by Alexandra Mrozowska
— Senior Columnist —
If you were young and into the Hard Rock scene back in the ‘80s, you either dreamed of going there or had the best time of your life cruising between the Rainbow, the Roxy, the Whisky a Go Go and the like. If you were young in the 2000s but somehow discovered what was already infamously dubbed “Hair Metal”, you’d give almost everything to travel back in time and witness it all – the music, the fashion, the debauchery. The Sunset Strip is more of a myth than a place now. It’s a myth about all hopeless dreamers who wanted to “make it” in the days when youth was wild, MTV was cool and hair was big. What’s better then to utilize this myth and this story into an ultimate ‘80s tribute…? That’s exactly what two music industry veterans – John Merchant and Todd Long – did on their upcoming release, a concept EP Headed West. What they did as Ghosts of Sunset is taking a fictional Midwestern band and showing their heading to LA. in pursue of big dreams, their subsequent rise and fall – and eventually, their rising from the ashes again. But while there’s a certain ‘80s vibe to the story musically, John Merchant – Ghosts of Sunset singer – actually argues the story itself goes way beyond the hairspray hysteria and the Reagan era and is, in fact, universal… So if you’re in a mood for a bit of nostalgia, put on your best acid washed jeans and a vintage band top and walk down the Strip with us – guided by one of the “ghosts”, John Merchant himself.
Hardrock Haven: What are your personal experiences with the ‘80s and Hard Rock scene of that period?
John Merchant: First of all, we were huge fans of that period and genre. The good news for us is since we’re such rabid music fans, we not only got into those bands, we backtracked to their influences and further back than that. So yes, we loved Def Leppard, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, but we also loved Bowie, Alice Cooper, KISS, Slade, Mott the Hoople… then further back to the Stones, the Who, the Beatles, the Faces. It just rounded out our influences and made us who we are. Plus, we never discriminate. That means classic Country, New Wave, Pop, Grunge, Top 40. A good song is a good song and we’ll never turn a deaf ear to it.
Hardrock Haven: Absolutely. Where did an idea for Ghosts of Sunset come from and in which circumstances was it founded?
John Merchant: Todd Long and I have been friends and bandmates for over 30 years. I was out running one day and had an idea for a concept album (which became our debut EP Headed West) based on a fictional 1980s “hair band”. I called Todd and within a day he had the rough music for what became our first single “Miles In-Between”. That song was so good and held so much promise that we decided this should be a band and not just a “project”.
Hardrock Haven: Where does the idea of bringing musicians known from the ‘80s Rock scene into this project originate from, and who was the first you thought of? Was there any musician you invited but the collaboration didn’t work out for whatever reason?
John Merchant: Todd and I had a discussion and we really though “Miles…” needed a guitar solo with the touch, tone and feel of the era. Johnny Monaco from Enuff Z’Nuff and LA Guns tracked it for us and a light bulb went off. Todd got to his rolodex and we started reaching out to some of our favorite guitarists from some of our favorite bands. The set up was always the same, “if you like the song, play on it, if not, no hard feelings”. We got really lucky and all the guys we brought in put their heart and soul into the music. Plus, it was a small way to not just recognize the gifts these people had given us over the years, but to re-enforce the fact a lot of these players are still out creating top notch music with top notch chops. Pros are always gonna be pros. I think it didn’t work out with one or two, but again, pros are pros. You give someone like Stacey Blades or Tracii Guns a song and they’re going to hear exactly what it needs.
Hardrock Haven: If you could invite a few more guests to the project now or perhaps in the future, who could it be?
John Merchant: We both have dream lists. For me Phil X (our Golden Robot label mate and current Bon Jovi guitarist), Gilby Clarke (also on Golden Robot), or even splitting verses with someone like Michael Monroe or Taime Downe would be a dream come true.
Hardrock Haven: The EP tells a story of ups and downs of a Rock band. Do you think people will still find it inspirational even though the ‘80s are long gone now and the world’s changed so much since then?
John Merchant: Human experience doesn’t change. Struggle doesn’t change. Set-backs don’t change and perseverance doesn’t change. So Headed West tells the story of a band’s ups and downs, but anyone with a dream and the guts to pursue it will have those experiences. It’s a very universal message and it’s ultimately one of hope.
Hardrock Haven: Yes, it does translate into different people’s lives indeed. So, Ghosts of Sunset is obviously inspired by the ‘80s Hard Rock scene, but did you have any particular bands in mind during the songwriting process?
John Merchant: We would name-check all sorts of bands. “Jovi up the chorus, but give the verses an Enuff Z’Nuff feel and slam the whole thing home with Faster Pussycat sleaze”. That being said, we’re open enough to also say “let’s let the narrative be Springsteen-like and cop a kick drum pattern like that Duran Duran single back in the day”. This is the language that musicians speak. When it works (and hopefully it does), it all gets distilled through your individual heart, soul, and experiences and becomes a completely new thing. The goal is to have the next person say “give that part a Ghosts of Sunset thing”. Then you’ve done your part to keep the circle moving and growing.
Hardrock Haven: As so much has changed since the 80s, was there any difficulty to recreate either the vibe or the sound typical to the decade on the album?
John Merchant: After making music for so long across so many genres, you could catch yourself going against your instincts. We’d have to make musical choices to further the songs and retain the vibe. Questions like “man that seems like a lot of reverb or keyboard” would come up and be met with “go back and listen to that 1987 self-titled Whitesnake album”. Then we’d be able to move forward honoring what we were trying to do with Headed West.
Hardrock Haven: What do you think was so magical about the ‘80s and in particular, the Sunset Strip club scene back in the day?
John Merchant: For a Midwestern kid like me, it was like Oz! The Sunset Strip was full of decadence and sex, drugs and rock n roll. The side we’re trying to share is the amount of guts, grit, and determination it took to make it in a scene saturated with great musicians and catchy songs. I call that scene that last goldrush in the United States. If you had the guts, you could go out there and make a mark.
Hardrock Haven: Do you think Ghosts of Sunset could have happened twenty years ago, when this style of music seemed to be gone for good and was ridiculed if mentioned at all? What do you think brought the contemporary ‘80s nostalgia?
John Merchant: First of all, let’s be honest, the scene had some truly cringe-worthy moments. But I always get a chuckle at people who say “look at the clothes, look at the hair”. That scene was being ridiculed by people who a mere decade or two prior had love-beads, bell-bottoms, or leisure suits and platforms. It was ok to like Bowie and what a ground breaking “shape-shifter” he was, but Poison were seen as comical because of their hair and make-up. The reason for the nostalgia is songs. I can sing along to “Jean Jeanie” and I can sing along to “Talk Dirty to Me”. While I’m singing along the hair and clothes mean nothing. Songs will always win.
Hardrock Haven: Absolutely. Speaking of the ‘80s Hard Rock Scene, there’s this infamous term “hair metal” which some fans find offensive towards music they love. What do you think about it?
John Merchant: Certainly, I wish there was a term with less negative connotations, but I think labels like that on almost anything cause more harm than good. Having said that, I really dug the clothes and hair! Jim Morrison wore leather pants onstage, Buffalo Springfield had fringe shirts, the Beatles dressed in matching suits, yet they’re just “rock’n’roll” bands. I’m from a generation who wants my musicians to be elevated above the fray and that includes how they look.
Hardrock Haven: Often the decade and particularly the representatives of the Rock scene of that era are accused of “style over substance” kind of thing, both musically and visually. What’s your approach to that?
John Merchant: Music has always been a place to look for style. The Beatles and Elvis changed style so radically that men’s hair could touch their collar! I think style and substance go hand and hand and should be in somewhat equal measure. Try to remember the next time you’re in the car with the windows down screaming “Pour Some Sugar on Me” you can’t see Joe Elliot’s ripped up jeans.
Hardrock Haven: Nothing wrong with Joe’s ‘80s attire though! Do you think Ghost of Sunset can be understood only by people who lived in the 80s, or does this kind of music have more of a general appeal?
John Merchant: These songs tell human stories. The goal is to appeal to other human beings. Not everyone will get it and it may not be for everyone. But I assure you, the intention was to connect with other human beings. The music was made for everyone to at least listen to. If you have an open mind and heart there’s something there for you. Whether the form it’s presented is appeals to you is your choice.
Hardrock Haven: Can you imagine history going full circle and ‘80s-inspired Hard Rock becoming mainstream again and returning to favor of general (younger) audience?
John Merchant: I don’t know, I guess we could ask the Strokes or Dirty Honey, or bands like that. I mean Greta Van Fleet is celebrated (and often criticized) for their Zeppelin influence. What if those kids didn’t know who Zeppelin was? Could it be a Whitesnake influence or even a Kingdom Come influence we’re hearing? Unfortunately if it were to be called a “Whitesnake” sound, it’s less marketable and respected. Will the 1980s scene get its full respect? Probably not, but people sure do sing pretty loud when the chorus of “Here I Go Again” comes on, don’t they?
Hardrock Haven: Whatever doesn’t appeal to critics always appeals to the audience, and vice versa more often than not. What about the inherently “American” aspect of the ‘80s Hard Rock scene?
John Merchant: Forgive me if I get too in depth in this analysis, but a lot of the LA scene had its roots in European hard rock like UFO, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and the like. Plus, the American thrash metal scene had its roots in NWOBHM bands like Diamond Head, Tygers of Pan Tang, and others. This music belongs to the WORLD. We are all rightful heirs to the throne. I think music and art have done a far better job of connecting people and cultures than any politicians ever have.
Hardrock Haven: And now the exchange continues the other way with European bands like Crashdïet, Crazy Lixx or Eclipse – so it really does. After the EP is out, do you plan a full-length to follow? And if you do, did you think what kind of 80s-tinged story you could’ve told us the next time around?
John Merchant: That record is in the works right now with several completed songs. Some keywords that popped up this time were “grittier”, “tougher”, maybe a little “darker”. The streets of New York City definitely show up here and there and some of the vibe of that scene creeps in too. But ultimately when it’s all boiled down they’re all human stories. Take the words and melodies and add acoustic guitars and pedal steel and they’re country songs, add some extra keyboards and it’s synth-pop. The music sounds the way it does because of the music we grew up on and made us, but the stories will always be universal. Always.
Hardrock Haven: Right on. What are your music plans regarding this project and perhaps beyond that as well?
John Merchant: Right now it’s just about connecting with our audience, bring more people in, and somehow repaying the bands and musicians who brought us joy over the years. If I can do for someone else in some small way what Johnny Thunders or Michael Monroe, or Bruce Springsteen did for me, I’ve given back to the circle and done my little part. If Ghosts of Sunset provide the soundtrack for one person’s good day, or even horrible day, we’ve done what we set out to do.
Hardrock Haven: Is there any message you’d like to wrap our conversation up with?
John Merchant: Thank you certainly doesn’t seem like enough but right now it just keeps coming into my mind over and over. Thank you all!
Visit Ghost of Sunset online: Ghost of Sunset
