GAZ: 25 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

Garry McCluskey, better known by his stage name GAZ, is a UK-born South African Singer-Songwriter. There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about him, but today my aim is to change that.

Here are 25 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know about GAZ (Garry McCluskey)

1. GAZ been alleged to look like a double of Rick Astley. “Funny, not funny … when you are trying to come across as an established Rocker” he says.

2. Many of his songs are conceived in the shower. He literally needs to run to his phone and send himself a quick voice note, or they will be lost forever! GAZ says that “not all sounds from the shower sound good in a WhatsApp LOL!”

3. GAZ used to play some guitar but hurt his wrist in an accident and lost feeling to all the nerves on his left hand.

4. Back in the late 90’s he delivered a CD single to Barney Simon in Auckland Park late one night. 5 minutes later they were listening to this new track on air whilst driving home. The song got to No.5 in the Modern Rock Chart. It was recorded at a home studio in JHB along with the family parrot and their dog constantly going off in the background.

5. GAZ makes all his own Lyric Video’s and Album Covers. He feels over time they are getting better. He also does all his own social media content, and constantly strife to improve.

6. His track ‘Slow Down’ was the most challenging song he has ever written lyrically. He battled for weeks to make it work out.

7. GAZ has an old piece of clothing that was his mother’s that he wore on stage in the past. It’s an orange psychedelic patterned blouse from the 70’s and has seen quite a few shows. He shares that “it still hangs in my cupboard, and I look forward to wearing it again in the future!”

8. GAZ will sing anywhere, and with any of his muso mates when called upon and given the opportunity!

9. He has a great piece of memorabilia at home. It’s a handwritten set list by the late legend Johnny Clegg. It is from a show that he went to watch him perform live.

10. GAZ is 6 feet 2 inches with size 7½ feet. That’s why he dances a lot and cannot stand still!

11. All 8 of the tracks on his upcoming solo album thus far have been recorded and produced at Mark Beling Studios in Johannesburg. GAZ says that “It’s actually ‘our album’, certainly not mine alone, as Mark’s music contributions have been hugely significant to my success to date!”

12. GAZ has no paintings or pictures on the walls of his home. He gets visually bored too quickly. His home is also never quiet. There is generally always music playing. If he does not hear music for a few hours, he does not feel great.

13. Once he has written down the words to a new song, it plays on repeat in his head until he has been to the studio and got it out of his system.

14. GAZ rates he listens to each one of his releases approximately 200 times, before it comes out. That is from first mix to final master. He is quite critical.

15. To GAZ there is nothing scarier, yet more exhilarating than releasing a new song. He does also rate the Ferris Wheel at Gold Reef in this category, being terrible with heights.

16. He feels there are too many songs written for his new album, and that decisions will need to be made on what makes the final track listing.

17. He still has all his wisdom teeth. They are high up and could not be removed. Perhaps this is a good thing and assists with his voice in some way. A doctor also once wanted to drill his nasal passages open to help him breathe better, but he ran away!

18. GAZ is a big lover of football and Newcastle United.

19. GAZ never sings any of his tracks out loud prior to the recording studio. Recording day is the very first time he verbalizes his lyrics. It’s all in his head until that point which he believes produces a natural delivery.

20. Growing up he would play his parent’s vinyl collection, one after the other. His rule was that no matter what album was next, it got played … from Black Sabbath to Bread to The Beatles.

21. He pleasantly discovered his knack for operating the Wah-pedal during a guitar recording session, adding a unique touch to the track’s sound.

22. Collaborating with Mark Beling, GAZ affectionately dubs their 2024 single ‘Lullaby For The World’ as “the longest production in history”, due to numerous obstacles faced during its creation, including rewrites and technical glitches.

23. Embracing restraint during the extended recording process, GAZ preserved “Lullaby For The World”‘s purity, purpose, and contrast, resulting in a balanced and colourful composition.

24. Transitioning from darkness to dreaminess, GAZ envisioned a rock lullaby that captures various musical elements, culminating in a harmonious blend that is “Lullaby For The World”.

25. Delving into multimedia production, GAZ ventured into YouTube video creation, relishing the process despite its modest, low-budget nature. This is evident in the video for “Lullaby For The World”.

Well, there you have it, 25 nteresting facts you might not have known about Gaz (Garry McCluskey). If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.

If you’re not familiar with this music, check out the lyric video for “Slow Down” below:

Check the lyric video for “Lullaby For The World” below:

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