Fat Wreck Chords

Paul McKenzie - Vocals
Dirty Kurt - Guitar
Bone - Guitar
Matt McNasty - Bagpipes
Sean - War Drums
Little Joe - Bass
Dave Gregg - Guitar

The modern-day Celtic bards known as The Real McKenzies hail from Vancouver, BC and are a punk band deeply rooted in their Scottish heritage with a sound best described as the Sex Pistols meet Scottish folk legend Robbie Burns. The Scottish term Ceilidh (pronounced kee-lee), is the main reason why The Real McKenzies formed and their chief inspiration. Ceilidh, according to The McKenzies, is a Gaelic word meaning “A wicked party which carries on for days”. Founded by frontman Paul McKenzie in 1994, he cites his family as another motivating factor, “As a lad, my parents and grandparents would dress me up in a kilt and make me sing and dance to traditional Scottish music. Starting a Scottish punk band is my way of getting revenge!” You’re probably wondering how it is that group of Canadians can rightly rollick and roam the countryside in the name of Scotland. Paul McKenzie offers an explanation, “A great many Scots immigrated to Canada. Ya see, the Scottish went north and the Irish went south…as they often do.”

The Real McKenzies are true gadabouts at heart. Fueled by an insatiable appetite for filthy punk shows, Scotch whisky, and all out mayhem, these kilt-clad punks continue on their quest to bring their patented brand of music to the masses. Their latest concoction, Off the Leash, embodies the spirit of The Real McKenzies through a melding of driving punk rhythms and traditional Scottish melodies. Guitars and bagpipes play off each other as Paul McKenzie spins yarns of times long past and recounts endless drunken revelries. The unbridled energy and merriment of Off the Leash will immediately have the listener hoisting a pint glass and singing along to the 13 infectious tracks. As always, The McKenzies will be hitting the road hard, bringing the album to life in an inebriated whirlwind of kilts, bagpipes and punk rock.

The Real McKenzies previously released 10,000 Shots, at San Francisco’s esteemed Motor Studios with Fat Mike behind the knobs. 10,000 Shots was their first album for Fat Wreck Chords and it follows up two full lengths on Honest Don’s: Loch’d & Loaded and Oot & Aboot.