Goodbye Mr Mackenzie

Celebrated Scottish band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie are going on tour to mark the 30th anniversary re-release of the album “Five” via the Last Night From Glasgow label

Expertly re-mastered and sounding better than ever, Five’s original release represented a particularly colourful period in the Mackenzie timeline.

The band’s legacy includes original member Shirley Manson who, before Garbage fame, formed offshoot band Angelfish (93-95) with three core members of the Mackenzies, Kelly, Metcalfe and Wilson. The four-piece toured the US and Europe and recorded one album produced by Talking Heads’ Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz.

Big John Duncan meanwhile, was touring with Nirvana as Kurt Cobain’s guitar tech but also played live with them. In fact Big John played with Nirvana in 1993 the same week Angelfish supported The Ramones in New York (where Debbie Harry joined Chris & Tina to see what all the noise was about). 

Written at the same time as the Angelfish album, “Five” was the first release on the Mackenzie’s own label, Blokshok Records, which they set up after splitting with major labels. It marked a turning point in the band’s musical path, following on from the more polished, radio friendly first two albums.

“Five” has a much harder, rougher edge – no real surprise perhaps considering the importance of Punk to the Mackenzies generally. The influence of Grunge, Nick Cave and The Pixies is also clearly evident.

Unshackled from the majors, The Mackenzies went back to basics and back to their roots on “Five”. It is also closely connected to the Angelfish album. One of the stand out tracks, “Hard”, was almost used instead as an Angelfish single. And it is on “Five” where Manson’s vocals came to the fore on the likes of “Normal Boy”, as well as being her final involvement with the Mackenzies.

The October 2024 gigs for Five’s re-release promise to be just as explosive and dynamic as ever, and then some!

As the List said in their 50 Greatest Scottish Bands review: “The Mackenzies left behind the most complex and fascinating footprint of any Scottish band. Live, they were stunning. Lead singer Martin Metcalfe looked like the MC of a particularly debauched cabaret troupe. While their Scottish counterparts were looking at soul and Steeleye Dan for inspiration the Mackenzies were taking theirs from The Pixies and The Birthday Party.”