This week I sat down with founding member and former lead guitarist of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Billy Bibby to discuss the past, present and the future. Uncovering Bibby’s guitar rig, we find out how he creates that explosive sound that rips the roof off venues wherever he plays. Fresh off the back of his first UK tour with his new band ‘The Wry Smiles’, Bibby is as excited as ever for what the future holds for him as he looks forward and continues his journey within the music industry.
GS: Billy, how are you feeling after just completing your first ever UK tour with your new band The Wry Smiles?
I'm feeling great after the first UK tour with my boys. I obviously had a few questions that I wanted answering but I knew soon that we had something good going on and the tour went from strength to strength. Overall I just wanted to enjoy it, be professional and try start building up a good fan base. I think we did that, and I'm excited for the next one that we have already started planning before the last one finished.
GS: How different is it to now be the frontman of your own band?
It is different as you have to in a way be the captain like you would if you were captain of the football team and lead everyone else by example, and try and make sure that you have that presence to make the crowd feel comfortable when your up there on stage. Not many frontmen hide away from the action and I think it's important that you don't do that if you can. That's the main difference. Being in the spotlight and trying to deal with that pressure. I think I'm doing OK. Ha.
GS: What were your particular highlights from the shows you have just completed?
Manchester and Chester were very busy which was brilliant seeing people singing the songs already. All the gigs were great though and although it wasn't exactly a great moment a highlight was definitely breaking down and whilst waiting for the AA a stranger took us in and we had a beer and watched the rugby whilst waitin’. We really appreciated that cos it was fucking cold!!
GS: You have played in venues all over the world, do you prefer a large venue or the smaller intimate ones?
To me it doesn't really matter about small or large venue. It's atmosphere and character that makes a good venue. If a crowd are enjoying themselves and the sound is good then that makes the venue. We played a tiny little place in Edinburgh called sneaky Pete's and it was a great gig as the atmosphere was great so that makes it for me. The crowd make the venue what it is. Don't get me wrong it's a great feeling going on a big stage and hearing your music how you'd never normally hear it as its on such a big scale but in general I love a venue on experiences I've had there be it big or small.
GS: Is there a particular venue on the circuit that is a favourite for you to play?
I think for the amount of great times I've had there it has to be Telfords Warehouse in Chester, Always get looked after, Always a good crowd, Always a good gig, So I’d have to say there.
GS: You recently released your debut EP ‘Bide Your Time’, it‘s been well received on Radio X and BBC Radio Wales as well as many other stations. How long did it take you to write and record the four tracks?
I wrote the tracks fairly quickly. Before I even had a band, I learnt and recorded most parts for the demo versions. So when the band came in they added little bits of their own twist to the songs and we recorded them over a few months, but only a six days overall of that was in the studio spread out over the couple of months so it didn't take long at all really. I'm not a prolific writer, but I try and make sure each song has been thought through carefully and executed properly so that it has a genuine impression on people as the public aren’t stupid. They can see through a song that's been rushed or isn't heartfelt so I try and make each one real.
GS: ‘Waiting For You’ and ‘Don’t Fall’ are particular favourites of mine. Where do you pull the inspiration for your songwriting from?
Glad you like them. Ermmm all sorts of experiences, not necessarily one experience to one song it can be things put together and fortunately being on the road for near enough 9 years has made for a lot of experiences so there's a lot to write about. If I'm struggling I don't force it. I shelf it and come back to it later. I never have a problem writing a catchy song, I just sometimes have to work on the lyrics. That's the hard part. But I know when it's right, so I just have to get to that moment.
GS: Where did you record the EP and who produced, mixed and mastered the tracks?
The EP was recorded in penmaenmawr with Russ Hayes who did the early catfish EPs with us. He also mixed and mastered it. Russ is an extremely talented producer who is also probably the best musician I've ever met too. He can literally play everything. I'm very lucky to be able to call on Russ to help do the EP and future singles and records with him and he hasn't quite got the recognition he deserves with it yet.
GS: Do you see the other band members contributing to the writing in the future or will you continue to craft the songs alone?
I think they are more than capable as two of the lads already have songwriting experience so it's a possibility in the future yes.
GS: With vinyl and cassettes coming back into fashion massively at the moment, do you have any plans for a vinyl or even a cassette release this year?
I'd like to do a vinyl release on either the next single or one after so that's also a definite possibility yes. Even though it's not financially the best move for the band at this moment in time I think it's important to think about the fans and what they want, and like you said they are becoming more and more popular now so it makes sense to do it.
GS: Growing up, who most inspired you to pick up the guitar and write your own songs?
Early on it was strange because I didn't know any modern bands really. Elvis Presley, and my first guitar hero was Hank Marvin from the shadows.
GS: Which artist would you most like to collaborate with and why?
I'd have to say Noel Gallagher springs to mind because he's one person I love and think he's achieved the highest level of success in the game, so to do something with him I think we'd create a masterpiece together. If I was wanting to maybe take a slightly different approach on a song I'd maybe go for Eminem. To me he is untouchable in his lyrics and even though the music is very different it'd be interesting to work with someone that meticulous and audacious.
GS: At the last gig I attended I noticed you’d changed your electric guitar, is there a particular reason for changing from the white Fender Stratocaster you used whilst in your old band Catfish and the Bottlemen or did you just fancy a change?
New era, new weapon. Plus I just love the sound of the semi hollow electric with the humbucker pickups in it so I've got a farida electric like a kind of Sheraton style, and I actually bought a Sheraton 2 like a red wine colour. Lovely guitars and sound great with the new stuff. And my epiphone ej200 acoustic with that big bass tone. For a cheaper guitar it makes a great noise in a live environment, but I prefer my Taylor 110ce for recording the acoustic. Can't beat the natural tone from that guitar.
GS: What about your amplifier, are you still using Fender or has that changed too?
I have changed that too. I found an ampeg reverbrocket which I love. The tone on both is clean and distortion is the best I've ever experienced, and one of my favourite guitar players sounds is Matt Followills from Kings of Leon so I now have his Amp and a Sheraton 2 which he also uses so I'm copying him haha.
GS: Nice amp! What year is it and where did you find one of those?
It's a 90s reissue, but still hard to find, on eBay it was.
GS: What originally made you choose the white Fender Startocaster as your main guitar when you started out? Was it for it’s look or it’s tone?
I basically bought it cos i liked the look of it at the time. I was only 18 so it was more about the looks back then than the sound!! I still have that guitar though. We've had some good times together
GS: The thing that I myself, and I’m guessing every other guitarist want’s to know, is how you create that huge explosive sound you’ve got going on, talk me through your pedal board?
Eerrmm it's a tough one really. I don’t have any particular secret for getting that sound I just crank up the gain, put a touch more bass on than one might usually and on the pedals. I use an ibanez tube screamer which is also pretty much full on, also a holy grail which I control with my foot to turn levels up and down as the songs in progress and a cheap behringer reverb pedal also. It's got this space reverb that I love and it just makes the whole sound thicker and meatier. Plus in catfish I had a boss phaser pedal and a boss octave pedal and that's all really. Nothing too major
GS: Do you use the Ibanez TS9 or TS808?
It's a TS9 mate and it’s a reissue I presume.
GS: Is there a particular pedal you couldn’t live without?
Either the tube screamer or holy grail, Them two are my faves.
GS: What have been the highlights of your career so far?
When we signed our first record contract with communion was a brilliant highlight as our hard work was starting to becoming recognised and that makes it all worth while. Actually, being able to set up my own band and tour with new lads, and with the help of a handful of people, pull off a great first UK tour was also a major highlight in my career. It brought a lot of satisfaction, and more importantly I've been happy since it started.
GS: We discussed the possibility of a vinyl release later in the year which I’m sure will make all your the fans very happy but what other ambitions do you have for the new band for the rest of 2016 and the future?
It's simple really, just book in more tours and hopefully release a new single in the next month and a new EP at the back end of the year. Just got to try and repeat and keep plugging away so that next year we'll have done a lot of the ground work and we can build on from that.
GS: How do you stay grounded?
I guess everyone's different, but I've just been brought up well, and have respect for everyone, no matter how successful one may get. Everyone is an equal, so I remember that and try to just be who I am and will never change that.
GS: Who in your opinion is the all time guitar legend?
Overall I'd have to say Mark Knopfler. He's a melodic guitarist but with great skill as well and an unusual style. For me he's the man.
GS: And what advice would you have for a young aspiring musician that is just starting out, or even just learning to play guitar?
Advice... I would just say stick with it, and when shit starts to get serious, whether you be a solo artists or in a band just remember why you got into it. Because you enjoy it and it makes you happy. The day that stops is the day you might as well pack in it. That's the advice I'd give any young musicians bands etc.
GS: It seems the importance of signing a record deal is becoming less and less these days with there being so many ways for an artist to distribute and promote their music online. Are you planning on signing to a record label at this point or will you continue to release your songs independently for the time being?
That's a tough question to answer because yes, these days you can release your own music and put some reasonable force behind it without the help from a label, but I wouldn't say it's definitely the way to go. A great example of a band doing it that way and doing it successfully are The Sherlock's. They have a good fan base now around the UK and have agents and management etc helping them but they seem to be doing a lot of it themselves. A label can help give you more exposure but it can also take away some of your freedom to make decisions quickly and without the opinions of loads of different people. So for now I'm happy doing it independently but that doesn't mean to say I wouldn't sign to a label.
GS: Finally, how does it feel to have been awarded a gold disc for your contribution towards Catfish and the Bottlemen's debut album 'The Balcony'?
It's a great feeling. I'm proud of it and it shows recognition for something achieved. But I don't want it to stop. I want even more with this band and I will get it.
GS: Billy thank you so much for talking to Guitar School today. It’s been an honour and has been really interesting to hear how you shape and mould your tone. We wish you all the very best for the rest of 2016 and for the future!
Photography by Desh Kapur
