Putting a personal spin on success

Singer and guitarist Tony Spinner has a simple philosophy about his music -- don't compromise for anyone and always play from the heart.

That's why the Cape Girardeau native has, since the early-1990s, thwarted advances from major labels, making albums instead on smaller independent labels like Blues Bureau. That's also why almost 10 years after his last album on that label, Spinner has decided to produce his own album, "Chicks and Guitars," which will go on sale this week.

"I was on a label, Blues Bureau, and I just didn't want to do another record and just throw some junk out," Spinner said. "And I wanted to put them out myself. This record's all my stuff, and I wrote it all and it's my own stuff."

The style of the new album isn't really a departure from his earlier work, Spinner said, with its blues-inspired classic rock sound. However, there is one luxury Spinner had while making "Chicks and Guitars" that he never had before -- time.

"On a lot of those records, I threw those songs together in a couple weeks," he said.

Spinner, now 41, spent his formative years in Cape Girardeau, living in the area into his early 20s before moving to Jonesboro, Ark., where he now lives. Since then he has become one of Southeast Missouri's most successful rock musicians, putting out solo records on a well-known blues label, playing with Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big fame and even landing a touring gig with Toto.

Part of the reason for his nine-year drought in solo recordings comes from his hectic schedule working with Toto, as the band has been on a grueling road schedule the past few years. Such schedules, though, are the bread and butter of rock musicians.

However, playing with Toto doesn't give him the creative freedom he enjoys making his own recordings and touring with The Tony Spinner Band.

"I get to stand in front of 20,000 people, but I'm stuck playing rhythm guitar and singing background vocals," he said of his role with Toto. "It's complete freedom with my band. With Toto I have to play a part."

But the Toto gig has launched Spinner's solo career in a new direction. Toto's manager helped Spinner get some concert dates in the Netherlands during the past year, where The Tony Spinner Band has been well received by legions of purist rock music lovers.

Spinner said the Dutch embrace the classical boogie that he loves to play.

"People are starved for rock 'n' roll, American rock 'n' roll, over there," Spinner said. "The difference is people in the U.S. are pretty jaded. They've heard and seen it all. In Japan, Europe and the Netherlands they don't have American rock there, so they really pay attention to what you're doing. They know if it's good or not, because they care.

"They really appreciate the fact that we can play."

Spinner has no qualms about displaying his outright disgust with current American pop culture's lack of substance and over-abundance of style. He also refuses to go along with trends. When a band of his, White River Monsters, was offered a major-label deal back in 1992, at the height of the grunge era, the deal was turned down.

"They wanted me to cut my hair a certain way and part it on the side and wear certain clothes," he said.

Instead, Spinner has chosen to promote himself in the old-fashioned rock way by going on the road and meeting the fans with live performance. So far it's worked, as "Chicks and Guitars" sold well at shows in the Netherlands and more dates are scheduled, including three festivals in August.

msanders@semissourian.com

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