Clutch
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Clutch is a musical group from Germantown, Maryland in the United States. They have been playing together since the early 1990s, producing records at a rate of approximately one per year. They released their first EP, Pitchfork, in October of 1991.
Contents |
Biography
Each Clutch album is marked by a distinct and cohesive sound. The musical style of the band has migrated from metalic hardcore punk to hard rock. Strong blues influences have become prominent in the releases of the latter years as vocalist/guitarist Neil Fallon notes; "We've been really conscious of the blues over the last couple of years, and you have to admit that the blues really is the source of all rock and roll. I think it's important to go to the source to find that inspiration."
The lyrics of Clutch songs have progressed from early releases that were marked with an angry, serious tone to later releases that are characterized by intelligence, wordplay and subtle humour. The songs make frequent references to history, mythology, popular culture, and religion; for example, "I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth", from the self-titled album, tells the story of a fisherman who discovers the corpse of Lincoln's assassin in the Susquehanna River, and Jam Room's "Release the Kraken" inserts a hero called "Useless the Younger" into the movie Clash of the Titans. The lyrics also contain some surrealistic imagery, as in this quote from Robot Hive/Exodus's "Burning Beard": "Every time I look out my window/ same three dogs looking back at me. Every time I open my windows/ cranes fly in to terrorize me."
Clutch formed in 1991 and built a local following through constant gigging. Following the initial 7" single release of "Passive Restraints" on the Earache label Clutch was signed by the EastWest Records label. The debut LP, Transnational Speedway League, was released in 1993 and followed by the self-titled album two years later which afforded Clutch mainstream exposure. The band moved to the larger Columbia label for 1998's Elephant Riders release, and many thought the group might join their sonic cousins Korn and Deftones in the alternative metal winner's circle. That did not quite happen, but it did not matter, because a quality fan base continued to thrive for Clutch.
Pure Rock Fury appeared in 2001 on the Atlantic label. The title track was initially released as the first single. The Program Director for North Carolina Rock station, WXQR (Rock 105), Brian Rickman, suggested that the label switch singles to another track from the album: "Careful With That Mic". Atlantic did so and Clutch was afforded a surprise hit single. The follow-up tracks, "Immortal" and "Open Up The Border" were also well received by American Rock stations.
The similarly uncompromising Blast Tyrant came three years later as their first for DRT Records. The band once again enjoyed more Rock radio airplay and heavy rotation on the Music Choice cable service thanks to the single "The Mob Goes Wild". The accompanying video for "The Mob Goes Wild" was directed by Bam Margera.
The seventh full-length album, Robot Hive/Exodus, followed in 2005 and featured the first lineup change since the early 1990s; the addition of organist Mick Schauer. Among Clutch's numerous side releases were a groove-based album "2000's Jam Room", as well as "Live at the Googolplex" and the rarities record "Slow Hole to China", both issued in 2003. The 2005 release "Pitchfork & Lost Needles" combined Clutch's 1991 "Pitchfork" 7" with unreleased demos and early tracks.
In the fall of 2006, the band hit the studio with producer Joe Barresi (Kyuss, Melvins, Tool) to record their next album, "From Beale Street to Oblivion" which was released in March 2007. While the band has not recovered their previous radio airplay with subsequent releases, Clutch have accumulated a devoted cult following. The following has been cultivated by an ambitious touring schedule; the band has often performed more than 100 shows per year. A 30-plus-date U.S. tour has been scheduled for early 2007, with a European tour to follow.
As of January 24, 2007, the track "Electric Worry" can be streamed online.
The album was leaked onto the internet in early March. Critical reaction to the album has been overwhelmingly positive; the influential magazine Metal Hammer called it a "future classic, the best album the group has ever produced, and easily a front runner for album of the year".
Members
- Neil Fallon – vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Tim Sult – guitar
- Dan Maines – bass guitar
- Jean-Paul Gaster – drums
- Mick Schauer – organ
Trivia and other info
- Clutch fans often refer to themselves as "gearheads", in reference to the fact that a clutch is a transmission component.
- In 1997, "Escape From the Prison Planet" appeared on the Soundtrack to the Escape From L.A., but was not actually featured in the actual movie.
- Clutch tracks have appeared in three video games:
- In 2003, "Impetus" found its way onto the soundtrack for Tony Hawk's Underground.
- In 2004, "Immortal" was featured in, Hitman: Contracts.
- In 2006, "10001110101" could be played on a jukebox at the start of Prey.
- In their 2005 album Robot Hive / Exodus, Clutch pays homage to the Canadian rock band Rush in the song "10001110101". The song makes references to the song "2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx" from the 1976 album 2112 and has a similar chorus to Rush's song "The Body Electric" from the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure to which the lyrics are "1001001".
- Clutch has also contributed 2 songs, "The Mob Goes Wild" and "Careful With That Mic…", to the extreme mountain biking movie series New World Disorder.
Other projects
In the late 1990s, Clutch and its sibling project The Bakerton Group (an instrumental jam band composed of Clutch members Maines, Sult, Gaster, and Schauer) formed an independent record label, River Road Records, to release their own music. River Road does not sign any other artists. To date, The Bakerton Group has only released one 3-track EP, Space Guitars, which is available to download for free from Clutch's official website.<ref>Clutch's official website</ref>
Drummer Jean-Paul Gaster made an appearance on the album The Mystery Spot of blues-rock/stoner rock band Five Horse Johnson. The album was released on May 23, 2006 via Small Stone Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007, Jean-Paul Gaster collaborated with Opeth keyboardist Per Wiberg and Kamchatka guitarist Thomas Andersson on a project.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Discography
Albums, EPs and Live Releases
Singles
| Year | Title | US Mainstream Rock | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "A Shogun Named Marcus" | - | Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths |
| 1993 | "12 Ounce Epilogue" | - | Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths |
| 1993 | "El Jefe Speaks" | - | Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths |
| 1995 | "Escape from the Prison Planet" | - | Clutch |
| 1995 | "Spacegrass" | - | Clutch |
| 1995 | "Big News I" | - | Clutch |
| 1997 | "Impetus" | - | Impetus |
| 1998 | "The Elephant Riders" | - | The Elephant Riders |
| 1998 | "The Soapmakers" | - | The Elephant Riders |
| 1998 | "Wishbone" | - | The Elephant Riders |
| 2001 | "Pure Rock Fury" | - | Pure Rock Fury |
| 2001 | "Careful With That Mic..." | #24 | Pure Rock Fury |
| 2001 | "Immortal" | - | Pure Rock Fury |
| 2002 | "Open Up The Border" | - | Pure Rock Fury |
| 2004 | "The Mob Goes Wild" | #39 | Blast Tyrant |
| 2005 | "10001110101" | - | Robot Hive/Exodus |
| 2005 | "Burning Beard" | - | Robot Hive/Exodus |
| 2007 | "Electric Worry" | #38 | From Beale Street to Oblivion |
