Since its formation in 1991, 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 thirteen studio albums, and several rarities and live albums. Since 2008 the band have been signed to their own record label, Weathermaker.
Clutch (originally called “Glut Trip” and stemmed from “Moral Minority”) was formed in 1991 by Dan Maines (bass), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), Tim Sult (guitar), and Roger Smalls (vocals) in Germantown, Maryland. Smalls soon departed and was replaced by Neil Fallon, a longtime schoolmate of the other members at Seneca Valley High School. The band quickly gained notice through constant touring. The 12" single “Passive Restraints” on the Earache label was Clutch’s first commercial release, garnering attention from other labels. 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.
On April 28, 2009 Clutch released Slow Hole to China, a collection of unreleased tracks.
On June 10, 2012, the band released a new single, “Pigtown Blues”, on iTunes, backed with an acoustic version of “Motherless Child” from Strange Cousins from the West.
On March 16, 2013 Clutch released their tenth album Earth Rocker which entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #15 giving Clutch their highest chart position to date. It would remain on the chart for a total of 5 weeks. The album also reached #4 on iTunes’ overall Top 100 album charts and was #1 in their rock chart. Earthrocker won “Album of the Year” 2013 from British publication Metalhammer, and was rated highly on many rock/metal magazines’ and websites’ end-of-the-year “Top Tens”.
In an interview on January 7, 2015 with music and entertainment company 88 Miles West, Fallon stated that the band was heading to Dripping Springs, Texas, to record their upcoming eleventh album. Fallon states the venture to Texas was due to the relocation of record producer Machine, with whom they worked on Blast Tyrant and Earth Rocker, and who recently opened a new studio there. He stated in the interview that “Septemberish, give or take a couple of months” is when they hope to release the new album.
Their eleventh studio album is titled Psychic Warfare, and was released October 2, 2015. Fallon said the concept is influenced by science fiction author Philip K. Dick. “His general philosophy and questions have always crept into my lyrics, because I share an interest in it,” he adds. “On Earth Rocker, ‘Crucial Velocity’ was definitely a Philip Dick song for me. On this record, ‘X-Ray Visions’ certainly is.”. Gaster described the new material as more diverse than ever.
In April 2018, Neil Fallon announced through the radio station The Eagle Rocks that the band's twelfth studio album would be titled Book of Bad Decisions. The album will be released on September 7, 2018. The album was recorded at Sputnik Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and engineer Vance Powell.
On November 13, 2020 Released The Weathermaker Studios Vol. 1. A collection of re-recorded hits and 4 unreleased covers and songs.
On September 16,2022 Clutch released their 13th Studio album: Sunrise on Slaughter Beach.
Between 2004-2018 Clutch created seven straight top 10 releases on Billboard’s Independent Album Chart.
Neil Fallon – vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
Tim Sult – lead guitar
Dan Maines – bass guitar
Jean-Paul Gaster – drums, percussion
A Shogun Named Marcus
Clutch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then come out here for a day
And by the way, the name is Marcus
But if you like, you can call me Sensei
Well the emperor is in the pig sty
And the geisha is in the shack
And you better believe I'll hold them there
Till the feds, they pay me back
Kamikaze backbone
Nine iron spitfire
Continental samurai
Oh my lord
Brown sugar, sweet potato
Sourmash, baby back
Redneck romance
Bless my soul
Hari Kari and combines,
Come dancin' with me
Hari Kari and combines,
Won't you come dancin' with me?
Yes, I'm a New World Samurai, and a redneck nonetheless
Yes, I'm a New World Samurai, and a redneck nonetheless
Yes, I'm a New World Samurai, and I can read your mind
Check it out, I'm like a buzzbomb
Yes, I'm a New World Samurai,
Check it out, I'm like a buzzbomb
So Beebopalloobopawopshamboo
And domo arigato if I got to
Bebopaloobopawopshamboo
And domo arigato if I got to
Bebopaloobopawopshamboo
And domo arigato if I got to
Bebopaloobopawopshamboo
And domo arigato if I got to
The lyrics of Clutch's "Marcus" are cryptic, and the meaning is somewhat elusive. The song opens with an invitation to someone who is bored in Jordan, suggesting they come spend a day with the Speaker. Marcus, the name of the Speaker, introduces himself as "Sensei" and describes a scenario where he is holding the emperor and the geisha hostage until he is paid by the feds. The song uses a lot of symbolism to describe Marcus, calling him a "New World Samurai" and a "redneck" simultaneously. He's a person of apparent contradictions. He's a lethal force like a "Kamikaze" and a "Continental samurai," but he also indulges in things like "Brown sugar, sweet potato/Sourmash, baby back/Redneck romance." The chorus of the song repeats "Hari Kari and combines, come dancin' with me" which is a reference to traditional Japanese dance styles and also a play on the concept of ritual suicide.
The lyrics of "Marcus" are metaphoric and symbolistic, and the song is loaded with cultural references. It's difficult to pin down a specific interpretation of the song's meaning, but it seems to describe Marcus as a complex individual with traits and qualities that seemingly contradict one another. He's a person of contrasts, a mix of lethal violence and relatable experiences. The song seems to be an attempt to introduce Marcus as a character, to draw the listener's attention to him, and to pique their curiosity.
Line by Line Meaning
If you thought it was boring in Jordan
If you think that life is dull and uneventful in Jordan,
Then come out here for a day
Then come and spend some time here to see the excitement and adventure.
And by the way, the name is Marcus
And incidentally, my name is Marcus.
But if you like, you can call me Sensei
But if you prefer, I would be honored to be called Sensei.
Well the emperor is in the pig sty
The leader, who should be in a position of power, is now in a lowly and undesirable place.
And the geisha is in the shack
The traditional Japanese female entertainer is now living in a rundown and unpleasant building.
And you better believe I'll hold them there
And you better believe that I will keep them in their current state and not let them escape.
Till the feds, they pay me back
Until the government repays me for my services.
Kamikaze backbone
Unbreakable spirit, likened to the suicide pilots of Japan.
Nine iron spitfire
Strong, powerful, and deadly, like the legendary fighter plane.
Continental samurai
A warrior who is just as skilled and deadly as those from Japan, but from a different continent.
Oh my lord
Expressing surprise or awe at the situation.
Brown sugar, sweet potato
Delicious and satisfying, something to enjoy.
Sourmash, baby back
A combination of alcoholic drink and delicious food items.
Redneck romance
The intense and passionate relationships that can exist between redneck individuals.
Bless my soul
An expression of surprise, shock or disbelief.
Hari Kari and combines,
A combination of Japanese ritualistic suicide and farming equipment.
Come dancin' with me
Come and join me in the danger and excitement of life.
Yes, I'm a New World Samurai, and a redneck nonetheless
I am a highly skilled and deadly warrior, despite my Southern roots.
Yes, I can read your mind
I am highly intuitive and can sense what others are thinking or feeling.
Check it out, I'm like a buzzbomb
I am highly intense and explosive, like a buzzbomb.
So Beebopalloobopawopshamboo
Nonsense phrase used to sound cool or add rhythm to conversation.
And domo arigato if I got to
Thank you very much, if I have to say so myself.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind