddenly (he) wasn't in the band anymore. Gilby sued us for using his likeness on the machine
  8. 1 2 Slash; Anthony Bozza (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  9. "allmusic ((( It's Five O'Clock Somewhere > Review )))". Allmusic . Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  10. "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere – Slash's Snakepit". Billboard . Retrieved February 23, 2010.