clutch
22:01 Tuesday, 3 January 2023
Clutch has released 13 albums across their 30-plus year career, and that doesn't even touch the B-sides and EPs. So which is the one song that any potential fan should listen to?
According to Clutch vocalist Neil Fallon in an interview with Revolver, the band's discography is just too varied to pick one. Though Fallon names "Noble Savage" from Clutch's 2015 album Psychic Warfare as "a good mission-statement song" for what the band has accomplished over the years.
"It's hard to pick one because we've been doing it for so long and our eras are different because of who we were and who we've become," said Fallon. "It may not be indicative of our entire catalog, but I think 'Noble Savage' is a good mission-statement song. I chose that because the chorus is, 'unapologetic lifer for rock & roll.'"
Speaking on Clutch's long career, Fallon said during a 2022 interview with Metal Injection that a lot of it boils down to dumb luck. Which isn't exactly great advice, but it's the truth.
"We get asked that a lot [secret to band longevity] and it's the kind of disappointing answer that I usually come up with. A lot of it has to do with just dumb luck. I met [drummer Jean-Paul Gaster] because we met in middle school. My last name starts with F, his starts with G, so we had homeroom together and our lockers were by each other, you know? And I think early on, especially when we were closer to adolescence than adulthood, there was a lot of bickering that went along.
"We were kind of learning the ropes while doing it. And since that time we've learned when to read the room. If someone needs some space, don't get in their way. And you've got to have a sense of humor. You've got to be able to laugh at yourself. Sure, there can be shitty days, but a lot of times the shittiest day of rock and roll is better than the best day in an office. And I think we all know that. And we will become very kind of defensive and protective about what we have right now.
