The Real McKenzies is a Canadian Celtic punk band founded in 1992 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are one of the founders of the Celtic punk movement, albeit 10 years after The Pogues.
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, NOFX, Flogging Molly, The Misfits, Metallica, and Voodoo Glow Skulls.
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. McKenzie claims as many as 100 different musicians have performed as members of the band, 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. 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. 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.
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.
Music in commercials
In the 1990s, the Real McKenzies music was used by InBev to promote Kokanee beer.
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 2008 British-Canadian film Stone of Destiny. Their song "Wild Cattieyote" appeared in the 2004 straight-to-video release of Vampires vs. Zombies (also called Carmilla the Lesbian Vampire). Their cover of the Turbonegro song "Sailor Man" appeared in the 2003 video game Tony Hawk's Underground 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. Their song "Chip" was used in the TV series Billions in 2018.
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) Rich Priske (Angus MacFuzzybutt) – bass (1992–1995, 1996–1998) (deceased) Nathan Roberts – bagpipes (1993) Alan "Raven" MacLeod – bagpipes, guitar (1993–1995, 1996–1998, 2008) Kurt Robertson (Dirty Kurt) – guitar, occasional bass (1993–2005, 2007–2013) Anthony Creery (Farkie) – bass (1995–1996) James Brander (JT Massacre) – drums (1995–1996) Jamie Fawkes – bass (1996, 1998–2004) Brien O'Brien – drums (1996–1998) Mike MacDonald – bagpipes (occasionally from 1997 to 1998) Glenn Kruger – drums (1998–2000) Bradford Lambert – drums (2000–2003, 2004–2005) Stuart MacNeil – bagpipes (1998–1999)
Anthony Kerr – bagpipes (1999–2000) Mark "Bone" Boland – guitar (1999–2015) Matt Hawley (Matt MacNasty) – bagpipes (2000–2012, occasionally from 2012 to 2017) Eddie Big Beers – drums (2003) Ike Eidness – drums (2003–2004) Ken Fleming – bass (2004–2005) Sean Sellers – drums (2005–2012) Joe Raposo – bass (2005–2009) Dave Gregg – guitar (2005–2010) Karl Alvarez – bass (2007, 2009–2010) Justin "Gwomper" Burdick – bass (2010–2011, 2012) Brent Johnson – bass (2011), guitar (2011–2013) Gord Taylor – bagpipes (2010–2012, occasionally from 2012 to 2017) Jesse Pinner – drums (2012–2016)
Former guest members
Glenn Murray – bass (1993) Jay Bentley – bass (1997) Dave Afflick – drums (2005) George McWhinnie – bass (2005) Boz Rivera – drums (2007, 2009, 2010) Randy Steffes – guitar, banjo (2009, 2012) Maggie Schmied – violin (2009) Robbie "Steed" Davidson – guitar (2010)