GYPSY ROLLER is bringing back glitter rock with their new album. Gil Soliz tells us about the band and his unconditional love for glam rock.

Can you introduce GYPSY ROLLER?

Gypsy Roller is a music Band that I officially started around 2009 & has an eclectic rotating cast of members from each album. Starting with my first official release on Sunthunder Records “Champagne & Rock n Roll, We Got You Covered ( featuring Gen Genocide)” & Self Titled Gypsy Roller released by Alive And Kickin’ Records. I’m literally “ Rollin’ With It for each Recording Adventure.

Have you played in other bands before?

Yes, most of my musical career started in The Great Pacific Northwest in Portland Oregon. The Pin Ups , The Fringe , The Strand & Champagne Cowboys. The Champagne Cowboys was probably the most respected & popular band I fronted there & we ran those streets with the best of them . With other acts such as The Nice Boys, The Out Crowd, The Makers & The Viles. Some even claim we were ahead of the pack for a couple of years ?

Your album is out on French record label Alive and Kickin’ Records. How did that happen?

Matt Lehem has an ear for up & coming Glam Rocker Bands such as…… Plastic Tears, Smash Fashion, The Tip, Cream Circus, The Cry, Hammered Satin & The Sweet Things . And Gypsy Roller just happened to catch his attention with our Single “ Rock n Roll Stroller “. Can’t blame him though for that track is Hook City !

Your album production sounds very 70s glitter, how did you manage to get this sound?

That’s because Allen Davis is a Genius Music Producer ! The guy has a killer ear & common sense for a Classic “ Pop “ Sound. He musically Co-wrote all of those tracks on that Alive And Kickin’ self titled “ Gypsy Roller “ Release. Our first track we recorded together for that album was “ Goodbye To Sorrows “ & it’s like a Phil Spector / Tony Visconti Wet Dream Extravaganza ! Once we laid that track down I knew immediately that there was an album there somewhere . I think it’s a complimentary mix of my street sensibility & his slick production skills !

A band like GIUDA brought back the glam rock sound to a wider audience without being too “retro/vintage”, do you think GYPSY ROLLER’s approach to the style is quite similar?

Hmmmm ……. hard to say ?
I personally am not a huge fan of Giuda. However Allen recently went to there live show in San Francisco & said they were very tight & together on stage. Their esthetic is not my cup of tea. Soccer Polo Shirts, rolled up jeans & doc marten boots is very attractive I guess to your average college kid. But not to me. I gather our sound doesn’t represent that sort of thing very much & has a tad more touch of tinsel town vaudeville Glamour to it, yet I’m okay with that & personally prefer to be on that side of the fence of the Glitter Scene. To each is own I guess ?

You’re also a glam rock/glitter DJ, can you tell us about it?

Yes of course, basically I take pride in creating a most magical illusion to all my guests of The midnight hours. That suits each venues, such as Glitz At The Ritz, Continental Glam & my latest creative creation ….. Glitter Stiletto ! For it’s my duty to educate & entertain ! Frankly I have just as much fun Spinning my private record collection as to fronting a Live Band on stage .

Most underrated glam rock records to you?

David Werner’s “Whizz Kidd”, Brett Smiley’s “Breathlessly Brett” & Alastair Riddlell’s “Space Waltz”, The Stilettos & Magic Tramps.

How did you first get into glam and glitter?

It all goes back to my first Bowie Records which turned me onto Lou Reed, Andy Warhol, New York Dolls & The New York Max’s Kansas City Underground Scene & Beyond ! Seriously though the Ziggy Stardust circle is not a bad place to begin or to explore.
Considering my first high school Vinyl Records were Mick Ronson’s “Slaughter On Tenth Ave”, Lou Reed’s “Metal Machine Music “ which when the manager almost didn’t sell me the record because he thought it would warp my mind ??? Johnny Thunders‘ “So Alone”. You could say I was in pretty good company & influence.

Do you like reading books about rock’n’roll/biographies? Last one you’ve read?

Everything I know about Rock n Roll begins by spending endless hours alone in the bedroom with books ! And last one was by Patti Smith “ Just Kids. “

In “Blood and Glitter”, Mick Rock says “Glam was about make-up, mirrors and androgyny. It was narcissistic, obsessive, decadent and subversive. It was bohemian, but also strangely futuristic. It was Oscar Wilde meets A Clockwork Orange. It was a mutant bastard offspring of glitter. But while glitter was sparkling distraction, glam was anarchy in drag. It was sexy, glamorous, on the edge. It was the moment hippie finally died. It was absolutely rock’n’roll. But it was also fashion, art, theatre, lifestyle. It was gay, straight, multisexual…”
What do you think about this description? Isn’t it weird that glam rock had so much influence (and still has to this day) on music, fashion, etc. whereas it was such a short-lived movement (a bit like punk, actually)?

Basically Photographe wise Mick Rock is the gate keeper to all that is pleasing to the eye of Glam & Rock N Roll !!! He is my photographic guru ! He in captures everything that is Glitter Rock n Roll & Sexy!
Mick Rock’s photos & Album Covers play a very important part on opening a door of all of the true dandies of the underworld. Those album covers made it cool & acceptable for a guy to wear makeup & dress up ! For it let’s one know that it’s a great alternative to attract females, other than being a school jock or successful business man. It’s definitely the holy grail of fashion of The androgynous ones . Basically his photos are timeless & always inspires me when I’m looking for new artistic ideas !

Are you going to tour to promote the album?

Currently as we speak it is being discussed about us playing live in France & other Countries outside of France .
Please crawl out your window & get your copy of Gypsy Roller !

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