Butch Walker built his reputation with hard-hitting, self-produced rock albums marked by a bright, polished sound. When he set out to make Afraid Of Ghosts, an LP partially inspired by the death of his father, he decided to forget about perfection and aim for a more visceral, acoustic feel. The songs on Afraid Of Ghosts were written over the course of a year, then recorded with Ryan Adams and his band in a four-day burst of creativity. It’s the first time Walker worked with an outside producer. Walker will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature on him.
Walker: I know, I know. They’re all the rage now, but fuck you, man. I’ve been riding them for about 20 years or so, and I just happen to be able to finally afford to collect a few that I love. The one that currently has my heart is my black 1949 Harley Davidson Panhead. It’s a bit of a mutt (’49 unmolested panhead motor in a ’46 knucklehead front and and frame), but I still scored when I bought this one. They are not getting any cheaper if you can find them with original parts and paint. I also have a 1954 Harley Panhead bobber and a 1980 Harley Shovelhead chopper with a custom painted tank by this amazing artist in Japan named Gen Love Ear Art (the Japanese are whacky and awesome). I also have my first love that I learned pretty much how to ride on (a 1973 BMW R75/5). It’s a classic little bike that always looks cool going down the road and always runs. Especially if you own old Harleys; then you know what I mean.
Video after the jump.
