Five “Hows” with Jean-Paul Gaster, drummer of Clutch
Q: How did you come to collaborate with Kelly Carmichael, your opening act? You played on his studio release, right?
A: Yeah, I did. He was the guitarist for Internal Void. We knew him. We jammed for a few years, now we’re on the road.
Q: How do you respond to fans complaining about the toned-down drums on Robot Hive?
A: Well, we changed producers, studios.
Q: How did you come to collaborate with Kelly Carmichael, your opening act? You played on his studio release, right?
A: Yeah, I did. He was the guitarist for Internal Void. We knew him. We jammed for a few years, now we’re on the road.
Q: How do you respond to fans complaining about the toned-down drums on Robot Hive?
A: Well, we changed producers, studios. We were going for an old-school sound. It was intentional. We don’t want to sound the same all the time. We’re always experimenting with new sounds.
Q: How do you feel when people say this album was rushed?
A: It just happens when it happens. There is no premeditation on our part. A song can come from anywhere. Anyway, we’re always in the studio every chance we get, developing new ideas.
Q: How would you describe the process Clutch goes through when writing a new song?
A: It’s natural. Again, we can start with anything, from anywhere. It can be an idea sitting around; driving down the road. We get an idea, write it down, and take it from there.
Q: How does Clutch the band feel about the lyrics of Neil Fallon?
A: No one else on the planet could do what he does. I consider myself fortunate to be in his band.
