But the journey to create a tribute act from the world's greatest rock band was far from a walk in the park.
Born in Scotland, Mac started his musical voyage at the age of 10.
As a young musician he excelled as a drummer and percussionist, performing in many classical, rock and jazz events.
“I was a session drummer/percussionist and worked with artists such as Deacon Blue, BBC, Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Bad Kangaroo, Love Decree, Island Records and many others,” Mac said.
He was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), where he majored in percussion, the same academy that three-time Grammy award-winning percussionist Evelyn Glennie attended.
“So if you want to become a world class musician, RSAMD is where you want to go,” Mac said.
The drummer's tryst with English rock band Led Zeppelin started when he met late singer songwriter John Martyn.
Known for marrying folk and jazz, Martyn was a “famous artist in his own right in the UK and Europe”.
Mac said the late legend, who became a close friend, had worked with numerous high profile musicians including Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Phil Collins.
“I got to meet John when he was headlining at a venue. At the time I was working as the UK talent for Island Records in London. Later we had a talk behind the stage and shared a good laugh.
“At first he told me straight up that he didn't like the idea of having a Scottish drummer in his band.
“I asked him to give me a chance and if it didn't work out we could have a beer together. And that's what we did and we became really good friends.”
Mac said their friendship grew stronger and as a consequence, Martyn sacked his drummer for Mac.
It turned out the sacked drummer was part of a close-knit session band that worked for Martyn and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.
However, the day before Martyn's band was set to go on tour, the band members stood down until their old drummer came back. Martyn had no choice but to let Mac go.
The incident “deeply hurt” Mac and he gave up music professionally at 23.
“I entered a period of mourning for 15 years . . . I could not bear to listen to the radio and stopped playing the drums because I had given up on music.”
Over the past 25 years, Mac pursued a career in science and secured four degrees.
“I came to New Zealand in 2011 as an environmental scientist and renewable energy developer and that is when music came back into my life.”
After being recognised as an ex drummer from the UK, he was encouraged by neighbour Ron Brown (ex lead singer and writer of the once well-known band The Clevedonaires, to have a few jams. Together they formed a jazzy/folk/pop fusion band Cruze.
This led to the formation of Clan Celtica in 2013.
The Scottish tribal group, which weaved emotive Celtic melodies and pulsating dynamic drum beats, went on to win International Celtic Artist of the Year at the Australian Music Awards in 2016. Their debut album, Tribal Thunder, was placed at the top 10 in the New Zealand official album charts in 2019.
But it was the pandemic that brought his working life, like many others, to a complete stop.
With extra time on his hands, he decided the time was right to form Lead Zipline if the talent could be found.
Mac remembers finding and playing Led Zeppelin's Mothership album, which he had bought a decade ago and kept in mint condition.
He found his bandmates by advertising, searching social media and going through hundreds of audition tapes.
Now Mac is back on stage to show the world he “could have been a contender”, and to produce perhaps the best tribute in honour of a legendary band.
Lead Zipline, Smash Palace, Sunday, June 19, 7pm. Tickets from $35+bf at eventfinda.co.nz
