Macc Lads
| Company type | Punk rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Macclesfield, England |
| Headquarters | Macclesfield , England |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
The Macc Lads are a punk rock group originating from Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. They earned notoriety as the "rudest, crudest, lewdest, drunkest band in Christendom," gaining fame for their irreverent, explicit, and politically incorrect lyrics centered on heavy drinking, sexual themes, and brawling.
Concerts
Throughout their career, the band encountered bans or were expelled from venues across various UK cities such as Macclesfield, London, Huddersfield, Bury, Blackpool, Hull, Newcastle, Leeds, and Norwich. Additionally, entry into the United States was prohibited for them.
A 1989 show at Birmingham's Hummingbird venue resulted in extensive damage worth thousands of pounds caused by unruly fans who vandalized the stage area by throwing dismantled scaffolding and breaking fixtures. During this event, band members McCavity and Muttley suffered head injuries amid confrontations between fans and security personnel. In March 1990, their London performance at The Marquee Club coincided with the Poll Tax Riots, placing attendees amid violent clashes both inside the venue and on surrounding streets.
Their official website recalls a 1991 performance in Cheltenham during which the band was pelted with a "bag of hot sick."
On 4 December 1995, the Macc Lads celebrated their 500th live show at Nottingham's Rock City nightclub.
Break up, subsequent media appearances and reunion
Prior to their 2018 reunion, the band's final show took place in 1997 at a private event for Muttley's local football club in Macclesfield. This lineup featured Muttley, Winston Dread, Al O'Peesha, and Johnny Mard. In 1999, Stez Styx, The Beater, Muttley, and Al O'Peesha reunited for an interview at Macclesfield's Ivy House pub for The Bear's Head fan site.
On 23 June 2015, an article by Ian Gittins appeared in The Guardian, offering a satirical take on the Macc Lads' lyrics by portraying them as a crude yet clever parody act that emerged "too early" to be appreciated fully. Muttley McLad refuted this interpretation, insisting there was no hidden agenda behind their work and rejecting any suggestion that they were witty satirists.
In November 2015, a short documentary named Coffee, Sex & Johnny Bags, created by Joe Conning (son of The Beater), was released on YouTube and social media platforms. It featured original members—Muttley, The Beater, and Stez Styx—reflecting on their lyrics and achievements alongside longtime collaborator Bammy the Bamster.
On 25 February 2017, core members Muttley McLad, The Beater, Stez Styx, and Chorley the Hord reunited under the name F.I.L.F., with Bammy handling vocals. Although not an official Macc Lads reunion, it marked the first occasion since 1988 that principal members performed together. F.I.L.F.'s setlist included classic punk covers as well as Macc Lads songs during Blackpool's Rebellion Festival. This was followed by a sold-out gig at Macclesfield’s No.5 Bar in February 2018.
Lance Manley published his memoir Beer, Sweat & Blood: On Tour With The Macc Lads on 1 July 2018, chronicling events from 1988 to 1999 alongside details of the recent reunion.
The band officially reformed on 3 August 2018 to appear at Rebellion Festival featuring the F.I.L.F. lineup with Bammy on vocals. Two months later, Muttley resumed lead vocal duties while Bammy transitioned to full-time management. Their November 2018 tour titled The Usual Subjects achieved sold-out status across all dates.
Manley released a follow-up book on 16 November 2019 called From The Cradle To The Gravy: Fan Tales Of The Macc Lads, which compiled anecdotes from fans and associates.
On 14 December 2019, they issued their first original recordings since 2006: a vinyl 7-inch single containing "Mary, Queen of Pox" and "Middle Finger," distributed free at their final show of that year in Lincoln.
In 2020, the group introduced COVID-19 face masks featuring their iconic cartoon artwork and released five new tracks via their website: "Devil's Handcart," "Best Barbershop," "Black Latrine," "Sunniside Nursing Home," and "Curley Clare," accompanied by a video for "Curly Clare" starring Muttley and The Beater.
December 2020 saw the debut of their annual Ladvent calendar online. It included a lockdown-themed rendition of "Let's Get Pissed Again" from their 1982 EP Minge Pies & Mistletoe, with fresh content unveiled each December since then.
In February 2022, manager Bammy suggested that the band's 2021 tour might be their last with that lineup but confirmed ongoing work on new material.
The Ladvent calendar for December 2022 featured an exclusive track titled "More Kids," which explored generational cultural changes; it was accessible only during the calendar’s active period.
July 2023 witnessed the formation of The Spontanes with Muttley McLad on bass and Bammy handling vocals and rhythm guitar. The lineup also includes Andy Lewis (lead guitar) and Shaun Salmon (drums). Muttley described their sound as 'Uneasy Listening.'
A Canadian tour named "Try To Drink Canada Dry," planned for November 2025 with five shows across Ontario, was announced but later cancelled before it began.
Current lineup
- Muttley McLad (Tristan O'Neill) – bass guitar, lead vocals, principal songwriter (1981–1995; 1997; 2018–present)
- Lurch (Andy Lewis) – lead guitar, backing vocals (from July 2023 to present)
- Pablo (Shaun Salmon) – drums, backing vocals (since July 2023)
Past members
- Stez Styx (first version), also known as Johnny Mard (Steve Hatton) – guitars, backing vocals, drums (1981–1986, 1993–1995, 2018–present)
- The Beater (Geoffrey Conning) – lead guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals on "Boddies" (1981–1986, 1986–1989, 1990–1991, 2018–2023)
- Chorley the Hord (Charles Moore) – drums, backing vocals (1986–1989, 2018–2023)
- Bammy the Bamster – lead vocalist (2018)
- Stez Styx (second version), aka Eddie Shit (Howard Minns) – drums, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Newcy Brown" (1990–1991)
- Phil "Fast Fret" McCavity (Phillip Turner) – lead guitar, backing vocals (1989–1990)
- Al O'Peesha (Peter Bossley), a journalist for The Sentinel – guitar, piano, backing vocals (1991, 1993–1995; deceased 2005)
- Cheeky Monkey (Percy Perkins) – drums, backing vocals (1985–1986)
- Winston 'Knob End' Dread (Kevin Hooper) – drums, backing vocals (1993–1995)
- Uncle Knobby – guitar, backing vocals (1986)
Additional contributors
- Bammy the Bamster – lead vocalist (2018)
- Barrel – road crew member and lead vocals on "Feed Your Face" (1987)
- Binbag – lead vocalist on tracks "Dans Round Us 'Andbags" and "Fluffy Pup" (1989)
- Stella Strict – lead vocalist on "Two Stroke Eddie," also performed live vocals for "Fluffy Pup" in 1990
- Young Man – lead vocals on "Failure With Girls" (1985)
Member timeline
An estimated chronology outlining the participation of band members:
Studio albums
- Eh Up (1983), released by Hectic House
- Beer & Sex & Chips n Gravy (1985), Hectic House
- Bitter, Fit Crack (1987), Hectic House
- Live at Leeds (the who?) (1988), Dojo Records
- From Beer to Eternity (1989), Dojo — reached No. 72 on the UK Albums Chart
- The Beer Necessities (1990), Dojo
- Alehouse Rock (1994), Dojo
- Wild Cider Wife (2025), Hectic House
Extended plays
- One Gallon Demo (1982)
- Minge Pies and Mistletoe (1983)
- Macc Lads 5 (fan club exclusive) (1986)
- Filthy, Fat and Flatulent (1987)
- Sheepless Nights (1988)
- ...and Drinking Partners (1989)
- Bog N Roll Circus (1990)
- Turtles' Heads (1991)
- England (2006)
Compilation albums
- Dirty CD Chips n Gravy (1989)
- Twenty Golden Crates (1991)
- An Orifice and a Genital (Outtakes 1986–1991) (1993), Dojo Records
- God's Gift to Women (1998)
- The Lads From Macc (1999)
- Anthology (1999)
Video releases
- 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), produced by EMI. Muttley characterized this release as "almost as cheeky as a school choir."
External links
- Official website
- The Macc Lads on discogs.com