Mclusky
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in Cardiff, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Andrew Falkous, Geraint Bevan, Matthew Harding |
| Defunct | 2005 (initial breakup) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2014 (absent John Chapple) |
| Headquarters | Cardiff , United Kingdom |
Key people | Andrew Falkous, Jack Egglestone, Damien Sayell |
| Products | Studio albums, singles, EPs |
Mclusky (commonly presented as mclusky), initially formed under the name Best, is a British post-hardcore ensemble established in Cardiff in 1996. The founding members included Andrew Falkous (vocals, guitar) from Newcastle upon Tyne, alongside Geraint Bevan on bass and Matthew Harding on drums. In 1997, Bevan and Harding were succeeded by Jonathan Chapple and Jack Egglestone, respectively, with Egglestone joining in late 2003. Prior to their split in 2005, the group produced three studio albums. They later reunited in 2014—absent Chapple—under the monikers 'mclusky' and mclusky*, eventually removing the asterisk from their name.
History
The origins of the band trace back to 1996 when Falkous and Harding connected in Cardiff. They soon incorporated Chapple, who had previously performed with their earlier formation Best, which also featured Geraint Bevan. Falkous and Harding, both employed at a Cardiff call centre, shared a vision for music that led to Best’s creation, a name inspired by early Beatles drummer Pete Best. Following Bevan’s departure to pursue acting, Chapple joined after hearing a three-track demo known as the Benedict EP.
Best secured a deal with London-based label Seriously Groovy and released their inaugural single "Huwuno". The group adopted the name Mclusky in 1999 and launched their debut album My Pain and Sadness is More Sad and Painful Than Yours in 2000 through the Fuzzbox imprint. Their critically lauded sophomore effort Mclusky Do Dallas (2002) broadened their global reach, succeeded by the well-received third album The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not on Fire (2004).
Mclusky frequently worked alongside esteemed recording engineer Steve Albini.
Breakup
On 7 January 2005, the band officially dissolved, with Falkous posting an announcement on their website three days later stating:
- The trio known as mclusky have parted ways as of Friday 7 January 2005. The reasons behind this split remain private and are likely less dramatic than expected. I wish to express gratitude to all individuals, places, and moments connected to us. I appreciate both the support and, to a lesser extent, the criticism. New music will emerge soon from each of us.
Although initial explanations were ambiguous, later reports revealed underlying conflicts between Falkous and Chapple, connected to the theft of more than £5000 worth of equipment during their Arizona tour segment in 2004.
New bands and reunion
In February 2006, the compilation Mcluskyism was released, compiling singles, B-sides, rarities, and live recordings from their final headline performance at the University of London Union. Falkous confirmed this release marked the definitive conclusion of Mclusky's nine-year tenure.
Post-breakup, Chapple was first to introduce new material through Shooting at Unarmed Men, which evolved into a full-time endeavor prior to his relocation to Australia in 2006. This project produced several albums before disbanding after With The Youthful Energy of a Zealot. Subsequently, Chapple performed with Melbourne-based groups Poor People and Harmony.
Meanwhile, Falkous and Egglestone reunited with former Jarcrew members to form Future of the Left—initially called "Jarclusky." This lineup later incorporated ex-Million Dead musicians and integrated Mclusky songs into live performances despite initial hesitation.
In 2014, Falkous curated benefit concerts aimed at preserving Newport venue Le Pub. These shows featured Jarcrew alongside a group performing Mclusky tracks with Future of the Left bassist Julia Ruzicka and vocalist Damien Sayell. This ensemble—dubbed 'mclusky' (with inverted commas)—continued with additional benefit appearances including one at London’s Buffalo Bar and participation at the 2000trees festival alongside Future of the Left.
Under the name Mclusky* (the asterisk symbolizing absent members), they held a charity event in London in December 2015 supporting cancer research. Damien Sayell subsequently became a permanent member handling bass and vocals. In July 2020, Falkous announced intentions for a new Mclusky album; shortly thereafter, the band dropped the asterisk from their name, reinstating it as Mclusky.
In April 2022, Mclusky revealed plans for a 20th anniversary tour celebrating Mclusky Do Dallas, which included dates in Australia. Due to health complications affecting Falkous, this tour was postponed until early 2024.
September 2023 saw Mclusky release "Unpopular Parts of a Pig," marking their first new material in nineteen years. Tracks from this EP previewed their upcoming fourth studio album. Confirmed for February 2025, The World Is Still Here and So Are We was launched on 9 May via Mike Patton's Ipecac Recordings accompanied by the single "Way of the Exploding Dickhead."
Members
- Present lineup
- Andy "Falco" Falkous – guitar, vocals (1996–2005, 2014–present)
- Jack Egglestone – drums (2003–2005, 2014–present)
- Damien Sayell – vocals (2014–present), bass guitar (2018–present)
- Past members
- Geraint Bevan – bass guitar (1996–1997)
- Matthew Harding – drums (1996–2003)
- John Chapple – vocals, bass guitar (1997–2005)
- Julia Ruzicka – bass guitar (2014–2018)
- Timeline
Studio albums
- My Pain and Sadness is More Sad and Painful Than Yours (Fuzzbox, 2000; reissued by Too Pure, 2003)
- Mclusky Do Dallas (Too Pure, 2002)
- The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not on Fire (Too Pure, 2004)
- The World Is Still Here and So Are We (Ipecac Recordings, 2025)
Compilation albums
- Mcluskyism (Too Pure, 2006)
Live albums
- Gateway Band (2020)
Official singles and EPs
- 1999 – "Huwuno" (released as Best)
- 2000 – "Joy"
- 2000 – "Rice Is Nice"
- 2001 – "Whoyouknow"
- 2001 – "Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues"
- 2002 – "To Hell with Good Intentions"
- 2002 – "Alan Is a Cowboy Killer"
- 2003 – "There Ain't No Fool in Ferguson/1956 And All That"
- 2003 – "Undress for Success" (famously featured three times during a single show by Colin Murray)
- 2004 – "That Man Will Not Hang"
- 2004 – "She Will Only Bring You Happiness"
- 2023 – "Unpopular Parts of a Pig/The Digger You Deep"
- 2025 – "Way of the Exploding Dickhead"
Demo recordings
- 1997 – "Benedict EP" (as Best)