Mark Thwaite

Mark Gemini Thwaite

Mark Gemini Thwaite performing at a Peter Murphy gig, HOB Chicago, 2009
Background information
Birth name Mark Gemini Thwaite
Born (1965-06-15) 15 June 1965
Birmingham, England
Genres Industrial rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, gothic rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, bass, keyboards
Labels Sony Music/Echozone, SPV
Associated acts The Mission, Tricky, Peter Murphy, Revolting Cocks, Al Jourgensen, Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate, Mob Research, New Disease, Primitive Race, Ricky Warwick
Website www.markthwaite.com

Mark Gemini Thwaite (born 15 June 1965 in Birmingham, England) also referred to as MGT has been the guitarist for a number of British rock bands and artists over the last two decades, including The Mission, Tricky, Peter Murphy, New Disease, Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate, Mob Research (with Paul Raven of Killing Joke), and Canadian band National Velvet plus various live and recorded appearances with Al Jourgensen, Revolting Cocks, Gary Numan, Roger Daltrey, P.J. Harvey, Alanis Morissette, Combichrist, Primitive Race, Ricky Warwick and The Fighting Hearts, Ginger of The Wildhearts, Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, Franz Treichler of The Young Gods and Ville Valo of Finnish band HIM.

Early years

Thwaite's first school band formed in 1980 at Lichfield Friary Grange in Staffordshire and included fellow school-mate Steve Ellett (drums), aka Steve Danger from British metal band Wolfsbane. Thwaite later formed Lichfield based rock band Monteagle with local musicians including Martin Wilkins (drums) and Dave Pearson, later known as Computerchemist.[1] Thwaite spent part of 1985 living in Toronto, Canada, joining Gothic rock band National Velvet, before returning to the UK in 1986.[2] After forming a few bands in the Birmingham area, he relocated to London in 1989.[2]

In 1989 Thwaite joined London-based Gothic group The Children (featuring Dave Roberts of Sex Gang Children on vocals), and performed on the 12" single Never Get Out Alive released in 1990.[3] During this time Thwaite was introduced to Kirk Brandon, founder member and vocalist for Spear of Destiny and Theatre of Hate. This began a 3-year collaboration between Thwaite and Brandon.

Thwaite performed live with Spear of Destiny in 1990,[2] and replaced original Theatre of Hate guitarist Billy Duffy on the 10th anniversary Theatre of Hate UK tour in 1991. Thwaite continued as a member of Spear of Destiny, contributing to their 1992 album Sod's Law and the subsequent tour.[4]

The Mission, 1992-1996

In 1992, Thwaite joined UK Gothic rock band The Mission.[5] During this period, Thwaite also collaborated with Roger Daltrey[6] of The Who on a BBC radio play titled A Fake’s Progress, based on the life of Twiggy's manager Justin de Villeneuve. Thwaite also contributed guitars to a remix for Situation 2 release Salvation (SIT 98) by UK band Terminal Power Company.[7]

Thwaite featured on two studio albums with The Mission during this period, Neverland and Blue, and a compilation album, Sum and Substance, before they disbanded in 1996; he would later rejoin the reformed band in 1999 and record two more albums.[8] He toured with the band throughout this period, which included two broadcasts on German television.[9] Thwaite also performed live with UK band Mice at the UK Phoenix Festival and London's Highbury Garage in 1997, with a lineup featuring All About Eve singer Julianne Regan and AAE/Mission bassist Andy Cousin.

Tricky

In 1998, Thwaite was invited to join Tricky's live band for his upcoming world tour to promote studio album Angels with Dirty Faces. Thwaite continued to work with Tricky, touring with the live band worldwide and contributing to three studio albums and an EP - "Mission Accomplished EP" (2000), "Blowback" (2001), "Vulnerable" (2003) and "Knowle West Boy" (2008) [10] and performing with Tricky and P.J. Harvey on the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[11] He also performed with Tricky on UK show Later With Jools Holland.[12] He also performed guitar on Tricky's remix of MethodMan's Judgement Day single.[13]

The Mission, 1999 and onwards

The Mission re-formed once again in 1999, with Thwaite rejoining the band to tour the USA and Europe.[14] Following the success of the tour, the band continued, undertaking a world tour in 2000 and releasing a live CD, entitled Ever After. Thwaite remained with the band to record their next studio album, Aura (2001).[8]

During the same period, Thwaite also recorded guitars for Tricky's Mission Accomplished EP - his first for Epitaph records, released in 2000, followed by Blowback, an album which included collaborations between Thwaite and Alanis Morissette, Flea, Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante.[15][16]

Owing to touring commitments with Tricky, Thwaite was unable to play on The Mission's next tour, and officially left the band in September 2001. He toured the United States with Tricky, as special guests of rock band Tool in 2001.[17] While continuing to work with Tricky, Thwaite also collaborated with Gary Numan on heavy industrial metal reworkings of Are 'Friends' Electric? and This Wreckage for Numan's RIP single (released in 2002) and Hybrid album (2003).[18]

New Disease

In 2002 Thwaite formed UK based rock band New Disease.[2] releasing the 'Axiomatic' EP in 2003,[19] co-produced by John Fryer. In 2004 the band signed to Universal records and released the single Like Rain[20] produced by Canadian producer David Bottrill, the band were later dropped by Universal during a restructure, with the band's debut album unreleased, and Thwaite relocated to the USA in 2005.[21] The band would later release the posthumous album 'Patent Life' ten years later in 2014.[22]

Peter Murphy

Thwaite toured the United States and Europe in summer 2005 with Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy to promote Murphy's album Unshattered.[23] During this period, Wayne Hussey invited Thwaite to rejoin The Mission for shows in South Africa in July 2005; Thwaite agreed, and played shows in South Africa followed by an extensive Europe-wide tour later that year.

In 2006 Thwaite joined New York based singer songwriter Sarah Fimm for a concert supporting British goth pioneers Bauhaus in Buffalo, New York, which was followed by a week of recording sessions in Woodstock, NY[24] featuring session drummer Josh Freese, best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Devo plus Tony Levin on bass, known for his work with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel. Peter Murphy also makes a guest appearance on vocals. MGT would continue to perform with Murphy's band until 2015, recording on his 'Ninth' album in 2011 and 'The Secret Bees of Ninth' in 2012, and the 'Mr Moonlight' live DVD in 2014.

Mob Research

In March 2007 Thwaite formed a studio-based project Mob Research with Killing Joke / Ministry bassist Paul Raven and Warrior Soul vocalist Kory Clarke.[25] Work on the band's debut album, Holy City Zoo, was halted by Raven's sudden death in October 2007: the remaining band members decided to complete the album in honour of Raven. The album was finally released by Echozone Records in 2009.[6] The remaining band members reconvened three years later in 2012 and released the "Motormouth" EP on Echozone records.[26]

Thwaite's ongoing collaboration with Trip Hop pioneer Tricky also continues, with contributions to 2008 studio album Knowle West Boy: he also continued as a member of The Mission, contributing to their 2007 album God is a Bullet,[8] and playing live with them,[27] first to promote the GIAB album and then for their four-show "farewell" event at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London.[28]

Al Jourgensen

During 2009, Thwaite collaborated with Al Jourgensen of Ministry and Revolting Cocks on It's Always Christmas Time,[29] a Christmas-themed single released in November 2009. In December 2009 Thwaite joined Jourgensen in his recording studio in El Paso, Texas to write and record material for a forthcoming solo project by Jourgensen.[5] The Mission released the live video of the Farewell shows recorded in 2008 on the Final ChapterDVD box set,[8] which reached No.6 in the UK Music DVD chart.[30]

Thwaite continued to work with Jourgensen, playing lead guitar on the track Filthy Senoritas, from the Revolting Cocks 2010 album Got Cock? released in April 2010.[31] He also played on Voices in My Head and Walkie Talkie,[32] which was made available as a bonus download to those who purchased the 'Got Cock?' RevCo album. Works also commences on a Jourgensen 'solo' album with Thwaite, Mike Scaccia and Tony Campos of Ministry.[33]

In summer 2010 Thwaite resumed touring with Peter Murphy, undertaking the Dirty Dirt European tour and some dates in Canada. During the tour Thwaite joined frontman Andy LaPlegua and his band Combichrist onstage playing guitar during the band's encore at London Electric Ballroom on 5 August 2010. Thwaite had previously remixed a track by the band in 2008 under his Metalmorphosis alter ego.[34]

In 2011 Thwaite joined Peter Murphy and band for a 29 date US tour promoting the studio album Ninth released on 7 June 2011,.[35] In the autumn of 2011 Thwaite also made a guest appearance onstage with his old band The Mission at their sold out 25th Anniversary show at London Brixton Academy on 22 October with special guests Fields of the Nephilim.[36] The concert was filmed and later released as Silver on DVD/Blu-ray.

In 2012 Thwaite and Kory Clarke - the remaining members of Mob Research, reconvened three years after the release of the Holy City Zoo debut album and released the Motormouth EP on Echozone records on 18 May 2012.[37] The release also featured a collaboration between Thwaite and Franz Treichler of The Young Gods [38] Thwaite also appeared on the Warrior Soul album Stiff Middle Finger, released in October 2012, contributing lead guitars.[39] Thwaite also undertook more international touring with Peter Murphy, including a performance at Club Nokia on 15 September in Los Angeles featuring a duet between Peter Murphy and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, with Thwaite on guitar.[40]

In 2013 Peter Murphy undertakes a world tour performing a 100% Bauhaus set, billed as ‘Mr. Moonlight - Celebrating 35yrs of Bauhaus’, including Thwaite on guitar. The tour rates in the top 50 Pollstar US tours of 2013. In August Thwaite joins electronic icon Gary Numan and his band for a US tour, in place of Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck, who was originally signed on for the tour but was called back to Nine Inch Nails when guitarist Adrian Belew walked out on NIN rehearsals in the summer of 2013. Thwaite subsequently played guitar on the tour and performed with both Numan and Finck at the band’s Santa Ana show in September 2013, where Finck guests with the band for 6 songs.[41]

In October 2013 Thwaite announces he is leaving the Peter Murphy band due to ‘personal differences’. Thwaite subsequently appears as guitarist on the ‘Mr Moonlight’ live DVD, which is released by Nettwerk records in June 2014, recorded live at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. In 2014 Thwaite collaborates with Ginger Wildheart of The Wildhearts, Robin Diaz of the Courtney Love band and Jimmy Ashhurst ex Buckcherry on several recordings for a G-A-S-S release.[42] Thwaite also recorded guest guitars on "Toffee Town" from the solo album for Ricky Warwick of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders. In addition he contributed strings and mixes 4 acoustic tracks for Black Star Riders sophomore album The Killer Instinct on Nuclear Blast records, also fronted by Warwick, which debuted at #2 in the UK National Rock Charts in March 2015.[43]

Present

On 10 March 2015 Primitive Race announced the release of their first E.P. "Long In The Tooth" through Metropolis Records on 19 June 2015. The EP features vocals by Raymond Watts (of PIG) and guitars by Thwaite.[44] This was followed by the album 'Primitive Race' also on Metropolis records released on 7 August, featuring Thwaite on many of the tracks, including collaborations with Tommy Victor of US metal band Prong, Dave Ogilvie (Skinny Puppy), and Graham Crabb (Pop Will Eat Itself)[45]

Thwaite subsequently tours with Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts in early 2016. MGT appeared on Warwick's latest solo album When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues), and appears in the promotional video for 'Celebrating Sinking', released on Nuclear Blast records in February 2016.[46] The release also includes guest appearances by Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy), Andy Cairns (Therapy?), Billy Morrison (Billy Idol), Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol), Ginger Wildheart, Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers) and Richard Fortus (Guns n' Roses)[47]

In March 2016 MGT announced that he had signed with Hanover record imprint SPV records and will release his first solo album, "Volumes" under his MGT acronym at the end of June worldwide. The lead single, "Knowing Me Knowing You", a cover version of the ABBA classic featuring guest vocalist Ville Valo of HIM, is released in April, mixed by Tim Palmer and mastered by Maor Appelbaum, and a promotional video featuring both MGT & Valo is posted on YouTube, with over half a million views in one month.[48] Valo is not the only guest musician on "Volumes", other appearances include Wayne Hussey of Mark's previous band The Mission, Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls of The Wonder Stuff, Ricky Warwick (Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy), Raymond Watts (PIG, KMFDM), Saffron (Republica), Julianne Regan (All About Eve), Ashton Nyte (The Awakening), Carlo Van Putten (Dead Guitars) and goth legend Andi Sex Gang.[49]

Equipment

Thwaite currently holds artist endorsements with Schecter Guitar Research,[50] Mesa Amplification, Big Joe Stompbox Company,[51] Seymour Duncan,[52] and Pro Tone effects pedals.[53] He also has a long association with Gibson Les Paul guitars, having played them frequently since first joining Spear of Destiny back in 1990.

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "TDFZ interview" Chris Newman, 'TDFZ interview', Computerchemist.com, 17 January 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sümnicht, Petra; Tanja Godisch, Tanja (June 2003). "Interview with Mark Gemini Thwaite". And-the-dance-goes-on.de. Petra Sümnicht. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  3. ↑ "Children, The (6) - Never Get Out Alive (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  4. ↑ "Mark Gemini Thwaite Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1965-06-15. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  5. 1 2 Górnisiewicz, Katarzyna N.; Gariboldi, Marco (2009-09-03). "Mark Gemini Thwaite - interview". Fabryka Music Magazine. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  6. 1 2 Górnisiewicz, Katarzyna (2009). "Mob Research -Holy City Zoo review". Fabryka Music Magazine. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  7. ↑ "Mark Gemini Thwaite Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1965-06-15. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Mark Gemini Thwaite Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1965-06-15. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  9. ↑ "LtC listing" Discog's.com listing for the 'Lighting the Candles' dvd; disc 2 contains footage of these shows from 1995.
  10. ↑ "Mark Gemini Thwaite Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1965-06-15. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  11. ↑ "Tricky and PJ Harvey - Broken Homes.flv". YouTube. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  12. ↑ "Tricky - 'The moment i feared' live on Jools Holland (1998)". YouTube. 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  13. ↑ "Method Man - Judgement Day Remixes (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "The Mission UK : Official Site News". Replay.web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 20 October 2001. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  16. ↑ "Tricky Works With Chili Peppers, Morissette, Kowalczyk on Blowback". MTV. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  17. ↑ Niles Baranowski (2001-10-17). "Tricky with Tool". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  18. ↑ "Mark Gemini Thwaite Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1965-06-15. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  19. ↑ "NewDisease - Discography". Newdiseasemusic.com. 2004-04-04. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  20. ↑ "New Disease". Newediseasemusic.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  21. ↑ "Songwriting & Song Pitching Service for Songwriters & Music Publishers". Songquarters.com. 2004-04-19. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  22. ↑ "Mark Thwaite'S New Disease 'Patent Life' Album Finally Sees Release…". Schecterguitars.com. 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  23. ↑ Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ "Sarah Fimm | The Vanishing Sessions (B-Sides Part I) | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  25. ↑ "Mob Research - Bio". Mobresearchinc.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  26. ↑ "Mob Research - Motormouth EP". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Mission World Information Service | The Mission 'farewell' European Tour!". Themissionuk.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  28. ↑ "Maerz 2008". And-the-dance-goes-on.de. 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  29. ↑ "Video: Ministry's Al Jourgensen sings 'It's Always Christmas Time' for Paul Raven — slicing up eyeballs // 80s alternative music, college rock, indie". Slicingupeyeballs.com. 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  30. ↑ "LX3 Live Recording - news". Lx3.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  31. ↑ "Revco* - ¿Got Cock? (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  32. ↑ "Alien Jourgensen* - Voices In My Head (File) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  33. ↑ "Pirate Christmas". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  34. ↑ "COMBICHRIST +Mark Thwaite: This Shit Will Fuck You Up @Electric Ballroom London 04 Aug 2010". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  35. ↑ "6/7 - Peter Murphy - 'Ninth' | Nettwerk Press Blog". Nettskinny.com. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  36. ↑ "Mission World Information Service | MGT guests at XXV show & Rhydian covers TOS!!". Themissionuk.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  37. ↑ https://markgthwaite.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/mob-research-release-new-collaboration-with-the-young-gods-franz-treichler/
  38. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWU3MEM53v4
  39. ↑ Archived 20 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  40. ↑ "Peter Murphy Stan Lee duet That Old Black Magic 9/14/12 LA". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  41. ↑ "News - Gary Numan – Official Website - page 3". Numan.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  42. ↑ "Ginger Wildheart on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  43. ↑ "Timeline Photos - Black Star Riders | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  44. ↑ "Metropolis Mail-Order // Long In The Tooth". www.metropolis-mailorder.com. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  45. ↑ http://regenmag.com/news/regen-exclusive-primitive-race-premieres-new-music-video/
  46. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3l2BJiRRhM
  47. ↑ "Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses Members To Guest On New Solo Albums From Ricky Warwick - Blabbermouth.net". BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
  48. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INIx3B5F_0g
  49. ↑ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hims-ville-valo-sings-abbas-knowing-me-knowing-you-on-mgt-album/
  50. ↑ "Mark Gemini THwaite". Schecterguitars.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  51. ↑ "Big Joe Stomp Box Company: Mark Thwaite". www.bigjoestompboxcompany.com. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  52. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BGII9Aoj2wf/
  53. ↑ "Artists". Pro Tone Pedals. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
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