New Jersey folks are storytellers by nature. We just are! So when I sat down for a “story telling session” with Skid Row bassist (and now solo artist) Rachel Bolan, I knew there would be tales to tell.
After 4 decades in music, Rachel is releasing his dynamic debut solo album BOLAN — “Gargoyle Of The Garden State” on earMUSIC. It’s a punk-infused, slam dunk that features a little help from Rachel’s friends. Guest appearances include Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour), Danko Jones, Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Damon Johnson (Brother Cane/Lynyrd Skynyrd), members of Skid Row, and more.
It also features the side of Rachel outside Skid Row — his grit, stylized vocals, songwriting, and influences.
The Skid Row Singer Search Continues
Skid Row recently called for open auditions on Sweetwater, and the videos from potential new singers haven’t stopped! So sitting down with the New Jersey Gargoyle himself had me asking some questions. Is “Gargoyle Of The Garden State” a punk rock love letter to New Jersey? How did Rachel get so many talented musicians to play on his solo record? What was it like to do this record with super producer Nick Raskulinecz? How did James from New Jersey become Rachel? How far along is the Skid Row singer search, and how many auditions have they received online? We cover a lot of rock and roll ground this week on my Carr Stereo Podcast.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
Terrie Carr: I’m with New Jersey legend and icon Rachel Bolan. When I originally looked up the album title I was like, where did he get this? It’s the best album title I have heard in years. So let’s start right there. Where did you get it?
Rachel Bolan: It’s interesting. My first idea was to call the album “Gargoyle.” I love gargoyles, and I love the fact that most people don’t really know that each one has a purpose they serve — some kind of mythical purpose, not to sound all weird.
Terrie Carr: I did not know that.
New Jersey Gargoyle
Rachel Bolan: There are thinking gargoyles, and gargoyles for protection. My sister actually got me a thinking gargoyle for Christmas. She says it’s me because I’m always thinking. I always loved it and the fact that people just walk by them and look at them like, “oh, a gargoyle,” and have no idea what purpose they actually serve. That always struck a chord with me. I was going to call it “Gargoyle.” In the meantime, my wife and I moved back to New Jersey after being gone for almost 25 years. I was like, “I’m going to put those two together. It’s kind of a tongue twister when you first say it, which I think is kind of cool too.”
Terrie Carr: In Jersey, we’ve always been good storytellers. This is what we freaking do in Jersey. We tell stories!
Rachel Bolan: We’re natural born storytellers.
Terrie Carr: So is this almost a love letter to New Jersey? To me it’s like a punk rock love letter to New Jersey.
Rachel Bolan: You could say that for sure. Lyrically, there’s a lot of regional references. Like you said, we’re storytellers — we’re natural born storytellers. My dad had a saying. When guys would tell a story and talk too much, he’d say, “if you ask that guy the time, he tells you how to build a watch.” That’s kind of all of us. So if someone starts telling you a story in New Jersey about whatever, get comfortable, because you’re going to hear the whole thing. That kind of translated into some of the songs. A lot of it is just about my experience in my home state. The beauty of songwriting, I think, is I could talk about whatever I want and write about whatever I want. It may relate, or I may interpret it completely differently from how you interpret it. That’s the beauty of music. That’s the beauty of art.
Terrie Carr: So when as a kid do you become “Rachel Bolan”? When did you as a Jersey kid have this vision for your life?
Rachel Bolan: I remember being a little kid, and once I saw Kiss, my whole life changed — everything changed. Once I saw them live — getting turned on to them at about 10 or 11 — I was just completely immersed in what they were doing. I just saw the visual. I was an Alice Cooper fan too, and I’m fourth out of four kids, so there’s always music around the house. Then it got to the point where I was just drawing fictionary bands and giving them names. Once I started playing out a lot in my teen years, I’m like, “I’m going to use a different name. I want a stage name.” I always loved Alice Cooper, loved the fact that it was a guy with a woman’s name. Then, I just started taking all my family members’ names on the male side of my family — my brother Richard and my grandfather Manuel. I was just crossing out letters and I was like, “Rachel, perfect. What is my last name?” I never gave it much thought. I’m just such a huge T-Rex fan. I’m like, “I’m going to cop his last name.” That’s how it all came together.
Terrie Carr: So let’s talk about some of these friends that you have on the record. Let’s start with Danko Jones, because I think the collab and first single with Danko is just incredible — “At War With Myself.” So is the video.
Rachel Bolan: I was so happy that all these guys said yes. It’s not like I wrote songs for them. For “At War With Myself,” I was talking to Nick, who produced the Danko Jones record years back. I’m like, “I’m going to call Danko and see if he’ll sing the second verse, and then we sing the choruses together.” So I texted Danko, and of course he was on tour because he’s always on tour. He was in Europe and he goes, “I’m in”!
Check out the full interview with Rachel Bolan. For a dose of straight ahead, no holds barred, in your face rock, check out BOLAN — Gargoyle Of The Garden State,
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