It's crazy to realize that it has been twenty-five years since the formation of psychedelic hard rockers Clutch. The group has cranked out eleven releases and even created their own label.
We spoke to frontman Neil Fallon about the current music industry, Spotify, record labels, Psychic Warfare, and the follow-up.
So, you’re a few days into your tour with Lamb of God and Corrosion of Conformity, which is quite the diverse lineup. How has it been so far and can you talk about you relationship with these bands?
We’ve known both Lamb of God and CoC for many, many years. We’re all kinda the same age and I think on the same wavelengths. It’s much easier being on tour with people you can get along with and have a laugh. Lamb of God is much more of a metal act than Clutch is and I didn’t know what to expect when going into it, but the crowd has been very receptive and we have a good number of mutual fans.
You are supporting the 11th studio album, Psychic Warfare, which was released about a year ago. Looking back, what do you think was the most significant aspect of the writing process for you?
I don’t think there was a single moment, but if anything, we were much more deliberate in the writing process as in we knew every little detail of every song before we hit the record button. I had all the lyrics written and we practiced them quite a bit in the studio and some even on stage. So, I think that makes a big difference. We were prepared when we did Earth Rocker, but nothing compared to when we did Psychic Warfare.
Clutch has been writing albums for well over ten years. At this point, has the challenge or excitement of songwriting and recording changed at all?
I think we’re much more comfortable in the studio. I used to hate it. As far as the actual writing process, that hasn’t changed at all. It’s just the four of us getting in a room jamming until something happens. Or maybe someone already has a riff ahead of time and we start with that. I think that’s the most fun, when you discover things accidentally.
The album was your highest charted release yet. Was this an accomplishment you expected when the LP was released?
We would never feel different about our record regardless of its chart position, however we released this and funded it ourselves and put it out on our own label. And it went to #1 on the rock charts, which is something that never happened when we were with so many major labels in the 90’s. So, it is a bit of a validation for a lot of hard work and perseverance. We do recognize that we have Clutch fans to thank for that. In this day and age, people don’t have to buy a record when they can go online. But our fans support this band in a way we don’t take for granted.
As a band that has been releasing albums under their own label for awhile, what have you found to be the main differences compared to being on a larger label?
There is more work and responsibility, but at the same time, just like everything else in life, more work usually equals more reward. I don’t understand why people still subscribe to the multi-album contract business model. It’s silly. Bands may want to pay for people to hold their hand through the process, but you don’t need that. You can make more money selling less records yourself than including some business that is going to take a cut. We learned that lesson the hard way.
Is releasing under your own personal label something you’d recommend for bands down the road?
Yeah, absolutely. I understand that we’re in a position where we already established ourselves when we embarked on this. It may take a bit more patience, but when bands sign away their publishing or are in debt because of recording, it can be very discouraging. I think that’s why many bands call it quits. I don’t envy young bands nowadays. The internet is a wonderful tool to reach the world, but so can every other band. There’s so many out there that it has to be hard to breakthrough.
As an artist that has been active since the 90’s and you have seen the industry change with piracy, streaming services, and labels, what do you think is the biggest threat to artists?
I think that would be the public having a sense of entitlement when they pay a subscription for something. I mean, I do have a Spotify account, but it makes my head spin when people give us heat for not releasing our record immediately on Spotify. When the general public thinks the world owes them something, that is a threat to artists because it becomes impossible to make a living for a lot of people.
Do you think a solution to this would be something along the lines of a boycott on Spotify?
No, I think Spotify has its place. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, they had a bargain bin in record stores. You could get records for a $1. I kinda look at Spotify as that. I’m sure people learned about Clutch for the first time because of Spotify or Youtube. If that translates to them going to our shows and buying a t-shirt, I think it’s a positive thing. It’s so much easier to get music and people take it for granted, so that’s risky for any artist of any genre.
Although it has been less than a year, are there any thoughts or plans to a follow-up right now?
We’re just now starting to kick around ideas. Psychic Warfare has only been out for about nine months, so we want to have a surplus of riffs to choose from when time comes.
Catch Clutch on tour this summer with Kyng and Zakk Sabbath. Dates here.
