Virginian purveyors of minimalist Stoner Rock. The highly influential CLUTCH came together in Germantown, Maryland, performing an inaugural gig during August 1991. Initially the band, just out of high school, pursued a Hardcore inclined path, evident on their October 1991 debut 7" vinyl single 'Pitchfork' issued on the Inner Journey label. At this juncture the band comprised singer Neil Fallon, guitarist Tim Sult, bassist Dan Maines with Jean-Paul Gaster on drums. The iinnovative UK label Earache Records picked the band up for a second EP, April 1992's Larry Packer (a.k.a. "Uncle Punchy") produced 'Passive Restraints'.

Scoring a major label deal with East West Records, CLUTCH released the full-length debut, 'Transnational Speedway League - Anthems, Anecdotes And Undeniable Truths', co-produced by Jonathan Burnside and Steven Haigler and engineered by Bily Anderson, in August the following year.

US gigs in September had the group packaged with VOIVOD and DAMN THE MACHINE. The eponymous 'Clutch', laid down at Uncle Punchy's Studios in Silver Spring, Maryland with Larry Packer once more behind the desk, arrived in May 1995. The noted team of Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero provided the final mix. This effort would prove to be the band's most successful commercially to date, selling over 200,000 copies in the USA. Japanese editions hosted an extra track entitled 'Apache'.

Touring would be prolific and included a valuable run of dates in February and March of 1997 opening for PANTERA. Recognising this momentum, former label Earache Records re-issued the 'Passive Restraint' tracks, along with two new songs, as the 'Impetus' EP.

Although the band's promise was great a switch to another label was made to Columbia Records. April 1998's 'The Elephant Riders', produced by the veteran Jack Douglas and peaking at no. 104 on the national US Billboard charts, found CLUTCH in a more reflective, rootsier mood, setting the pace for future product.Various editions hosted hidden tracks in 'David Rose', 'Gifted & Talented' or'05'. Japanese editions included all three songs.

CLUTCH would remain on the road for much of the year opening with a package bill in alliance with LIMP BIZKIT and SEVENDUST throughout February, March and into April dubbed the 'Ladies Night In Cambodia' tour. An interim batch of headliners led to special guest status for Thrash veterans SLAYER and SYSTEM OF A DOWN in May and June upfront of a lengthy schedule opening for the PHUNK JUNKEEZ in July. European dates in September had the band hooked up with FEAR FACTORY and the DEFTONES and a return to the States witnessed an October four band union of CLUTCH, ULTRASPANK, SEVENDUST and STUCK MOJO.

'Jam Room', a May 1999 Larry Packer produced outing, would surface on the band's own River Road imprint before being picked up by the Spitfire label. Roadwork saw CLUTCH engaging in a series of U.S. headliners with DROWN as guests in February. The band would guest for IRON MAIDEN in America prior to December gigs alongside SIXTY WATT SHAMEN and support THERAPY? in Europe during 2000 prior to American dates supporting CORROSION OF CONFORMITY.

The band would elevate their status to such a renewed level that Atlantic Records duly resigned them for a March 2001 Uncle Punchy produced record 'Pure Rock Fury'. The album closed with a live rendition of 'Space Grass', originally featured on their 1995 'Clutch' opus. A whole host of special guests made their presence felt including DOG EAT DOG percussionist Heartbeat, Wino of SPIRIT CARAVAN, the renowned guitarist LESLIE WEST of MOUNTAIN and personnel from SIXTY WATT SHAMAN. 'Pure Rock Fury', boosted in profile by the radio hit 'Careful With That Mic...', landed on the Billboard charts at no. 135.

In by now traditional fashion CLUTCH embarked upon a gruelling series of live dates heading up a U.S. schedule in the Spring with strong support from VISION OF DISORDER, MURPHY'S LAW and TREE. The band would re-visit Europe in June before returning to America for July gigs in alliance with CANDIRIA and BELLEVUE and shows the following month with SIX. By November the band would still be out on the live circuit, on tour with BIOHAZARD, CANDIRIA and PRIMER 55.

2002 would see little let up in the pace, CLUTCH co-headlining UK gigs in January with RAGING SPEEDHORN and an opening cast of CANDIRIA and LANDMINE SPRING. Support gigs to SYSTEM OF A DOWN in America then ensued upfrontof summer headliners backed by GINATA PINATA, the SUPLECS and ALABAMA THUNDER PUSSY. In August a return to the UK just four gigs would be supported by THROAT. A concert album, 'Live At The Googolplex', also surfaced via Megaforce Records.

River Road assembled a set of previously unreleased songs branded 'Slow Hole To China: Rare And Unreleased'. This set featured a cover version of JOHN COLTRANE's 'Equinox'. 3000 copies were also pressed on vinyl by Emetic Records, with 2000 manufactured in regular black vinyl and 1000 on red marble vinyl.

Neil Fallon made his presence felt on the HENRY ROLLINS assembled 'West Memphis Three' benefit album 'Rise Above', lending lead vocals to a version of BLACK FLAG's 'American Waste'. Sult, Maines and Gastor would also operate the side act THE BAKERTON GROUP.

In alliance with the SPIRITUAL BEGGARS European March and April 2003 'Monstergroove' tour, the band heading up a line-up of SPIRITU and DOZER. Together with SPIRITUAL BEGGARS the band also scheduled Japanese dates for late April. US shows in August saw CLUTCH hooking up with MASTODON. However, these gigs would be minus guitarist Tim Sult, who suffered a broken wrist just beforehand. CLUTCH maintained their live momentum into January of 2004, touring alongside NEBULA and MASTODON. Further touring in North America during the Spring found CLUTCH on a package billing with SUPERJOINT RITUAL and Black Metal pioneers DEICIDE with April headliners seeing THE BAKERTON GROUP as support.

In 2004 the 'Jam Room' album was re-released on Megaforce records with three additional tracks, 'Drifter', 'I Send Pictures' and 'Sink 'Em Low'. In March that same year new studio set 'Blast Tyrant's Atlas Of The Invisible World Including Illustrations Of Strange Beasts And Phantasms' emerged on DRT Entertainment. The album, finding radio impact with the song 'The Mob Goes Wild', put CLUTCH back on the Billboard charts at no. 147.

The band made available a brand new double album entitled 'Clutch - Live In Flint, Michigan' in November, pressed up through their own River Road Records, for sale exclusively at their Winter US shows allied with FU MANCHU and HIGH ON FIRE.

The Summer of 2005 found CLUTCH participating in the US 'Sounds of the Underground' touring extravaganza, a collaboration between independent labels Ferret Music, Prosthetic Records, Trustkill Records and Metal Blade Records. The mammoth billing for these shows saw the band sharing stages with POISON THE WELL, OPETH, UNEARTH, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES, CHIMAIRA, NORMA JEAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, THROWDOWN, HIGH ON FIRE, DEVILDRIVER, ALL THAT REMAINS, A LIFE ONCE LOST and GWAR. Regional additions included MADBALL and TERROR, splitting the East and West portions of the tour respectively, THE RED CHORD on the East Coast, FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES in the Midwest and Southeast and HIMSA for Western gigs.

These gigs coincided with the release of the J. Robbins produced studio album 'Robot Hive/Exodus' through DRT Entertainment. Meantime, Megaforce Records compiled a retrospective collection for July release dubbed 'Pitchfork & Lost Needles'. Alongside demos and previously unreleased material the set included two brand new songs, 'What Would A Wookie Do?' and 'Bottoms Up, Socrates'. Upon release in June, 'Robot Hive/Exodus' sold over 12,000 copies in its first week of US sales to debut at an impressive number 93 on the Billboard album charts. CLUTCH supported CKY on UK gigs during September. Gigs in December witnessed a package run with FIREBALL MINISTRY.

The band returned to the UK, teaming up with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and Philadelphia instrumental rockers STINKING LIZAVETA in January 2006. CLUTCH projected their debut Australian gigs, including an appearance at the Brisbane 'Overcranked' festival, for March. Meantime, CLUTCH drummer Jean Paul Gaster made an appearance on the FIVE HORSE JOHNSON album, 'The Mystery Spot'. The band put in a significant appearance at the TOOL and DEFTONES headlined 'Download' festival in Castle Donington, UK on June 9th.

In October the band set to work on new album tracks, entitled 'From Beale Street To Oblivion', with producer Joe Barresi. That November CLUTCH acted as support to MOTȪRHEAD's UK dates. Backing the album release in March 2007, which scored no. 52 on the US charts, UK headline dates in April saw support honours going out to Austin based THE SWORD. That same month Jean-Paul Gaster collaborated on a side project with OPETH keyboard player Per Wiberg and KAMCHATKA guitarist Thomas "Juneor" Andersson.

CLUTCH's next live opus, 'Heard It All Before', was put out as on online and instant double CD release in rapid fire fashion immediately following the group's set at the HiFi Bar in Melbourne, Australia. The first four songs on this release were from THE BAKERTON GROUP.

Another live album and accompanying DVD, 'Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings' recorded at shows in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado and Australia, saw issue in September 2008 on Weathermaker Music.

CLUTCH set 'Strange Cousins From The West' as the title of their next album, due on 7th July 2009 again via the group's own label, Weathermaker Music. These tracks were recorded at Magpie Cage studio in Baltimore, Maryland with producer J. Robbins. The set, promoted by a promotional video for the track '50,000 Unstoppable Watts', featured the POPPO'S BLUES BAND cover song 'Algo Ha Cambiado', which vocalist Neil Fallon sang in Spanish.

The group launched a seven month worldwide headlining tour beginning with a U.S. run with support acts WINO and MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER, followed by a July U.S. trek with BARONESS as main support.

Garry Sharpe-Young