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 Contact Clyde
I grew up in Chicago
listening to groups like Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Cream and Grand Funk
Railroad. From there I discovered Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix and
Uriah Heep and eventually got swept up into the prog rock movement with bands
like Kansas, Styx, Genesis and Rush. And when Skynyrd and Hatchet hit the scene,
I was one of the first fans to jump on the southern rock band wagon.
I got my first guitar at 16 and had visions of becoming a rock star, playing
both rhythm guitar and bass with dozens of local bands on the Chicago bar
circuit. I eventually became a husband and father and laid my rock star desires
to rest. Being a never-ending dreamer, however, I needed something to fill the
void opened from laying down my guitar where I could still chase a dream without
spending countless late nights away from my family.
Having done exceptionally well with writing assignments in college, I decided to
try my hand at freelance writing. My first freelance gig was as a
Reader-Columnist, writing a monthly editorial column for a large daily newspaper
in Gary, IN.
But it wasn’t until I moved to Myrtle Beach in 98 that my love for writing met
my love for music. I picked up a copy of a local arts and entertainment magazine
titled Yikes! It was one of the coolest rags I ever read, but the music section
was all about grunge, alt-rock and techno. I contacted the publisher and
attempted to convince him there were enough 30 and 40-something readers like me
sticking their noses in his pages that he needed some music coverage directly
targeted to us. He agreed and just like that I was the official over 30 music
writer for Yikes!.
I was with that publication a mere six months before they closed up shop. But
that was all it took. Once I did my first interview with Robby Steinhardt from
Kansas I was hooked for life. I was a classic rock interviewer junkie and
couldn’t put it down. The first month Yikes! was officially out of circulation,
I was picked up by another local publication, Beach Nights Magazine, where I
spent six years as a music columnist, concert reviewer and feature writer until
that mag finally met its demise.
I currently live in Statesboro, a small Southern college town that has dozens of
regional bands flock the bar scene around the Georgia Southern campus every
weekend. I write the bandography section for the local entertainment magazine
here, giving readers a run down on who’s coming to what bar and what to expect
from their shows.
My writings have also graced the pages of other forms of local and regional
media, including a two-year stint as a sports writer covering high school sports
for a local Myrtle Beach newspaper. But without a doubt, my favorite writing
adventures are the interviews I do for CRR, writing about the music I love, and
talking about it with the people I have admired since I was a young teenager.
When I’m not writing or on the phone with one of my classic rock heroes, I live
pretty much an average middle-aged life. I’m a Field Service Rep for Northrop
Grumman’s technical services division by day and enjoy my job. I have also been
blessed with a wonderful family life. I’m married to an incredible woman who is
not only my wife and companion but also my best friend. I know people say that
so often it’s almost become cliché, but in our case it is the absolute truth. We
enjoy our time together always, rather we’re at a concert, watching a football
game, hanging with friends, working in the yard or just walking around the
block.
We live about an hour’s drive from the beautiful Georgia coastline and spend
time there whenever possible. We have one 11-year-old daughter left at home and
we really enjoy doing family type things. We also have four grown children,
three of which have children of their own. So yes, you can call me Grandpa. Our
childless son is a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corp and is currently serving
his third tour of duty in Iraq.
The Nuts and Bolts
Name: Clyde Bradley
Birth date: Jan. 7, 1958
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Currently Residing: Statesboro, GA
Married : Yes
Children: 5
Personal Motto: Hope for the best but expect the worst and you’ll never
be disappointed.
How did you come to write for Classic Rock Revisited?
I was sent a link to CRR from the Southern Rock Allstars to check out their CD
review. I was so blown away by the site I immediately clicked on the contact us
link, gave a quick run down of my qualifications and offered my services.
First album you bought:
Iron Butterfly, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Approximate number of concerts you’ve attended:
It has to be a couple hundred at least considering my first one was 30 years
ago. And if you count bar shows, music festivals, tribute bands ect. I’m sure
it’s more like several hundred.
First Concert:
Styx, Uptown Theater in Chicago, 1976
Favorite Concert:
Kansas and Heart, Rosemount Horizon in Chicago, 1980-something
Worst Concert:
Santana, Palace Theater in Myrtle Beach, 1999
Favorite Rock n’ Roll Movie:
Blues Brothers
Favorite Band:
Kansas
Least Favorite Band:
Grateful Dead
The most embarrassing CD in my collection is:
Tommy James and the Shondells
Biggest Rock Nerd Memorabilia I own:
A framed copy of the Yikes! Magazine I interviewed Robby Steinhardt in
autographed by all the current guys in Kansas.
Favorite Rock T-shirt I ever owned or still own is:
UFO: Strangers in the Night
Craziest thing I ever did for Rock ‘n Roll:
Played and/or hung out in music clubs until two and three in the morning
when I had to be up for work at six AM-sometimes for days straight.
Top 10 Desert Island Discs
1. Kansas; Sail On
2. Styx; Crystal Ball
3. Shooting Star; Hang on for Your Life
4 Dio; Holy Diver
5. Guiffria
6. Deep Purple; Perfect Strangers
7. Genesis; Three Sides Live
8. Styx; The Grand Illusion
9. Rush; All the World’s a Stage
10. Jethro Tull; Aqualung
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