Characteristic Photograph by Ki Value
Few encapsulate the dyed-in-the-wool rock ‘n’ roll vibe like Pretenders guitarist James Walbourne. Although he’s simply 45, Walbourne has lived a lifetime of a participant twice his age, having been a member of The Kinks’ Ray Davies solo band, The Pogues, and since 2008, The Pretenders.
So far as The Pretenders go, Walbourne had a weighty legacy to reside as much as, having taken up a place as soon as held by the likes of James Honeyman-Scott, Johnny Marr, Robbie McIntosh, and Adam Seymour.
That’s a heavyweight firm, however Walbourne doesn’t appear bothered, as since becoming a member of The Pretenders, he helped Chrissie Hynde and firm reel off 4 excellent data: 2008’s Break Up the Concrete, 2016’s Alone, 2020’s Hate for Sale, and 2023’s Relentless.
As for what he brings to the celebration, Walbourne tells ClassicRockHistory.com, “When it comes to my taking part in, I feel over time I’ve been making an attempt to dumb down versus attain new dizzying heights of guitar athleticism.”
He provides, “Perhaps ‘dumbing down’ is the improper time period, however I really like guitar gamers like Neil Younger and Alex Chilton. Their taking part in speaks to me, and I aspire to be like them.”
Although Walbourne would in all probability shuffle off the concept, there’s a robust argument to be made that he’s properly on his strategy to Younger and Chilton territory—if he hasn’t already gotten there. Ability apart, Walbourne is difficult at work beside Hynde on The Pretenders’ subsequent document, which has no title or launch date as of but.
Elsewhere, he’s acquired his personal initiatives to thoughts. “Lately, I put most of my efforts into His Lordship, my high-octane rock ‘n’ roll band,” Walbourne reveals. “We’ve acquired some attention-grabbing stuff arising, and we’re taking part in SXSW in Austin in March, adopted by a tour of California with Johnny Marr. Come out and see us should you can!”
What impressed you to choose up the guitar?
Elvis Presley impressed me to choose up a guitar. Proper from the start, I used to be mesmerized by Elvis. The ’68 Comeback Particular VHS was on repeat in my family.
What kind of scene did you develop up in, and the way did that form you?
I don’t assume I used to be concerned in any explicit scene, so to talk, however there have been locations I performed, which felt like one thing was taking place. The Boogaloo pub opened in 2003 in my neck of the woods, which was Highgate and Muswell Hill—Kinks nation. We might play there each Sunday.
A debauched mess. A den of iniquity. It was the place to be for a time. Shane McGowan, Kate Moss, Johnny Depp, and even David Soul would come to the gigs. The present used to begin on Sunday at lunchtime, round 2 PM, however was recognized to final into the early hours of Monday morning. It wasn’t for the faint-hearted.
I used to be on the street from 18 years outdated onwards. That formed me greater than something. I went to America to look on a document a few months after I completed faculty. We recorded on tape… that’s how way back it was.
Inform me about taking part in with Ray Davies. What was that like?
Ray Davies is a big inspiration to me. There isn’t a different songwriter like him. I used to be very nervous after I went all the way down to Konk Studios to satisfy him for the primary time. He had checked out my document and dug it. I feel we performed “Misfits” and “Oklahoma USA,” two of my favorites.
I performed in his band on and off for a number of years. I discovered it attention-grabbing how he was all the time rearranging his outdated songs and becoming them into the present. As soon as, he very kindly gave me a elevate house as a result of I had a household emergency. The automotive broke down about 10 miles out of Bristol as a result of the driving force had put the improper gasoline within the tank.
We spent an terrible very long time standing on the facet of the M4 ready for the AA to come back to the rescue. I don’t assume we acquired again until 5:30 am. There’s definitely a little bit of Ray and the Kinks in every part I do. There have to be one thing within the water up in Muswell Hill….
And the way about The Pogues?
I met Spider Stacy at a pub in Camden, the place I used to be taking part in in a rockabilly band with Boz Boorer from The Polecats/Morrissey. We struck up an immediate friendship, and I ended up taking part in on his solo document, which by no means noticed the sunshine of day. Identical with Shane [McGowan], actually… I met him on the Boogaloo pub in Highgate.
I might look ahead to hours with him listening and speaking about music, life, et cetera. He was a extremely nice man. I actually do miss him. When Philip Chevron took sick in 2007, Spider and Shane requested me if I might play guitar with the Pogues. I instantly mentioned, “Sure,” as they have been and nonetheless are one among my favourite bands on the planet.
You by no means fairly knew what to anticipate every night time—it could possibly be a fantastic expertise or a fucking disastrous one. I’ve come to the conclusion that every one the good bands are like that. Their Christmas reveals on the Brixton Academy all through the ‘00s have been the best nights ever. I’m proud to have been concerned in them over time.
How did you be a part of The Pretenders? What was the audition like?
Martin Chambers used to come back and watch me play on the identical pub I instructed you about earlier. He solely lived down the street from me, and I used to see him round at events. I bear in mind I used to be ready for my baggage at Heathrow, Christmas Eve of 2007, after having performed a present with The Pogues. Martin rang and mentioned, “We’d like a brand new guitar participant. I’ll offer you a hoop after Christmas.”
He was true to his phrase, and the primary gig I performed with Pretenders was in Palm Springs a few months later. I’ve since realized Chrissie [Hynde] wished to attempt me out in a gig setting to see if I might lower it. We didn’t even rehearse the total set, so I ended up winging half of it. I suppose I did okay; as they are saying, the remaining is historical past.
Had been you very influenced by the guitarists who had been in The Pretenders earlier than?
Honestly, I wasn’t that conscious of The Pretenders’ music earlier than I joined the band. It was an actual deal with to find James Honeyman Scott. He actually formed the band’s sound early on, and studying his guitar elements was nothing however a pleasure.
His taking part in spoke to me as a result of I come from the same place encompassing a robust want for melody with a large dose of punk and rock ‘n’ roll. I feel he deserves way more recognition than he will get. Converse to any well-known rock ‘n’ roll guitar participant, and they’ll little question say that Jimmy was one of many best.
What’s it like working with Chrissie?
Writing with Chrissie occurred by likelihood one night and has flourished into one thing that we’re each continuously amazed by. It took 10 years to even play one another an thought. I don’t know why, actually. We’re on our third album for the time being.
Chrissie will ship me an abundance of lyrics, which I’ll then type by means of to see if something takes my fancy. If one thing speaks to me, I’ll get a tune out of it. As soon as I’ve the melody and the chords proper, I’ll ship her a fast demo, then we’ll get collectively and flesh it out.
What’s the final in your gear, which means your guitars, amps, and pedals?
I’m continuously altering gear round. The endgame is to attempt to have the smallest rig attainable. I’ve been having fun with the Eventide H 90. Troy Van Leeuwen from Queens of the Stone Age put me on to that. We performed a present collectively as soon as, and I noticed there was a facet of my taking part in that might do with some additional sounds.
I take advantage of an off-the-shelf Fender ’68 Customized Deluxe for an amp and have too many guitars to checklist. My primary remains to be my ‘63 Cherry pink [Gibson] SG. And I purchased a ‘67 re-finished [Fender] Telecaster in Seattle a few years in the past, which I really like.
What’s a nuance inside The Pretenders’ music that most individuals don’t choose up on?
I feel a nuance that folks don’t choose up on relating to Pretenders music is how nice the lyrics are. If you happen to take heed to one thing like “I Suppose About You Every day” from the final document [Relentless], you’ll get what I’m speaking about.
What’s the definitive Pretenders document, and the way does one among your working ones stack up?
The definitive Pretenders document? That’s a tricky query. The band has been round so lengthy that it’s gone to many various locations. No one will argue that the primary two data [Pretenders and Pretenders II] aren’t classics.
And Studying to Crawl has acquired some nice songs on it. I really like the final two data we made, Hate for Sale and Relentless. I feel there are some nice songs on them. Undecided what the brand new ones gonna be like but. Watch this area.
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