Doug McKean crossed the US and Canada several times over with his first band, The GC5, by the time they broke up when he was still in his early 20’s. He’s backed Tim Easton in Europe, opened for the Band of Heathens and Hayes Carll across Texas with The Magpies, and fronted a group of Cleveland musicians to play Pogues songs every St. Patrick’s day and Christmas for over 25 years as The Boys from The County Hell, racking up a tour with Spider Stacy, a trip to Bangkok and a residency in Las Vegas along the way. His song ‘Poor Old Poseidon’ was featured in the 2017 film La Barracuda.

After a hiatus for family and personal life, McKean released The Second Golden Age of Piracy in 2022, and resumed working with a regular backing band, The Stuntmen. 

The next few years saw a follow-up record, Enduring Freedom, in 2024 and continued live shows with The Stuntmen including a successful residency at the Treelawn in 2025.

In late 2025, Jim Ellis’s newly-formed CLE records released its first single, Start Now b/w Ready Steady Eddie. It finds McKean embracing his rock roots with one of his most anthemic numbers on the A side and a B side that nods to the Nick Lowe/Stiff Records lineage in which he and the label operate. Jeremy Porter of Pencilstorm says “Doug’s trademark amazing lyrics are here and his knack for a hook has taken new life”.

As of summer 2026, work is complete on Spit and Image, the full-length follow-up for CLE. Recorded with longtime collaborators Mark Stepro (Wallflowers, Butch Walker), Van Vinkvooms and Matts Afire (Bedroom Legends), with Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices guesting on a pair of songs, it’s a direct and guitar-heavy affair, reflecting the time spent with the band. It’s currently slated for a late 2026 release. McKean will be back on stage this summer with a new band to support it.