"Singing Bassist" Mark Clarke Interview
Wikipedia
Interview by Roger Zee (05/11/23)
Roger Zee: Who inspired you to take up the bass and sing?
Mark Clarke: A group called The Big Three inspired me growing up in Liverpool, UK. Bigger than The Beatles and with bass player Johnny Gustaffson. Also, of course, Paul McCartney. But several years later a guy named Jack Bruce came along and he changed EVERYTHING for me...
A few years later, about the time of Cream, I became friends with Jack and stayed friends for life. One day he said to me, "Mark, does the bass sound perfect to you? Have you mastered it? Because if it does and you have mastered it, then you may as well stop!" in other words, KEEP on learning!
There's actually a BBC film about Bruce. But as he had fractured his wrist, he asked me if I would let them film his face but MY hands playing one of his songs!
RZ: Tell me about some of the musicians and groups you gigged and recorded with.
MC: Here we go -- Colosseum, Billy Squier, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore, Mountain (Leslie West), Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson (Mott the Hoople), Joe Perry, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Meatloaf, Roger Daltry, Paul Rogers, Mick Taylor, Peter Frampton, Chuck Leavell (Stones), Procol Harum, Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Michael Bolton, Bumblefoot (Guns & Roses), The Monkees (also co-produced them.), Levon Helm (The Band), even Cher (hated that), Alice Cooper, and still many, many more.
Oh, I did spend two days with The Rolling Stones! Never got the gig though. Daryl Jones did. Oh, I'm working with Jones in July!
RZ: What instruments/string/amps/mics do you currently use?
MC: Hartke -- lots of it. Hughes and Kettner amps. Also Trickfish amps and speakers. Look it up online. And some old Ampeg stuff in the warehouse with Billy Squier gear in NYC. Currently playing a 40 year old Black ESP Custom Mark IV bass.
RZ: Talk about your home studio.
MC: No home studio!
RZ: What and how do you practice?
MC: I play every day. Don't know if that means practice, but I do play every day.
RZ: Do you teach music privately?
MC: No I don't teach as when I did, I found out that they just wanted to play like me and NOT really learn. So I don't teach...
RZ: How has the Pandemic affected you? What's on the horizon?
MC: The Pandemic shut down everything, But during it, Clem Clempson and I managed to write and record a new Colosseum album. Give it a listen, "Restoration." I know you'll love it!. In fact I leave in a few days to start our 2023 tour that goes all over the place. Colosseum's known all over the world except America...
RZ: How do you see the future of the music business?
MC: The music biz sucks right now. People like Ticketmaster absolutely ruined it...
RZ: What advice do you give up-and-coming musicians?
MC: If you feel the passion for any instrument, GO FOR IT! But create your own style and your own technique. Try to "step out." I'm a player and there's not that many left. But never stop learning. NEVER!
YouTube - "In the Dark" - Billy Squier
YouTube - "Walking in the Park" - Coliseum Live
YouTube - "Never In My Life" - Mountain Live in Paris
YouTube - "The Wizard" - Uriah Heap
©2023 Roger Zee
Mark Clarke, Billy Squier, Marc Copley
