Gilby Clarke - A Compilation

Gilby Clarke says "no one understands his hell." Hopefully it's not as agonizing as the one carved out by the always outgunned, and roses, Axel "You Can Call Me Angst" Rose. Rose finds the adulation of millions, millions of dollars and a once killer band to be more than a poor boy playing in a rock 'n' roll band can handle. Where Axel rosed off into the sunset as GNR split, Clarke made several solo albums, played guitar for Heart and Nancy Sinatra, recorded a one off with Duff McKagan and another one with Slash. He also formed the Blues Mafia and The Starfuckers to keep him busy gigging when he wasn't busy gigging. In other words the dude filled out quite a resume. Along the way leaving two recordings by Kill For Thrills and the now collector's item, "Candy" by his first band, The Killers. I know I forgot something so I should mention that he rode his Hog out to Sturgis a couple of years back to gather with all of the other Hoghuggers and play another gig with Heart. I want to hear: "Heart: Live At Sturgis." Clarke also handed in a good cover of the Stones' "Dead Flowers" on the Stones recent covers compilation. That one's a good glimpse of Gilby's and Mick's and all those other guys' "hell no one can understand." He reminds me of two of my guitar playing friends most interesting business cards. One reads: "Hired Gun - Electric, Acoustic, Resonator, Finger Picking, Delta Slide, 12 Strings, Blues, Ballads, Ragtime, Rock 'N' Roll, Instrumentals, recording sessions." He left off the duck walk he still does on occasion. The other lists the many attributes of a now departed singer/songwriter with one of those voices God only hands out to those hiding behind the door. His most striking quality was listed front and center. "Mattress Tester" it read. I don't know if Gilby tests mattresses but he does offer cuts from most of those aforementioned CDs including the solo ones: "Swag," "Rubber," "Hangover" and "99 Live." Clem Burke of Blondie plays drums here and Slash shows up a time or two. Check out "Kill Me Or Cure Me," "Tijuana Jail" (en espanol), "Black," "Punk Rock Pollution" and other uplifting numbers matching the Johnny Depp Death's Heads Clarke favors on his clothing. (Not a line, I hope.) In any case, this "kid" sure can play the guitar. [www.gilbyclarke.com]