Typically, guitarists in rock and roll bands have a very short and specific job description. They need to play fast, they need to play loud, and when the spotlight comes in their direction, they need to make sure their fingers have the dexterity needed to produce an electrifying solo. But when Rockfest takes over the infield at the Diamond in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, guitarist Gilby Clarke will also need to make sure his public speaking chops are in order. Not only is his band playing a set at the six-act head-banging event, he'll be serving as master of ceremonies for the all-ages evening.

"I've done it a few times before," Clarke said recently from his home in Los Angeles. "You really just need to be organized. You're the captain of the ship. But I don't do anything like think of jokes before I go out there. That would be way too organized. I just fly off of the seat of my pants. You can't really plan that much because you don't know what the situation is going to be until you're in it."

Despite his prior stint in the role, Clarke's impressive resume goes a long way to qualify him for the position. On top of his 3-year stretch as the rhythm guitarist in Guns n' Roses, Clarke has toured the world as a solo artist, played with such diverse acts as Nancy Sinatra and Heart, and was recently part of the hit TV show "Rockstar Supernova" with ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newstead and Motley Cure drummer Tommy Lee.

"TV is really changing things," Clarke said. "If I would have been asked to do the Supernova thing five years before we did it, I would've said absolutely 'no.' But the lines between rock and TV are extremely blurry now. The rules for what and what is not acceptable in rock is changing. Producers of the show said if you took everyone who bought a G n' R record, a Motley Crue album, and a Metallica record that decided to watch the show, that'd be only 10 percent of their audience. I never thought about it like that before. There just aren't other opportunities to get that kind of attention for your band that exist out there."

It will be Clarke's job on Saturday to make sure that a proper amount of attention is brought to all of the bands on the bill. In addition to his own band, headliner Warrant, and Great White, Pretty Boy Floyd, Adler's Appetite, and Kottak will all be sharing the spotlight. But Clarke isn't worried. He's been friends with Steven Adler for years, has become acquainted with the guys in Warrant in recent months and is looking forward to working with Great White. But more than anything, he's confident in his own abilities to keep the transitions between acts a success.

"I've always thought my strength was being able to juggle all factors," Clarke said. "When I'm in my own band, I'm the singer and the guitar player, but I also have to keep the show going. And I've always fed off of the audience in that way. If everyone's going wild, well that's a good show and things are easy. But sometimes, especially when you're part of a festival, people might not be there to see you specifically. When that's the case, you really need to know how to work it. You've got to sell the crowd and I've always had an easy time with that. It comes naturally to me."

Saturday's Rockfest is a one-time event, so when the last note is played, the bands will all go their separate ways. Clarke plans to take some time off over the holidays and then get back to working on a solo record in the new year. But the producer and guitarist will always have one eye open to the many different opportunities available to expand his experience as a guitar player.

"I'm a professional musician," he said. "It's what I do. To me, it doesn't matter what the profession is, if you don't love it and keep up with it, it isn't something that you can be great at. No matter what it is, you can always get better. And when you get a chance to play with great people, you really need to be smart enough to take it."

Rockfest

The Diamond, 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore

7 p.m. Nov. 7

$30-$100

951-245-4487

stormevents.com