This is an interview I did (via email) with David Glen Eisley in 2001 to promote his solo album Stranger From The Past. I’ve added in a few youtube links and images, but the text is as it was in 2001.

David Glen Eisley was best known as the former singer for the 80s rock band GUIFFRIA, who released 2 albums [featuring ex ANGEL keyboardist Greg Guiffria]. Since then Eisley has had a few other projects, that didn’t rival the success of Guiffria, and with many 80s rockers was seemingly brushed aside by the music labels and biz. But Eisley is back with his debut solo album released last year on Frontiers Records titled “Stranger From The Past”. It features Eisley not only as vocalist/songwriter/producer, but also on guitar, keyboards, bass, and even drums [on one track], as well as notable friends and former bandmates – guitarist Craig Goldy [Dio/Guiffria], bassists Chuck Wright [Guiffria] and Stephan Ellis [Survivor], and drummer Ron Wikso [The Storm, Foreigner].

Here I swapped questions and answers with David, who discuses his career, notably the Guiffria days, as well as the making of his new solo album.

What sorts of music did you grow up on? Can you give me a short list of favorite bands, singers, guitarists, songwriters, etc… ? Any heroes in particular?

DGE- Beatles, Dylan, CSN&Y, Bad Company were bands that I was into. Paul Rodgers, McCartney, Little Richard were singers I admired. My Dad was really into big band jazz and got me into it at a young age before I discovered rock and I started studying drums, which I became fairly proficient at. But the Beatles hit and that was it!

Can you give me a Top 10 [or more]  of all-time favorite albums?

1.Sgt. Pepper (Beatles), Blood on the tracks(Dylan) Exile on main street(Stones) Joshua Tree(U2) Highway 61(Dylan) Déjà vu(CSN&Y) Blue(Joni Mitchell) Straight Shooter(Bad Company) Nebraska(Springsteen) Blonde on Blonde(Dylan)

Were you in any name bands prior to Guiffria?

No!! I was busy drinking and playing baseball!!

How did the whole Guiffria thing come together? Were you familiar with Angel and Gregg Guiffria prior to then?  That band had quite a few great names in it, with Chuck Wright and Craig Goldy, how did things seem to work?

I had no idea who Gregg or Angel was. He got my number from a bass player that I had done a session with and the guy recommended me as Gregg was tryin too put a new band together. He called me and just the sound in his voice sounded different than the norm so I figured it might be something kinda real. I showed up for the “audition” and we immediately started writing a song. It was a real strange connection. But it seemed to work. Things just started to evolve from there.

What was the deal with Gregg initially wanting to call that band ‘Angel’? And is it true You were the one who suggested ‘Guiffria’’?

I think he was just thinking that it was a known name so maybe that would help in getting a new deal. Well, we did get a deal but ultimately the company and us realized that we sounded nor looked at all like Angel so we weren’t! Nobody seemed to be able to come up with a name so at the last minute being we were in the era of Van Halen, Montrose and all the other namesake bands I came up with Giuffria. What the fuck was I thinking?? Oh well.

In retrospect, what do you think of those Guiffria albums?  Highs and lows? Was there ever any conflict in the band with the excessive use of Greg’s keyboards over Craig Goldy’s guitar work?

I think the first record has some great moments. I think we didn’t have a clue as to what we were until we hit the road. Then we realized we were a potent rock band. Unfortunately that band couldn’t keep it together for #2. I think we would have given Goldy more room and we would have done a great record. Instead the keyboard prominence became even more on Silk and Steel. I think Gregg and I wrote some good songs on that record and we should have sold them to a big adult contemporary artist to do. We would have made more money!! The record really wasn’t the band as it was, although Lanny is a great player. Yea, as in any ego driven entity there were a lot of conflicts but I think the split was just Gregg and I were just not feeling the same about shit anymore and we were sick of all the bullshit we went through with the record company. We just said ”See Ya”.

Did you have any contact with Gregg [or still have] after the Guiffria days? Any reason he didn’t ask you to participate in House of Lords? [How many Guiffria outtakes ended up on the first HOL album?]

He did not ask me to join House of Lords because that would just be Giuffria again with a new drummer! Besides I had already met up with Earl Slick and Dirty White Boy was on the horizon. I don’t talk to Gregg much. He really doesn’t play much anymore and has gotten very successful in business. Although I think he’s going to play a bit on the HOL record.

Any stories from the Guiffria days and the tour supporting the reformed Deep Purple?

The Deep Purple tour was a great experience in learning what to do on the road and what not to do. I had a great time but at times it was pretty rough. I mean dealing with Mr. Blackmore at that time was interesting to say the least. We finished that tour and hooked up with Foreigner on their last big one. That was a big improvement in terms of general treatment.

What can you tell me about DIRTY WHITE BOY? You guys only did 1 album? Any major gigs or breaks there? How did that whole project come and go? [in a nutshell]

DWB was a victim of timing and circumstances. Thee record company, Polygram was getting ready to clean house and make more room for the Grunge attack and R&B acts. We were touring in Europe as the record was released there first and were being told there was really no company back home. Dismantling of a sorts. We had no support for a domestic release and it all just fizzled away! Although the record was produced all wrong I really dug that bands vibe. We really became a “freight train from hell” on the road. The record does not reflect that unfortunately.

You did the Stream album with such names as Bob Daisley [Ozzy / Heep / Rainbow] – a great bass player, as well as Eric Singer ! Quite a line up!! What happened with this project? Any stories from working with the likes of Daisley & Singer? 

Stream was really just a money gig. I had known Bob from another situation that I passed on and he called me to do this thing. There was really no ample time and everything was rushed. It really had no band thing going at all. I think all of us were just throwing it together, collect the doe and not give it much thought beyond that. Eric is a likable guy and a great drummer!! I really never hung with them other than that short trip. Forgettable period!

What else have you been involved in over the years? Any bands, sessions, guest appearances … ?

I’ve been getting into some acting the last couple of years and find I like it. Some independent films, some TV and a couple commercials one being a thing with Ringo which was a great gig!! He’s a real trip and a great guy!! You hang with a Beatle for a couple of days and everything else kinda pales  away after that!!

When did you begin work on ‘Stranger From The Past’?

I started Stranger in May of last year. They released it in November of last year and here I am again frying in the summer again. Time is going way to fast my friend!

I take it ‘Stranger…’ is your first solo venture (? ) Why so long, having been around for so long?

Truthfully there have been three periods where I was going to go it solo. Two of which were just prior to my two main bands. The thought of the band thing at each turn felt comfortable to me so I passed the solo thing up. In hindsight I kinda wish I would have just had the balls and said “Sorry I don’t do bands” but I didn’t. That’s OK.

What’s the history of the songs on Strangers? Were they written more recently or things you’ve had from past years and saved?

It was about 50/50. I had a few of them existing for awhile in one form or another. So after being approached by Frontiers I got an idea as to what they were looking for and then picked ones I had and then proceeded to write the rest.

You wrote, produced, and played a lot of instruments on this album. Was it a very personal record, musically and lyrically ?

Yea, to a degree I guess anything someone writes it’s a bit personal. Everything comes from different times in one’s life. Some things are a little less heavy than others but are still from personal trips or memories.

This album has a somewhat classic rock / aor style to it. Was there a particular direction or audience you intended to go at? I think it’s quite an appealing album that many rock fans would enjoy.

Like I said I got an idea what they the market would bare so to speak and then tried to be true to myself and came up with this collection. If I had not considered what anybody or any audience expected from me it would have been much more stripped down, funkier and acoustic driven but I’m happy with the overall results.

Can you give me a few words or any stories to go with a few of my favorite cuts from the album > Stranger From The Past, Can’t Call It Love, Don’t Turn Away [which is my favorite here] and When It’s Over(?) Do you have any personal favorites [and stories to go with] ?

Stranger began with a lyric idea I put together after listening to a taped lecture on passed life trips experienced by this woman who was documented for real. About coming back and all that kind of stuff. After writing it the title seemed to apply to me and my career so that’s how that happened. Cant Call it love was part of a song I wrote awhile back. I re-worked it for the record and really had fun with that one. My daughter India can be heard at the end when she sneaked into my studio one day and I was giving her the “please be quiet” sign. She got a little pissed at me and left slamming the door behind her. I kept it as it hit just as I hit the last chord. Thanks India!! It is really representative of me and my “rock” roots. Don’t Turn Away was written off of a piano lick I had come up with awhile back. Lyrically it was written about a friend who was going through a messy relationship. When its Over was about the same period of time and kind of  based on the same subject matter. Goldy played some really nice stuff on that I thought. Funny though, we had nothing around at the time but a tiny little practice amp. We just stuck it in a little closet with a mic. That guitar solo was done awhile back in another space and time! But I loved what he played so I did everything I could to transfer it into the master track. It seemed to work.

Craig Goldy plays a lot of guitar on this disc. I take it you guys are good friends!? Do  you have plans to work together in the near future? Perhaps form a band ? 🙂  And do you have plans to gig or tour to promote Stranger From The Past?

Goldy and I have remained very good friends. He’s been busy with Dio, who is another really nice guy. I’m glad they are hangin’ again. Goldy was one of the people who were always tellin’ or asking me when I was gonna go it solo. Always supportive. So I called him while he was out on the road and he said “cool I will be back such and such a time. I’ll come right over. He did lucky for me. He is one of the few people who know me well enough to know exactly what I’m lookin for. He did his entire bit in a day and a half with never hearing the songs before. Although he drank all my Vodka in the process! If it was possible I think we’d love to put something together in the future. Who knows. Tour plans for Stranger?? I really don’t know. That has a lot to do with the record company, tour support etc, etc.

How has fan and press reaction been to Strangers.. ? What have been some of the highlights as far as reviews and/or press features go? Any chart placings around the globe?

The response to the record has been really good generally. The press and ads have been very positive. I think I’ve been gone for awhile so it has been a bit of re-aquatinting myself to the scene again. A couple of the larger mags in Europe have placed me in different charts and its all been positive. I’m really not on top of all that. Sorry.

You sang all the vocals [w/ harmonies], played a lot of guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums on this album. Why did you take on so much yourself, and how did you determine where and when to use the various guests?

I did most of it myself because I kinda of know how I want it to feel. That’s my main thing. I don’t really care if it’s not the best technical playing going on. My songs are just that and if the feel ain’t right then I have trouble carrying it through. The guys who played on it know me very well and played what I would have played if I had the chops to do it. But some of the stuff I heard in my head I can’t execute. So enter my “wiz kid buddies”.

I take it singing is your first love? How do you see yourself as guitar player, keyboard player, etc… ?

Singing for me is on and off. I wont sing for a long time and then all of a sudden I will be writing or doing sessions and be singing again. When I do it makes me feel good but I don’t go out of the way to go and sing with the guys every other night. I’d rather sit in playin’ drums or a little guitar. Weird huh?? I am really quite a sloppy and un-educated guitar player as well as keyboard player but for my stuff it seems to work and I have fun doin it. And my stuff is really all I’m concerned with. I do outside money sessions with my voice. So I really don’t give a shit. I mean I would love to do what Craig can do but I cant. But he cant ballroom dance like I can! HaHa!

Having played alongside Greg Guiffria for a few years, it’s interesting that the only keyboards you tend to use here are piano, Hammond, and some synths as background effect.  I take it you wanted to make this a very guitar oriented album?

Gregg was really into Keith Emerson through his life and chose that really over the top keyboard trip which worked great for us. My thing isn’t really guitar or keyboard driven. I think its more song driven. I had no need for all of that stuff. But your right it’s a little more guitar oriented than keys.

Any stories from the recording or making of this record you’d wish to share?

Other than I had a good time doing it in my studio in my barn alongside the horse and my pot belly pigs there is really nothing out of the ordinary to report on it.

Do you have plans to make another solo album in the near future? Anything you’d do differently?

I think I might do another one for Frontiers at end of the year but I’m not sure. Might do it on my own label Ol’ Boothill Records. A new album would be just that. “A new one”. So until I’m into it I don’t know what will be different other than songs.

What Kiss album did you guest on?

I think it was the Animalize record. I’ll check on that. I was working on a record in the same studio as them and Gene found out I was there. He sent a note over to our room and asked if I could come across and give them a hand on some song. So I did. Me Paul Winger (Kip’s bro) Gene, Paul and I. We had a good time. Paul was funny as shit! Anyway, I left. They sent me a check and I never even asked what record it was as I was really not into Kiss at all. I will ask Bruce or  Bob Kulick who are friends of mine. They obviously will know

What do you listen to these days? and what do you think of the rock scene out there for artists like yourself compared to how it was 15 years ago?

I primarily listen to older stuff. My Dylan records, U2, Springsteen, a lot of soundtrack stuff. I only really listen to music in the car. I’m busy doing other things. Well the rock scene as we knew it in say the mid 80’s through the mid 90’s has changed quite a bit. As rock and roll should, it caters to the very young. But generally the corporate powers aren’t interested in shoving really good stuff down kid’s throats. I find it very interesting that us baby boomer kids that have our own kid’s see our own kids getting into Hendrix, Zeppelin, Beatles, Stones, etc … as well as Britney Spears and that lot which is cool. I mean, the stuff we grew up with was very powerful music and it stands the test of time. Everything now is nothing more than quick soundbites for the most part. Here today then See Ya!!!

Anything else you’re currently involved in – musically or other interests?

 I’m writing a screenplay right now and working on a kids’ album concerning education which I hope to have finished and out by next year.

There is a compilation record of sorts coming out in August that has old stuff from Giuffria and DWB days. It’s kinda cool. Its called David Glen Eisley/ ‘The Lost Tapes’. You might find it interesting.