Album Notes

MUDMEN (A Man’s Band)

( YES, that's MUDMEN you're hearing on the NBC TV Promo spots for THE BLACK DONNELLYS )

Celtic overtones in a fusion of rock and punk? It’s not for the timid. The MUDMEN are beyond unique in their hard driving sound onslaught. Centered around ripping bagpipes, the MUDMEN have created one of the most mesmerizing rock performances anywhere. The band’s powerfully intense live show has leveled audiences throughout North America over the past four years with its fusion of melody and relentless rock/punk power.

Bagpipe brothers Rob and Sandy Campbell grew up in a small town outside of Sarnia, Ontario with a very Scottish mother who wanted her boys to train on a traditional instrument. Every weekend in the summer they performed at the Highland Games and traveled to Scotland five times to compete in the World Bagpipe Championships. By the late nineties the brothers married their love of the bagpipes with their love of rock, and along with frontman Zoy Nicoles, formed the MUDMEN in 2000.

With their debut self-titled CD release (2001 EMI Music Canada) the MUDMEN made quite an impression on the Canadian music scene. Winning over rockers, punks, metalheads and Celtic warriors from coast-to-coast by unrelenting touring and on the strength of their hit single/video “Saturday”. Following tracks from the album such as “Drink & Fight”, “5 O’clock” and “In My Head” soon solidified the band’s reputation both on air and on stage.
The MUDMEN’s second release "Overrated" (2003 Sextant/EMI) resulted in three more singles and videos. “Animal” ended up on several video games, “Any Given Day”, and “Home For a Rest” were all added at Much Music and Much Loud.

The success of Overrated landed the band several rock festival appearances and a national tour with Bif Naked.
Recently the MUDMEN have gone through a complete overhaul. “We all feel really good about the changes and believe that we have a strong team behind us that can capitalize on our past success and take us to the next level,” says Sandy Campbell.

DEFENDING THE KINGDOM, the band's third album is definately the best ever! All songs penned by the band with the exception of the rock anthem "Long Way To The Top", their very personal tribute to AC/DC. Note for note, this album rocks - Gargantuan!

“We love to tour, tour, tour. Connecting with fans is very important to us and performing is the best way for us to do that”, says Zoy Nicoles. Their larger-than-life live show is a visceral experience that simply must be seen to be believed!

MUDMEN are certainly a man's band, - but women love 'em too!