Stu Mackenzie

Mackenzie grew up in Anglesea, and went to school in Geelong.[4] His father played guitar to him and his brother growing up, which influenced young Mackenzie. Due to his father being a left-handed guitar player, Mackenzie originally learned to play guitar upside down.[5] His early influences were AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Kelly. He began playing guitar and other instruments at age 15.[6] He played garage rock and rock and roll later.[7] Mackenzie was part of the local music scene in Geelong and performed at various open mics.[4][8] Mackenzie would join and form several bands within the local Melbourne music scene, some of which included future King Gizzard members such as Michael Cavanagh, Lucas Skinner[3] and Cook Craig.[9]

Mackenzie has been the chief songwriter, vocalist and co-lead guitarist of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard since their formation in 2010. Additionally, Mackenzie occasionally plays bass, keyboards, sitar and flute, and was originally a drummer.[10] The band was formed not long after the group's members left school, and was intended to be a jam band with a focus on improvisation.[6] Mackenzie also built a microtonal guitar based on the Turkish bağlama, with other band members later modifying their instruments to play microtonal music.[5]

Mackenzie is married. His daughter Araminta (Minty) was born in November 2020.[10][11] They live in Melbourne.[4]

Mackenzie announced in 2022 that he suffers from Crohn's disease, and that the remainder of King Gizzard's European summer tour would be cancelled due to him seeking treatment amidst a "personal health crisis".[12] Mackenzie confirmed in a Reddit AMA that he is vegan,[13] and it inspired some of the songs on the album Fishing for Fishies.[14]