We all wear the scars of our past, and Andy James and Chris Clancy are no exception. The concequence of trauma acquired on their journey to the present. Andy didn’t even notice his appear. His band, Sacred Mother Tongue, were being heralded as the next big thing in British Metal; signed to EMI, touring the world with some of the biggest names in hard rock and opening the main stage at the highly prestigious Download Festival in the summer of 2013. On the surface, things could not have been going better. But the cracks were forming... all of a sudden, hidden under the clothing of the press hype and impressive tour posters, the wounds of financial reality were opened. The bleeding had begun... Sacred Mother Tongue were forced to call it a day.
Chris had to travel further for his scars. Leaving everything behind, quitting his job and waving goodbye to the country he grew up in, he answered a call to join New Jersey metallers Mutiny Within. Signed to his childhood dream label: Roadrunner Records, widely regarded as the biggest and most powerful metal label in the world, touring with heavyweight metal names such as Soulfly, Soilwork, Death Angel, Arch Enemy, Periphery and even writing a song for WWE wrestler Evan Bourne, metal superstardom awaited. Yet for similarly ugly reasons, after two years Chris was forced to make the tough decision to head back home.
Aside from these similar paths, there are other common qualities shared by Andy and Chris; Exceptional talent; a passion, determination and commitment to their art that no obstacle of the music industry can quell; and the knowledge that the best thing to do with a scar is proudly wear it.
And so Andy James and Chris Clancy – alongside SMT’s former rhythm section, drummer Lee Newall and Bassist Craig Daws - are WEARING SCARS.