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Song

The Good Die Young

Artist

Massive Wagons

Massive Wagons backstory

Fifteen years in and Massive Wagons are firing on all cylinders — with new album Earth To Grace set to put the pedal to the metal in November.

But how did Lancaster’s finest reach a point where, in Rushonrock’s humble opinion, they’ve become the saviours of British rock and roll?

First the boring stuff: hard fucking work, focus and determination. It’s important and it works.

But you still need good songs.

And from 2012’s Fire It Up through to sixth long player Triggered! — released two years ago — Baz Mills and the boys have made an art out of crafting absolute bangers.

They do it all with big fat smiles on their faces and a spring in their collective step. That’s important, too. 

A longstanding deal with Earache Records — and some cracking campaigns with a label that knows its stuff — has propelled the band’s most recent work into the upper echelons of the UK charts.

And the working class hero Wagons have used their growing profile to shine a light on mental health. 

Only last week the band announced their plans to take charity Andy’s Man Club on the road with them for their UK headline tour in November.

Andy’s Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups, for men over 18 going through storms in their lives, with approximately 225 clubs meeting weekly across the UK and online.

In frontman Barry Mills’ own words

“Getting old is (hopefully) guaranteed… growing old is optional.

“I’m no expert and certainly no doctor but as far as I’m concerned they can take my body but you ain’t getting my mind or my sense of humour!

“My dad always said to me when I was younger ‘I might be 50 on the outside son but I’ll always be 10 upstairs!’

“And that always got me — hard to understand until you start to get some miles under your belt yourself.

“But when you do you start to know exactly what he’s on about, God love him.

“Stay young folks, stay hungry, stay motivated, keep dreaming, and keep moving forward — coz as soon as you accept it’s over… it’s over. Grow old, do not get old.

“Having Colin Doran (Hundred Reasons) involved with this was a real honour.

“Colin is an absolute legend and has simply one of the most identifiable and best singing voices around. He just gives the track a totally different dimension. Big love Colin.”

The verdict on The Good Die Young

The good might die young but this booming track is further proof that Massive Wagons’ rock and roll legacy will live forever.

Listening to Mills and Doran — two of the 21st century’s most visceral voices — duel over a typically titanic riff is truly special.

And not for the first time in his career, beanie-wearing Baz has landed on a thought-provoking narrative that’s head and shoulders above his NWOCR peers.

Playing the cheeky chappy suits him down to the ground.

But let’s get serious here: it’s high time we started talking about Mills as one of the most pin-sharp purveyors of social commentary in a generation.

When Wagons’ first rolled into our rearview mirror it was all about fuelling fun times with sincere storytelling. 

And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Good Die Young’s the sound of a band that’s alive and kicking. 

And kicking harder than ever.

What’s next for Massive Wagons

Seventh studio album Earth To Grace is released on November 8.

Massive Wagons kick off their UK headline tour at Nottingham’s Rock City two weeks later.

Andy’s Man Club will have a stall in the foyer of each venue on the nine-date trek.