Gas Stop

Album: How We Run (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Before Cars is fronted by Chad Channing, who was Nirvana's drummer from 1988-1990. Geography prevented him from doing much writing with Nirvana, since he lived about an hour away from Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, but he's always had a passion for writing songs.

    "Gas Stop" was inspired by a real story that sounds like it could be a Macaulay Culkin movie. When Chad was six years old, his family was moving, so they packed up in their Ford truck with a camper attached. When they stopped for gas at a small town filling station, Chad was the last out of the bathroom, and discovered that the truck was gone. He told us the story: "I didn't know what to do, so I just walked down for maybe about a block or so and I sat down on the curb next to this telephone pole and sat there wondering what I was going to do next.

    And what had happened is usually one of us kids - I had two sisters with me at the time - would sit up in the cab in the front with my parents, and the other two would sit in the back. So my mom was like, 'Is everybody in?' And my sisters were like, 'Yeah, yeah.' My sisters assumed that I was up front in the cab and my parents thought that I was probably in the back with my sisters. And so hours down the road they realized that I wasn't in the car at all. And my mom about had a heart attack. I don't know how long I was there, but the sun was setting by the time I saw them. And I was still sitting in the same spot." (Here's our full Chad Channing interview.)

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.