The best rock n' roll, like any creative endeavor, comes from a blend of natural talent, determination, unconventional life experience and doing your homework. Tommy Stinson has a pretty generous measure of all four. Village Gorilla Head (Sanctuary Records) began its life five years ago in Tommy's home studio, though some of the ideas and words had been kicking around for ten. Interestingly enough, he was simultaneously recording a new album with Guns N' Roses, a group he had recently joined as bass guitarist. VGH grew in a fairly unplanned manner, anytime a worthy new song appeared, recording whenever inspired to do so. "I didn't have any goals or direction in mind," Tommy says, "I would just let the songs go where they wanted. I felt more free artistically than I ever have." Since he had decided ahead of time to pay for the recording himself and think about labels later, there was no pressure on him to make a particular kind of record, just the self-imposed compulsion to come up with something substantial. Lo and behold, it's a sensational album, easily Tommy's best to date. After sketching out a number of pieces that he was happy with at home, Tommy began looking around for a suitable studio where he could expand on what he'd been doing. Serendipity arrived in the spring of 2003 when musician pal Frank Black not only graciously offered to loan out his mobile recording gear but also a practice space he wouldn't be using for a month while he went on tour. Tommy then hired engineer Philip Broussard, along with the best players he could find, and got down to business - with some startling results.