Reverend & The Makers’ Jon McClure on ADHD diagnosis and past “jealousy” of “best mate” Alex Turner being in “the biggest band in the world”

Reverend & The Makers‘ Jon McClure has opened up about his ADHD diagnosis and his past “jealousy” over his friend Alex Turner.

The frontman of the Sheffield rock band spoke to NME about the group’s new festive single ‘Late Night Phone Call’ and opened up about how he used the Samaritans charity’s services himself, sharing: “The Samaritans save people’s lives 365 days a year, and they’re even more important this close to Christmas.

“They’ve done stuff for me, and I wanted to do stuff for them,” referring to how proceeds from the single will be going to the Samaritans, whose services of helping vulnerable people are particularly in demand over the festive period.

He also opened up about his recent ADHD diagnosis. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impact focus, organization and self-control. It is characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity which affect and interfere with daily functioning.

“I understand myself better,” McClure said of his diagnosis. “When I was 24, I thought I knew everything and I’d gob off to NME about everything. I knew fuck all. Looking back, to when I was kicking off at people, I was probably quite poorly for most of my career.

He added that he wasn’t doing well mentally and said with the addition of drugs alongside “my best mate [Alex Turner] being in the biggest band in the world and feeling jealous of him, it was a bad mix.”

“Now I understand myself, ADHD is like a special power I’ve not known how to harness before,” he continued. “I’ve got four unfinished novels, which are all class as ideas, but I’ve not known how to finish them until now. I storyboarded the ‘Late Night Phone Call’ video, I’m Day Fever’s CEO. With everything before, I’d think I’d better get someone else to finish something.

“I’m 42 and it’s like I was infantilised until now. In my case, before being diagnosed, ADHD left me taking a lot longer to grow up and be responsible. Now I have, I feel I can do anything.”

McClure and Turner met back in 2001 while on a bus. In that moment, McClure asked Turner if he wanted to join his band. The two would be members of Judan Suki, as well as Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders.

Throughout the years, the two would go on to become flatmates and co-write songs such as Reverend & The Makers’ ‘He Said He Loved Me’, ‘The Machine’, and Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Old Yellow Bricks’.

In other news, Reverend & The Makers are set to perform as part of the 2025 edition of Victorious Festival.

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