Gilby Clarke, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, entered a fairly illustrious musical career with the Glam Pop Rock band CANDY replacing original guitarist Geoff 'Rexx' Siegel, a group years ahead of their time, with whom he recorded a solitary album for Mercury Records, 'Whatever Happened To Fun', in 1985. The band toured in support of the album before parting company with singer Kyle Vincent. Unable to find a suitable replacement, Gilby took over the frontman's role with Ryan Roxie taking Clarke's position on guitar.

Frustrated by the lack of a new record deal after leaving Mercury, Clarke quit CANDY and formed KILL FOR THRILLS. To his amazement the fledgling group picked up a deal almost immediately before they had even begun to seriously get into the writing process. The band released the 1990 'Commercial Suicide' mini album on the World Of Hurt label prior to the MCA Records debut 'Dynamite From Nightmare Land' appearing a couple of months later.

KILL FOR THRILLS was a relatively short-lived exercise and Gilby put a brand new band together, the BLACKOUTS, before catching the eye of GUNS N' ROSES who offered Clarke the job of replacing Izzy Stradlin' in November 1991. Apparently Clarke's treatment of the song 'Coma' was the decising factor in scoring the much coveted position. Whilst Clarke was happy to accept the opportunity of joining the group some sections of the Metal media liked to dub 'The Most Dangerous Band In The World'.Clarke toured globally with GUNS N' ROSES on their extravagant 'Use Your Illusion' tour stretching from 1991 into 1993. In the studio, the guitarist made his presence felt on the studio album 'The Spaghetti Incident' and the concert set 'Live Era '87-'93'. Clarke's video debut came with an appearance in the heavily rotated 'November Rain' promo.

The press claimed that the guitarist had found himself dramatically dumped by Axl Rose in June 1994 after comments allegedly attributed to him in an off the record chat with a female journalist acquaintance about the state of the band had made headlines in 'Kerrang!' magazine. Clarke refutes this, stating that Axl was intending to take the band in a direction which wouldn't suit Clarke's and the split was rather more amicable than had been sensationally reported. Indeed, it has never been officially announced that Clarke was no longer a member of GUNS N' ROSES.

Even so, Gilby maintained a healthy working relationship with GUNS N' ROSES guitar partner Slash, who invited his (ex) colleague to join his solo side project SLASH'S SNAKEPIT. Clarke contributed to the recording of the 'It's Five O' Clock Somewhere' album alongside GUNS N' ROSES drummer Matt Sorum and ALICE IN CHAINS and OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Mike Inez.

Keeping himself busy, Gilby's first solo album, 'Pawnshop Guitars' produced by Waddy Wachtel, was released in July 1994 through Virgin Records. The record ironically included Axl Rose singing backing vocals on a cover of the ROLLING STONES' 'Dead Flowers', was recorded whilst Clarke was very much still a member of GUNS N' ROSES and favoured a heavy 60's vibe allied to a smoke inhaling vocal performance from Clarke himself. Drums on this track were handled by SKID ROW's Rob Affuso. The album also saw appearances from Slash on 'Tijuana Jail' and 'Cure Me... Or Kill Me', Matt Sorum and Dizzy Reed on 'Black', Duff McKagan and ex-PIXIES man Frank Black on THE CLASH's 'Jail Guitar Doors'. Clarke also cut cover versions of T REX's 'Life Is A Gas' and CHEAP TRICK's 'He's A Whore' for use as B sides.

Clarke assembled a solo band consisting of bassist Will Effertz, ex-DOGS D'AMOUR guitarist Jo Dog and former LITTLE CAESAR drummer Mark Danzeisen and toured North America before hooking up with Slash once more. Meantime, the SLASH'S SNAKEPIT album was released through Geffen just under a year later and found Clarke touring through Europe with the band who mixed dates on the BON JOVI stadium tour with their own headlining club gigs.

Following his touring stint with SLASH'S SNAKEPIT Clarke set to work on a second solo album. During the interim an odds and sods affair of live and studio material 'Blooze', featuring long term ally Ryan Roxie on second guitar, Will Effertz and Marc Danzeisen, was issued in Japan during 1996.

After another near link up with ALICE COOPER alongside Ryan Roxie, Clarke returned to life as a solo artist, albeit now out of his deal with Virgin. Clarke eventually resurfaced during 1997 with the distinctly glitter tinged 'The Hangover'. The album, which hosted cover renditions of THE BEATLES 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' and DAVID BOWIE's 'Hang On To Yourself', was recorded in partnership once again with Roxie together with ex-DEAR MR. PRESIDENT and STEVIE SALAS COLORCODE bassist C.J. DeVillar, with whom he had played with in an early incarnation of the pre DEAR MR. PRESIDENT outfit BANG BANG. The guitarist also roped in such names as ex-BLONDIE and CHEQUERED PAST drummer Clem Burke, GUNS N' ROSES associate Teddy Andreadis on piano, the mercurial Kyle Vincent, former KISS drummer Eric Singer, drummer Mike Fasano and former OZZY OSBOURNE, BEGGARS AND THIEVES and VINCE NEIL bassist PHIL SOUSSAN during recording. The album's artwork was the responsibility of Clarke's former SLASH'S SNAKEPIT colleague and ex-WHITE LIONand PRIDE & GLORY bassist James Lomenzo.

Intending to hit the road during 1997 Clarke's touring band included Ryan Roxie on guitar, Phil Soussan on bass, Teddy Andreadis on keyboards and Eric Singer on drums. These same musicians would assist Gilby in the recording of his next album, 'Rubber', issued in 1998. Eschewing the more Glam Rock direction of 'Hangover', Clarke chose to record a collection of short and sweet Punk-ish songs involving the aforementioned musicians. Also involved were FOREIGNER drummer Brian Tichy, bassists James Lomenzo, Eric Stevens and Johnny Griparic, ex-STEVIE SALAS COLORCODE drummer Winston Watson III and DAD'S PORNO MAG duo Will Effertz and Mike Fasano. Covers included Janis Joplin's 'Mercedes Benz' and the NEW YORK DOLLS 'Trash'.

In addition to his own work Clarke also produced two albums for Power Pop outfit BEAT ANGELS, the L.A. GUNS 'Shrinking Violet' opus and the debut record for WINDIGO.

The live album of 1999 on Radio Mafia Records, aptly titled '99 Live', sees Clarke in cohorts with Singer once morem with Stefan Adika on bass and Tracii Guns blasting through a set culled from the guitarist's three solo albums plus SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and KILL FOR THRILLS material. For touring Clarke drafted UNION and BULLETBOYS drummer Brent Fitz.

Clarke cut 'Wild Flower' for a 2000 CULT tribute album. The guitarist would reunite with Guns for a side project act KILOWATT which also included VIDEODRONE's drummer Kris Kohs plus L.A. GUNS and DIO bassist Chuck Garrick.

Clarke returned with a fresh album 'Swag', closing out with a take on DAVID BOWIE's 'Diamond Dogs', issued by the JVC Victor label in Japan during December 2001 and by the Spitfire label in America in January 2002. Another all star sudio contingent comprised guitarist Tracii Guns - Guitars, keyboard player DEREK SHERINIAN, Derek Sherinian, Teddy Andreadis on harmonica, bass players Stefan Adika and Johnny Griparic, drummers Brian Tichy, David Raven, Clem Burke, Eric Singer and Brent Fitz with backing vocals supplied by Kyle Vincent and Tim Karr.

Headline shows saw Clarke on the road in North America during September. The guitarist fired up a further new outfit dubbed STARFUCKERS in alliance with ex-L.A. GUNS bassist Muddy Stardust and STRAY CATS drummer Slim Jim Phantom. STARFUCKERS evolved into COL. PARKER to issue the October 2002 album 'Rock n' Roll Music' on V2 Records.

Clarke hitched up with yet another high profile platinum act when he formed up part of the new look HEART for a mammoth run of 2003 Summer shows. The guitarist would be back out on the road in North America in March of 2004, fronting up a solo band comprising Muddy Stardust of L.A. GUNS on bass and Chad Stewart of FASTER PUSSYCAT on the drums. For a handful of shows in South America in November Clarke's band was joined by L.A. GUNS and BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION guitarist Tracii Guns.

As 2005 opened it was announced that Clarke had joined DKT/MC5, the band assembled by founding MC5 members guitarist Wayne Kramer, bassist Michael David and drummer Dennis Thompson, THE DICTATORS guitarist 'Handsome' Dick Manitoba alongside Lisa Kekaula of THE BELLRAYS. The guitarist also made time to activate a new band project dubbed TRIGGER DADDY in alliance with TIM KARR. That same year Clark put in a guest performance on GO-GO'S bassist Kathy Valentine's solo debut 'Light Years'. On the production front, Clarke took over desk duties on demos for Swedish Sleazters VAINS OF JENNA.

Revealed in March 2006, SUPERNOVA was the brand applied to the all star band unit assembled for the second season of reality TV show 'Rock Star'. The core band comprised Clarke, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer TOMMY LEE and former FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, METALLICA bassist and current ECHOBRAIN and VOIVOD member Jason Newsted on bass. Clarke also featured on the VAN HALEN song 'Ice Cream Man' included on the tribute album '80s Metal Tribute To Van Halen' released by Deadline Records in September 2006.

In January 2007 Spitfire Records recognised Clarke's newly elevated profile with the 'Gilby Clarke' collection, this set comprising solo material, COL. PARKER tracks plus a re-recording of the song 'Black' with 'Rock Star: Supernova' finalist Dilana. Clarke also guested on the debut album from the GUNS N' ROSES tribute band HOLLYWOOD ROSES, entitled 'Dopesnake'. The guitarist featured on a cover version of VAN HALEN's 'Ice Cream Man'.

Solo touring in June 2008 witnessed a lengthy run of Canadian dates. In July Clarke put in his first solo career performance in New Zealand as co-headliner of the G-TARanaki International Guitar Festival in New Plymouth, Taranaki, fronting a band comprising Muddy Stardust and drummer Dennis Morehouse. He shared a bill with JOE SATRIANI, GLENN HUGHES, VERNON REID, ULI JON ROTH the ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO, GRAY BARTLETT and TIM DONAHUE. As part of the festival ULI JON ROTH's 'Sky Academy' tuition classes in regional schools, Gilby also guested at Opunake.

Further US touring had Clarke featured as a spotlight artist on the 'Rock n' Roll Fantasy Camp' tour alongside Dave Ellefson, Mark Slaughter, Mark Hudson, KIP WINGER, Earl Slick, Chris Slade and GLENN HUGHES.

Clarke, alongside Tom Morello from RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, and Perry Farrell from JANE'S ADDICTION, were among the musicians who performed at the Sing Sing maximum-security prison in Ossining, New York on 2nd May 2009 for a show organized by Punk rock pioneer and activist Wayne Kramer of MC5. Gilby Clarke and Tracii Guns, of L.A. GUNS, joined forces for the 'Lone Guns' North American tour in May.

Garry Sharpe-Young