Marco Mendoza

Not to be confused with bass player Mark Mendoza.
Marco Mendoza

Mendoza with Thin Lizzy at Aberdeen Music Hall, January 6, 2011
Background information
Born (1963-05-03) May 3, 1963
San Diego, California, United States
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal, Jazz fusion, Funk
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, bass guitar, guitar
Years active 1989–present
Labels Frontiers Records
Associated acts Blue Murder, John Sykes, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, Soul SirkUS, Whitesnake, Black Star Riders, The Dead Daisies
Website Official website

Marco Mendoza (born May 3, 1963) is an American rock musician who is the bass guitarist for The Dead Daisies and the reformed lineup of Thin Lizzy, and a former member of the Thin Lizzy spin-off Black Star Riders.

Career

Marco Mendoza started his professional career in 1989, playing bass for former Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's solo album Along The Way, which was released in January 1990. In 1991, he replaced former Heart bassist Steve Fossen in the band Alias in 1991. Mendoza played on the band's second album Never Say Never, but Alias was dropped by Capitol Records in 1992 and the album was shelved. He played in John Sykes' band Blue Murder, from 1992 until 1993. In 1994, he was recruited into a reformed lineup of Thin Lizzy, also featuring Sykes, with guitarist Scott Gorham, keyboard player Darren Wharton and drummer Brian Downey. After some preliminary one-off concerts, the band toured more consistently from 1996 until 2000, replacing the departing Downey with Tommy Aldridge and releasing the live album One Night Only.[1]

From 2000 to 2003 Mendoza recorded and toured with Ted Nugent, and in 2004 he toured with Whitesnake, another band that once featured Sykes and Aldridge, and appeared on their DVD Live... In the Still of the Night. Also in 2004, Mendoza guested on keyboardist Derek Sherinian's solo album Mythology. However, he returned to Thin Lizzy in 2005, replacing Randy Gregg. He left the band in 2007, and subsequently toured with ex-Dokken guitarist George Lynch in his band Lynch Mob.

Mendoza onstage with Thin Lizzy

After Sykes left Thin Lizzy in 2009, Mendoza rejoined the band for a third stint, this time with Gorham, Wharton, Downey, singer Ricky Warwick and guitarist Vivian Campbell. This lineup of Thin Lizzy toured Europe throughout 2011, before a US tour at the end of the year, and a further tour of Europe in early 2012.

On July 6, 2007, Mendoza released his first solo album Live for Tomorrow, through Frontiers Records in Europe. The record was produced and co-written by Richie Kotzen and features guest performances by Steve Lukather, Ted Nugent, Doug Aldrich, Tommy Aldridge, Brian Tichy, Marco Rentería of Jaguares, and others.

Mendoza has also played for the band Soul SirkUS and with many other artists from different musical backgrounds including: Bill Ward, Right Said Fred, Robert Williams, Roch Voisine, Dolores O'Riordan, Tim "Ripper" Owens, and Tommy Shaw.

When not touring, Mendoza has played with his band Mendoza Heredia Neto, featuring drummer Joey Heredia and keyboard player Renato Neto, on Tuesday nights at La Ve Lee Jazz Club in Studio City. The band has recorded a live CD, Live in L.A.

In December 2012, Mendoza co-founded the Thin Lizzy spin-off band, Black Star Riders.[2] Black Star Riders' first album All Hell Breaks Loose was released in May 2013.[3]

On May 30 2014, it was announced that Mendoza was leaving Black Star Riders at the end of the contemporaneous US tour to work on other projects.[4] Whether or not he will be involved in future reunions of Thin Lizzy remains unclear.

He is currently playing with The Dead Daisies, who have recently released a new album titled The Face I Love and are on tour with Kiss and Def Leppard.

Personal life

Mendoza spent his formative years living with his grandmother in Tijuana, Mexico. He now lives in California and has five children: Marco Rentería, who is the bass guitarist in the award winning Mexican band Jaguares and who played on Mendoza's solo album Live for Tomorrow; He married his current wife Leah, an administrative professional at a high profiled land development company, on December 2, 2001. Mendoza is a well-known supporter of gun rights. He enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping, and the general outdoors.

Discography

Solo albums

Other collaborations

Tribute albums

References

  1. ↑ Dougan, John. "Biography: Thin Lizzy". Allmusic. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Thin Lizzy to End, Black Star Riders to Begin". noise11.com. 20 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Black Star Riders announce debut album title". Black Star Riders official website. 8 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Black Star Riders welcome Robbie Crane". Black Star Riders official website. 30 May 2014.


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