So just who is this Mark D?

Well, the diminutive Texan with the big hat has been a "mover and shaker" (in the loosest sense of the term I might add) in the underground scene for the longest time, but for those of you that don't do your homework… His "musical" career began on a fairly illustrious (at least to some) note by moving from the "lone star state of Texas" over to California to study composition at the highly respected Cal Arts institute. The time and study invested in this somewhat restrained venture culminated in being asked to create a holographic sound installation for the 1984 Olympic Arts festival in L.A!! (A little more John Cage than John Lydon I hear you cry??? Perhaps but that's not all…)

Although a roaring success the world of the "holographic sound installation" was not beckoning with quite the same insistence as the Frisco Bay Area punk rock scene so before the end of the year Mark was inspired enough to found the quietly influential punk label Alchemy records… Alchemy as a going concern was to eventually run it's course, but not before Mark had discovered and released albums by no lesser entities than Neurosis, The Melvins (more of which in a moment) and the eternal NOFX favourite R.K.L, among other punk rock luminaries of the era. It was however his production work as the head of the label that paved the way for the next career move as he took over as house soundman for the mighty Melvins.

Through the years 1990 and 1991 Mark took care of the live sound of that most difficult of bands including the legendary Reading performance with Nirvana when the Melvins were called the "worst band ever" by the organisers (rare praise indeed coming from an organisation that has booked Shed Seven on more than one occasion!!). It was natural that the band should look close to home when a new bass player was required and so Mr D was finally inducted into the ranks.

Across the course of the next half-decade he played bass in what has been arguably the most highly regarded and commercially successful incarnation of the Melvins. Along the way releasing such critically acclaimed albums as Stoner Witch, Stag and Honky and touring with the likes of Kiss, Nine Inch Nails, Primus, White Zombie, Rush, Tool, Nirvana (including Nirvanas last ever gig in Munich). L7, Helmet and the Lollapalooza festival etc etc.

Late 1998 finally saw Mark leave the Melvins to venture out on his own, which brings us nicely along to the current album "The Silent Treatment". Engineered to incredible effect by Joe "Monster Magnet, Kyuss, L7..." Barresi, and performed (drums excepted), produced and written by the man himself, "The Silent Treatment" is truly the sound of a man exploring the sounds within his head. Half ZZ Top-esque southern blues n boogie, half freak beat psychedelia and a good dose of all points in between this is an album that's as impossible to fathom, as it is to leave alone. The scab that must be picked. So don't try to fight it just give in and treat yourself to an hour alone with one of the musical worlds most intriguing eccentrics...

IN SHORT
As musician:
Mark D Volcano
Melvins
Clown Alley

As producer:
Clown Alley - Circus of Chaos
Melvins - Gluey Porch Treatments, Ozma
Neurosis - Pain Of Mind
RKL - Rock n Roll Nightmare
Raw Power - Mine To Kill, Too Tough To Burn
Rhythm Pigs - Rhythm Pigs