markhoustonband profile picture

markhoustonband

About Me

This band came together about 4 years ago. Bill joined up with Mark to play some gigs in prisons. A drummer was required to complete the classic 3 piece. Pratty and Jon manage to take it turns to tub thump! We managed a gig recently when they both played....what fun! Mark's story goes way back to Belfast in the late 80s. A band formed, we were young and inexperienced...we were learning our way (and our instruments). He came over to the Fed Republic of Yorkshire to attend college. There began a cycle of playing bass in a variety of other peoples' bands. PRAY NAKED formed soon after that. That band (through many line ups) travelled up and down the motorways playing where and when. We got to meet some cool people - one highlight was spending time with the American artist Rich Mullins while sipping coffee in a muddy field in Devon! Pray Naked morphed into m.e.r.c.y lead without anyone really noticing and then through a range of circumstances we became the band you now see before you. Unless you ask really nicely (or have been especially unlucky to find yourself in prison!) you probably won't see us play. It's what we do, we like it. Peace

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/05/2008
Band Website: n/a
Band Members: Mark sings and plays bass Bill sings and plays guitar Pratty and Jon take it turns to hit drums. Mark, Jon & Mike have recently formed a rock covers band (songs by Larry Norman amongst others). The wonderful Jon, Mike, Judy, Phil, Dorothy & Mark P have all been part of the band when we've put on a worship service.
Influences: Dylan, Neil Young, Cream, Radiohead, Rory Gallagher....creative people everywhere and the ultimate creator Himself. Mark in particular likes to listen to music by the late, great Larry Norman, Steve Taylor, Rez Band, the 77s, Rich Mullins, Whitesnake, Sting, The Police, Van the Man, Horslips, Thin Lizzy, Stryper, Amy Grant, Ashley Cleveland, Gary Chapman. As I play bass I always look out for the bass player in the band. I love listening to Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher, 9Below0), Tim Gaines (Stryper), Michael Steele (the Bangles), Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull). The list could go on, and probably will some day! I like to read too. Brennan Manning is a top author. For a laugh I like to read Pauline McGlynn (go on go on go on)! I've been reading the gentle humour of an author by the name of Jack Sheffield. It's all about his time as a headteacher back in a time that seems so much more pleasant than the times we now live in...I'll come back to this after some sleep
Sounds Like: ...the classic wall of sound
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

February 2010

Hi.I hope that you are keeping well.  My apologies if I have not seen you for some time or been in touch personally....the days and nights just roll by all too quickly it seems. Anyway, on to band mat...
Posted by on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:04:00 GMT

Irish Musician tries to raise money for Ethiopia at Christmas shock!!!!

Irish Musician tries to raise money for Ethiopia at Christmas shock!!!!(Its Christmas time, theres no need to be afraid)Please read this message from my good friend Rev Bob Spratt&Urgent need for Pr...
Posted by on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:13:00 GMT

December 2009

This has been a year of variety.Bill, Pratty/Jon & Mark have made lots of noise lots of times in Thorn Cross young offenders, Kirkham and Garth prisons.  We've had great response from the guys.  They ...
Posted by on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:01:00 GMT

August....or September? It's still 2009

Ive struggled for days over the best way to share this piece  dont know why, just have.  Like in all walks of life prisoners can sometimes feel lonely, depressed or desperate.  As I say, there are ...
Posted by on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:19:00 GMT

What happened to May?

So much for my best intentions of updating this thing every couple of months!  May has long slipped from view and June is thinking about closing her doors. Time for an update methinks.Quite a lot of t...
Posted by on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:12:00 GMT

March 2009

Hi.We played 2 gigs in January, nothing happenend in Feb, 2 in March.  The band has 4 more shows planned (well 3 for definate!) in the coming months.  We've got a great routine going in to Thorn Cross...
Posted by on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:54:00 GMT

January 2009

We played the first show of the year last night.  The good people at HMP Kirkham were, as always, very welcoming.  Barry, the Salvation Army Chaplain is always there every Friday night in the chapel w...
Posted by on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:31:00 GMT

Update/Review

Hi.  It's probably time for me to dish out the recent happenings on the band front.  First of all can I think every one of you who has prayed / thought / encouraged us over the past year?&nb...
Posted by on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:41:00 GMT

Mark Pierce

16 years ago Mark Pierce placed an advert in Guitarist magazine.  His Christian metal band needed a bass player.  The band 'Damarius' was based in Doncaster and as I was living in sunny...
Posted by on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:06:00 GMT

Bob Spratt

Rev Bob Spratt is one of God's special ones.  When most people would be putting their feet up Bob is still going into prisons to share the Good News.  Not only does he visit prisons here in ...
Posted by on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 06:36:00 GMT