Getting to Know… Ghosts of Sunset | Interview 🎤

For the 119th interview on The Musical Hype, we chat with John Merchant, singer, guitarist & co-writer of hard rock band, Ghosts of Sunset.

“Our music is heavily influenced by the 1980s ‘hair metal’ scene, [but] we focus heavily on lyrical concepts and storylines that draw their influence from great songwriters as diverse as Dylan and the Beatles to current songsmiths like Jason Isbell and Justin Townes Earle.” That’s pretty cool, if I do say so myself!

Ghosts of Sunset, the interviewees on the 119^th interview in our Getting to Know… series, is comprised of Singer/guitarist/co-writer John Merchant and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Todd Long. It is Merchant who answers our burning questions about the band, focusing on their music, background, goals, and what’s coming in the future. So, without further ado, here is Getting to Know… Ghosts of Sunset: Interview #119. 

Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with Ghosts of Sunset, what would you say makes your band distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?   

Ghosts of Sunset is unique in the fact that while the music is heavily influenced by the 1980s “hair metal” scene, we focus heavily on lyrical concepts and storylines that draw their influence from great songwriters as diverse as Dylan and the Beatles to current songsmiths like Jason Isbell and Justin Townes Earle. As far as rocking socks off, we’ve been in the business 30+ years and came of age when live performance meant everything. You HAD to deliver live and you had to create an experience for the audience. We rock AND roll. There’s a difference.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Ghosts of Sunset form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

Ghosts of Sunset formed after I had an idea for a concept album based on the 1980s “hair metal” explosion on the Sunset Strip in California. I called my 30+ year musical partner Todd Long and we began writing and recording with very little expectation other than to deliver the story while using some of the structure, tones and recording techniques of that era. The trick was to do all of that without sounding dated. I think we accomplished that. Our vision for Ghosts of Sunset was to pay homage and respect to the music that shaped us coming up while creating songs that draw listeners in.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?  

Todd and I both loved music so much as young men we didn’t have the usual “sex, drugs, fame, fortune” goals that many musicians start with. For years all we’ve ever wanted to do was make a living doing something we feel we were CALLED to do from birth, connect with like-minded humans, and deliver QUALITY music. Our goals have not changed. We want to put good into the world and we want the music to affect people at a deep level.

That is awesome! Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Certainly, the classics like Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, through 1970s pop, glitter, and glam. Ultimately, the biggest influence on Ghosts of Sunset overall is the 1980s hard rock and metal scene that saw the rise of bands like Motley Crue, RATT, Poison, LA Guns, Faster Pussycat, Warrant and others. What makes us unique is we’re also open to everything from classic country, AM radio pop, MTV-era pop and new wave, to thrash metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. We don’t discriminate. A good song is a good song. Whether it’s Tom Petty’s “Damn the Torpedoes” or LA Guns “Cocked and Loaded”. If a record delivers SONGS, we’re in.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.  

After all these years it seems like we’ve seen it all. That includes police stops and searches, sketchy cities after dark, to personal injury and illness. Stuff like the whole band gets the flu at once or the time I slammed the guitarists hand in the van door on day 2 of a 14-day run. Performance wise it’s everything from nudity to threats of violence to drunken shenanigans when I was an active alcoholic. You can do whatever you want but the gig doesn’t care. It’s gonna be there that night and you better be there too. 

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Our first Ghosts of Sunset single “Miles In-Between” is special because it launched the band and helped us land our record deal with Golden Robot Records. Having a label that’s primary focus is on MUSIC and great bands in absolutely priceless. So often the music business is filled with people whose last interest is music. Golden Robot Records and our management team at Samurai Artist Management are focused on longevity and quality. It’s nice to have that in your corner.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits? 

Todd Long will crush most people with his golf game. It’s unreal! It’s always fun to watch a dude in a Sex Pistols shirt, skate shorts and Chuck Taylors saunter up to the tee box and DOMINATE everyone around him. For me, I’m filled with useless knowledge about all forms of music that I get to share in a bi-weekly podcast called the Narcissistic Music Disorder. I can’t remember the day, but I can tell you who played bass for the “swampers” at FAME recording in Muscle Shoals Alabama. (It was David Hood)

Closing things out, what is Ghosts of Sunset currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

Currently promoting our first single and quarantine video “Miles In-Between” on Golden Robot Records and releasing a second single and video in October and the full EP in November. We’re already recording a full-length follow-up with members of Bang Tango, Lita Ford, Little Caeser and others. 

Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

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Photo Credits: Ghosts of Sunset, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype; Icons made by https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik (Freepik)