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Mark Clarke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the musician. For the English politician, seeMark Clarke (politician).For the Caymanian sailor, seeMark Clarke (sailor).For other people, seeMark Clark.

Mark Clarke
Clarke with JCM in Bluesgarage Isernhagen Germany, April 2019
Clarke with JCM in Bluesgarage Isernhagen Germany, April 2019
Background information
Born(1950-07-25)25 July 1950(age 74)
Liverpool,Merseyside,England
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Bass
  • vocals
Years active1966–present
Member ofColosseum[1]
Formerly of

Mark Clarke(born 25 July 1950 inLiverpool,England) is an English musician, bass player and singer, best known for his work withColosseumandMountain,as well as brief stints withUriah HeepandRainbow.

Career

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After seeing the Beatles and many other bands in Liverpool as a young boy at the age of 12, he decided to be a bass player. In 1966, Clarke played with the Kegmen, in 1968 with the Locomotive and late 1968 with St. James Infirmary.Liverpool Echocalled him in an article "the Joe Cocker of Liverpool".

After a year of local gigs he moved to London, where he was introduced toClem Clempson,who played at that time inColosseum.After some time Clarke was asked byJon Hisemanto join Colosseum in the summer 1970 and he played in the band until the split late 1971, and again 21 years from the reunion in 1994 till the farewell in 2015.[6]After Colosseum split he was briefly around the turn of the years 1971/1972 a member ofUriah Heep,[2]performing (and co-writing) on one studio track, "The Wizard",on the 1972 albumDemons and Wizards.In the beginning of 1973 he became a member of Jon Hiseman'sTempest[3]and played bass on the two Tempest studio albums withAllan Holdsworth,Ollie HalsallandPaul Williams,and a live album issued later. He also played bass onKen Hensley's solo albums.

In 1975 he formed Natural Gas withJoey Molland,Jerry Shirleyand Peter Wood. He also played shortly withRitchie Blackmore's Rainbow,[5]but did not appear on any recordings with them. In 1980 he started working withBilly Squierand recordedDon't Say No,The Stroke,In the Darkand many other albums with him. In 1986 he toured withthe Monkees,and worked for many years withDavy Jones.Clarke has also worked twice in 1984–1985 and 1995–1996 withMountain,[4]Ian Hunterand Torque, recording albums with all of them.

With Colosseum he played again from the reunion in 1994 to the farewell concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 28 February 2015.

In 2010 Clarke released his first solo albumMoving to the Moon,which was co-produced by Ray DeTone, who also played all guitars on the record.

In 2017 Clarke became a member of a new trio band called JCM, with fellow former members of Colosseum Jon Hiseman and Clem Clempson. The band recorded an album "Heroes" late in 2017 and it was released in April 2018. JCM begun touring Europe on 7 April 2018 but the tour ended after the show on the 22 April in Bonn due Jon Hiseman's illness. Hiseman died in June 2018 which initially appeared to be the end of JCM, however in early 2019 it was announced that band would continue with Ralph Salmins taking over drums. Tours of Europe and the UK took place throughout 2019.

Clarke continues to be a member of Colosseum after their reunion in 2019,[7]as well as contributing to their 2022 albumRestoration.[1]

Discography

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Colosseum

Uriah Heep

Tempest

  • 1973 –Tempest
  • 1974 –Live in London
  • 1974 –Living in Fear

Natural Gas

  • 1976 -Natural Gas

Ken Hensley

  • 1973 -Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf
  • 1975 –Eager to Please
  • 1980 –Free Spirit

Richard T. Bear

  • 1979 -Captured Alive

Billy Squier

Ian Hunter

Michael Bolton

TheMonkees

  • 1986 -Davy Jones / Micky Dolenz / Peter Tork: 20th Anniversary Tour

Mountain

Torque

  • 2003 -103103

Solo albums

  • 2010 –Moving to the Moon

JCM

  • 2018 -Heroes

References

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  1. ^abMedia, A. G. (1 April 2022)."Hot New Album From Colosseum's New Line-up".Repertoire Records.Retrieved9 February2023.
  2. ^abErlewine, Stephen Thomas."Biography: Uriah Heep".Allmusic.Retrieved25 December2010.
  3. ^abMonger, James Christopher."Biography: Tempest".Allmusic.Retrieved25 December2010.
  4. ^abEder, Bruce; Huey, Steve."Biography: Mountain".Allmusic.Retrieved25 December2010.
  5. ^ab"Interview with MARK CLARKE".DMME.net.Retrieved28 February2023.
  6. ^Deming, Mark."Biography: Colosseum".Allmusic.Retrieved25 December2010.
  7. ^"Facebook".facebook.Retrieved9 February2023.
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