band in 2014. The band derives its name from McCann's first childhood musical memory: that of an Australian street busker in Sydney, playing beer bottles strung to a wire who goes by the name Catfish the Bottleman. He was called "Catfish" because of an unusually styled spiky beard he had when he first began playing in 2000. McCann was reunited with Catfish the Bottleman in January 2015 at the studios of Triple J radio in Sydney. 2013–2016: The Balcony The band signed to Communion Music in 2013, and released their first three singles "Homesick", "Rango", and "Pacifier" the same year. In 2014, the band signed to Island Records and on 17 March, released the single "Kathleen", produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Adele). All the singles were premiered by Zane Lowe and added to the playlist on Radio 1. "Kathleen" ranked at number one on MTV's hottest tracks in April 2014. In summer 2014, Catfish and the Bottlemen performed at a number of festivals in the UK and Europe, including Reading and Leeds, Latitude, Kendal Calling, Y Not Festival, Strawberry Fields Festival, T in the Park, Pinkpop, Bingley Music Live, and Ibiza Rocks. They also played at New York's Governors Ball. On 19 June 2014, the band announced the release of their debut studio album The Balcony. Founding lead guitarist Billy Bibby suddenly and unexpectedly ceased performing with the band in the summer of 2014. He was replaced by Johnny "Bondy" Bond. On 25 July 2014, the band cancelled three festival appearances due to "unforeseen personal circumstances". On 13 August 2014, the band posted on Facebook: "Some of you will have noticed that we have been playing with a different guitarist over the past weekend. Unfortunately, due to some personal circumstances, Billy won't be touring with the band for the foreseeable future." When asked about leaving the band, Bibby commented, "Well to be honest after Catfish I had no plans. I didn't know what I was going to do. I just started writing songs and it took off from there..." and "I'm proud of what I did in Catfish and what I achieved and everything that came with it, but I'm just looking into the future now with my band and that's all I'm focused on". In autumn of 2015, he founded a new band, Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles. The Balcony was released on 15 September 2014.