Interview with Dan Clark

By Kuniyuki Tanaka :: May 13, 2003

Music is one of the greatest loves of my life. In particular, I have a taste for pop and rock bands. After I got into Mie University, I played the the guitar at the university's Band Club for two years. In spring 2002, I left the club and went from guitar to bass guitar. I'm learning how to play the bass now.

A short while ago, I was lucky to make contact with Dan, the guitarist of Rattbelly, and I conducted an interview with him via e-mail. Here's the transcript.

1. When did you start playing the guitar?

I started when I was 11 years old, although I first started music lessons on piano when I was 5. My mother was a promising young classical pianist and my father was a jazz trumpet player, so I was destined to make music.

2. Have you ever played other instruments except for the
guitar in your band?

In Rattbelly I'm also the lead singer. I've never done anything in bands except sing and play guitar, but I've played lots of different instruments in other ensembles and in the recording studio: trombone, piano, cello, sax, drums, percussion, and others.

3. How long has Rattbelly been together?

Five years. We started out as a metal band but switched to punk.

4. What is the first song that you ever played on the guitar?

That's a really good question; I honestly don't remember. It was probably a folk song or a hymnal, something simple. I didn't start playing rock and metal until after I had been playing for a year or two. I was lucky and got a great teacher who showed me how to improvise and solo, so I got to solo with jazz bands and picked up rock songs pretty quickly. I was always playing in bands with older guys because there weren't enough guys my age who were as good as me.

5. Who are your favorite musicians?

Living or dead? I'll assume either.

Beethoven, Bach, Penderecki, Saint-Sens, Mahler, Chopin, Tori Amos, Hatebreed, Atmosphere, The Roots, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Rainer Maria, and pretty much any punk band on Fat Wreck Chords, which is a great punk label in San Francisco. My list would be too big, so I think that's enough for now.

6. Have you ever been abroad?

Unfortunately, no. I really really want to travel and see lots of places: Canada, Australia, Japan and Scotland are at the top of my list.

7. What are your favorite foods?

I love everything. I'm not picky at all.

8. How do you make songs? (I have never made any original songs myself)

To be honest, it just sort of happens. It usually starts when I hear a melody in my head, and start singing it to myself, then I begin to write the chord changes and rhythms around it -- all in my head. I will compose while I'm walking, eating, driving, or whenever my brain is free. It never stops.

I usually have a song mostly done by the time I get to the guitar to double-check everything. What's interesting is that I can write a great song, but if my band members aren't behind it, it won't work. Punk rock must be played with absolute conviction, or it fails, and so I've written lots and lots of songs that never made it into our setlist because they didn't quite make the grade. I've probably thrown away more songs than some people have written; Rattbelly is very choosy about what gets put in the setlist. I can also force myself to come up with something if we need new material, but that's usually not as much fun as letting inspiration strike on its own.

Mostly writing songs is like anything else; it takes lots and lots of practice. I've been writing my own songs for over twenty years, and I got my degree in Music Composition.

If you want to try writing your own songs, I'd start by copying a musician you like. Listen to one of your favorite songs and try to figure out how they did what they did, and try to write something similar. Also, if you find yourself singing something that you've never heard before; remember it! It's probably original! Try to write chords around it and see what you can come up with.

9. What are Rattbelly major strengths?

Conviction, great melodies, and an interesting blend of punk and metal.

10. Please give me a tip on how to manage a band successfully.

The main thing is to have fun doing it, and do it because you love it. Don't be in a band for the money, because musicians do not get paid very well at all. Always be honest and upfront with your band members; talk to each other, don't hide things or let things get out of hand.

Practice a lot! Rattbelly practices three hours a night for three nights a week, and it used to be more. Go to lots of other people's shows, make friends, be known on the scene as a nice guy who's fun to play shows with and party with; this will get you lots of gigs and you'll have more fun! Try to give away as many free demo CDs as you possibly can to friends, radio stations, promoters, everybody! If you're good, people will come to your shows, and then you can get them to buy stuff like t-shirts and albums and things.

Above all, have conviction and make sure all your band members have conviction. Being a musician is a lifestyle, not a lottery for losers trying to get rich and famous.

Have Fun!