T.D. Clark: Chicago Shredder Has The Right Perspective

     T.D. Clark is one hell of a guitar player/songwriter. He scares other guitar players so much he had to adopt the the smiley face logo he employs as a way of making friends at all. I reviewed the Chicagoland (he now lives in Aurora) shredder's latest CD ("Perspective") in our January issue and recently caught up with him opening for Blue Oyster Cult at the Silver Slipper Beer Garden in Ottawa, Illinois. For me, TD stole the show with relative ease. T.D.'s showmanship and the energy and precision of his and the band's playing was just amazing. Talk about best kept secrets? TD Clark is one of Chicago's biggest.

     Despite being a predominantly instrumental artist in a time when others like him have gone into hiding, Clark has carried on and is actually thriving in a music industry where most agree "music" is the last thing that matters. How does he do it? Well, he was "discovered" by famed attorney Stevens Weiss (who represented Jimi Hendrix, Bad Company, Ritchie Blackmore, Led Zeppelin etc) after a friend played the attorney TD's first independent release "Personalities" in 1996. Weiss then flew around playing the CD to label reps trying to land a deal. He got TD some opening slots on national tours and a whirlwind of sorts began. Grunge had cornered the radio market though, and the labels weren't biting on a new instrumental act when artists like Joe Satriani were hard pressed to sell any records. Rather than giving up, TD and camp looked at and began exploiting other avenues. Endorsement deals, nationwide clinic tours, radio drop-ins and licensing songs for films a! ll became goals. The latter avenue just landed the single "The Fugitive" off "Perspectives" on the soundtrack to the movie "The Adrenaline Ride" and another song "12 String Thing" off that same disc on the soundtrack on another soundtrack to an as yet untitled movie to be released soon.

     T.D. is a man who makes no bones about working "smart", having fun and being able to make a great living off of your music if you just get off your ass and do it. As a successful shredder in a world of baggy pants and silicone, he's living and working proof that success can be attained (even if you have...talent!) on a variety of levels for an independent artist...it's all in your perspective I guess.

Mass email quote from local live:

June Issue on Streets Now! "Jurassic Rock"

** "Jurassic Rock" -- Our in depth and "poignant" look at the Jurassic "Walker Rollers" headed to the Chicago area this summer. Also featured in this month;
* Get "Hammered" with MOTORHEAD! -- Our very own Tim Shockley did...and tells all the details of his two day adventure in alcoholism.
* T.D. Clark -- Chicagoland's best kept shred secret?
* Homeless G busts out local band member Tony Hill of Egnaro on his "obsessions".
* Special MOBfest preview interview with the father of MOBfest; Roger Jansen plus our picks for the must see showcases.
* Hobart Jaycees Fest primer, Band Together Industry Party, Local and National CD Reviews, Nicotine you can DRINK?!?!, Local and National news and much more...

This quote appeared earlier in Local Live 2002 issue:

TD CLARK - Perspective
(Independent Release)

* * * *  (4 out of 5 stars)

Catchy Melodies and man can he SHRED!

Dan Scheffki
Editor/Owner
Local Live Chicago Magazine
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