Mackenzies formed in 1985, inspired by the power-lifter Precious McKenzie. Paul Turnbull (drums), Iain Beveridge (guitar), Gary Weir (vocals and guitar) and Peter Gilmour (bass) got together musically over their shared love of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, James Brown, Prince, Funkadelic and Parliament. Emboldened by witnessing live performances closer to home from Josef K, Fire Engines and Orange Juice, the group began to rehearse regularly in Paul’s bedroom as they worked on their sound, crafting sonic punk funk fusion.
The recruitment of saxophonist Peter Ellen developed their sound further. The final piece in the jigsaw was the crucial addition of second guitarist David Allen. In November 1985, a demo recorded in Paul’s bedroom made its way to Radio 1 and the office of John Peel who invited Mackenzies down for a session at the legendary Maida Vale studios. Peel was a big supporter of the band inviting them for a second session only months after their first visit. In 1986, the band appeared on NME’s C86 mixtape alongside Primal Scream, The Pastels and The Wedding Present.
Now approaching the 40th anniversary of their debut single New Breed, Mackenzies are set to release their long-awaited, full length debut album A Dog's Breakfast in 2026.
