In a world which has lost much of its civility, guitar superstar Paul Gilbert is doing his part to bring a little respect and courtesy back via his music.
WROC, which stands for “Washington’s Rules of Civility,” could very well be Gilbert’s most outlandish offering to date. Using George Washington’s Rules of Civility as a conceptual homing beacon, Gilbert has dared himself to think outside the box and use an etiquette guide dating back to the late 1500s as his main source of inspiration.
This week Paul Gilbert unveils the official video for the ‘single Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune of Another)’.
Watch the video HERE.
He may have wielded a cordless power drill for supersonic tremolo picking and used a slide to summon the voice of Ronnie James Dio in the past. Still, this latest recording is the sound of a musician defiantly broadening himself into new uncharted horizons for his first vocal album since 2016’s “I Can Destroy.”
“Go Not Thither” pairs throbbing vibe pedals with regal harmonies, classic metal riffage and ZZ Top boogie blues. Talking about the song, Gilbert muses, “Hundreds of years ago, everyone must have been walking around kicking the earth. They kicked the earth so much that a rule had to be invented to put a stop to it! Another rule in the song, “Play not the peacock,” is more difficult to follow. I know this, as I can’t resist playing guitar solos while wearing a tricorn hat.”
The idea for the album came to him on the flight home from the last show of Mr. Big’s final tour, where the group bid farewell to a packed house at Tokyo’s Budokan Arena.
“I don’t know why it came into my head,” he shrugs. “But I love using lyrics to build melodies. I think I was looking for my own Bernie Taupin – who writes all the lyrics for Elton John. Neil Peart is another example, as he wrote the lyrics for Rush, while Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee composed the music. I wanted to find my own Bernie or Neil, because while lyric writing is something I’ve certainly done, it’s not really my favorite part of the process. So, I got George Washington to be my Bernie Taupin!”
On further investigation, it became clear that the first president of the United States of America had simply copied an English translation of the “Rules Of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company And Conversation” as a school writing exercise, inadvertently becoming its most widely credited author. Its lineage, however, can be traced even further back to a 1595 French etiquette manual written by the Jesuits.
Paul Gilbert Unveils Official Video For ‘Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune of Another)’.
Watch the video HERE.
The latest song taken from his upcoming album WROC, which channels George Washington’s Rules of Civility.
Released on 27 February via Music Theories Recordings
Also, watch the videos for Go Not Thither | If You Soak Bread In The Sauce
Pre-Order/Stream HERE
Tracklist:
1. Keep Your Feet Firm and Even
2. Show Not Yourself Glad (At the Misfortune of Another)
3. Maintain a Sweet and Cheerful Countenance
4. Go Not Thither
5. Orderly And Distinctly
6. If You Soak Bread in the Sauce
7. Let Thy Carriage
8. Speak Not Evil of the Absent
9. Turn Not Your Back (To Others)
10. Conscience is the Most Certain Judge
11. Every Action Done in Company
12. Spark of Celestial Fire
13. George Washington Rules