From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers to £150,000 to make an album like Arctic Monkeys[cita-
tion needed]. McClure declined the offer, and decided to do
Origin Sheffield, England, UK everything his own way, managing to sell out The Plug in
Genres Indie rock, funk, electropop Sheffield twice, a venue with a capacity of 1,000 people,
while still unsigned. It was not until the following year
Years active 2005–present
that McClure met Mark Jones in a club in London when
Labels Wall of Sound he asked him for a lighter. The two got talking and Mark
Jones came to see Reverend and the Makers at the next
Associated acts Mongrel
Milburn show. Jones reportedly proclaimed the band as the "best
Arctic Monkeys band in the world" and signed them to his label Wall of
Reverend Soundsystem Sound Records.
Members
Reverend and The Makers released a 9-track demo in
2006, entitled "Ten Songs". The artwork included a track-
Jon McClure list with ten songs, track 10 being "Paris at Night". How-
Ed Cosens
ever this song was not made available for download; it
Andy Nicholson
Tom Rowley only surfaced on the internet in August 2007. The demos
Joe Moskow were recorded at 2Fly Studios, and produced by Alan
Laura Manuel Smyth, McClure acknowledges the work Smyth put into
the demos by accrediting the debut single; "Heavyweight
Past members
Champion of The World" as McClure/Cosens/Smyth.
Dave Sanderson Reverend and the Makers’ music is a mix of indie guitar
Richy Westley pop, electronica and a touch of Madchester-esque funk.
Tom Jarvis
Stuart Doughty
Some of the internet demos feature members of other
notable Sheffield musicians such as Alex Turner (Arctic
Reverend and The Makers are an indie pop band based in Monkeys), Tim Hampton (Bromheads Jacket) and Mike
Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band Hughes (Little Ze). One of Reverend’s inspirations is Man-
is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend". chester performance poet John Cooper Clarke and Rev-
The band has gained success through top ten hit "Heavy- erend often performs his own poems, of a similar style, in
weight Champion of the World" from their first album between songs during his live sets. One of the B-sides to
The State of Things (2007) and also through supporting Oa- the debut single "Heavyweight Champion of the World"
sis on their last ever tour following their second studio is a poem entitled "Last Resort" in which John Cooper
album, A French Kiss in the Chaos (2009). Clarke and McClure read alternate stanzas. This poem
was also duetted live when the band played live at
Shoreditch’s Spread Eagle in the first tour in May 2006.
History In April 2006, Reverend and The Makers were support
to the Arctic Monkeys on their sold out UK tour, exposing
Early years the band to larger audiences and bigger venues. This was
In late 2005, McClure brought several musicians together followed by their own first UK tour in May and June,
for Reverend and The Makers. Like his previous bands, selling-out dates in Shoreditch, London and The Plug in
The Makers included co-songwriter Ed Cosens, this time home-town Sheffield on the final night. A second tour
playing (bass). The rest of The Makers consisted of Dave followed in October 2006, showing great progression as
Sanderson (guitars), Joe Moskow (keyboards), Richy a band. The sound was much tighter and far more ad-
Westley (drums, formerly of Hoggboy) and Laura Manuel vanced than on their previous tour.
(vocals), and occasionally Simon Stafford on trombone.
Sanderson was dismissed in July 2006 after the band com- Debut album, The State Of Things, and
pleted their first headline UK tour and replaced by Gled- breakthrough (2007–08)
hill guitarist Tom Jarvis.
Late in 2005, fellow Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys re- Performing at Summer Sundae in 2008
leased their debut single, and McClure was hounded by
major record labels, reportedly offering him sums of up
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reverend and The Makers
In 2008, Reverend and The Makers set a date for their mented on Jade Goody’s death earlier in the year; "it’s sad
first release and undertook a UK tour, including several she died and it’s good more girls are getting smear tests
festivals over the summer period including Glastonbury but let’s not forget she was a talentless racist".[6] He has
Festival, Carling Weekend, T in the Park and T4 on the also been in the media recently speaking out about the
Beach as well as supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers at UK’s involvement in the Iraq War, requesting that fellow
Hampden Park, Glasgow. In January 2008, Reverend and musicians, particularly the Arctic Monkeys, his contem-
The Makers toured Australia.[1] poraries from Sheffield, focus on real issues and to "not
Their first release was "Heavyweight Champion Of write songs about girls at bus stops any more like me and
The World" on 28 May 2007 and featured the B-Sides Monkeys used to do, let’s start talking about what’s hap-
"18–30" and "The Last Resort" featuring John Cooper pening man as otherwise you know where we gonna go,
Clarke. The single takes its name from a line in A Kestrel we’re going down the toilet aren’t we?".[7]
for a Knave a novel by Barry Hines and a favourite book In December, it was announced via McClure’s twitter
of McClure. The single is available on both CD and 7" that Andy Nicholson, his fellow member in Mongrel and
vinyl formats, including a limited edition "White Vinyl" ex-Arctic Monkeys bassist would join the band for their
release. The single was released for download on 6 May third album. NME published the story on its website soon
and reached #38 in the UK single chart on download only. after.
The album, entitled The State Of Things, was recorded over
the Christmas period and was released on Wall of Sound Hiatus and third album (2010–)
on 17 September 2007. The album features songs co-writ- On 11 November 2010, in an interview with the South
ten and performed with Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys Yorkshire Star, McClure claimed the band were on an in-
and one track co-written and with guest vocals from Tim definite hiatus. "I don’t know if we’re going to do any-
Hampton of Bromheads Jacket, other tracks include vo- thing else or anything more as a group. We are disbanded
cals by Steve Edwards. at the moment, we’re not gigging or practising". "I could
trot out another three ’Heavyweight Champions Of The
Split rumours (2008) World’ but I don’t want to. I have made a bit of money
In June 2008, drummer Richy Westley left the group and and all the people in the band have made a bit of money.
in August 2008, frontman Jon McClure said he would quit We want to change what we do, rather than trotting out
music after their next album,[2] although a month later more of what we did on the first album".[8]
he changed his mind.[3] The inconsistency of McClure’s However, McClure announced via his Twitter in July
actions has led many critics in the music press to report 2011 that "the recording of the Reverend and The Makers
negatively towards the move.[citation needed] Welsh band 3rd album is underway".[9]
Future Of The Left joked of their delight at the band’s In August 2011, the band posted a new track called
split at live shows on their tour at the time, as can be "Riot" on their YouTube page, in response to the 2011
heard on their live album Last Night I Saved Her From Vam- England Riots.
pires.[4] McClure has a new project, Mongrel, with a single
"Hit From the Morning Sun" due to be released in Febru-
ary 2009.[5]
Tours
On 30 April 2007 Reverend and The Makers performed
Second album, A French Kiss In The Chaos "Heavyweight Champion Of The World" and a cover of
(2009–10) Kelis’s "Trick Me" on Radio 1’s Live Lounge with Jo Whi-
ley. In October 2007, supported by The Ting Tings, they
Early 2009, it was announced that Tom Jarvis has left made a tour of universities in the UK.[10] Former Arctic
the band, and has been replaced by Tom Rowley (ex-Mil- Monkeys’s bassist Andy Nicholson made guest appearan-
burn), Rowley was already a good friend of McClure, and ces to play bass for a couple of songs. On 8 December 2007
contributed to the first album by co-writing the tracks they supported Ian Brown on the final leg of his tour, and
"Bandits" and "Miss Brown". supported The Verve on 11 and 13 December. They also
The band supported Oasis, along with Kasabian and supported in Dublin on 28 October in the Big Top venue
The Enemy for their sold out summer tour in 2009. The in the Phoenix Park.
band released their follow up to 2007’s The State of Things, On 12 February 2008 they performed on Lily Allen’s
with A French Kiss in the Chaos. The album was released in talk show Lily Allen and Friends. In March 2008 the band
June and the opening single, "Silence Is Talking" was fea- released an EP consisting of three remixes of "Sundown
tured during the band’s three night run at Wembley Sta- On The Empire", three for the track "18–30" and one for
dium. The band released a second single, "No Soap (in a "The Machine" for a total of seven tracks. On 26 July 2009,
Dirty War)" in October. they played in their home city of Sheffield, closing the
McClure was in the media spotlight for his personal Tramlines Festival with an 80 minute gig.
views in July 2009, after an interview in which he com-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reverend and The Makers
In the summer of 2009 they have supported Oasis effield along with Matt Helders from Arctic Monkeys and
on the largest stadium tour in the UK and Ireland. On 1 Toddla T.[14]
September 2009, they performed a secret free gig at Tate
Modern, London.[11] They were introduced by Sara Cox Reverend Soundsystem (RSS)
and supported by Stornoway.[12] The gig was to celebrate Reverend Soundsystem is a side project made up of
the launch of new climate change campaign—"10:10".[13] Jon(The Reverend)McClure, Matic Mouth, Laura McClure
In November 2009, the band will be supporting Kasabian and Jimmy Welsh (Ocelot).
on their nationwide tour. For the past 2 years, the band Reverend Soundsystem is currently on tour as part of the
have played New Years Eve shows at KOKO in Camden, university fresher’s Boxfresh clothing tour, alongside Ocelot.
London.
LIES
Other activities Lies is a series of short films based on story’s/poems writ-
ten by Jon McClure. The films are part of local indepen-
Reverend Soundsystem Club Nights
dent film production, Kestrel Filmworks with sponsor-
Reverend hosted a monthly clubnight on the first Satur- ship from Boxfresh. Lies is a tongue in cheek look at Lies
day of every month named "Reverend Soundsystem" at told to Jon and his brother Chris throughout their child-
The Plug in Sheffield, and has also hosted one event at hood. In total there are six films.
Manchester’s Po Na Na. The Soundsystem has featured a Film Maker: Hesky Tucker
number of guest DJs such as Mani (The Stone Roses/Pri-
mal Scream), Peter Hook (New Order), the late Tony Wil-
son (Factory Records), Andy Nicholson (ex-Arctic Mon- Discography
keys), Chris McClure (face of the Arctic Monkeys debut
album cover (Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What Albums
I’m Not) and brother of Jon), Terry Hall (The Specials), • The State of Things (17 September 2007) UK #5
Milburn, Bez and Arctic Monkeys as well as live perfor- • A French Kiss in the Chaos (27 July 2009) UK #19
mances from The Sunshine Underground, Gas Club,
Stoney, 747s, The Hosts and White Rose Movement. The Live albums
event no longer takes place at The Plug.
• Reverend and the Makers: Live in the UK (October 2009)
Reverend Mixtape Singles
At the Leadmill venue in Sheffield on 27 May 2007, ap-
• "Heavyweight Champion of the World" (28 May
proximately 200 CDs entitled And Whilst the World Was
2007) UK #8, UK Indie #1
Asleep We Were Listening To... were handed out to the fans.
• "He Said He Loved Me" (3 September 2007) UK #16,
It was reported that more copies would be available later
UK Indie #1
in the year in independent record shops. The cover fea-
• "Open Your Window" (19 November 2007) UK #65,
tured a poem by McClure on the back "Just Like His Dad"
UK Indie #1
which is a b-side to the single "He Said He Loved Me".
• "Sundown On the Empire / 18-30 / The Machine -
The mixtape features songs from Cymande, Pixeltan, The
Remixes" (16 March 2008)
Clash and Love. The CD opens with an alternative version
• "Silence Is Talking" (13 July 2009) UK #14 UK Indie #1
of "The Last Resort" which only features McClure’s verses
• "No Soap (In A Dirty War)" (14 September 2009) UK
and has a synth backing.
#84 UK Indie #3
For the fans Other releases
Jon McClure puts on an acoustic gig in the car park of
• And Whilst the World Was Asleep We Were Listening To...
most venues. These sets normally last between 30–45
limited edition CD Mixtape (27 May 2007)
minutes and this is the type of thing that McClure is be-
• ’Ten Songs (Demo EP)
coming synonymous with amongst his fans. He also in-
vited fans to a "backing singer evening" to help record
vocals on an upcoming single. He is heavily involved in References
the Instigate Debate group, and offers to carry out pri- [1] *Clode, Samantha, "Tell it like it is: Reverend and
vate gigs in fans homes to anyone who contributes. On 13 the Makers", Triple J, 24 September 2007.
May 2009, it was revealed that McClure was going to be [2] "Reverend and the Makers to split". BBC News. 19
one of the curators of the new Tramlines festival in Sh- August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reverend and The Makers
entertainment/7569838.stm. Retrieved 22 May [12] http://twitter.com/tentenuk
2010. [13] Cutting carbon 10% at a time
[3] Jon McClujre: ’I’m Not Quitting The Musci Industry’ [14] Arctic Monkeys, Reverend to host Sheffield festival
[4] Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires, 4AD, 2009
[5] Playlist, The Sunday Times, 18 January 2009
[6] Jon McClure calls Jade Goody a “talentless racist”
External links
[7] entertainment.uk • Official Site
[8] SMITH OF THE STAR: Reverend preaches parties • Sonorika.com Page
not music • Interview with Jon McClure – Reverend And The
[9] http://twitter.com/#!/JonMcClure Makers – 2008 on ilikemusic.com
[10] The Ting Tings release new single... NME - 28 • No Soap in a Dirty War Review
September 2007 • Interview with the Reverend for
[11] http://twitter.com/jonmcclure www.4ortherecord.com
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Categories:
• Music in Sheffield
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