Upon the release of his new single, Musicology discovers the defining tracks that shaped Clint Wilson.
No 1 Pearl Jam
Alive
That intro riff… I’d just started playing guitar at the time and a mate who was a few years older than me came over and showed me the song and I fell in love with Pearl jam. I hadn’t heard anything like it and not long after that I was introduced to Nirvana.
I don’t remember where I was when I first heard this but I was by myself and it gave me goose bumps, it still does. Such a strong story that I think every kid goes through, pretending to be asleep to avoid what’s going on.
After school one day I got a lift home from a mate and his dad. He had Unplugged in New York playing. When All Apologies came on I didn’t know it was Nirvana (I’d only heard Bleach and Nevermind at the time) I sat there and listened so closely. I got my friend to record the CD on to tape for me that weekend.
I didn’t really know what the song was about, still don’t, but he has this great way of sending his feelings down the mic. So gentle in the verse then so much hurt in the chorus. Whenever it comes on I love singing along.
I can remember hearing it for the first time and thinking “wow this is going to be huge, the next Khe sahn even.” It was the first track I’d heard of theirs and soon realised how good their other stuff is. Great musicians!