Atomic Kings, Mark profile picture

Atomic Kings, Mark

Brother, when your time comes, stand tall

About Me

I slap the bull fiddle/vocals for Atomic Kings. A three piece rockabilly band outta Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Not much to say I reckon. I'm a simple cat with simple needs. I take most things for granted, I do things my way even though they may be the hard way, I stand and fight when I should turn tail and run, I'm always ziggin' when I should be zaggin', I look for the best in folks even when the worst is all they got to show, I don't take a back seat to no kind of man, I'm no ladykiller, but I'll turn heads if needed, I take the good with the bad even if that means stickin' it out for longer than I got the go ahead for, I'll tell you the truth even if that means it's gonna break your heart, I see the world in a different light every day: sometimes dark and haunted, sometimes bright and inviting, I don't make excuses for what I've done I just except the fact that is how I am, I take more than I give leavin' others to beleive that I just don't give a damn or that there's something about them that just pisses me off, I cant' explain why the world is the way it is I just live here someone else is pullin' the strings, I take a fella at his word with a hardy handshake; cause a man is only as good as his word, I don't quit even if that means I'll lose in the end; atleast who ever is on the other side will know I was there, I know all things are generally black and white; but sometime we all need a little color, I always give an answer when asked a question; even when it's the one you may not want to hear, I do what's best for me at any one given time and without fail I find the world to leave me in peace and let me just be me.

My Interests

How would one declare what is of an importance to him/her is often in their mind. Today I'm diggin' on one thing and tomorrow it will be something else. Yet, it seems that interests are commonly based on the reacurring aspect of what you do regularly, but then again that may just be routine. I reckon in short alot of thing interest me, nothing that really drive me to the point of immortality like some, nor delivering that one of kind moment that etches me into the memories of others, but there is one thing that puts me right as the mail, day in and day out. I am a musician from sun up til sun down, I rock with the best of them and give the crowd something they can write home about. I spend on average of 5 hours a day working on originals another 3 hours just playing my bull fiddle becasue it sets me free then when I'm done I will kick back and just think about playing becasue I am a musician and that's what I do. My son's are the greatest acheivments in my life. They make each day worth bein' in such a bias and cruel world, withouth them, there would be no music for me to play.

I'd like to meet:

That depends, will we meet by chance or shall it be prearranged, maybe, a simple wave or exchage of hello's and good-bye's. If we meet then it was ment to be and if not then our paths were destined not to cross. So I reckon in all the confussion of what is and what is not, then I'll take what I can get, within reason. If you dig on the culture clash of 1920-1960 then give me a buzz. If you are a tattooed, greased up, hot roddin', cheese burger eatin', hillbilly or any combo of the list, then give me a yell. They say oppisites attract, but I don't follow the norm, or as what can be discribed as the norm. Common interest, that's what brings folks together, well, atleast 10% of us anyways. That's right, 90% of the population has no place in my small, but effetive life. The only way most of us are goning to meet and greet will be thruough heavy drinkin'. Now...let the games begin.ATOMIC KINGS HOME PAGE

Music:

My taste in music hangs ever so gently in the balance. I was raised on traditional country music, back when they were singing country and westeren before the words were even invented. Yet, jazz moved me thru the teenage years, where it was rockabilly, american, hillbilly, and so on and so forth found me and took me by the hand and showed me a way that gave me meaning and purpose for what I would come to love and enjoy. So one day you can find me listen to Bob Wills, Hank Sr., Charlie Rich, and on another Gene Kruppa, Mel Lewis, Dizzy Gilispe, Benny Goodman, then perhaps like today Los Straightjackets or Gene Vincent. I keep Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran and many many more ready waiting and able to be played at a moments notice. I've been know to spin a platter or two of Big Sandy, Muddy Waters, Rev. Horton Heat, Cave Cat Sammy, a time or two in the early hours. For a cat like me if it swings it can't be all that bad.

Movies:

I admit it, I watch alot of movies, come on how else would I have learned about the early 1900's up til' the time I began to see things more clearly. I will take just about anything that is based on doo wop, blues, jazz, rockabilly, 30's-60's and then some rare moments of this and that about what is and what was, maybe some what might have been. Elvis is a big part of my movie collection, sure go ahead say what you will, just like the rest. Elvis did silly songs and the story seemed to drag or even play dead at some points, but let me tell you this. No other entertainer in the last 100 years could have pulled off what he did in those movies for that he deserves a pat on the back or a high five, I don't know you figure it out. JAILHOUSE ROCK, GI BLUES, KING CREOLE, CHANGE OF HEART, KID GALAHAD, LOVE ME TENDER, FOLLOW THAT DREAM, VIVA LAS VEGAS, ROUSTABOUT and SPEEDWAY are my top 10 list. Other movies in my collection include GREAT BALLS OF FIRE, SIX STRING SAMURI, ROCKABILLY VAMPIRE, ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK, LA BAM BA, THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, HOT ROD GANG, ROADRACERS, SHOUT, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS, CRY BABY, HAIR SPRAY, ROCKING THE COUNTRY starring THE STRAY CATS, US FEST with THE STAY CATS, BSO live in Japan, REV. HORTON HEAT live and in Color, THE OUTSIDERS, WEST SIDE STORY, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, JOHNNY SUEDE, THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT, and many more. I am sure that the list is endlist because I am looking to see what has been moved and what has been just left to collect dust, but in the end I will watch and watch and watch and watch, because that is what I do. Oh yeah, I like some horor flick, a little action now and then, even some thrillers.

Television:

This is where the line is blurred. Because I do watch TV, I mean who doesn't. However, I don't really watch TV, I mainly listen and wait while I do other things, sort of like background noise, helps me focus on what I am doing. I do watch SESSIONS ON WEST 64th, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, SMOKEY ROBINSON'S ROCK 'N' ROLL SHOW, and a few other programs about music. I reckon you can say if it's about music then you can pretty much take it to the bank that I'll be watching it.

Books:

Don't read much, don't really own alot of books to tell you the truth, but if you count cook books, well then now your talking. Sushi, that is the name of the game in my house and I read about sushi everytime I get on the WWW of high speed information. The last book I read was by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa: NOBU the COOKBOOK and yes, for those wondering if I have ever eating in one of his places, Las Vegas, Hard Rock Hotel.

Heroes:

In our time heroes are hard to come by, what makes a hero/heroian these days. I am not sure what scale to use or how to measure a persons worth in oreder to determine whether or not they are worthy of such a title. I can't tell you what actions make a person heroic or not, but what I can say is that if being a hero is about pain and sorrow and losss; suffering, happiness, loneliness, courage, the will to survive, hardships, love, kindness, strenght, weakness, sacrifice and determination to succeed, well then each and every person who has stepped foot on this plantet from day one, every doctor, parent, son, daughter, teacher, preacher, police officer, millitary personal, cook, pilot, athelet, dancer, nun, painter, from the the shortest man to the tallest woman, then I can say with out a doubt they are my heros, YOU, are my hero.

My Blog

Times they are a changin'.

Well, today was a day for some reflection.  I guess you never really know what to think until you have to think about it.  WOW!  That made as much sence as an elevator in an out house.&...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 03:38:00 PST

EXTRA, EXTRA, update on debut album!

Well, it took some doin' but it's gonna happen.  Our debut album "Runnin' from the Devil" is gonna be re-released sometime this year.  With a few restriction of course.  The compay that...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:40:00 PST

Gettin' a copy of the debut album!?

I have been gettin' alot of request for the Atomic Kings debut album "Runnin from the Devil".  It is no longer bein' put out due to a change in the lineup.  I have have many emails about wha...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 11:37:00 PST

New Songs sure to grab your ear.

The fellas and I have been super busy workin' on all sorts of new music.  Touchin' back to the roots of rock 'n' roll, on into an era that made the future brighter and better for all, yep, that's...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:35:00 PST

Here we go again.

Bookin's, bookin's, bookin's.  It has come that time again where I begin to build another US, coast to coast tour.  Great american rock 'n' roll for the masses.  From NYC to the coast o...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:40:00 PST

Rockabilly Pure and Simply Dangerous

Three track EP: Limited Edition for shows only.  A teaser of Atomic Kings "Hail to the KIng" album due out in December.  It's gonna be a bombshell when it hits the streets.  A brand of ...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 01:11:00 PST

Back on our own.

It seems to me that most bands in general take for granted the help they get, even when they have to pay for the services.  Bookers, nanagement, record label, publicist, so on and so forth. ...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:31:00 PST

Tunes from the past.....they'll always be there.

Well, alot of folks have asked where I was before Atomic Kings.  Well, I tell them that I was in a band called "Fordamatic" here in Arkansas.  Then the question about do you have any music r...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Fri, 19 May 2006 02:54:00 PST

Atomic Kings EP to hit June 1st.

Well, the EP/Single "Rockabilly Pure and Simply Dangerous" will be out on June 1st.  This will be a set up CD for the full length CD "Hail to the King", due out in Spring 2007.  It will...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Thu, 09 Mar 2006 08:44:00 PST

SUMMER SCHEDULE...?

On May 20th the Atomic Kings will begin their summer tour coming to your town or not may be up to you.  If you are a club owner/manager or someone who knows the type then let me know at once.&nbs...
Posted by Atomic Kings, Mark on Fri, 24 Feb 2006 03:24:00 PST