5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Brian Fallon
Best known as the frontman of The Gaslight Anthem, Brian Fallon is a musician, singer, and songwriter who hails from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Since the band went on indefinite hiatus, he’s been busy releasing four incredible albums since the launch of his solo career in 2016. In anticipation of our upcoming show with Brian Fallon And The Howling Weather on Wednesday, March 2, and in honor of Fallon’s 42nd birthday, here are 5 facts you didn’t know about Brian Fallon.
1. Bruce Springsteen spontaneously joined The Gaslight Anthem at England’s Glastonbury Festival in 2009
When a bunch of police cars pulled up unexpectedly, Brian Fallon’s first thought was The Gaslight Anthem was going to jail: “I knew that this morning, I was playing Glastonbury and this evening, I’m going to jail in England.” To his surprise and delight, Bruce Springsteen emerged from a black car and asked if he could join the band when they played “’59 Sound.“ “I said ‘yes,’ he (Springsteen) said ‘ok’ we didn’t even rehearse or talk, we went to the stage.” Talk about a rock 'n roll moment!
2. Brian Fallon has listed Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young as some of his biggest influences
“They just kind of went at the world full on and did things their own way. A lot of times people hated them for it, and they took a ton of backlash, but I think you can find a lot of good guidance there — just kind of barrel through it, and you’ll be OK.” Brian Fallon has gone on to say that “at the end of the day, you’re the sum of your influences” and you can hear the impact of these artists in his extraordinary songs.
3. Despite the opening line of Brian Fallon’s murder ballad, “Vincent,” Fallon thinks Dolly Parton is one of the greatest songwriters of all-time
Over here at The Capitol Theatre, we think Dolly Parton is a true American treasure! We're glad Brian Fallon feels the same. Although Fallon's song "Vincent" begins with the opening line: “My name is Jolene, but I hate that song,” he's stated that he hopes people get that he’s singing that line as a character.
"I was listening to the radio and I heard somebody telling that really great story about how Dolly Parton sat down and wrote 'I Will Always Love You' and 'Jolene' in one day," Fallon says. "I started thinking, 'Oh man, 'Jolene.' What a beautiful song.' Then it came into my head -- the whole line. Like, what if there was a kid who was named after the song, but she didn't like the song? Then what would happen?"
4. The Gaslight Anthem Song “I’da Called You Woody, Joe” was Brian Fallon’s tribute to Joe Strummer of The Clash
Brian Fallon is a huge fan of The Clash as well as Joe Strummer, he has passionately referenced Strummer as an inspiration in several interviews and even has a Strummer painting tattooed to his arm. “I dare you to find something wrong with Joe Strummer’s ethics. That was my man. He still is. That’s my guy.” Many of the phrases in "I’da Called You Woody, Joe" are direct quotes from different songs by The Clash. The title of the song itself is a reference to how Strummer would refer to himself as ‘Woody’ because of the impression Woody Guthrie left on him.
5. He has amazing taste in candles
Because who doesn’t love a good scented candle.
Words by Lilly Carey