Gerard McMahon

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For the Northern Irish footballer, see Gerry McMahon.
Gerard McMahon

Background information
Birth name Gerard Thomas McMahon
Also known as Gerard McMann
G Tom Mac
G
Origin Birmingham, England, U.K.
Genre(s) Rock, Pop, Soundtrack
Occupation(s) Musician
Singer-songwriter
Producer
Instrument(s) vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
Years active 1971–present
Label(s) Edge Artists
Associated acts G TOM MAC
Gerard
Gerard McMann
Website www.gtommac.com

Gerard McMahon (aka Gerard McMann and G Tom Mac) (born Gerard Thomas MacMahon, of Irish/English parentage, in Birmingham, U.K) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who specialises in creating music for films and TV. McMahon is also the founder member of the band G TOM MAC.

Whilst McMahon has undertaken many different musical projects throughout his career, he is probably still best known by many for the gothic rock anthem "Cry Little Sister", a song which he recorded in 1987 for the soundtrack album of the cult comedy-horror film The Lost Boys.

Contents

[edit] The Early Years

Gerard McMahon, who lists amongst his musical influences John Lennon, Stevie Wonder and Stravinsky, emigrated with his family from England to America when he was 11 years of age. Initially moving to New York, a few years later the MacMahon's moved again, eventually settling in Witchita, Kansas.

"When I was there I started learning guitar and the bass, and realising I had a voice, I started a band which played in clubs all over the Midwest"

—Gerard McMahon [1]

McMahon was only 16 years of age at the time. Despite his young age, McMahon, together with his band, The Strangers, recorded one single before disbanding.

After The Strangers disbanded, McMahon moved to Boulder, in Colorado and took a job arranging classes at the University. [2]

In 1971 however, McMahon moved to New York to pursue a performing career. His first gigs were playing bass and guitar in R&B bands in Harlem.[1] However, being a versatile multi-instrumentalist, McMahon was soon receiving additional offers of work as a session musician. It was in this capacity that he provided backing vocals at Electric Lady Studios in New York, on the last Zephyr album to feature wunderkind guitarist Tommy Bolin - Going Back to Colorado.[3][4]

In addition to gigging and studio session work, McMahon also became involved around this time in creating music for TV commercials. He also created a number of scores for Public Broadcasting Service projects.[5]

McMahon spent 1972 living in Los Angeles, where his experience of studio and production work quickly established him a well respected member of the city's music scene. Soon he was to be found playing bass with Jackson Browne's touring band. It wasn't too long however before McMahon concluded that it would be more rewarding to promote his own solo career and headed back to Colorado.

After returning to Boulder, McMahon got together with a group of ten studio musicians and fronted what was to become one of the most popular rock bands in Colorado at the time - Gerard.[5]

"After attending a concert one evening that showcased Tommy Bolin, Chicago producer Jim Guercio walked out mesmerized by Gerard's opening set"

—G.Brown, author, Colorado Rocks!: A Half-Century of Music in Colorado [5]

Having much admiration for McMahon and his band, Guercio offered the band a deal to record an album at his newly built Caribou Ranch, a popular recording studio subsequently favoured by many prominent artists.

"Next thing I knew, we were moving to Nederland to record an album. Jimmy owned a smaller ranch nearby called Forest Lakes, so he let us live there. It had a couple cabins, a dining hall, and a building we turned into a rehearsal room."

—Tom Likes, Gerard [6]

The resultant album, produced by Guercio himself, was the appropriately titled Gerard.[7] It was released in 1976 on Guercio's Caribou Records label. There did, however, seem to be one downside to this union, seemingly echoed in McMahon's frustration with the music press at that time, in so far as every review of Gerard's album, an album for which he had written twelve original songs, compared his music to that of Chicago's.[5] Although the album done well, it never broke nationally.[5]

A second Gerard album was to follow (?), Row, before the group disbanded.[8][9]After which McMahon decided to return to Los Angeles.

The next three years saw McMahon again partaking in a number of different musical projects and continuing to lend his services as a session musician. One of the projects he undertook at that time was to play keyboards on ex-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Jimmy Ibbotson 1977 Nitty Gritty Ibbotson album.[10] He is also listed amongst the credits for Max Gronenthal's 1979 album Whistling in the Dark.[11]

[edit] 1980 - 1999

Encouraged by Billy Joel's former manager Irwin Mazur, in 1980 McMahon decided to devote attention to promoting his own recording career. This being so, he assembled a group of accomplished musicians - Gary Mallaber, John Massaro, Kenny Lewis and two of the musicians he had engaged for Gerard, guitarist Steve Sykes and keyboard player Al Campbell - collectively called Kid Lightning, returned to the studio and recorded the album Blue Rue.[12] After the album was completed, McMahon left Columbia Records.

Invited to Los Angeles by Warner Bros. to showcase him as a performing artist, McMahon quickly impressed Hollywood’s film elite - David Geffen, Joel Schumacher, Cameron Crowe, Jerry Bruckheimer.[1] Having already succeeded in producing a number of major TV commercials, it wasn't long before McMahon was engaged in film work.[13] One of the first major film projects that McMahon agreed to undertake was for film producer Jerry Bruckheimer's film Defiance, for which he wrote and recorded seven songs.[14]

"Gerard's a triple threat, he's a writer, he’s a producer and he’s a performer...it's very difficult to find someone to deliver all that"

—Nigel Sinclair, Producer – Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines [15]

McMahon is known to have said that writing songs for films and TV shows was a "great new creative outlet" [16]

As had always been the case, it wasn't just commercial companies that were interested in employing McMahon's many talents. Other artists were too. One such artist who came to hear of McMahon around this time was guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Paul Stanley, of the rock group Kiss. In fact the band were so taken with McMahon's song "Is That You?" that they decided to record it as the opening song on their infamous 1980 Unmasked album; an album which was certified gold and reached #35 on the U.S. Billboard charts.[17][2]

"Gerard’s got his finger on the pulse of what’s coming"

—Roger Daltrey [15]

The following year McMahon recorded a song he had written, "The Look In Your Eyes", for the cult teen-comedy film starring Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage - Fast Times At Ridgemont High. In 1983 McMahon wrote and recorded "One Of These Days" for the film Spring Break. Also that same year "Mr. Popularity", a song which was recorded by Winston Ford and features in the Tom Cruise film All The Right Moves. In 1984 McMahon wrote and produced two songs for the soundtrack of the Steve Martin film The Lonely Guy. He also performed one of the songs, "Don't Call Me Lonely". McMahon also wrote and recorded "Face The Odds" which featured in the 1984 film starring Patrick Swayze, Grandview, U.S.A.. He also wrote and recorded three songs in 1984 for the adult comedy film Hardbodies. Being a prolific songwriter, these are just a few of the songs it is known McMahon wrote around this time.

"I've had Gerard write for probably 50 movies along the line"

—Gary LeMel, President – Warner Brother’s Pictures/Music [15]

In addition to the other projects he was involved with at that time, McMahon also produced enough new material to complete his next album, No Looking Back, released by Warner Bros. in 1983. After which McMahon signed with the Atlantic Records label and in 1986 released the album Foreign Papers.

Whilst the frequency of his name appearing under 'Credits', the long list of his personal achievements, and indeed the huge success of his seminal ode to nocturnal night, the song "Cry Little Sister", confirms that McMahon continued to remain very active after the release of Foreign Papers, 14 years were to pass before he could be persuaded back into the studio to record another album of his original songs.

"I got fed up with record companies wanting me to make the records they wanted me to make. It seemed like I was constantly fighting for what I felt was coming from my soul and after a while that just got exhausting"

—Gerard McMahon, 2006 [16]

[edit] "Cry Little Sister"

For further details see separate article: "Cry Little Sister"

[edit] G TOM MAC

McMahon was eventually persuaded to record another album in 2000 by lyricist, publisher, producer and long time fan, Eddie Kislinger.

It is believed that Kislinger, with whom McMahon had previously worked, had by this time left his post at Motown Records and become involved with Los Angeles' independent record label, Edge Artists.[18] Being a creative artist himself, Kislinger clearly understood McMahon's concerns with regards to recording another album. However, not intending to be dissuaded, Kislinger thought to resolve this by offering McMahon a deal he couldn't refuse, a deal giving McMahon full creative control.[16]

And so it was that McMahon accepted the offer and signed with Edge Artists. He then set about forming a new band, G TOM MAC, with bassist, songwriter and co-producer Anthony Silver. Being the primary driving force behind the band, it is not however surprising that McMahon himself has now come to be known to many, both within the music industry and also to his new, younger audience, as G Tom Mac/G TOM MAC.

"One of my favorite artists and songwriters. G TOM MAC is a treasure."

—Danny Bramson, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros. Records [19]

"G Tom Mac is the best new pop artist I've heard in years."

—Gary LeMel, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Music [19]

G TOM MAC's self titled debut album G TOM MAC was finally released to great acclaim in 2000. After reviewing the album in their issue dated 8th of April 2000, Billboard Magazine said the album was 'Highly recommended'. Amazon also awarded the album the full 5 stars.[19]

"Could be one of the best records this year. G TOM MAC is one of those albums loaded with great hooks and rocks like a mother F!!!!!"

—Paul Stanley, Kiss [19]

"By far one of my favourite records in a long time. G TOM MAC's got rock and pop right where it should be. Gerard McMahon's writing and vocals are stellar and adventurous."

—Roger Daltrey, The Who [19]

Whilst G TOM MAC numbers but two, during live performances G TOM MAC are often assisted by Rodney "Cortada" Alejandro on keyboards, drummer Rob Ladd (from the band Let's Active), Willy Aron (lead guitar) and Brie Darling (from the band Boxing Gandhis) on backing vocals and percussion.[16]

[edit] Thou Shalt Not Fall

G TOM MAC's second album, Thou Shalt Not Fall, was released in the later months of 2007. According to information published on their official website, G TOM MAC are currently busy preparing for the Thou Shalt Not Fall world tour, due to commence in the summer of 2008.[20]

In addition to which, McMahon/G TOM MAC continue to be involved in a number of other musical projects, also to write, produce and to undertake film and TV work.

[edit] Pseudonyms

Since McMahon has been known under a number of different names, much confusion has arisen over the years about his identity.[21]

The first pseudonym McMahon adopted, 'Gerard McMann', was just prior to the release of his album Foreign Papers in 1986. Of this he is reported to have said:

"When I would go out and do interviews on the radio or TV, it seems everybody was pronouncing my name in many different ways, except the correct way. So I thought it would make more sense to spell it out the way that is it pronounced."

—Gerard McMahon [16]

"Cry Little Sister", the song McMahon performed in 1987 for the soundtrack of the film The Lost Boys was therefore credited to Gerard McMann.

When his father died, he reverted back to McMahon.[16]

However, since forming G Tom Mac, "Gerard Thomas MacMahon" (the correct Irish spelling of McMahon) has become known to his new audience as 'G Tom Mac'. He is also known to use this name professionally. Consequently most of the writing and performance credits since G Tom Mac was formed in 2000 are often to be found listed under this name.

McMahon is sometimes also referred to as "G", a nickname given to him by his friend Roger Daltrey.[16]

[edit] Other Artists

McMahon's multi faceted talents, his diversity in music and songwriting continue to be recognised by other artists throughout the music industry. The following are just a few of the many artists not mentioned elsewhere in this article who are also known to have recorded his songs:[13]

McMahon is considered to have contributed greatly to the success of The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey's 1992 solo album Rocks in the Head. In addition to co-writing 10 of the 11 songs, McMahon also produced the album for Daltrey. He was also the primary backing musician, providing backing vocals, keyboards and guitar. He is further credited on the album with musical direction.[22]
McMahon co-wrote the hit single "Give Me All Night" with Carly Simon, which peaked at #5 in the charts and appears on her Coming Around Again album (1987).[23]
McMahon co-wrote "What Does It Take", "One from the Heart" and "Only Time Can Heal the Wounded" which appear on Chicago's Twenty 1 album (1991). McMahon also co-wrote "I Stand Up", the b-side to the single "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love", which peaked at #3 in the billboard charts in June 1988. "I Stand Up" appears on Chicago's Chicago 19 album (1988).[24]
McMahon wrote the hit single "Bad Times" which appears on Tavares' Supercharged album (1980). (This was also the theme song for the film Defiance).[25]
McMahon wrote "Life In Motion" which appears on the collaborative Beckley-Lamm-Wilson album Like A Brother (2000) (being the last album recorded by Carl Wilson before his death).[26] McMahon also co-wrote "Ain't No Ordinary Thing" and "In This Country" for Lamm's Life Is Good in My Neighborhood album (1995)[27] and "The Love You Call Your Own" for Lamm's In My Head album (1999).[28]
McMahon wrote "Put Us Together Again" which was released as a single by The Spinners in 1985.[29]
McMahon co-wrote "The Other Girlfriend" which appears on Snow's Natural Wonder album (2003)[30]. He also wrote "Right to the End", which she performed with Michael McDonald for her I Can't Complain album (1998).[31]
McMahon co-wrote "Wake Up the House" which appears on Shepard's The Radical Light album (1992).[32]
The Digable Planets sampled McMahon's song "Bad Times" on their "Dial 7 (Axion of Creamy Spies)" single. The song peaked at #32 in the Hot Rap Singles charts and appears on the Digable Planets' Blowout Comb album (1994).[33]
The Temptations also decided to cover McMahon's song "Put Us Together Again", previously released as a single by The Spinners. The Temptations' version appears on the To Be Continued... album (1986).[34]
McMahon wrote and produced "Right To The End" for Reid's The Driver album (1991).[35]
McMahon wrote "Love You Too Much" which appears on Bofill's Too Tough album (1983).[36]
McMahon co-wrote and produced "Living Every Day Now" which appears on Harrison's The Optimist album (2007).[37]
McMahon wrote "True to You" which appears on Spector's Unfinished Business album (1987).[38]

[edit] Discography

See main article Gerard McMahon discography

[edit] Song list (Film and TV)

All the following songs are written and performed by Gerard McMahon unless otherwise stated:

Year Film/TV Show Song Information Co writer Performed by
1980 Defiance [39] "Bad Times" Tavares
"Un Tipo Malo"

"Hot Town Streets"
"Take It Down The Middle"
"Double Shot"
"I Will Stay With You"
"Let The Light Shine In The Morning"

 Gerard McMahon
1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High [40] "The Look In Your Eyes" Gerard McMahon
1983 Spring Break [41] "One Of These Days" Gerard McMahon
All the Right Moves [42] "Mr. Popularity" Winston Ford
1984 The Lonely Guy [43] "Oughta Know Love By Now" Winston Ford
"Don't Call Me Lonely" Gerard McMahon
Hardbodies [44]

"Smile For The Camera"
"Barbados Rita"
"Hello, Hello"

 Gerard McMahon
Grandview, U.S.A. "Face The Odds" Gerard McMahon
1987 The Lost Boys [45] "Cry Little Sister (Theme From The Lost Boys)" Michael Mainieri Gerard McMann
1995 Kicking and Screaming [46] "In a Twilight Moment" Phoebe Snow
Born To Be Wild [47] "One World for Us" Gerard McMahon
1996 Vampirella "Bleed For Me" Roger Daltrey
No Way Home "Ghost In The Heart" Gerard McMahon
1997 Chasing Amy [48][49] "My Stomp, My Beat" Vicki Sue Robinson
Fame L.A. "You Don't Reject Me" Eddie Kislinger Stephanie Dicker
"Wake Up The House" Vonda Shepard Brent Fraser
1998 The Players Club [50] "Money Can't Buy You Love" Frank Fitzpatrick K-Ci and JoJo
Implicated "If I Have You" Jennifer Gross
2001 Witchblade Season 1 "Child Of Mine"
(Episode 2 Conundrum) [51]		 Roger Daltrey Roger Daltrey feat. Gerard McMahon
"Cry Little Sister" (remix)
(Episode 11 Transcendence) [52]		 Michael Mainieri G TOM MAC
"Child Of Mine"
(Episode 11 Transcendence) [52]		 Roger Daltrey Roger Daltrey feat. Gerard McMahon
2002 Witchblade Season 2 "Cry Little Sister"
(Episode 6 Nailed) [53]		 Michael Mainieri Gerard McMann
"Child Of Mine" (remix)
(Episode 8 Hierophant) [53]		 Roger Daltrey Roger Daltrey feat. G TOM MAC
The Banger Sisters [54] "Child of Mine" Roger Daltrey Roger Daltrey feat. G TOM MAC
The Shield Season 1 [55] "Sugar Fine"
(Episode 7 "Pay in Pain")		 Gerard McMahon
2003 From Justin to Kelly [56] "The Game" John Van Eps Gabriellis Kaye
As the World Turns [57] [58] "Once Betrayed"
(Episode broadcast 13-05-03)		 G TOM MAC
The Skulls III [59] "That's What The Thrill Really Is
(instrumental version)"		 G TOM MAC
"That's What The Thrill Really Is"
(instrumental version)		 Jennifer Grais
Sunset Junction
(A Documentary Film) [60]		 "Sunset Junction" G TOM MAC
2005 Scrubs Season 4 "Half"
(Episode 25 "My Changing Ways")		 G TOM MAC
2006 I-See-You.Com "I See You" G TOM MAC

[edit] Further works

McMahon has also contributed to all the following films and TV shows:

[edit] External links (with additional notes)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c G Tom Mac aka Gerard McMann. www.gerardmcmann.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  2. ^ a b "Is That You?" song-writer. www.kissfaq.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  3. ^ Going Back to Colorado album credits. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25
  4. ^ Going Back to Colorado album review. www.musicstack.com.. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e Brown, G., Colorado Rocks!: A Half-Century of Music in Colorado. Pruett Publishing, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  6. ^ Caribou Tales. yourdotcombusiness.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-03
  7. ^ Gerard album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25
  8. ^ Gerard McMahon credits. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-29
  9. ^ Row album credits. www.artistdirect.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-29
  10. ^ Nitty Gritty Ibbotson album credits. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25
  11. ^ Whistling in the Dark album credits. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25
  12. ^ Gerard album credits. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-25
  13. ^ a b G Tom Mac credits. www.gerardmcmann.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  14. ^ Defiance production credits. www.allmovie.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-27
  15. ^ a b c Documentary film about McMahon, directed by Evan Bergman. www.edgeartists.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-27.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Whatever happened to….Gerard McMahon?. www.melodic.net. Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
  17. ^ Unmasked album. www.discogs.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  18. ^ EdgeSongs, Song Catalog. wizardofdigi.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-29
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h G Tom Mac, Editorial Reviews. www.amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-27.
  20. ^ About G TOM MAC. www.gtommac.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
  21. ^ Mr.Music. www.jerryosborne.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  22. ^ Rocks In The Head album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  23. ^ Coming Around Again Charts & Awards. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  24. ^ The Chicago Fake Book. www.musicexpert.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
  25. ^ "Bad Times" song. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  26. ^ Like A Brother album. www.accessbackstage.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  27. ^ Life Is Good in My Neighborhood album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  28. ^ In My Head album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  29. ^ Put Us Together Again single. swisscharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
  30. ^ Natural Wonder album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  31. ^ I Can't Complain album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  32. ^ The Radical Light album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  33. ^ Blowout Comb album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  34. ^ To Be Continued... album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  35. ^ The Driver album. www.fernsduncan.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  36. ^ Too Tough album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  37. ^ The Optimist album. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.
  38. ^ Unfinished Business album. www.kissfaq.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  39. ^ Defiance (1980) Full credits. www.tcm.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  40. ^ Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Music from the Motion Picture. www.discogs.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  41. ^ Spring Break (1983) Full credits. www.tcm.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  42. ^ All The Right Moves (1983) Cast and credits. movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  43. ^ The Lonely Guy (1984) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  44. ^ Hardbodies (1984) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  45. ^ The Lost Boys (1987) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  46. ^ Kicking and Screaming (1995) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  47. ^ Born To Be Wild (1995) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  48. ^ Chasing Amy (1997) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  49. ^ Chasing Amy – Build your own soundtrack. www.viewaskew.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
  50. ^ The Player's Club (1998) cast and credits. movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  51. ^ Witchblade, Episode 2 Conundrum. www.bladetv.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  52. ^ a b Witchblade, Episode 11 Transcendence. www.bladetv.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  53. ^ a b Witchblade, Season 2 music. www.bladetv.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  54. ^ The Banger Sisters (2002) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  55. ^ The Shield music from Pay In Pain. heardontv.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  56. ^ From Justin To Kelly (2003) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  57. ^ My Guardian Angel ~ A Prose Tribute
  58. ^ The Oakdale Oracle - As The World Turns Scoops, News and More!
  59. ^ The Skulls III (2003) Soundtrack. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  60. ^ Gerard McMahon other works. us.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  61. ^ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire OST. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.