‘Humbled’
Guitarist Jesse Dayton honored to do tracks for stars
Jesse Dayton knows is a man of many talents.
Playing guitar is one of them. The Texas-based musician has recorded guitars for the likes of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush and Glen Campbell.
Not to mention his contribution to music for Rob Zombie’s films “The Devil’s Rejects” and “Halloween 2.” He appeared in the latter as Captain Clegg.
And he penned and directed the horror movie “Zombex.”
Today, Dayton is in between sessions recording guitars for Duff McKagan’s next album.
“It breaks the monotony for me,” he says of recording guitars for others. “It’s great to step away from my own music and concentrate on someone else’s. I’ve always enjoyed it. Plus, I’m humbled that I’d be picked to help out on someone’s album.”
After the recording sessions, Dayton will head out on tour in support of his latest album, “The Outsider.”
His journey on this album was quite different because he recorded it while on tour, with stops in Atlanta, Denver, Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas, recording studios.
It was mixed by Grammy-winning producer Vance Powell.
“I wrote a bunch of songs in some old funky motels, on the back of our bus and whatever dingy bar I was playing,” he says. “You never know where songs are going to come from. I don’t really write like the Nashville guys, where I cram into a cubicle and produce something. I write when I feel like writing.”
In his writing process, Dayton says, he never censors himself.
“I’m an open book,” he says. “In this age of corporate greed and what’s happening in our government, people like it when you’re vulnerable.”
Dayton is constantly on the road — whether solo or touring with a band.
“I still am completely in love with playing the guitar,” he says. “The cool thing is that I can still have my solo career. I can go out on the road with Ryan Bingham or X and then return to my own stuff and I’m super-fresh.”
Touring has taken Dayton all over the world.
There are moments that still catch him off-guard.
“I played the other night with Steve Earle,” he says. “He went out of his way and gave me a hug. It made me feel cool.”