THE JOHN McCULLAGH
PROFILE PAGE
JOHN IN HIS OWN WORDS
I was born bred in Rossington Doncaster.
My father and 2 brothers worked at Rossington Colliery.
I left school in 84 but as you know that’s the year the strike started, and I was involved as much as I could be and it left a big scar in my life.
My escape was and still is music, Bob Dylan to be precise. Obsessed is not the word, in fact it was in 84 I first saw the great man at Newcastle. I was writing songs even then some I still keep meaning to work on, but life went on the strike finished and I got a job at Crompton Parkinsons in Doncaster.
I got married at 18 and had 2 daughters and my music had to take a back seat,at least as far as considering doing it for a living.
The years rolled by and I split up from my wife and met and fell in love with my now second wife Hayley, we have one son John Lennon Patrick McCullagh.
Round this time proberly 10 years ago i formed a 3 piece rock n roll band called
Johnny and The Young Cats playing Elvis, and Buddy Holly stuff, all close to my heart,
but after 2 years we went our separate ways and the double bass player Paul Cooke
is now part of the successful Leeds rockers Juke Box Jive.
Kenny Orchard (the guitarist from the young cats) and I formed a rock band called Johnny Detox and The Betty Ford Rejects (later changed to Head Shrinkers) playing Oasis, Beatles and all the usual stuff.
We then got involved with an amazing bass player from South Kirby called Andy Everitt,and formed are most successful band Niteprowlers.! We played the length and breadth of the UK, with our amazing drummer Mick Stancy, (a true gent and a legend in his own lifetime) from Scotland to Donny to............... well anywhere. Our biggest gig was at Bridlington Spa......it was while I was in the prowlers that I wrote “Is This Home” about the floods of 2007 and the horrific effect it had on people around me. It was played regularly on Trax FM.
I also had a song called “Song For Anyone” played on Trax by Mike Bargh, a great guy who really tries to help local acts.
Move forward 2 years and Hayley and I plus young Johny moved to Melbourne to try and get some quality of life that was missing in the UK. Australia’s a great country and we’ve settled really well but I do miss family and friends and of course Yorkshire, Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and all great places and people who would still give you the shirt off their back, best in the world!!!
All this time I was writing. Writing songs poems stories, anything to document my
life and experiences. I am still doing this today and have ideas pouring out of
me. The most popular song is “I’ll Dance On Your Grave 
Mrs Thatcher”, which for me
speaks for itself. I only wish my Dad could have heard it. (He unfortunately died
8 years ago) but politics aside I write love songs real life stories.
Music for me personally has been my saviour. As I said above, Bob Dylan being my all time hero, but I also have a liking for artists like Christy Moore, Shane McGowan the Wolftones, bands and people with a story to tell
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THE JOHN McCULLAGH
PROFILE PAGE
LET’S INTRODUCE YOU TO A NEW FRIEND OF OURS
JOHN McCULLAGH.
We first met John via the good services of Facebook, it was video of a chap in shorts sitting on his porch and singing a song about dancing on Mrs Thatchers grave. GO HERE TO WATCH
We were so excited by “Dance on The Grave of Mrs Thatcher” that we decided to find out more about John.
South Yorkshire through and through is our John -
His other songs all mainly have a cause or political message -
We think that John’s work fits nicely with two of other featured South Yorkshire song writers, Roy Blackman and Phillip Hartley.
In May of 2010 John was in the UK to visit his Mum, and a Gig with The Mashers was arranged. Unfortunately Myke Masher chose that Sunday to pop off to that bigger session in the sky.
However John came along to The Cross Keys Mashers Gig and joined in the celebration of Myke’s life as a Masher. John’s the one on the right.
John has a couple of recordings of his work out there, some of the more recent studio recordings can be found on the FREE DOWNLOAD page HERE
