MARK
Mark
Occupation: Guitarist, Songwriter, Humorously Disgruntled Old Guy
Mark is the lyrical brilliance behind Minnesota Sex Junkies' music and main songwriter for the group. He enjoys playing his guitar, shaking his fist at passing cars, and writing songs about smoking cigarettes. (He is not a smoker.)
Q & A
Q: How long have you been playing music?
A: Since about 4:30. The tape ended and I can’t find a pen to rewind the damn thing.
Q: Why did you start playing music?
A: Spite and pettiness. I got a guitar in high school and so many of the adults in my life were determined to let me know “you’ll give up before you learn to play,” so I had a need to prove them wrong. Most are dead, but when I do learn to play, I’m damn sure gonna rub it in on those still kicking!
Q: Why did you choose the instrument you play?
A: Guilt. A friend of mine told some old lady he’d buy a guitar and amp from her that her son didn’t want. We get there to check it out, and he doesn’t have the cash. So she starts with some nonsense about how she really needed that money for medicine or something and worked all morning “digging it out of the closet,” tugging on the ol’ hearstrings and all that, so I took it. To this day, I still think I heard “sucker...” as she walked away with my cash.
Q: Who are your top ten musical acts and/or artists? (in no particular order and subject to change depending on mood)
1: Great Big Sea
2: Tom Petty
3: Tom Waits
4: Tom… er… Bruce Springsteen
5: Steve Earle
6: Manowar
7: Iron Maiden
8: Collective Soul
9: Chris Knight
10: U2
Q: If you could be another musician, who would you be?
A: Kris or Brandon. Dudes can play any friggin’ instrument, it seems, and got that freaky-ass “pitch perfect” crap going on.
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: Uhhhhhhhh… this is one those impossible questions where the answer is different tomorrow and then different again the next day and so on... Today, though, it’s “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” particularly when Liam Clancy performs it.
Q: If you weren't with MSJ, what would you be doing?
A: Answering the question about 3 down from this one, most likely.
Q: What is your favorite part of being in MSJ?
A: No genre restrictions. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say “we can’t play that song because it sounds too rock, country, polka, jazz, metal, techno, etc.” Anything goes.
Q: What is your LEAST favorite part of being in MSJ?
A: It interferes with my natural, introverted state of being. I’ll disappear for a few minutes of me time, lose track of time a wee, wee bit, and after just a few short years, Kris will reach out with this whole “dude… you dead?” stuff.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: If you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, you're still in the fucking tunnel. – John Oates
Q: Are you actually from Minnesota?
A: No, but I think the other guys are.