Clutch biography
Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland, formed in 1990. Since its formation the band line-up has included Neil Fallon (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Tim Sult (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dan Maines (bass, backing vocals) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums and percussion). To date, Clutch has released nine studio albums, and several rarities and live albums. They now own their own label, Weathermaker.
History
Early years: 1990-1999
Clutch was formed in 1990 by Dan Maines (bass), Jean Paul Gaster (drums), Tim Sult (guitar), and Roger Smalls a.k.a. "Peanut" (Vocals) and built a local following through constant live performances. At one show Smalls couldn't make it so Neil Fallon, a backup singer, sang lead and was promoted to lead singer. Following the initial 7" single release of "Passive Restraints" on the Earache label, Clutch was signed by EastWest Records. Their debut LP,
Transnational Speedway League, was released in 1993. It was followed by a self-titled album two years later that gained Clutch mainstream exposure. The band moved to the larger Columbia label for the 1998 album
The Elephant Riders. They followed it in 1999 with a self-released groove-based album
Jam Room.
Chart success: 2000-2007
The album
Pure Rock Fury was released by Atlantic in 2001. 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 achieved a surprise hit single. The follow-up tracks, "Immortal" and "Open Up the Border," were also well-received by American rock stations. In 2003 they issued
Live at the Googolplex and the rarities record
Slow Hole to China.
The album Blast Tyrant was released in 2004, 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." Its accompanying video was directed by Bam Margera, and featured Margera's Viva La Bam co-stars; Ryan Dunn, Brandon DiCamillo, and Don Vito. The video was filmed at the legendary hard rock club The Machine Shop in Flint, MI. The 2005 release Pitchfork & Lost Needles combined Clutch's 1990 Pitchfork 7-inch release with previously unreleased demos and early tracks. In 2005 the band saw their first lineup change since the early 1990s with the addition of organist Mick Schauer, who performed on the albums Robot Hive/Exodus (2005) and From Beale Street to Oblivion (2007). The latter album was produced by Joe Barresi who has also produced for Kyuss, Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, and Tool.
Recent years: 2008-present
The band's first live DVD,
Full Fathom Five, and accompanying CD, produced/directed by Agent Ogden, were released in September 2008. The band also released a remastered version of
Slow Hole to China: Rare and Unreleased on April 28, 2009. The band's ninth studio album
Strange Cousins from the West, was released on July 14, 2009. Songs from the album were played live on tour prior to the album's recording. A 2-disc DVD set
Clutch Live at the 9:30 was released on May 11, 2010 by the band's own label, Weathermaker Music. The set includes the entire December 28, 2009 show at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 club, in which the band performed its entire 1995 self-titled LP.
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