Mark McClelland

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Mark McClelland
Mark mcclelland1.jpg
Mark McClelland in Arizona, 2004, during the Final Straw Tour
Background information
Birth nameMark Peter McClelland
Born (1976-03-30) 30 March 1976 (age 48)
Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
Genres Indie rock, alternative rock, power pop
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s) Bass, keyboards
Years active1994–2016
Labels Electric Honey, Jeepster, Polydor

Mark Peter McClelland [1] (born 30 March 1976) [2] is a Northern Irish musician known best as the former bass guitarist of the band Snow Patrol. McClelland is a recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for his work on the album Final Straw . He is now the bassist for alternative act Little Doses.

Contents

Musical career

McClelland in 1994 Shrug - December 1994 (cropped).jpg
McClelland in 1994

Mark McClelland was born on 30 March 1976, and attended Sullivan Upper School as a youngster. [3] In 1994, he started attending the University of Dundee to study Financial economics. [3] During his first year, he founded the band Shrug with Michael Morrison and Gary Lightbody. Morrison left the band in 1995 and with new drummer Jonny Quinn, they became Polar Bear and eventually Snow Patrol. On 9 July 1998, McClelland graduated with first class honours and was one of the only three students to graduate in the course that year. [3] Additionally, he was the only student to graduate in first class for that course that year. [4] A few weeks later, Snow Patrol released their first studio album Songs for Polarbears (a reference to previous band name Polarbear) [3] under Jeepster. In 2001, the band released their second studio album When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up . During this time, McClelland was also a member of The Reindeer Section, a Scottish ensemble started by bandmate Lightbody. He also featured on Iain Archer's album Flood The Tanks and Cut La Roc's eponymous debut album, playing the song "Post Punk Progression" with Snow Patrol.

McClelland left the band in 2005 after the success of their 2003 album Final Straw , allegedly over creative differences. Speaking to Scotland's The Daily Record at the time, McClelland claimed he was sacked as Lightbody "wanted more control and less interference", adding that Snow Patrol would effectively be a solo project now. [5] The NME later reported that the dispute centred on songwriting credits for Final Straw, with McClelland feeling his contribution had not been given sufficient acknowledgement, even though he is credited for the music on all 12 tracks on the album. [6] [7]

McClelland has gone on to create Little Doses, along with girlfriend (now wife), [8] singer Kirsten Ross and drummer Michael Branagh of Degrassi. [9] The band is unsigned and have been largely inactive since 2016.

Litigation

On 10 September 2007, the BBC news site reported that McClelland has issued a writ at the High Court in London seeking 25% of Snow Patrol's earnings since he left the band in March 2005. [10]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snow Patrol</span> Northern Irish–Scottish rock band

Snow Patrol are a Northern Irish–Scottish rock band formed in 1994 in Dundee, Scotland, consisting of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, and Johnny McDaid ; Lightbody is the band's sole remaining original member.

<i>Final Straw</i> 2003 studio album by Snow Patrol

Final Straw is the third album and major-label debut by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released on 4 August 2003 in the UK and in 2004 in the US. The album is notable for bringing the band their first mainstream success outside of their native countries of Northern Ireland and Scotland. In the 14 months following its release, a total of 5 singles were drawn from it. It is their first album to feature lead guitarist Nathan Connolly and their last with bassist Mark McClelland.

<i>Songs for Polarbears</i> 1998 studio album by Snow Patrol

Songs for Polarbears is the debut album by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released on 31 August 1998 in the United Kingdom and 12 October in the United States.

<i>When Its All Over We Still Have to Clear Up</i> 2001 studio album by Snow Patrol

When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up is the second album by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released on 5 March 2001 in the United States and 24 April in the United Kingdom.

<i>Starfighter Pilot</i> 1997 EP by Polarbear

Starfighter Pilot is the second EP by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released on 15 June 1997 through Electric Honey. The EP was released under the name Polarbear, the band's second name after Shrug. The name Polarbear was later changed to Snow Patrol because the band discovered the existence of another band with that name.

<i>Eyes Open</i> (Snow Patrol album) 2006 studio album by Snow Patrol

Eyes Open is the fourth album by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol. Produced by Jacknife Lee, it was released in the UK on 1 May 2006, and 9 May 2006 in the US. It is their first album without bassist Mark McClelland and their first to feature bassist Paul Wilson and keyboardist Tom Simpson. Recording for the album took place between October and December 2005 at Grouse Lodge Studios in Ireland, The Garage in Kent, and The Garden and Angel Recording Studios, both in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run (Snow Patrol song)</span> 2004 song by Snow Patrol

"Run" is a song by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released in the United Kingdom on 26 February 2004 as the second single of their third album, Final Straw (2003). The song was conceived in 2000 by frontman Gary Lightbody after an accident he had during a bender. "Run" has been described as a Britpop power ballad. It received critical acclaim, and was compared to Coldplay's "Yellow".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Lightbody</span> Northern Irish musician (born 1976)

Gareth John Lightbody is a Northern Irish musician. He is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol. He has also founded the musical supergroups the Reindeer Section and Tired Pony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Wilson (musician)</span> Scottish musician

Paul "Pablo" Wilson is a Scottish musician, who is best known as the former bass guitarist for Northern Irish - Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol. He previously played guitar in Glasgow band Terra Diablo during 2000–2005. Wilson plays left-handed and generally uses a black Rickenbacker for concerts. He is a multi-instrumentalist trained in piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Simpson (musician)</span> Scottish musician (born 1972)

Tom Simpson is a Scottish DJ and musician, best known as the former keyboardist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol. Having been with Snow Patrol as a touring member since 1996, he became a permanent member in 2005, before leaving in August 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Quinn</span> Northern Irish musician (born 1972)

Jonathan Graham Quinn is a Northern Irish musician, best known as the former drummer for alternative rock band Snow Patrol, and was previously a member of bands like The Mighty Fall, The New Brontes and Disraeli Gears. As drummer for Snow Patrol, he has played on all releases up until he left the band in 2023. He is married to industrial designer Mariane Quinn.

Listen... Tanks! is an avant-garde music group, consisting of Gary Lightbody and producer Jacknife Lee, who has produced the last three albums for Snow Patrol, among others. The group's music is very different from Snow Patrol and has been termed "weird" by Lightbody. The group will visit Lee's home in January 2010 to record an album, after they finish working on another project Tired Pony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starfighter Pilot (song)</span> 1999 single by Snow Patrol

"Starfighter Pilot" is the fourth single by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released on 28 June 1999 as the final single of their debut album, Songs for Polarbears (1998). The lyrics were written by lead singer Gary Lightbody and the music was composed by him and the other two members of Snow Patrol at the time, Mark McClelland and Jonny Quinn. The song reached number 161 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snow Patrol discography</span>

The discography of Snow Patrol, an alternative rock band, consists of eight studio albums, thirty-two singles, eight extended plays, three compilation albums and one live DVD. Snow Patrol was formed in 1994 by Gary Lightbody, Michael Morrison and Mark McClelland under the name Shrug. They released an extended play (EP) titled The Yogurt vs. Yogurt Debate. Morrison left in 1995, and the band changed their name to Polarbear. Under this name they released their other EP, Starfighter Pilot, on the Electric Honey label. Drummer Jonny Quinn joined in 1997 and the band signed to Jeepster Records the same year. They then underwent their final name change to Snow Patrol. The band's first two studio albums: Songs for Polarbears and When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up were released in 1998 and 2001 respectively, but failed to do well commercially. Subsequently, the band was dropped by the label.

<i>A Hundred Million Suns</i> 2008 studio album by Snow Patrol

A Hundred Million Suns is the fifth album by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, released through Fiction Records and Geffen Records on 24 October 2008 in Ireland, 25 October in Australia, 27 October in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, and 28 October in the United States. The album was written by Snow Patrol and was produced by longtime producer Jacknife Lee, who has previously produced albums for Bloc Party, R.E.M., and U2. The songs were recorded through the summer of 2008 in Hansa Studios in Berlin and Grouse Lodge Studios in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Final Straw Tour</span> 2003–05 concert tour by Snow Patrol

The Final Straw Tour was a concert tour by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol in support of their third album, Final Straw (2003). The band visited numerous venues internationally from 2003 through 2005. The tour is the collective name of many smaller tours and festivals Snow Patrol has played in support of their album. The tour commenced on 13 July 2003, spanned 13 legs and saw the band play over 200 shows, visiting four continents in the process.

Little Doses are a Scottish alternative rock band from Edinburgh, Scotland, who were formed in 2006. The band comprises lead vocalist Kirsten Ross, Mark McClelland on bass guitar, Michael Branagh on drums and backing vocals, Chris Alderson and Mike Skinner on guitar. They released their debut album, Rock Riot Soul on McClelland's Black Ditto Recordings label in March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Olive Grove Facing the Sea</span> 2009 single by Snow Patrol

"An Olive Grove Facing the Sea" is a song by Northern Irish–Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol from their second album, When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001). A re-recorded version featuring only vocalist Gary Lightbody's singing and guitar was released on the band's first compilation album, Up to Now (2009) and was later released digitally as the second single of the album.

References

  1. ↑ "Run - Writers". ASCAP. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  2. ↑ "Ice cool band warms hearts". BBC. 29 March 2004. Archived from the original on 16 November 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Double first for star student". University of Dundee. Archived from the original on 26 February 2005. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  4. ↑ "University of Dundee Thursday Morning Ceremony - Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences". University of Dundee. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  5. ↑ "Pitchforkmedia.com". Archived from the original on 13 February 2008.
  6. ↑ "Snow Patrol bassist exits group". BBC News. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ex-Snow Patrol member launches new band". NME. 6 March 2007. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  8. ↑ Johnston, Andrew (7 March 2012). "Former Snow Patrol Bassist on New Band, Little Doses". Culturenorthernireland.org. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Time to Make My Mark: Ex-Snow Patrol star unveils new band". Dailyrecord.co.uk. 6 March 2007. Archived from the original on 8 March 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Ex-Snow Patrol member sues band". BBC News. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
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