You have been part of many collectives, how did it all start for you?
Well I grew up in Nashville, started playing with groups in high school and then just gradually drifted into the world of older musicians. Lambchop is a meta collective with a lot of side collectives as part of it, so once I began playing with them I sort of fell into a number of their related entities whether it was playing traditional hillbilly style music with Paul Burch or the sort of ultra damaged Rocket from the Tombs style punk with Mark Nevers' group Cyod.
How long did you play with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and how did that come about?
I played guitar on "Master and Everyone"; Mark Nevers was recording that album and he phoned me to come by and add some parts. Honestly that is the extent of my involvement with Will. It's pretty amusing because I always get billed as a sideman with folks like Bonnie Prince Billy and it's just not true although I would love to play with Will more often. I would say he's a friend, we have a lot of mutual friends as well and he spends a fair amount of time in Nashville so we'll see!
Were you a sought after guitarist back then or was this more of an apprenticeship for you?
Definitely an apprenticeship. I learned a lot just from my time with Lambchop.
What was the reason why you started playing the guitar?
Couldn't play sports and figured being in a band was the only way to meet girls in high school! I started out on drums and fired myself in favor of my friend who lived across the street and who was/is a great drummer.
What guitars do you have and what are you using at the moment?
I always fall back on the Telecaster. I also use a Jerry Jones 12 string electric, it's a Nashville guitar maker that's no longer active. At home I have a Gibson B25 acoustic and a Martin as well which I record with but try not to travel with.
Top three guitarists of all time?
Impossible for me to make a definitive top three but I'll say Chet Atkins, Sonny Sharrock, and Greg Ginn.
You were with Lambchop for a long time. Do you have any particularly fond moments of that time?
Of course. Getting to tour Europe barely out of high school and then continuing to have what I can only equate as a challenging and raucous apprenticeship with them for a decade. Those guys are family, a really special group of musicians not to mention human beings.
You have been part of a lot of records, other than your own what has been the most important to you?
The first Silver Jews record I played on, ‘Bright Flight’. Playing on one of Charlie Louvin's last albums, playing with David Kilgour on ‘Frozen Orange’, adding some guitar to Candi Staton's, ‘His Hands’ and a bunch of others. A group of us, most of whom played in Silver Jews, backed my father up on a recorded at Nevers' place, it's great old school seventies country style tunes but as of yet unreleased.
Tell me about your record label, Sebastian Speaks. What made you want to start the label? Is this a future for you?
It started out as a hobby and has remained a hobby to a great extent. I have a ton of admiration for folks like Nemo with Time Lag and the people that run Mississippi Records and I used to entertain that as a format to emulate. But to be honest I just spend too much time away from home to really run a record label. We will see. I could use an intern!
Being a guitarist/artist or record label, which is more important to you?
Being a guitarist. It's a craft that is humbling and ever challenging.
At last we have you in the U.K for a string of dates supporting your album ‘Behold The Spirit’. Along side you is Hiss Golden Messenger, what do you think of him?
He's a lovely fellow with some fine tunes and a ‘70’s AM gold radio voice! I didn't know Mike or his music until this tour came up but I look forward to hanging and playing with him for sure.
What will be next for William Tyler?
Finishing this tour and making sure to bring back some Clonakilty black pudding to my girlfriend Sarah who is originally from Tipperary.
William Tyler w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
01.10.11 - Café OTO, London
02.10.11 - Chapel Arts Centre, Bath
05.10.11 - Prince Albert, Brighton
06.10.11 - Leaf, Liverpool
