Mark McGee is currently the guitarist for Luvplanet but has also played with Gregg Allman and Vicious Rumors as well. I met Mark back in his VR days. Besides being a great guitarist he’s a super nice guy! When I didn’t have enough money to get into the VR show he gave me the money out of his pocket, which happened to be his pay for the night, to help me get in. How many people do you know that would do that for you?! Even after the sad end of Vicious Rumors I never forgot about Mark. After many years I found him again & found out that he’s still out there putting out awesome music. That makes me very happy & so does this interview! Thanks Mark!
1. Any person (living or dead) that you would like to meet and why?
Jesus, because I have many unanswered questions.
2. Who are some of your favorite musicians?
There are so many. First of all I must list my Luvplanet, Alameda All Stars, Gregg Allman and Vicious Rumors bandmates as they are family to me!
Steve Lukather, Jeff Beck, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Brian May, David Gilmour, Paul Stanley, Steven Tyler, Sarah Brightman, Mike Stern, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Ritchie Blackmore, Trevor Rabin, Sonny Landreth, Tom Scholz, Gary Moore, Uli Jon Roth, Miles Davis, Frank Marino, Jean Luc Ponty, Tom Petty, Steve Morse, Steve Hackett, Ravi Shankar, Peter Frampton, Peter Gabriel, Sandy Saraya (Blackbird cd), John Waite, Kate Bush, Chris Cornell, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Zander, Norah Jones, Dave Grohl, Steve Clark (RIP), Keane, Chantal Kreviazuk, Ian Thornley(Big Wreck), Jellyfish, Chad Kroger, Rickie Lee Jones, Alanis Morissette, Lou Gramm, Duncan Shiek, Neil Finn, Amy Ray, …. this list of individuals could go on for hours and hours. Some bands: Aerosmith, AC/DC, Kiss, Zeppelin, Rush, Queen, The Beatles, Rainbow, UFO w/ Schenker, Yes, Scorpions, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, King’s X, Heart, Journey, Toto, Foo Fighters, Saga, Nickelback, The Baby’s…Again there are too many to name here.
3. What’s your guilty musical pleasure?
I have no guilt when it comes to music!
4. Who did you idolize as a child?
Paul, Ace, Gene & Peter
5. Stranded on a deserted island, what 3 cds would you have with you?
This question is impossible to answer but here goes:
Queen – A Day At The Races
Sarah Brightman – La Luna
Kiss – Alive
6. The difference between today’s music and the music of the 80’s?
Hmm…The 80’s was extreme but also very diverse. You had the rise of Metal to the mainstream, but unfortunately what got pushed was a lot of Metal crap that was really just an embarrassment to the REAL hardworking Metal artists out there. And so even though the Metal scene got a boost, it also made outsiders think it was a big joke. And then there was modern rock which was not so good other than a few bands like The Cure or Tears for Fears. Fortunately Jazz, Blues & Classical music are always of a certain quality and level so it’s only about finding the performance or Artist that moves you. With Rock, Metal or Pop it can get very divided between all the different labels and sub-categories etc.? And then there are the opinions regarding the 80’s extremities like drugs, hairspray, big stages, tons of lights and the over the top thing. Obviously drugs are a bad idea!! There are different viewpoints though on the big shows and long solos, crazy clothes or whatever but I loved the arena rock shows during the 80’s with the giant staging and theatrics. It was seeing the front cover of Kiss ‘Alive in 1976 that made me realize I wanted to be in a band. Why pay $$$ for a ticket and then go see 5 guys on stage that look just like everyone else in the crowd? Just because a band wants to put on a good show and entertain the crowd doesn’t mean that they are not great musicians. And when it comes to musicianship, in the 80’s, everyone I knew was working very hard to be the best at their craft and it was a cool thing to be great on your instrument where as nowadays people tend to get slammed for actually knowing how to play well. Maybe the company that created Guitar Hero missed the mark and they should have created a video game that actually taught kids how to play a real guitar? All in all, I know some people that rag on the 80’s but they were very good to me and I had waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too much fun!!
7. Favorite place to perform?
In front of people! The bigger venue the better and the more relaxed I am. The small gigs are the hard ones.
8. What makes a good song?
A great vocalist singing an amazing melody to a lyric that means something important. Preferably with a positive or hopeful message. Add to that a killer groove and memorable guitar hook and I’m in!
9. What are your hobbies?
Long drives. Nature. Spending quality time with the most amazing and loved human on the planet , Nicole Sutton. Writing songs. A good movie or music show.
10. Favorite food to eat on the road?
Indian or Thai. Healthy choices. Good Red Wine or top shelf Vodka (Hmmm is that food)?
11. The first concert you ever went to?
Bill Graham Presents “A Day On The Green” ( Monsters of Rock)
Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Pat Travers Band (w/Pat Thrall) & Van Halen (first tour)
12. Who’s the best person you’ve met on the road?
I have so many great stories. I’ve actually considered writing a book about my journey so far. The first time I met Jeff Beck was unbelievable. He was so gracious and down to earth as we talked for about 30 minutes about guitars, amps and our mutual friend Mr. Jimmy Hall. Also standing with my arms around Ann and Nancy Wilson wasn’t a bad day at the office either.
13. So you also do sessions with artists such as Stu Hamm, Mickey Thomas & Brad Gillis. How did these come about?
Firstly, I love doing sessions for people I’ve never met on music I’ve never heard before. It is so fresh and unknown. I first met Stu in March of 1999. Stu and I were both invited (at different times) to become part of this project with vocalist/songwriter Nicole Sutton which would be the beginnings of Luvplanet. Stu invited me to play solos on the song ‘Remember’ for his 2000 release ‘Outbound’. This was a great time! Stu and I have done a few gigs, creating some really really funny memories, and played on a variety of sessions some of which have not yet been released. Stu then had me come in and play some slide solos on his version of Zeppelin’s ‘Going To California’ on his ‘Just Outside Of Normal’ release in 2010. I look forward to more music with Stu in the future. He’s outstanding!!
The Mickey Thomas cd ‘Marauder’ session was gifted to me thanks to the talented Jeff Tamalier (guitarist, producer, engineer, Tower of Power, Track Shack Studios). Jeff called me for some slide work on Mickey’s record and I was thrilled. Mickey is so amazing! Marauder is an album of covers and I play on 4 tracks. Maybe I’m Amazed, Money Talks, Delta Lady & Gimme Shelter. Big fun!
And Mr Gillis, Brad and I first met when I was about 14 or 15 although I doubt he remembers that. We both grew up in Alameda, Ca he started the Alameda All Stars years ago and that lil city was a very tight knit community and their were many musicians in the 70’s and eighties comin out of there. Brad is great! I was living next door to his studio at the time and we were hanging out a lot. We wrote the song Chain Gang for his ‘Alligator’ cd and I also played guitars and sang on a song called ‘Monché LáRoughe’ (Japanese Release only). Brad is very energetic and a kind soul. In 2007 he invited me to join Night Ranger so I went and played with Jack and Kelly and everything was great and then I got a phone call from Gregg Allman while I was playing with the guys. I hoped to do both but then the tour dates clashed and I was left with a decision to make and in the end I went back with GA. I am forever appreciative to Brad and the band for offering me such an incredible opportunity. Thanks guys!
14. Any current projects?
I am always open to doing session work with random artists if the music is something I want to be connected to. At this point it is the same as it has been. LUVPLANET LUVPLANET LUVPLANET!! Eventually I will get m a solo cd finished and released but all the planets must align I guess for this to happen. For fans of my time in the Metal scene with VR or those of you that were introduced to me as lead guitarist for Gregg Allman, all I can say is if you really like my guitar work then you should check out the Luvplanet cds as it is my best guitar playing and production!
Rock on Ariann!!! MM
VISIT MARK:
http://www.markmcgee.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-McGee/306002570700
VISIT LUVPLANET:
http://www.luvplanet.net
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/luvplanet/id148181082
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LUVPLANET/94324292016
© Ariann Boisvert. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content, images or sounds, in whole or in part, without express written permission, is prohibited.
Music, Monsters, and Muscles 