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Macc Lads

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The Macc Lads
OriginMacclesfield, Cheshire, England
Genres
Years active1981–1995; 1997; 2018-present
Websitewww.themacclads.co.uk

The Macc Lads are a rock band from Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. Self-proclaimed the "rudest, crudest, lewdest, drunkest band in Christendom",[1] the Macc Lads used irreverent, foul-mouthed and politically incorrect lyrics; common lyrical themes were binge drinking, sex and fighting.[2] Active from 1981 to 1995 and reforming in 2018, the band now tend to be regarded more favourably by music historians, in contrast to the reaction the band generated in their heyday, with many appreciating the blatant schoolboy humor and tongue-in-cheek nature of the source material.

Concerts

The band were prevented from entering or ejected from gigs in Macclesfield, London, Huddersfield, Bury, Cornwall, Blackpool, Colchester, Hull, Newcastle, Cleethorpes, Northampton, Leeds, Wigan, Lincoln, Bolton, Mansfield, Portsmouth, Cheltenham, Norwich and the United States.

A concert at the Birmingham Hummingbird in 1989 resulted in thousands of pounds worth of damage by fans. Vandalism included scaffolding being pulled apart and thrown onstage as well as a broken toilet, pots of paint and ashtrays.[3] Band members McCavity and Muttley suffered cut heads and fans went on stage to fight road crew, and stage security members Lockstock and Mungo.

The Lads' website states that at a gig in Cheltenham in 1991 a "bag of hot sick" was thrown at the band.[3]

The band played their 500th gig at Nottingham Rock City on 4 December 1995.[4]

Break up, subsequent media appearances and reunion

Before reforming in 2018, the band last performed at a private show in 1997 for Muttley's local football team in Macclesfield. The line up was the four-piece of Muttley, Winston Dread, Al O'Peesha and Johnny Mard.[5] In 1999, Stez Styx, The Beater, Muttley and Al O'Peesha reunited for an interview at the Ivy House pub, Macclesfield for The Bear's Head fan website. This was conducted by long term Macc Lads fan and Bear's Head fansite contributor Lance Manley, also known as Liquid Goblin.[6]

On 23 June 2015 The Guardian newspaper published an article by Ian Gittins in which he put a satirical interpretation on the Macc Lads' lyrics and said that they had arrived "too early" in music history to not be taken at face value. The article stated that they were ultimately "a coarse yet clever spoof".[7] Muttley McLad himself rejected this description, saying "There was no ulterior motive, The Guardian are reading too much into it. Making us out to be witty, intelligent satirists is probably the worst thing that’s ever been said about us."[8]

In November 2015 a 5-minute documentary called Coffee, Sex & Johnny Bags by The Beater's son Joe Conning was made and published on 2 January 2016 on YouTube and social media. The video is another reunion of the original line up with Muttley, The Beater and Stez Styx giving insights into lyrics the band wrote plus reflections on their success. Also contributing was long term "affiliate" Bammy the Bamster who is mentioned in a couple of the band's songs.[9]

On Saturday 25 February 2017 The Macc Lads members Muttley McLad, The Beater, Stez Styx and Chorley the Hord reunited for a gig as F.I.L.F with Bammy the Bamster on vocals. Although not an official reunion of The Macc Lads, this was the first time in since 1988 that Muttley, Chorley and Beater have played in the same band and the first time that Chorley and Stez have shared a stage. F.I.L.F are an ongoing project aiming to cover classic punk music, and began closing performances with Macc Lads material at Blackpool's Rebellion Festival. A gig at No.5 Bar in Macclesfield on 10 February 2018 sold out in 3 days.

On July 1st Lance Manley published a memoir of his time following The Macc Lads. Entitled Beer, Sweat & Blood: On Tour With The Macc Lads, the book covers the period 1988 to 1999 and the recent reunion.[10]

On August 3rd 2018 The Macc Lads reformed to play the Rebellion festival in Blackpool. The line up was the same as F.I.L.F. with Bammy on vocals. Two months later Muttley resumed lead vocals, and Bammy stepped aside to become the band's full time Manager. A sell out tour took place in November 2018 entitled The Usual Subjects with all of the gigs sold out. An official Facebook group for the band was created in February 2018.

Band members

The only member to be with the band throughout their career is Muttley McLad, real name Tristan O'Neill, who performed vocals, bass, and wrote lyrics. Other band members included:

  • The Beater (real name Geoffrey Conning) - Lead guitarist, backing vocals (lead vocals on Boddies), 1981–1986, 1986–1989, 1990–1991, 2018-present.
  • Stez Styx (1st incarnation), later known as Johnny Mard (real name Steve Hatton) - Drums, lead guitar, backing vocals, 1981-1986, 1993-1995, 2018-present.
  • Stez Styx (2nd incarnation, real name Howard Minns, also known as frequent support act Eddie Shit) - Drums, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Newcy Brown", 1990-1991.
  • Phil "Fast Fret" McCavity (real name Phillip Turner) – Lead Guitar, backing vocals, 1989–1990.
  • Al O'Peesha (real name Peter Bossley, a journalist with The Sentinel) - Guitar, piano, backing vocals, 1991, 1993–1995. Died in 2005 in Stoke-on-Trent.[11]
  • Cheeky Monkey (real name Percy Perkins) - Drums, backing vocals, 1985–1986.
  • Chorley the Hord (real name Charles Moore) - Drums, backing vocals, 1986–1989, 2018-present.
  • Winston Dread (real name Kevin Hooper) - Drums, backing vocals, 1993–1995.
  • Uncle Knobby - Guitar, backing vocals, 1986.

Other vocalists:

  • Bammy the Bamster - Live vocals, 2018.
  • Barrel - Roadie, lead vocals on "Feed Your Face", 1987.
  • Binbag - lead vocals on "Dans Round Us 'Andbags", and "Fluffy Pup", 1989.
  • Stella Strict - lead vocals on "Two Stroke Eddie", live singer of Fluffy Pup in 1990.
  • Young Man - lead vocals on "Failure With Girls", 1985.

Discography

Albums

EPs

  • One Gallon Demo (1982)
  • Eh Up (1983) Hectic House
  • Minge Pies and Mistletoe (1983)
  • Macc Lads 5 (fan club only) (1986)
  • Filthy, Fat and Flatulent (1987)
  • Sheepless Nights (1988)
  • ...and Drinking Partners (1989)
  • Bog N Roll Circus (1990)
  • Turtles' Heads (1991)
  • England (2006)

Compilations

  • Dirty CD Chips n Gravy (1989)
  • Twenty Golden Crates (1991)
  • An Orifice and a Genital (Outtakes 1986–1991) (1993) Dojo
  • God's Gift to Women (1998)
  • The Lads From Macc (1999)
  • Anthology (1999)

Videos

  • Beer and Sex and Chips 'n' Gravy (1986)
  • Made in Macc (1987)
  • Four Bleats to the Baa (1988)
  • Come to Brum (live in Birmingham) (1988)
  • The Three Bears (1989)
  • The Quality of Mersey (live in Liverpool) (1989)
  • The Beer Necessities (1990)
  • Sex, Pies and Videotape (live in Manchester) (1991). The video was produced by EMI. Mutley stated in an interview in 1999 that the final result was "nearly as rude as a school choir".[13]

References

  1. ^ "A celebration of bad manners." Europe Intelligence Wire 14 Dec. 2006. General OneFile. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTflZWOOXeE&t=2s
  3. ^ a b The Macc Lads. The Macc Lads. Retrieved on 2012-04-15.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ name=macclads.co.uk/Bears/int12.htm
  7. ^ Gittins, Ian (23 June 2015). "Cult heroes: the Macc Lads – near-the-knuckle satirists, not knuckle-draggers". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. ^ Roper, Danielle (6 July 2015). "We were every bit as bad as we seemed, says lead singer of the controversial Macc Lads". Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. ^ Joe Conning (2 January 2016). "The Macc Lads - Coffee sex and johnny bags". Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Life on the Road with The Macc Lads (28 June 2018). https://www.macclesfield-live.co.uk/news/life-road-macc-lads-14839214
  11. ^ "Journalism jobs and news from Holdthefrontpage.co.uk". 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 336. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  13. ^ "The Unofficial Macc Lads Web Site". www.macclads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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