Jon McClure
Encyclopedia
Jon McClure, known as the Reverend, is lead singer and frontman of Reverend and The Makers
and ex-vocalist of 1984 and Judan Suki. He claims that the name "Reverend" became his moniker because "I'm a big mouth and always running on at people".
Jon McClure was born in the Sheffield suburb Grenoside
in 1981, and grew up there with his parents and brother Chris. He gained a first class honours degree in history and politics at the University of Sheffield
, where he met many musical friends and colleagues, although he has known Ed Cosens since childhood and in Notre Dame High School
, Sheffield
. He then went on to become a poet, and began blogging on the internet. A close friendship developed with Alex Turner
lead singer of Arctic Monkeys
, who McClure met on a bus and asked if Turner wanted to join his band at the time Judan Suki. Together the two have co-written songs including He Said He Loved Me
, The Machine (both feature on The State of Things) and Old Yellow Bricks (featuring on Favourite Worst Nightmare
). McClure cites his key influences as being Bob Marley
, Oasis
and John Cooper Clarke
.
One of his favourite books is Nineteen Eighty-Four
, a novel by George Orwell
and inspiration for the name of his former band 1984.
McClure was part of a collective that set up "Instigate Debate
" in August 2008. He shared a flat with frontman of Arctic Monkeys
, Alex Turner
. McClure married Reverend and the Makers band mate Laura Manuel in August 2009.
and Matt Helders
who later went on to form Arctic Monkeys
with some friends from their school. In 2004 the band downsized from eight members, to five. The band including McClure, Ed Cosens as well as Karl Kelly on bass and Matt Holt, with Laura Manuel still on backing vocals. It was at this time that Judan Suki were playing for decent sized record companies, although he felt that the band were not good enough to be signed, a sentiment he kept to Reverend and The Makers as his perfectionist attitude forced songs from the album to be re-recorded delaying the bands releases. Judan Suki became well known within Sheffield and headlined venues such as the Boardwalk
in 2002. The band were notable for their cover of "Brothers on the Slide" by Cymande
although a studio version was never recorded by the band. However the song did feature on a recent mixtape compiled by McClure.
by George Orwell
, which McClure recalls, during an interview with the NME
in August 2006 as one of the only books he's ever heard of when put on the spot about his favourite, he was too embarrassed to say 'The Dandy', which he later admits in a feature about the Sheffield uprising in "Sandman Magazine" in October 2006. Again, Ed Cosens stuck with Jon, and co-wrote many of 1984's songs as well as all of Reverend and the Makers. The band also included Judan Suki bassist Karl Kelly and drummer David "Chalky" White. The band shared a short life from 2004 to 2005 and McClure's strong views against the Iraq War meant that many of Jon's lyrics, vocals and outlook had an angrier edge to them. There are clear links and continuations with the lyrics and ideas of 1984 to those of Reverend and the Makers and 'God Is In The TV
' which is one of the b-sides on the forthcoming single, was originally a 1984 song. 1984 came to an end when McClure decided he was ready to start getting "serious" as he did not want to be "just another guitar band" or part of a Yorkshire Music Scene which NME
catogorised the band shortly before the band split in 2005.
The lyric "dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984" from the Arctic Monkeys song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
", is a reference to Jon's band, 1984. Maintaining Alex Turner's close link with McClure, who provided much of Turner's inspiration in his early songwriting days.
in Sheffield, and has also hosted one event at Manchester's Po Na Na. The Soundsystem, which ran for a year from October 2007 and has featured a number of guest DJs such as Mani
(The Stone Roses
/Primal Scream
), Peter Hook
(New Order
), the late Tony Wilson
(Factory Records
), Andy Nicholson (ex-Arctic Monkeys), Chris McClure (face of the Arctic Monkeys debut album cover (Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
) and brother of Jon), Terry Hall
(The Specials
), Milburn
, Bez and Arctic Monkeys as well as live performances from The Sunshine Underground
, Gas Club
, Stoney
, The 747s
, The Hosts, White Rose Movement
and Starlings (FKA Kelham Crisis). The event no longer takes place at The Plug.
In 2010, McClure took Reverend SoundSystem on tour. The band includes Jon, Matic Mouth, Laura McClure and Jimmy Welsh (who replaced Jagz Kooner
).
(UK Hip-Hop Artist), Andy Nicholson (Ex-Arctic Monkeys Bassist), Matt Helders
(Arctic Monkeys Drummer), Drew McConnell
(Babyshambles
Bassist), Joe Moskow (Reverend and The Makers), Jagz Kooner
member Laura Manuel in the summer of 2009, after an on-off relationship that McClure said in an interview was "proving tough". Throughout 2009, McClure also received death threats from the British National Party
as a result of his outspoken criticism against the party and their leaders. Previously to marrying Manuel, McClure dated an Iraqi girl and he said in an interview in 2010 that he had strong views on the war in Iraq because "its not nice lying in bed with someone who's crying at their country being bombed". On 5 March 2010, McClure was arrested in Inverness
after possession of cannabis
, but was given a caution.
As well as being an outspoken artist in the music press, McClure has also featured three times on Soccer AM
, scoring two out of three in the carpark challenge. McClure was jokingly offered a 'Jon McClure Trophy' if he managed to score his third attempt by the Soccer AM crew, but he missed. As well as appearing on Soccer AM, he has appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
twice to promote the band's albums.
McClure is also renowned for his frequent use of social networking site Twitter
, and the fact that he takes time to read his fans' tweets to him and reply.
, the Sports Interactive
and Sega
-made football managing simulation. On September 1, 2009, McClure became the first non-Sega or Sports Interactive employee to play Football Manager 2010
, the latest edition to the franchise.
Reverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers are an indie pop band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend"...
and ex-vocalist of 1984 and Judan Suki. He claims that the name "Reverend" became his moniker because "I'm a big mouth and always running on at people".
Jon McClure was born in the Sheffield suburb Grenoside
Grenoside
Grenoside is a suburb of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.-History:The name Grenoside is derived from the language of the Anglo-Saxons. The name Grenoside, which was first recorded in the thirteenth century as Gravenhou, is made up of the different elements. Gren from the Old English graefan...
in 1981, and grew up there with his parents and brother Chris. He gained a first class honours degree in history and politics at the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, where he met many musical friends and colleagues, although he has known Ed Cosens since childhood and in Notre Dame High School
Notre Dame High School (Sheffield)
Notre Dame High School in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, was established in the 1850s by the Sisters of Notre Dame, a religious order.-Admissions:The school has a Catholic ethos and caters for children from all over the city and further afield...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. He then went on to become a poet, and began blogging on the internet. A close friendship developed with Alex Turner
Alex Turner (musician)
Alexander David Turner is an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter of the English rock band Arctic Monkeys...
lead singer of Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, who McClure met on a bus and asked if Turner wanted to join his band at the time Judan Suki. Together the two have co-written songs including He Said He Loved Me
He Said He Loved Me
"He Said He Loved Me" is the second single by Reverend and The Makers, from their debut album The State of Things. The song features Jon McClure and Laura Manuel on lead vocals...
, The Machine (both feature on The State of Things) and Old Yellow Bricks (featuring on Favourite Worst Nightmare
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Favourite Worst Nightmare is the second studio album by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys that was first released in Japan on 18 April 2007 before being released around the world. Recorded in east London's Miloco Studios with producers James Ford and Mike Crossey, the album was preceded by the...
). McClure cites his key influences as being Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
.
One of his favourite books is Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
, a novel by George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
and inspiration for the name of his former band 1984.
McClure was part of a collective that set up "Instigate Debate
Instigate debate
Instigate Debate is a cultural and political UK project set up by a collective that includes musicians Jon McClure, Carl Barat, Kieran Leonard and writer and political activist Mark Donne in August 2008....
" in August 2008. He shared a flat with frontman of Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, Alex Turner
Alex Turner (musician)
Alexander David Turner is an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter of the English rock band Arctic Monkeys...
. McClure married Reverend and the Makers band mate Laura Manuel in August 2009.
Judan Suki
McClure's first band was Judan Suki, which featured Ed Cosens and Laura Manuel from the Makers. The name Judan Suki, is Japanese meaning 'being kicked in the weak spot' which McClure believed related directly to the music. Judan Suki was nothing more than a laugh and an experiment by McClure. During its life, Judan Suki had approximately 20 members throughout their time including Alex TurnerAlex Turner (musician)
Alexander David Turner is an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter of the English rock band Arctic Monkeys...
and Matt Helders
Matt Helders
Matthew Helders , is the drummer for English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. He is the most comprehensive backing vocalist in the group, appearing on several tracks, including the majority of 'Humbug'...
who later went on to form Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
with some friends from their school. In 2004 the band downsized from eight members, to five. The band including McClure, Ed Cosens as well as Karl Kelly on bass and Matt Holt, with Laura Manuel still on backing vocals. It was at this time that Judan Suki were playing for decent sized record companies, although he felt that the band were not good enough to be signed, a sentiment he kept to Reverend and The Makers as his perfectionist attitude forced songs from the album to be re-recorded delaying the bands releases. Judan Suki became well known within Sheffield and headlined venues such as the Boardwalk
Boardwalk (nightclub)
The Boardwalk was a bar/nightclub based on the corner of Snig Hill and Bank Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The venue played host to many up-and-coming home-grown bands, as well as smaller touring bands and cover acts. In November 2010, the landlord of the venue voluntarily placed the...
in 2002. The band were notable for their cover of "Brothers on the Slide" by Cymande
Cymande
Cymande are a British funk band, who released several albums throughout the early 1970s. The group was formed in 1971 in London, England by musicians from Guyana and Jamaica...
although a studio version was never recorded by the band. However the song did feature on a recent mixtape compiled by McClure.
1984
McClure's second band was 1984, the band were named after the novelNineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
by George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
, which McClure recalls, during an interview with the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
in August 2006 as one of the only books he's ever heard of when put on the spot about his favourite, he was too embarrassed to say 'The Dandy', which he later admits in a feature about the Sheffield uprising in "Sandman Magazine" in October 2006. Again, Ed Cosens stuck with Jon, and co-wrote many of 1984's songs as well as all of Reverend and the Makers. The band also included Judan Suki bassist Karl Kelly and drummer David "Chalky" White. The band shared a short life from 2004 to 2005 and McClure's strong views against the Iraq War meant that many of Jon's lyrics, vocals and outlook had an angrier edge to them. There are clear links and continuations with the lyrics and ideas of 1984 to those of Reverend and the Makers and 'God Is In The TV
God Is in the TV
God Is in the T.V. is a VHS release by Marilyn Manson. It compiles all of the band's music videos up until 1999. Also featured is exclusive footage cut from "The Dope Show" video and an hour of live and backstage footage from the Rock is Dead tour....
' which is one of the b-sides on the forthcoming single, was originally a 1984 song. 1984 came to an end when McClure decided he was ready to start getting "serious" as he did not want to be "just another guitar band" or part of a Yorkshire Music Scene which NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
catogorised the band shortly before the band split in 2005.
The lyric "dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984" from the Arctic Monkeys song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
-Charts:-External links:* Mapped on Platial....
", is a reference to Jon's band, 1984. Maintaining Alex Turner's close link with McClure, who provided much of Turner's inspiration in his early songwriting days.
Reverend Soundsystem
Prior to Reverend and the Makers being signed McClure hosted a monthly clubnight on the first Saturday of every month named "Reverend Soundsystem" at The PlugThe Plug
The Plug Nightclub is a 1200 capacity live music venue and nightclub located in Matilda Street, Sheffield, UK...
in Sheffield, and has also hosted one event at Manchester's Po Na Na. The Soundsystem, which ran for a year from October 2007 and has featured a number of guest DJs such as Mani
Gary Mounfield
Gary Manny "Mani" Mounfield , is an English rock bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. He has a distinctive playing style that combines a fast moving rock style with a dance rhythm or dub groove...
(The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
/Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
), Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
(New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
), the late Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
(Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
), Andy Nicholson (ex-Arctic Monkeys), Chris McClure (face of the Arctic Monkeys debut album cover (Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is the debut album by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys, released on 23 January 2006. The album became the UK's fastest selling debut album, shifting over 360,000 copies in its first week, and remains the fastest selling debut album by a band. It...
) and brother of Jon), Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
(The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
), Milburn
Milburn (band)
Milburn was an indie rock band from Sheffield, England that consisted of Joe Carnall, Louis Carnall, Tom Rowley, and Joe Green. They announced they would split on 28 March 2008, with the band playing their final gig at Sheffield's Carling Academy on 24 May 2008.-Formation:Milburn's formation came...
, Bez and Arctic Monkeys as well as live performances from The Sunshine Underground
The Sunshine Underground
The Sunshine Underground are an English, Leeds based indie rock band. The Sunshine Underground play a variety of punk, funk and indie, featured on their debut album, Raise the Alarm, released by City Rockers on August 28, 2006...
, Gas Club
Gas Club
Gas Club were a four-piece indie band from Sheffield, England and formed in 2005. Taking their name from Malin Bridge Sports and Social Club at the bottom of Stannington Road....
, Stoney
Stoney (musician)
Stoney is a British musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.-Career:Stoney first appeared on the UK music scene following the release of his debut inventive and homegrown-style album Amber in 2001...
, The 747s
The 747s
The 747s were an indie band, from Liverpool, England. Their debut album Zampano was released in September, 2006.The band supported The Raconteurs on their first UK tour in 2006...
, The Hosts, White Rose Movement
White Rose Movement (band)
White Rose Movement were a post-punk/electro band from London, England. The band is named after the German anti-Nazi resistance movement White Rose...
and Starlings (FKA Kelham Crisis). The event no longer takes place at The Plug.
In 2010, McClure took Reverend SoundSystem on tour. The band includes Jon, Matic Mouth, Laura McClure and Jimmy Welsh (who replaced Jagz Kooner
Jagz Kooner
Jagz Kooner is a UK born producer who has worked with Radio 4, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream for whom he co-produced their well-known cover version of the song 'Some Velvet Morning' sung this time by the model Kate Moss, Garbage and Infadels...
).
Mongrel
McClures new project that features band members; LowkeyLowkey
Kareem Dennis is a musician and political activist of English and Iraqi descent, better known by his stage name Lowkey. He first became known through a series of mixtapes he released before he was 18, before taking a hiatus from the music business...
(UK Hip-Hop Artist), Andy Nicholson (Ex-Arctic Monkeys Bassist), Matt Helders
Matt Helders
Matthew Helders , is the drummer for English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. He is the most comprehensive backing vocalist in the group, appearing on several tracks, including the majority of 'Humbug'...
(Arctic Monkeys Drummer), Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Babyshambles, the band formed and fronted by frontman of The Libertines, Pete Doherty. He lived in Tenerife, Spain, for much of his childhood, and he speaks Spanish fluently...
(Babyshambles
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
Bassist), Joe Moskow (Reverend and The Makers), Jagz Kooner
Jagz Kooner
Jagz Kooner is a UK born producer who has worked with Radio 4, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream for whom he co-produced their well-known cover version of the song 'Some Velvet Morning' sung this time by the model Kate Moss, Garbage and Infadels...
Personal life
McClure married fellow Reverend and The MakersReverend and The Makers
Reverend and The Makers are an indie pop band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend"...
member Laura Manuel in the summer of 2009, after an on-off relationship that McClure said in an interview was "proving tough". Throughout 2009, McClure also received death threats from the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
as a result of his outspoken criticism against the party and their leaders. Previously to marrying Manuel, McClure dated an Iraqi girl and he said in an interview in 2010 that he had strong views on the war in Iraq because "its not nice lying in bed with someone who's crying at their country being bombed". On 5 March 2010, McClure was arrested in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
after possession of cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, but was given a caution.
As well as being an outspoken artist in the music press, McClure has also featured three times on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
, scoring two out of three in the carpark challenge. McClure was jokingly offered a 'Jon McClure Trophy' if he managed to score his third attempt by the Soccer AM crew, but he missed. As well as appearing on Soccer AM, he has appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
twice to promote the band's albums.
McClure is also renowned for his frequent use of social networking site Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, and the fact that he takes time to read his fans' tweets to him and reply.
Football Manager
Jon McClure is known to be an avid player of Football ManagerFootball Manager
Football Manager is a series of football management simulation games developed by Sports Interactive and published by Sega. The game began its life in 1992 as Championship Manager; however, following the break-up of their partnership with original publishers Eidos Interactive, Sports Interactive...
, the Sports Interactive
Sports Interactive
Sports Interactive Limited is a computer games development company currently based in Old Street, Central London and owned by the Japanese software and video game company Sega. It is the developer of the popular games Football Manager, NHL Eastside Hockey Manager and Championship Manager Quiz, and...
and Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
-made football managing simulation. On September 1, 2009, McClure became the first non-Sega or Sports Interactive employee to play Football Manager 2010
Football Manager 2010
Football Manager 2010 is a football manager simulation video game. It was released on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and PlayStation Portable on 30 October 2009. It is also available for digital download on Steam and iOS...
, the latest edition to the franchise.