Gilby Clarke: Beginnings
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 17, 1962, Gilby Clarke developed
a knack for playing musical instruments and excelling at guitar. Eventually,
Gilby Clarke moved over 2,000 miles to Los Angeles in the early 1980s.
Gilby Clarke assimilated into in the L.A. music scene and began playing
in several bands. Gilby Clarke released one album with the group Candy
called Whatever Happened to Fun. Next, Gilby Clarke released Dynamite
from Nightmareland with the group Kill for Thrills.
Gilby Clarke: Use Your Illusion
In 1991, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin quit the band in the midst of GNR’s world tour for Use Your Illusion. Clarke was called in to audition and replaced Stradlin for the remaining duration of the Use Your Illusion World Tour. Gilby also appeared in five Guns N’ Roses music videos, debuting in “November Rain.” Clarke also played on three Guns N’ Roses’ releases: the all-covers Spaghetti Incident, Live Era, and the Greatest Hits disc. Gilby Clarke’s stint with Guns N’ Roses lasted until 1995.
Gilby Clarke: Going Solo
In 1994, Gilby Clarke released his first solo album Pawnshop Guitars
to moderate success. The album featured special guest appearances by
Pixies’ vocalist Frank Black and GNR bandmates vocalist Axl Rose,
guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum. The lead
single “Cure Me... Or Kill Me” peaked at No. 15 on Billboard’s
Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The second single "Tijuana Jail"
peaked at No. 28. In 1995, Gilby Clarke made a guest appearance on the
Slash’s Snakepit album It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
and briefly joined Slash’s touring band.
Gilby Clarke: The Hangover
In 1997, Gilby Clarke returned with his second solo album The Hangover.
The album featured covers of the Beatles classic “Happiness is
a Warm Gun” and David Bowie’s “Hang on to Yourself.”
The Hangover was described by Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine
as “an endearing collection of hard rock indebted to glam, sleazy
boogie and blues-rock.” The following year Gilby Clark released
Rubber, which featured a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes
Benz.”
Gilby Clarke: Vagabond
In 1999, Gilby Clarke released his first live album 99 Live. Recorded
in Hollywood, 99 Live featured Tracii Guns of the band L.A. Guns on
guitar. The album contained live versions of songs from his previous
albums. Returning the favor, Gilby Clarke appeared on and produced L.A.
Gun’s 1999 album Shrinking Violet. In 2001, Gilby Clarke released
Rock N Roll Music under the moniker Col. Parker with former Stray Cats
drummer Slim Jim Phantom. Gilby Clarke also assisted Nancy Sinatra on
her 2002 album California Girl, while releasing his own solo album Swag
that same year. In 2003, Gilby Clark joined the band Heart on its nationwide
tour.
Gilby Clarke: Supernova
Gilby Clarke joined Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and Motley Crue
drummer Tommy Lee for the CBS reality television show Rock Star: Supernova
in 2006. The purpose of the show was to find the trio’s new lead
singer out of a group of hopefuls. Emerging from the pack to win the
show was Canadian vocalist Lukas Rossi. Within the same year, Rock Star
Supernova released its self-titled album, which sold over 150,000 albums.
Gilby Clarke helped produce a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring
of Fire” by fellow Rock Star: Supernova runnerup Dilana Robichaux
in 2007.
Gilby Clark: Current News
In 2007, Gilby Clarke released a self-titled greatest hits compilation
featuring Rock Star Supernova runnerup Dilana on the song “Black.”
The greatest hits collection features songs from his release with Col.
Parker as well as with Slash’s Snakepit. In 2008, Gilby Clarke
will perform at various festivals including Rock the Bayou Festival
in Houston, Texas, held over Labor Day weekend 2008.
