TWENTY BIG ONES with CHRIS GIBBS & CRAIG SKELTON of TRIPLE ENGINE

By Shane Pinnegar

 

It’s been a long ride for Triple Engine, formed by two of Perth’s most respected rock musos, Chris Gibbs and Craig Skelton. They’ve released original music under a myriad of different guises (Stone Circle, Chris Gibbs Band, Kingpin, The Skelton Collective and a swag more), played in a veritable starry host of tribute bands (most notably together in the longstanding KISSTake) and finally joined forces in 2020 in TRIPLE ENGINE to delve deep into the power trio formation a la ZZ Top, with a little Rush and Van Halen on the side.

 

But to paraphrase one the first tracks released by these uber-talented chaps, they are the ‘little band that could’, and four drummers later – two of whom feature on their extremely enjoyable debut album, out now – they’re ready to make some real noise.

 

 

 

TICKETS: https://milkbar.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/cb7ace74-25c4-4878-83ec-6d259e527894

 

 

Chris Gibbs and Craig Skelton both offered to dive into the important issues with us, offering up Twenty Big Ones with 100% ROCK.

 

 

 

 

CRAIG: Chris and I formed Triple Engine in during the big Covid lockdown in 2020 so as a band we’ve existed for 4 years. Of course, Chris and I had played together for 10 years by then. Current lineup is me on bass and vocals, Chris Gibbs on guitars and vocals and Elliot Jebb on drums. I always liked Chris’ description of us: ‘Big Smart Rock’, (so much in fact I worked it into one of our songs!). During the lockdown Chris and I talked a lot about what we wanted out of music and what we really wanted was a vehicle in which could genuinely push ourselves musically and creatively and I think that’s what we do. 

 

 

 

CRAIG: Well this is Triple Engine’s debut album release so, while I’d love to think we had some diehard fans, I’m not sure we’ve done enough to get any yet! Personally I am just thrilled that I’ve made an actual album, a real record, ten songs released on vinyl [coming in November, CD available now] that take the listener on a journey the way I used to go on when I listened to vinyl growing up. I am so proud of this release. Chris and I set ourselves some specific boundaries, parameters and goals and that really helped to shape the songs and the sound of the band and this album. We drew on our inspiration from all of the great guitar driven power trios from the 70’s like ZZ Top, Rush, The Police, as well as bands like Van Halen (really a power trio with a front man). Player’s bands. Great riffs, well-crafted lyrics, stonking solos, clever arrangements and musicianship that excels. We had a lot of fun not just writing and recording the record but producing it as well. Crafting the song order and, speaking of nuggets, some tasty effects and studio tricks inspired by the great albums of the 70’s that I don’t think people really get into anymore. Like any piece of vinyl, I reckon the best way to listen to this album is bang it on the turntable, turn it up, sit down with a drink and the liner notes and take the trip.

 

CHRIS: Two points of interest: original drummer Dan Skelton is on the original three singles and Josh Gallagher is the drummer on all other tracks. When the drums were recorded, Elliot had not yet joined the band.

 

 

 

CRAIG: All four of my grandparents were very musical and the sneaking suspicion is that all that DNA skipped my parents and landed in me . When I was 6 my Dad convinced a very good piano teacher to take me on even though she insisted I was too young. He talked her into giving me just one lesson and if she still felt that way then that would be that. When he came to pick me up all she said was ‘I’ll see you next week’. Apparently, I took to it like a duck to water and then promptly ignored all my other schoolwork I think I was 8 when the ‘lightbulb’ moment happened. We’d just moved to Melbourne and Mom, in her infinite wisdom, had plonked me down in front of the telly to keep me occupied while she unpacked boxes. Must have been a weekend and in those days, we pretty much only watched ABC. So, I’m sitting there watching this show called Countdown which I’d never heard of or seen and on comes this glamorous rocking band called Hush banging through a song called Boney Maroney (I can still hear it in my head). I took one look at that and thought, ‘that is what I’m going to do!’ and it’s all I’ve wanted to do ever since.

 

CHRIS: KISS Unmasked and WA KISS fever! But I didn’t want a career in music until I actually started guitar lessons in 1987.

 

 

 

CRAIG:  Everything! It is such a powerful medium and at the same time so delicate. You can say so much, invoke such emotion, provide such enjoyment or compassion or solace. You can do so much with those 12 little notes and we have done for hundreds and hundreds of years and we’re still doing it! The fact that it is a truly transient art form appeals to me immensely. It only exists in time… and then it’s gone…and if you weren’t there… in that moment… you missed it. That moment will never happen again. It’s so precious. One of my favourite quotes describing musicians comes from the late great Fank Zappa who said, ‘we sculpt moments in time.’

 

CHRIS: The right notes in the right order. No matter what my frustrations are with music, I always appreciate something played well.

 

 

 

CRAIG: My high school music teachers, Rush, Stravinsky, Mozart and Yes. I really want to say pretty much everyone I’ve ever heard and anyone I’ve ever played with.

 

CHRIS: Joe Satriani, Donnie Vie, Steve Lynch, Ace Frehley, Andy Summers.

 

 

 

CRAIG: Just me? I’d have to say Jon Anderson from Yes. I think that would be amazing. As a band? Geddy Lee or Alex Lifeson or both!

 

CHRIS: Donnie Vie

 

 

CRAIG: Prog influenced blues rock. When people ask me what our music is like I say, ‘Imagine ZZ Top but written Rush and played by Van Halen!’. What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with? Haven’t heard one…yet Give it time.

 

CHRIS: No cringe moments so far! We’re like Van Halen meets The Muppets!

 

 

 

CRAIG: So much of my life is music so in the few moments I’m not doing that I love to read, or go walking, or just chill on the porch with my wife, wine and cheese. The simple life.

 

CHRIS: Movies and plenty of them. I also love being in the kitchen cooking. 

 

 

 

CRAIG: Best? I kinda always look at my most recent performance as my best. I like to think I continue to improve Worst? I sat in on second keyboard for a theatre show once and it was just the two keyboards. The score was poorly printed and there was little rehearsal time. At that point I thought I knew what I was doing but oh my it was terrible. I barely kept up and the directors insisted the original keyboardist come back for the next show. Completely humbled and embarrassed but I learnt so much from the experience.

 

On the rare occasion things do go pear shaped during a show you make a joke of it, admit it, get the audience in on the joke, I’m only human and sometimes shit happens. People relate to that and appreciate honesty.

 

CHRIS: I’ve had a couple of less than impressive sight-reading gig experiences! If it hits the fan, I usually dig in to tried and true CG licks to get some runs on the board, and maybe change the set list around to ease pressure.

 

 

 

CRAIG: from Jaco Pastorias ‘Don’t think. Play’. From Billy Sheehan I got great advice about strap length and ergonomics. I attended a workshop with him and somebody asked him about that and he asked ‘when you practise are you sitting or standing?’. Most people answered sitting. He said ‘so the next time you’re sitting down practising, hold your bass to your body when you stand up and that’s where it should be. You bass should be in the same place in relation to your body when you sit and when you stand.’ Otherwise, all the muscle memory you worked on in that first position has to be readjusted when you stand up. I went home and did exactly that and to this day that’s how long my straps are.

 

CHRIS: Rai Thistlethwaite visited WAAPA when I was a lecturer there and spoke with the faculty and students. He said that you could study every successful song right down to key and tempo, use the most popular structures and sounds, and still have an unsuccessful song, so you may as well write something you love.

 

 

 

CRAIG: Interesting this is the next question as another great quote came from a Victor Wooten workshop I attended. Someone asked Victor that question but more relating to warmups. Without missing a beat Victor looked this kid in the eye and said ‘son I’ve been doing this for 40 years… I’m warm’. He wasn’t being flippant. He was saying he plays so regularly he doesn’t need to warmups but he did go on to say he does go through a routine to focus mentally and does some physical actions to get the blood pumping. Me? Well, it usually involves red wine and humorous conversation with Chris. Most of the time I don’t get nervous. Especially not rock gigs. I do get a little nervy before theatre gigs or accompaniment gigs as I feel more exposed. For these it comes down to being well prepared, positive self-talk, staying focussed and being in the moment.

 

I do have some performance rituals which have nothing to do with nerves. I always wear my gig undies (they’re purple and yes, I do have more than one pair) and gig socks (again more than one pair).

 

CHRIS: I never used to get nerves but recently some things have been developing. I’ll let you know when I work it out!

 

 

 

CRAIG: Meeting and working for Sir Bob Geldof at a charity gig in Sydney.

 

CHRIS: I reckon on the phone interviewing Yngwie J Malmsteen a number of years back. What an honour!

 

 

 

CRAIG: Playing. Playing music you write with people you love playing with in front of people who appreciate what you do. Dream job? Kinda what I also do now, being a mentor. Mentoring other musicians and bands. Helping them, enabling them to reach their goals. Now, if it HAS to have nothing to do with music, then I’ve always wanted to be a train driver!

 

CHRIS: Removalist! Same skill set for the most part. Best part about being a musician: making cool sounds that someone else might like. 

 

 

 

CRAIG: Chris is a great cook, we always have wine and I’m not sure we ever get to the acoustic guitar bit

 

CHRIS: I am the last at all of those, especially the acoustic guitar part! Craig Skelton is an excellent host and will play at the drop of a hat.

 

 

 

CRAIG: Tough question, as who I am today is the sum of all my experience and I’m pretty comfy in my own skin right now. Don’t know about misstep but it would be fascinating to visit the parallel universes where the band I was in at the time did relocate to Europe in the late 80’s, or where I didn’t spend ten years nearly killing myself running a production company.

 

CHRIS: Yes, KINGPIN should have committed to a second tour of the UK. We hit some financial challenges and looking back we didn’t try hard enough to find a way through. 

 

 

 

CRAIG: Be excellent to each other! Oh, and destroy all weapons of any kind. 

 

CHRIS: Let’s re-work education, the medical system, and social media. 

 

 

 

CRAIG: Spinal Tap has to get a nod here because it’s funny ‘cos it’s true! But my absolute fave I think is Almost Famous. Great story, great soundtrack, great script and some very real moments that I can very much relate to (no I’m not telling you which ones…’I am a golden God’)

 

CHRIS: Spinal Tap! Can’t beat it, can’t match it for heartbreaking satire.

 

 

 

CRAIG: Everywhere. Life. Observation, experience, love, rage, passion, heartache. Inspiration can strike at any time about almost anything. I think for myself it’s also a coping mechanism and probably a form of therapy.

 

CHRIS: Hard work and the ability to identify a bad idea as well as a good idea.

 

 

 

CRAIG: Moving Pictures by Rush. I still think it is one of the most incredible albums ever made. It was the second Rush album I ever heard, the first being Exit…Stage Left which was the live album from the Moving Pictures tour so I had already heard live versions of many of those songs. Of all the bands I’ve heard, seen, listen to regularly or not, no band has had not just the immediate impact on me but the longest and strongest influence on me. Not just as players, songwriters, and lyricists but also as men, as professionals, as people.

 

CHRIS: Maybe STRENGTH by Enuff Z’Nuff. It’s in my top 5 of all time and shows a band becoming something quite different to what people thought they might be. 

 

 

 

CRAIG: To explore, to learn, to have fun. To love and to serve. To be the best you, you can be.

 

CHRIS: My wife Jen and my children. Nothing else compares to building a family.