BrA'Zine: What all bands, would you say, inspired you the most to become musicians? Neil Fallon: Bad Brains, Black Sabbath. BZ: I've noticed a lot of southern colloquialism in your lyrics and a sort of Appalachian flavor to your music. What made you decide to go in that direction? NF: I have always been a big fan of old field recordings. Alan Lomax stuff. That music is as real as it gets, while also being cryptic in a lot of ways. I don't think there was any particular decision to go in any direction. I think I just gravitated to that side of things simply for it's appeal. BZ: I see that you all have experimented with a number of exotic instruments in your music. What all instruments have you used in your recordings? NF: Melodica, harmonica, steel guitar, wurlitzer, clavinet, hammond b3, lot of percussion. BZ: How has fifteen years of playing and touring the world influenced your overall writing styles? Has your line-up changed any over the years? NF: Mick joined in 2004. Other than that it's the same line-up. The writing process is pretty much the same. We just get together, somone plays a riff, we kick it around, I bring it home and lay some vocals on it, keep messing with it until everybody's happy and then we call it done. BZ: What do you guys think about the music scene here in WV? NF: I can say that the crowd is mental. Some of the rowdiest crowds we play to are in Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown. BZ: I keep hearing West Virginia Clutch fans tell me you guys are local, but others say you're from Maryland. Where are you each originally from? NF: We are originally from Maryland. We used to have a band house in W.V., but at the moment, Tim is the only one of us that lives there. BZ: Who has been your favorite acts to tour with? NF: Suplecs, Sepultura, Therapy?, Five Horse Johnson. There have been dozens. West Virginia's Karma TO Burn was always a blast. BZ: I know that it's probably old news, but did Clutch have some sort of fallout with Columbia records back in 1995? What all happened? NF: They droppped us. One of the best things that ever happened to us. BZ: I see you like to tour a lot, having played more than 1,500 shows since 1991. Has all that touring had any negative drawbacks? NF: I think we probably have done alot more shows than that, but regardless, that is what a band is supposed to do. Records, videos, etc. etc., that's all peripheral. Drawbacks? High cholesterol, alchoholism, carpal tunnel syndrome, broken marriages...but you get to see the world for free and every 12th meal at participating Paneras is free! BZ: So, you guys played in Japan, back in March of this past year. What's the scene like over there? NF: It was a blast, but they have a very different approach to seeing shows. They go to rock concerts they way you and I might go to a theatrical production, very punctual, very reserved, very respectful. BZ: One final question--What advice would you give to local bands here in West Virginia? NF: Play as many shows as you can. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clutch: www.pro-rock.com - Derek Wilkinson - [Myspace]