Mark profile picture

Mark

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

I'm a very easy going Pro Guitarist, Furniture Designer, Artist & Writer. I grew up in NY (Long Island) but have been living in Southern California for 18 of the past 20 years and love it. I've got a great sense of humor and am not into drugs or heavy drinking. Music and the business can give you plenty of reasons to get seriously into that sideline crap, but to me the humor I find in all of it is a better remedy. You gotta laugh in this business, whatever level you attain. Life is usually like a sitcom for me anyway. I just love to play and perform and feel very fortunate to be able to do that at all. I'm looking to make some new friends and chat about music, art, etc...I have made quite a few so far, not to mention being exposed to some seriously talented people from all over the world--that part has been pretty damn incredible. From time to time I still play at some of the 'open mic' nights here and there, but for the most part I tend to shy away from them--too much time sitting around waiting to take the stage--not enough actual playing. Just the nature of the beast I suppose. There also tends to be a lot of politics involved with these things, so I would rather stay home and work on my own stuff. Speaking of which, I am FINALLY getting into recording my own material...I haven't had a lot of time to work with the Boss multitrack digital recorder (a BR600) I bought up to now, but I am making the extra effort to get it done at long last. I'm also putting a recording computer (DAW) together to help on the recording end of things. On a serious note, Please check out the 'Fast Friends' site I've listed...these people have saved thousands of Greyhounds over the years...please help them out if you can--Thanks!

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My Interests

I have been playing lead guitar for the last 30 years---it has been a lot of fun and has had plenty of "interesting" moments, sometimes bordering on WEIRD---and usually pretty comical, but I wouldn't change a thing. Well, maybe a couple of things here and there. Lord knows I have enough material as a result to do a standup act, if I chose to change professions somewhat. I also love woodworking--I hope to make that a business I don't want to retire from. Whether it be building tables or carving up and repainting guitars, I have a great time with all of it. My take on life has always been to explore possibilities and talents you may have hidden away and run with them. I think too many people get caught up in the typical standard 'existence' stuff and don't get out and see what life has to offer. Most of it is within, you just have to try and find it. I have always been responsible but never wanted to be stuck in a miserable situation for any longer than I had to be. Life is too short....

I'd like to meet:

Easy going people who are into music, guitar, art and good conversation. Dog and animal lovers a plus. Of course I wouldn't mind meeting Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch, etc...among many others.

Music:

The list is endless: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Edward Van Halen, Paul Gilbert, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, John Sykes, Whitesnake, Reb Beach, Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Pat Travers, Pat Thrall, Carlos Santana, Billy Sheehan, Alan Holdsworth, Chris Impellitteri, King's X, Eric Johnson, David Gilmore, David Lee Roth, David Coverdale, Ronnie James Dio, Michael Schenker, Eric Clapton, Paul Rodgers, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar, Pat Metheny, Johnny A, UFO, Bad Co., Gary Moore, Roy Buchanan, early Heart (Roger Fisher is still one of my favorite guitarists), Scott Henderson, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Neil Young, CSNY, The Beatles, Jake E. Lee, BB King, Albert Collins, Junior Brown, Robert Randolph, Johnny Winter, Randy Hansen, SRV, Scorpions, Judas Priest, AC/DC, Janis Joplin, Alice in Chains, Joe Lynn Turner, Iron Maiden, Allman Bros, The Who, Frank Marino, Gary Hoey. Ok...Let's not forget about these people: George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Art Tatum, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, T. Monk, Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Glenn Miller, Dave Brubeck, Bix Beiderbecke, John Coltrane, Doc Cheatham, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Fletcher Henderson, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, The Modern Jazz Quartet, etc.

Movies:

Field of Dreams, Blazing Saddles, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Duck Soup, What's Up Doc, Young Frankenstein

Television:

'The Shield' is my Favorite show....

Books:

Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee Tao of Gung Fu by Bruce Lee The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba

Heroes:

http://www.fastfriends.org/

My Blog

Band????

I recently posted a few ads for myself on both the Recycler and Craig's List trying to find a decent band or musicians to put one together with. This is not the first time I've done so, and to be hone...
Posted by Mark on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:40:00 PST

Jam Night...

It has been a long time coming I suppose...but I have officially 'retired' from the jam night I have been attending on & off for the past 4 years. These various 'open mic' and 'jam' nights are gre...
Posted by Mark on Sat, 02 Sep 2006 02:01:00 PST

Band and business coming together

This has been a pretty good month overall. After so many false starts and so many lazy ass musicians in half assed 'projects' over the years, I've finally managed to find the right guys and put a band...
Posted by Mark on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST