The Real McKenzies

The Real McKenzies

The Real McKenzies are a Canadian Celtic punk band from Vancouver, formed in 1992. They play Celtic punk and combine punk rock with bagpipes, which appear on all of their studio albums and at most of their concerts. Their line-up has included Paul McKenzie on vocals, Dirty Kurt Robertson on guitar and vocals, Mark “Bone” Boland on guitar and vocals, Matthew MacNasty on bagpipes, Sean Sellers on war drums, Gord Taylor on bagpipes, and several other musicians who have been part of the group over time, including Rich Priske, Jamie Fawkes, Bradford Lambert, Matt MacNasty, Glenn Kruger, Karl Alvarez, Dave Gregg, “Little” Joe Raposo, Gwomper, and Antony Walker.

Paul McKenzie fronts the band, which is known for energetic live performances and extensive touring. The group has toured for long stretches, including an eight-month run through twenty-three countries in a van, and has shared stages with Shane MacGowan, Rancid, NOFX, Flogging Molly, The Misfits, and Metallica. Alongside original material, the band also performs older Scottish and Irish songs in modern arrangements.

The band’s music has also appeared in beer commercials and video games. Matthew MacNasty, whose real name is Matthew James Hawley, joins the band’s bagpipe line as its current piper.