Depping
Guitar and bass
Mark has depped on numerous occassions for many bands, often at short notice on electric, acoustic and bass guitar.
The Motel Kings
Lead Guitar
The Motel Kings are a 5 piece UK based R&B band with five albums to their name. Well known on the London and UK blues circuits the band were no strangers to headlining blues festivals and getting their fair share of radio play.
Mark joined the band in 2009 and played on their 5th album - Party in the Paddock - a two set live album. Mostly blues and R&B with some more funky songs added for variety, this was mainly "strat" territority for Mark.
Worship Leader
Acoustic guitar and Vocals
During this period Mark has led several bands in music in the local churches. Whilst mostly acoustic guitar and lead vocals Mark has depped on many occassions on lead guitar and bass and has also played at several conferences and larger meetings.
As well as live performances Mark has produced and managed the production of a CD of professionally recorded and pressed songs from three local churches as well as recording several of his own albums.
Mark has also led the band for the infamous "Carols in the Precinct" for several years playing "rocked-up" christmas songs on the back of a lorry, and has provided the band for several private parties.
The Fizzy Fish
Lead guitar & Lead Vocals
Fizzy Fish were a three-piece pop/rock band with Mark on lead vocals and guitar. Mostly a covers band, with some self-penned material the band played numerous local youth venues.
The Bald Eagles
Lead guitar & Lead Vocals
Between 1989 and 1994 Mark played Bass with the Bald Eagles - an acoustic based 4 piece band - and also provided harmony vocals. The Bald Eagles appeared on a BBC documentary in 1995.
QED (Rock Band)
Lead guitar & Backing Vocals
QED were a hard-rock band with Mark on lead guitar and backing vocals. The band had a big local following and played most of the local rock venues and some of the bigger concert venues. Shortly after Mark left the band won the BBC Radio 1 Battle of the Bands competition.
QED (Club Band)
Lead guitar
A four piece band, QED played the local working-men's clubs and bars playing covers from the 60's & 70's and the current hits of the time.
Being in a band with two formally professional musicians (Lead singer, John Jones had minor chart success in the late 70's and had several albums to his name) stretched Mark musically and allowed him to "pay his dues". Eventually the band out-grew the club scene and QED (Rock Band) was formed with a new bass player and drummer.
The Links
Lead guitar
This was Mark's first band, formed at the age of 14 with mates from school. The band played various covers from the 50's and 60's and some of their own tunes. Despite their young age The Links had a residency at a local youth club, and were often paid to play at private functions and concerts at local schools. The Queen's Silver Jubilee was a particularly lucrative time for the band as they played many of the local parties and events that occured to celebrate the Queen's acheivement.
Two members of the band left school and progressed professional musical careers; Mark went to university to study Electronic Engineering.