In the early 80's, Gilby was a member of the pop band Candy which recorded the album "Whatever Happened To Fun." He left the band sometime in the mid 80's to form the metal band Kill For Thrills as lead singer and rhythm guitarist, while the rest of Candy went on to turn into Electric Angels. Kill For Thrills recorded an EP ("Commercial Suicide") and LP ("Nightmare In Dynamiteland") before Gilby got the call to replace Izzy Stradlin as rhythm guitarist in Guns N' Roses in November of 1991.
Gilby finished the huge Use Your Illusion tour with Guns N' Roses as well as recording the covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?" with the band. In 1994, Gilby released his first solo album "Pawnshop Guitars," which featured guest appearances from every member of Guns N' Roses at the time. Right before Guns N' Roses went in to record a cover of the Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil," Axl Rose fired Clarke from the band, replacing him with Paul Tobias.
Gilby joined Slash's side project Slash's Snakepit and recorded the album "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with them in 1995, as well as touring in support for them. Gilby Clarke went on to release three more solo albums 1997's "The Hangover," 1998's "Rubber," and 2002's "Swag," as well as a live album in 1999 called "99 Live."
Gilby has also produced for various bands, including producing the only Jizzy Pearl led L.A. Guns record, "Shrinking Violet." He also remixed five demo HollyWood Rose demo tracks for 2005's "The Roots of GN'R" with Tracii Guns laying down lead guitars on the track. He also produced the next Crash Kelly record.
Gilby played with the reformed MC5 on their 2005 European tour. Also, Gilby was a member of the band Rock Star Supernova, along with Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Jason Newsted (Metallica), and singer Lukas Rossi. They only released an eponymous album in 2006.
Gilby's latest album, "The Gospel Truth", appeared in 2021.
Alien
Gilby Clarke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't enough science fiction?
I'm scuzzied out of my head
Powered down everything
The static's deafening
All wired up for the end
Am I on top of the world?
Chorus
Am I an Alien, am I an Alien
I got this second skin deteriorating
Still floating day to day
I phase out wondering
My spaceship wrecked my future home
Synthesized and traumatized
A disaster amplified
My star burned out of control
The opening lines of Gilby Clarke's "Alien" gives a sense of intense disorientation and mental confusion. The image of not being able to watch television suggests that the singer is feeling alienated and disconnected from the world around him. The line "Ain't enough science fiction?" suggests that perhaps the singer feels like the world is lacking in imagination or is just too mundane. The use of the word "scuzzied" gives a sense of exhaustion, like the singer has been through so much that they can't take it anymore. The line "The static's deafening" further reinforces the idea that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
The chorus of the song repeats the question "Am I an Alien?" and suggests that the singer feels like an outsider, like they don't quite belong in this world. The line "I got this second skin deteriorating" suggests that the singer is going through some kind of physical or emotional transformation, perhaps due to their alienation from society. The second verse of the song talks about how the singer's spaceship has wrecked their future home and left them feeling traumatized and disoriented. The line "My star burned out of control" suggests that maybe the singer's desire for adventure and exploration has led to their downfall.
Overall, "Alien" is a song that deals with themes of alienation, disorientation, and transformation. The lyrics are deeply personal and give a glimpse into the mind of someone who feels like they don't belong in the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't watch my television
I can't bring myself to watch T.V.
Ain't enough science fiction?
Even science fiction can't save me from my boredom.
I'm scuzzied out of my head
I'm feeling incredibly dirty and disheveled.
Powered down everything
I shut off all my electronics.
The static's deafening
The sound of static is overwhelming.
All wired up for the end
I feel like I'm prepared for the worst possible outcome.
Am I on top of the world?
Am I feeling at my best?
I'm crashing down on you
My fall from grace will be dramatic and closely impact you.
Chorus
Repeating the title and a main theme of the song.
Still floating day to day
I'm just going through the motions, no real direction or drive.
I phase out wondering
I lose touch with reality and start to contemplate abstract thoughts.
My spaceship wrecked my future home
My actions in the past have ultimately led to my downfall and ruining my chances of a better future.
Synthesized and traumatized
I've been manipulated and affected negatively by science and technology.
A disaster amplified
The negative outcomes of my actions have become more far-reaching than anticipated.
My star burned out of control
I've reached the end of my journey, quickly and uncontrollably.
Contributed by Parker P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.