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
I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth
Clutch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll find that creature at the bottom of the deep down Susquehanna River.
This one I had stood right on up to me,
Tore out his hook and declared himself a prodigy.
But oh no, fishing ain't what it used to be.
I've seen some bad years, but this one is just killing me.
One little nibble in thirteen years,
I really pack 'em in.
All shacked up with lightning and horizon beams.
Well I bring 'em on up, and then I pack 'em on in
In all the places I've been,
And I swear it's never been like this before,
Least not since 19 and 44.
But today, I made a sick discovery,
Lead box in Sassafras Cove.
Well I brought him on up and then I packed him on in, oh yes,
Now I'm really cashing in.
Wash of the Chesapeake and Appalachian Blue Range,
I have discovered the body of John Wilkes Booth.
Yes, it's true, I have Mr. Booth.
Everybody got to make a living somehow.
Do I hear a million?
Well I bring 'em on up and then I pack 'em on in.
The song "I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth" by Clutch is an interesting commentary on the state of the music industry in the modern world, using the metaphor of fishing to convey this message. The song opens with the comparison of the singer to Marlon Brando, except "bigger," seemingly setting the stage for a story of a larger-than-life character accomplishing something incredible. However, the following lines tell a different story, describing the creature the singer has caught as "standing right on up to me/Tore out his hook and declared himself a prodigy." This can be seen as a comment on the over-saturation of music in the modern world and the subsequent need for artists to constantly reinvent themselves and stand out in an increasingly crowded market. The line "But oh no, fishing ain't what it used to be" furthers this idea, as it suggests that even in the past, music was more valuable and worthwhile than it is now.
The song then takes a surreal turn, with the singer describing the creature he has caught as being "all shacked up with lightning and horizon beams," indicating that this "creature" is not a fish at all but a symbol for something else entirely. This is later revealed to be John Wilkes Booth, the infamous assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, whose body the singer claims to have discovered. The line "Wash of the Chesapeake and Appalachian Blue Range" sets the scene for the discovery, and the subsequent lines "Yes, it's true, I have Mr. Booth/Everybody got to make a living somehow/Do I hear a million?" suggest that the singer plans to profit off the discovery, despite the fact that it is a historic artifact and a piece of American history.
Overall, the song can be seen as a commentary on the commodification of art and history in the modern world, as well as a critique of the music industry and its current state. The surreal imagery and use of metaphor help to convey this message in a unique and memorable way.
Line by Line Meaning
Like Marlon Brando, but bigger.
The creature Clutch found is enormous, resembling Marlon Brando in size.
You'll find that creature at the bottom of the deep down Susquehanna River.
The creature was found at the bottom of the Susquehanna River.
This one I had stood right on up to me,
The creature stood up to Clutch.
Tore out his hook and declared himself a prodigy.
The creature removed the fishing hook and proclaimed himself to be exceptional.
But oh no, fishing ain't what it used to be.
Fishing has deteriorated and is not as productive as it was in the past.
I've seen some bad years, but this one is just killing me.
Previous fishing seasons were difficult, but this one is particularly distressing.
One little nibble in thirteen years,
Clutch only received one nibble in the past thirteen years of fishing.
I really pack 'em in.
Despite the poor fishing results, Clutch continues to try and catch fish.
This one I had, I seen it in dreams,
Clutch had dreamt of catching this particular creature.
All shacked up with lightning and horizon beams.
The dream featured lightning and a scenic horizon.
Well I bring 'em on up, and then I pack 'em on in
Clutch brings the fish he catches to various locations.
In all the places I've been,
Clutch has traveled to many areas to fish.
And I swear it's never been like this before,
Clutch has never encountered such poor fishing conditions before.
Least not since 19 and 44.
The last time Clutch saw fishing conditions this bad was in 1944.
But today, I made a sick discovery,
Clutch made a disturbing discovery.
Lead box in Sassafras Cove.
Clutch found a lead box in Sassafras Cove.
Well I brought him on up and then I packed him on in, oh yes,
Clutch brought the contents of the lead box to various locations.
Now I'm really cashing in.
Clutch stands to make a lot of money from the discovery.
Wash of the Chesapeake and Appalachian Blue Range,
The body was found in the Chesapeake Bay's watershed and Appalachian Mountains foothills.
I have discovered the body of John Wilkes Booth.
Clutch discovered the body of John Wilkes Booth.
Yes, it's true, I have Mr. Booth.
Clutch has the body of John Wilkes Booth.
Everybody got to make a living somehow.
Clutch found the body as a means of making money and a living.
Do I hear a million?
Clutch is seeking a large sum of money for the discovery of the body.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind