Clutch

Biography/History

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Clutch (1991-present): a Metalcore band from Germantown, Maryland, USA.

ith the power of Neil Fallon (vocals), Tim Sult (guitar), Dan Maines (bass) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), Clutch would first form under the early names Glut Trip and Moral Minority. Clutch would sign to 'Earache' for their EP Passive Restraints in 1992 but were quickly snapped up by 'East-West' to release their debut album later that same year titled Transitional Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes And Undeniable Truths. The album succeeded in offering the band mainstream exposure. The album was followed up with a self-titled album two years later and support tour with Fear Factory before moving to 'Columbia' label for their 1998 "stoner rock" styled release, The Elephant Riders, and 1999s self-released groove-based album Jam Room.

Pure Rock Fury would be released by 'Atlantic Records' in 2001, followed by the live set Live at the Googolplex (2003) and the rarities record Slow Hole to China (2003).

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Blast Tyrant (2004) followed, their first for 'DRT Records'. Pitchfork & Lost Needles (2005) combined the band's 1991 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, for the albums Robot Hive/Exodus (2005) and From Beale Street to Oblivion (2007). Clutch also released a remastered version of Slow Hole to China (2009), with their ninth studio album, Strange Cousins from the West following later that same year.

2011 would see Clutch reissuing their 2004 album Blast Tyrant on 'Weathermaker Music'. The new edition contained a bonus album known as Basket of Eggs that included unreleased songs as well as acoustic versions of previous hits.

In 2013 Clutch released Earth Rocker which entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at 15, giving Clutch their highest chart position to date. Psychic Warfare (2015) and Book of Bad Decisions (2018) would follow.

Former keyboardist Mick Schauer died in September 2019.

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