MOTÖRHEAD's PHIL CAMPBELL On Debut Solo Record: 'I Wanted To Make An Album Where I Branched Out A Little Bit'

Longtime MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbellrecently spoke with Andrew McKaysmith of the "Scars And Guitars" podcast about his soon-to-be-released debut solo album, "Old Lions Still Roar". The full conversation can be streamed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On "Old Lions Still Roar":

Phil: "I wouldn't say [it was] 20 years in the making, but 20 years I've been yearning to do a solo album. Since MOTÖRHEAD, sadly, finished, I've had more time to think about [it] and to knuckle down and everything. I probably started the first recording of it about two and a half, three years ago. I wanted to make an album where I branched out a little bit. I've had some of the ideas — one or two of them — for, like, 10 or 12 years, and some not so long. Some are brand new. I just didn't want to do an album sounding like MOTÖRHEAD. I've done 20-odd albums like that."

On the album's guest stars, which include Alice Cooper, Mick Mars, Joe Satriani, Danko Jones, Dee Snider and Rob Halford:

Phil: "I couldn't believe the incredible players that spent some time on the record for me. I'm the luckiest guy in the world in that respect. Mega talent all the way through it, helping me out when I needed help. I've got no complaints whatsoever... Everyone did a fantastic job. I think I did really well on putting people [and] having ideas of who would be great for a certain song... All these people that I tried to put in certain songs and I had ideas for out of the blue would sound good, they all did amazingly well, because they went for the good of the song. So many players these days just play for themselves, and it's got fuck-all to do with the song. They just want to show off, but these people did amazingly well. I'm really pleased in that way... There's a great art in actually playing for the good of the song... You can ruin the song if the bassist hasn't got his shit together. A good song can be ruined. That's the foundation for the track, and it gives it a groove. If that's all gone to pot, a bloody good song can be passed by."

On Benji Webbe (SKINDRED),who sings on the song "Dead Roses":

Phil: "He's from Newport, [Wales], about 15 miles from where I live. I don't think anyone's heard Benji sing like that before. I don't think he had, either. He came down to the studio, and I think he was surprised and really pleased at how it out. He's got a remarkable voice. It's fantastic. His tone changes in the same note... like [a] Glenn Hughes sort of thing."

On MOTÖRHEAD's shadow:

Phil: "We still play 'Ace Of Spades' and one or two MOTÖRHEAD songs. I enjoy playing them. They go down well. We play lots of our own stuff as well. Some people, they don't even bother to read the writing credits of the MOTÖRHEAD stuff. They just think it's Lemmy's thing. That kind of pisses me off. A lot of people seem to think that way... A few times I've said to people, 'Read the writing credits.' You can only take so much sometimes. [Laughs] It depends on what mood you get in, but I know what all the other bandmembers have contributed. It was a proper band effort... We all worked hard with that band. Everyone was working their asses off."

"Old Lions Still Roar" will be released on October 25 via Nuclear Blast.

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