JW Paris have unveiled former Babyshambles drummer Gemma Clarke as their new recruit.
The Luton rockers have been holed up a Buffalo Studios in east London, writing new songs for what could be their debut album and Aaron Forde and Daniel Collins took to social media to announce their third member.
Clarke was in an early incarnation of Pete Doherty’s post-Libertines band between 2004-2005, drumming on early top 10 single ‘Killamangiro’ and appearing on Top of the Pops.
Announcing their newest member, the ‘Darker Side of Paradise’ tunesmiths wrote on social media: ‘Please make our amazing power house of a new drummer Gemma Clarke feel at home. We are beyond excited to announce that Gemma is our new drummer in JW Paris’.
In the band’s Stuck in a Video YouTube series, episode two, Clarke said: “It’s got a new sound, it’s a new start, I needed a new kick.
“Honestly, recording or not recording, I had no plans at all of being in a band. That was it, I was done. But, ‘That’s Why’ and ‘Royalty’ done me and I was like, ‘I can do this.’
“I was messaging Alex (Forde, owner of Blaggers Records) at midnight saying, ‘sort it out. Get them in the studio’.”
Bassist Forde had teased the big news when he appeared in the Blender Lockdown Sessions stream last month, but keeping Clarke’s identity a secret, he said: “They’ve been really invested in the band, considering who it is, they’re amazing, bringing such a good energy.”
Clarke, who later had spells in The Suffrajets and The Krak, joined Babyshambles in 2004 but quit the following year, citing the band’s management as the reason. At the time, Doherty’s spiralling drug addiction and his relationship with supermodel Kate Moss, was the focus of the UK tabloids.
In an open letter to the ‘Fuck Forever’ songwriter, explaining her departure, Clarke reportedly wrote: ‘I will not continue to work under the management that you have chosen for the band as I could no longer be part of a machine that I feel is destroying you. I love you, the music, Patrick, Dru and Babyshambles. Please be safe and be careful. You are a great artist and have been a massive inspiration to me. Thanks for the experience and for a great time – keep safe and don’t forget to call me…good luck for the future.’
But now, with Clarke as their third member, JW Paris have teased that a debut album could be in the offing, via Blaggers Records.
Along with the Clarke’s unveiling, guitarist/singer, Daniel Collins, said in Stuck in a Video: “2020! What a year, ay? Collectively ruining the arts and entertainment industry. So, we spent the multiple lockdowns writing, recording and trying to produce what looks like our first album. We’ve been lucky enough that we’ve been able to work on these new tunes, at the groovy Buffalo Studios, with the genius that is JB (Pilon, producer).”
Forde said: “JB syncs in really well with our style and the kind of sounds we want to create. He kind of drives the music.”
Collins added: “Out of the madness and certainty, we’ve harnessed something really special.”
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