SPECIAL TO CALIFORNIA ROCKER
Guitar icon Gilby Clarke has signed with indie label Golden Robot Records through which he will release his first solo album in more than 15 years, called The Gospel Truth.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign such an incredible artist like Gilby Clarke to our GRR international roster,” said Mark Alexander-Erber, Golden Robot Entertainment Group founder and president. “He is totally authentic through and through. He brings such a wealth of experience to his songwriting, playing and producing and I know the world is ready for his new solo album which is a long time coming.”
Gilby Clarke talks about new album ‘The Gospel Truth’ at NAMM:
Gilby Came to Hollywood as a ’17-Year-Old Punk’
Best known for his tenure in the mighty Guns N Roses, Gilby has a long and storied career of which, GNR is only a part. Arriving in Hollywood as a 17 year old punk from Cleveland, Gilby soon found himself as a ghost writer and session player for former Runaway’s manager, Kim Fowley who then urged him to join the band, Candy. Gilby proved a little too rough and ready for the polished power-poppers and found himself a home both with hard-rockers Kill For Thrills and as a songwriter for Virgin Records.
Then a late night call from Slash changed everything… Gilby joined Guns N Roses in late 1991, replacing the recently departed Izzy Stradlin. For the next 3 years, Gilby strapped in for the wildest ride of his life, playing stadiums the world over and appearing on Guns N Roses, Spaghetti Incident, Live Era ’88-’91 and The Greatest Hits albums.
After GNR’s mid 90s implosion, Gilby, armed only with his Les Paul, went back to Virgin and launched his solo career. Receiving critical acclaim for his albums Pawnshop Guitars, The Hangover, Rubber, 99 Live and Swag, he began the new millennium touring with the likes of Nancy Sinatra, Heart, The MC5 and with his old band mate in Slash’s Snakepit.
In 2006, Gilby joined forces with Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted to form Rock Star Supernova. The band hosted the TV show of the same name in search of a singer and toured the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in early 2007.
In 2012 Gilby reunited with his former GNR bandmates and performed with them as they were inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. That same year Gilby joined Kings of Chaos with ex GNR members Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan and an all-star rotating roster of icons that featured Steven Tyler, Joe Elliot, Nikki Sixx, Glen Hughes and many more.
Now in 2019, Gilby is preparing to unleash his first new solo music in nearly two decades! An old school mash-up of Keef, Johnny Thunders, and B.B. King, Gilby’s new album is full of fist-pumping rock ’n’ roll songs with fat choruses, bluesy licks and trademark solos. The album features drumming from legendary John Mellencamp and Chickenfoot sticksman Kenny Aronoff and Stephen Perkins from Jane’s Addiction, Porno For Pyro and Infectious Grooves. The Gospel Truth will be released in the first half of 2019.
Gilby joins fellow GNR band mate, Dizzy Reed who was one of the first international signings to Golden Robot Records and released his solo album, Rock N Roll Ain’t Easy to critical praise in early 2018.
Check out Gilby Clarke from Canberra here: