Tip of the hat to John McKay (S + the Banshees)

[stevejamsecono]

I've been down the rabbit-hole of the Banshees again for the 900th time in my life (there are truly so many nooks and crannies to enjoy) and I have to say -- I think John McKay's work on the first two records is up there for me with the prime McGeoch years. Love the high priest of the Yamaha SG and think he's rightfully the 'definitive' Banshees guitarist for most, but McKay really brought some unconventional chops to the table and his searing Les Paul/Fender Twin sound and early adoption of the MXR Flanger seemed to really set the tone for post punk to follow. It just sounds rad and alien and awesome. Definitely as much an influence on my playing (and admittedly easier to cop) than McGeoch's licks.

Anyone else dig him?

[elektrovac]

I second every word you say here. Big love for McKay!

I basically learned the electric guitar by playing along to The Scream back in 1985 at age 16. So he's a major influence.

Did you listen to the version of Playground Twist from the BBC compilation? Amazing playing and perfect flanger sounds on that one (fantastic drumming too - just a great track).

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Been a fan since I bought the Hong Kong Garden 7" and was blown away by its other-wordly B-side Voices.

Hadn't really considered it, but yeah, his guitar sound probably defined post-punk. (David Shadowplay might know better, of course, but he doesn't seem to come here any more.)

[FrankRay]

Thirded.
Love Overground, Switch, Hong Kong Garden, Placebo Effect and Icons as much as anything later.
I think by the third album Severin was writing most of the music and McGeogh was basically decorating the songs, adding colour. With the earlier stuff McKay was writing the tunes so his playing is much more structural. His approach is quite different.
Either way they’re both great.

[stevejamsecono]

I second every word you say here. Big love for McKay!

I basically learned the electric guitar by playing along to The Scream back in 1985 at age 16. So he's a major influence.

Did you listen to the version of Playground Twist from the BBC compilation? Amazing playing and perfect flanger sounds on that one (fantastic drumming too - just a great track).

I'll have to check it out! I just got the Peel Sessions album and I'm pretty sure it's the same version on there.

Thirded.
Love Overground, Switch, Hong Kong Garden, Placebo Effect and Icons as much as anything later.
I think by the third album Severin was writing most of the music and McGeogh was basically decorating the songs, adding colour. With the earlier stuff McKay was writing the tunes so his playing is much more structural. His approach is quite different.
Either way they’re both great.

Agreed, yeah. Him and Morris seemed to give the music a real teutonic weight to it. Someone recently described his playing as sounding more like film soundtrack elements (i.e. the violins in psycho) and I have to agree. It's really cool and I can only imagine how wild it was at the time when it was still a fresh idea.

[elektrovac]

Does anybody know what John McKay went on to do in his life, post the Banshees? The wikipedia article does really tell anything ...

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Does anybody know what John McKay went on to do in his life, post the Banshees? The wikipedia article does really tell anything ...

To paraphrase: Discogs is your friend.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Looks like the short answer is not much (that is known about).

[FrankRay]

His only post-banshees single which is fairly excellent, actually. Sounds like a track from Join Hands. I think the singer is his wife.
As far as I know he left the music business and works in fashion in London now. He was always pretty stylish.

[Plumerai]

There's a program called something like punk family tree that features the Banshees. It includes an interview with McKay talking about running into Siouxsie & Budgie.

[cestlamort]

I second every word you say here. Big love for McKay!

I basically learned the electric guitar by playing along to The Scream back in 1985 at age 16. So he's a major influence.

Did you listen to the version of Playground Twist from the BBC compilation? Amazing playing and perfect flanger sounds on that one (fantastic drumming too - just a great track).

I'll have to check it out! I just got the Peel Sessions album and I'm pretty sure it's the same version on there.

Not sure of the various versions, but the At the BBC box set is amazing, and I like it more than the respective studio albums. (Admittedly, I was very casual in my relationship with them back in the day, and really dove into Ms. Cestlamort's At the BBC and B-Sides boxsets over the last few years).