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Stu Mackenzie
Mackenzie performing in 2016
Background information
Birth nameStuart Douglas Mackenzie
Born (1990-10-26) 26 October 1990 (age 33)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • vocals
  • bass guitar
  • keyboards
  • sitar
  • flute
  • percussion
  • synthesizer
  • tambourine
  • drums
Years active2005–present
Labels Flightless
Member of

Stuart Douglas Mackenzie (born 26 October 1990) is an Australian musician best known as the lead vocalist of psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Trademarked by his energetic live presence, he has been nominated for multiple awards and in particular won Live Guitarist of the Year at the National Live Music Awards of 2020. [1]

When performing, Mackenzie often sticks his tongue out, stands with a back-and-forth rocking motion, and displays feats of guitar showmanship, such as playing behind his head. In addition, his frequent shouts of " woo!" and " eeeyup!" both live and on recording have become a staple of the band's sound. [2]

Early life

Stuart Douglas Mackenzie was born on 26 October 1990, [3] [4] grew up in Anglesea, and went to school in Geelong. [5] His father played guitar to him and his brother growing up, which influenced young Mackenzie. Due to his father being a left-handed guitar player, Mackenzie originally learned to play guitar upside down. [6] His early influences were AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Kelly. He began playing guitar and other instruments at age 15. [7] He played garage rock and rock and roll later. [8] Mackenzie was part of the local music scene in Geelong and performed at various open mics. [5] [9] Mackenzie would join and form several bands within the local Melbourne music scene, some of which included future King Gizzard members such as Michael Cavanagh, Lucas Skinner (now Harwood) [10] and Cook Craig. [11]

Career

Mackenzie has been the chief songwriter, vocalist and co-lead guitarist of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard since their formation in 2010. Additionally, Mackenzie occasionally plays bass, keyboards, sitar and flute, and was originally a drummer. [12] The band was formed not long after the group's members left school, and was intended to be a jam band with a focus on improvisation. [7] Mackenzie also built a microtonal guitar based on the Turkish bağlama, with other band members later modifying their instruments to play microtonal music. [6]

Personal life

Mackenzie is married. His daughter Araminta (Minty) was born in November 2020. [12] [13] They live in Melbourne. [5]

Mackenzie announced in 2022 that he suffers from Crohn's disease, and that the remainder of King Gizzard's European summer tour would be cancelled due to him seeking treatment amidst a "personal health crisis". [14] Mackenzie confirmed in a Reddit AMA that he is vegan, [15] and it inspired some of the songs on the album Fishing for Fishies. [16]

References

  1. ^ Lim, Eddy (21 October 2020). "Sampa The Great, Jaguar Jonze and more honoured at National Live Music Awards". NME. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  2. ^ Dunsworth, Liberty. "Check out how an early King Gizzard sounded with newly unearthed footage". Guitar.com. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  3. ^ "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Expand Their Universe by Murdering Ours". Observer. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. ^ @kinggizzard (26 October 2021). "Happy Birthday Studoooood!!". Retrieved 29 August 2022 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ a b c "King Gizzard launches new festival". Geelong Advertiser. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b Mike Huguenor (21 August 2017). "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Talk New Album, 'Flying Microtonal Banana'". guitarworld. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b Bullpublished, Stan (5 August 2020). "Stu Mackenzie: "King Gizzard was made to be loose... we didn't have a rehearsal for years!"". guitarworld. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  8. ^ Kennelty, Greg (23 June 2019). "KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD Announces Thrash Album Infest The Rats' Nest". Metal Injection. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  9. ^ Anderson, Jason (26 April 2019). "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: "We wanted a band where no-one had to practise, essentially!"". UNCUT. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  10. ^ "The Houses". triple j unearthed. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Revolver & Sun". triple j unearthed. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  12. ^ a b Cahill, Mikey (16 December 2021). "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard on the return of live music: "I cried walking off stage – just a little bit"". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  13. ^ "'Our synapses connected!': King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard evolve again". the Guardian. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  14. ^ "King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard cancel tour due to "personal health crisis"". triple j. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  15. ^ nonagoninfinity (3 December 2015). "Hello! King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard here. AMA xoxoxoxoxo". r/indieheads. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Fishing for Fishies - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard". kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
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