Gilby Clarke

In a new interview with Sheldon Ang, Gilby Clarke was asked what it was like to play with GUNS N' ROSES at the height of the iconic band's success in the early 1990s. The guitarist responded: "I didn't feel great in the sense that it felt like I accomplished something; I didn't. I felt good in the sense of this is what I love to do — to play guitar. I love to play great music, whether it's my or somebody else's music. It just felt good to be doing what I love to do and have people appreciate it.

In a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio, former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke was asked what it was like being part of one of the most exciting times in music, the '80s and early '90s. He responded: "I think what I remember the most was it was fun. It was a fun job, you know? I mean, we all have our jobs, and we don't always go to work with a smile on our face. I went to work every day with a smile on my face. I really feel — I can honestly say I was living the dream. It was such a great time, because anyone you ran into, and they go, 'Oh, what band are you in?' 'GUNS N' ROSES.' 'Oh, I know who they are.' It was easier. It was just kind of a magical time. I mean, everybody kind of liked the same kind of music. Rock was big. It was important, too; that kind of music was important. It employed a lot of people; it made a lot of money for a lot of people. So, it was important. Obviously, landscapes change. Music changes. It would be boring if it stayed the same forever. I'm happy to have those memories. To be honest. I don't need to relive 'em. I remember some of it; not all of it. [Laughs]"

In a new interview with Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com, Gilby Clarke was asked if there is anything he wishes he would have done differently while he was a member of GUNS N' ROSES in the early 1990s. He responded: "Interestingly enough, people always assume that I didn't have a say; I actually did have a say. Slash [guitar] would ask me questions all the time. Axl [Rose, vocals] asked me questions all the time. Understand, they were in a bubble. Their success came so fast and stuff, and I'm the one that stepped from the outside who was still the dirty guy from the Hollywood streets. So they did ask me questions. I helped pick some of the bands that opened [for GUNS N' ROSES], like HELMET. They never heard of HELMET before, and I was, like, 'HELMET's great band. You guys check them out.' But I didn't really have the final decision on anything. They're gonna do what they wanted to do. "

As far as rock gigs go, it doesn't get much bigger than Guns N' Roses in the early-'90s. Gilby Clarke joined GNR in 1992 following the departure of co-founder Izzy Stradlin. At the time, there might have been no higher-pressure job in live music. GNR was at the top of its proverbial game — as beloved as it was controversial; the band's records were going multiple times platinum; it was filling stadiums all over the world; and Clarke had mere days to get up to speed of the music before the first show.

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke was recently interviewed by Markus Brandstetter of Hyperlocrian.com. You can now watch the chat in 13 parts below. Asked what it was like joining GUNS N' ROSES three decades ago, Gilby said: "When I joined GUNS, of course I'd never played a stadium before, but I had played arenas — I had done tours doing arenas and clubs, House Of Blues-sized, all that stuff. When I joined GUNS and people say, 'How did you go from that…?' It happened so fast. From the day I went in to jam with them until when I went on stage was only two weeks. I didn't get the gig until a week in. I had one week to learn 50 songs; I had to learn the whole catalog, 'cause they don't have a setlist. So what I was thinking about was remembering the songs. I wasn't thinking about the rock star stuff. I wasn't thinking about, 'Oh my God. I've gotta stand on stage. Oh my God. This is GUNS N' ROSES,' and all that comes with it. All I was thinking about was remembering 50 songs. Every day, I sat there with a cassette player, with the headphones on, learning Izzy's [Stradlin] parts. I didn't wanna disappoint the guys. They had already done a couple of months of touring. I didn't wanna get on stage and be the one that was hitting bad notes. Because we were pretty loud; you could hear my guitar as well as you could hear Slash's guitar. I didn't wanna be the guy making mistakes. So it was really important to me to learn all those songs. That's all I cared about, was being able to play."

In a new interview with the "Scars And Guitars" podcast, former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke reflected on his appearance in Michael Jackson's music video for the song "Give In To Me". The clip was shot in June 1992 in Munich, Germany, just two days before the opening concert of Jackson's "Dangerous" world tour, and it featured Clarke alongside GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash touring keyboardist Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis, LIVING COLOUR bassist Muzz Skillings and legendary session drummer Tony Thompson.

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke says that "the only reason" he performed with his former bandmates at their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction was because Duff McKagan asked him to appear at the event. Clarke joined GUNS N' ROSES in November 1991, replacing Izzy Stradlin, who quit...

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke will release his new solo album, "The Gospel Truth", on April 23 via Golden Robot Records. The disc was produced and written by Gilby at his Los Angeles recording studio, Redrum Recording, where he's also helmed records for such artists as L.A. GUNS, THE BRONX, BEAT ANGELS, BULLETS AND OCTANE and many more. The album was mixed by Grammy Award winner Chris Lord-Alge and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. Joining Gilby on the LP are Muddy Stardust on bass, Kenny Aronoff (JOHN MELLENCAMP, JOHN FOGERTY, CHICKENFOOT) on drums, along with Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY, MR. BIG) and Chad Stewart (FASTER PUSSYCAT, L.A. GUNS) on backing vocals.

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke recently spoke to 80's Metal Recycle Bin about how the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting. "There was a lot of talk of the climate changing...

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke has clarified his previous comment that he was asked to take part in the band's "Not In This Lifetime" tour but that he had to turn it down. Clarke replaced founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin in the GUNS lineup in 1991, during the "Use...