In addition to writing and performing original music, Real McKenzies perform traditional
Scottish songs, giving them a new
punk-influenced sound. They have shared stages with many other bands including
Rancid,
Shane MacGowan,[2]NOFX,
Flogging Molly,
The Misfits,
Metallica, and
Voodoo Glow Skulls. In 2012, they delved into covering songs from popular Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers with their version of "
Barrett's Privateers" appearing on their album "Westwinds". Their 2017 album "Two Devils WIll Talk" features a cover of
"Northwest Passage".
It's rare that a band continues to write and perform for over three decades. Even rarer when you focus in on just Canada. However, The Real McKenzies have done just that - putting them amongst the celebrated ranks of
D.O.A and
Ripcordz in the Canadian punk scene and alongside
The Stampeders and
The Irish Rovers in the Canadian music scene overall.
Lead singer, Paul McKenzie and The Irish Rovers manager Jennifer Fahrni are cousins.
History
Founding member Paul McKenzie has been the only consistent member of the band since its inception. The band released its first album, Clash of the Tartans, in 1998.[3] McKenzie claims as many as 100 different musicians have performed as members of the band,[4] including piper Alan "Raven" MacLeod, of the pioneering Scottish folk band
The Tannahill Weavers and "Bourne and MacLeod".
McKenzie said in 2014 that he "fired all the Americans" in the band and returned to full Canadian lineup.[5] Despite that claim, Aspy Luison is from
Cambre,
Galicia,
Spain.
In September 2014 the band announced they would be recording their next album for
Fat Wreck Chords at Motor Studio in San Francisco.[6] Michael "
Fat Mike" Burkett will be producing the album.
On April 7, 2015, Fat Wreck Chords released The Real McKenzies' 11th album, Rats in the Burlap.
Their previous album, Westwinds, was released on March 27, 2012, with Fat Wreck Chords.
A biography of the band, written by
Chris Walter and titled Under the Kilt: The Real McKenzies Exposed, was released in early 2015.[7]
On March 10, 2022, it was announced on the band's Instagram and TikTok that former War Baby drummer Kirby J. Fisher would become the band's new drummer.[8]
Music in commercials
In the 1990s, the Real McKenzies music was used by
InBev to promote
Kokanee beer.[9]
In 2021 The Real McKenzie's song “Chip” was used by
Ford in
Australia to advertise their new Ford Ranger pickup truck.
Music in popular culture
Their song "Tae the Battle" appeared in the
2008British-
Canadian film Stone of Destiny.[10]
Their song "Wild Cattieyote" appeared in the 2004 straight-to-video release of Vampires vs. Zombies (also called Carmilla the Lesbian Vampire).[11]
Their cover of the
Turbonegro song "Sailor Man" appeared in the 2003 video game Tony Hawk's Underground[12] and the first volume of the Elementality skateboarding videos. Each year, The Real McKenzies version of "
Auld Lang Syne" is used as the countdown music on the New Year's Eve edition of
Kevin Smith and
Ralph Garman's live podcast
Hollywood Babble-On.[13]
Their song "Chip" was used in the TV series Billions in 2018.
Also, in 2018, Paul McKenzie contributed vocals to the song 'Foreman O'Rourke' by Sydney, Australia's
The Rumjacks
Band members
Current members
Paul McKenzie – vocals (1992–present)
Aspy Luison – bagpipes (2012–present)
Kenny Lush – guitar (2022–present)
Barry Higginson - Bass (2021–present)
Paul Patko (Paco) - Drums (2022–present)
Mario Nieva – guitar (2013–2015 & 2019–present)
Former members
Kirby J. Fisher - drums (2022)
Dan Garrison - guitar (2015-2018)
Dan Stenning - drums (2016-2018)
Andrew Pederson - guitar (2017-2018)
Tony Walker (Tony Baloney) – guitar, occasional bass (1992–1999)
Rob Esch – drums (1992–1995)
Aaron Chapman – bass (1992), tin whistle (1992–1994, 1994–1997)