Marc Ford
Encyclopedia
Marc Ford is an American blues-rock
guitarist
. He's a former lead guitarist of the rock and roll
jam band
The Black Crowes
and the leader of his own bands (Burning Tree
, Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club, Jefferson Steelflex, Fuzz Machine, Marc Ford & The Sinners).
outfit Burning Tree
in the late 1980s. A power trio featuring Ford on guitars and vocals, Mark Dutton on bass and Doni Gray on drums, Burning Tree released their self-titled debut album on Epic Records
in 1990. A commercial failure but a critical success, Burning Tree allowed Ford and Co. to tour extensively throughout most of 1990 and 1991. The band's career was cut short when Ford left to join The Black Crowes, whom Burning Tree had opened for on its first (and only) tour.
's classic hit, "Dreams". When The Black Crowes severed their relationship with their original guitarist Jeff Cease, Ford was asked to fill the vacancy, stepping into the lineup just in time for the band to record their 1992 sophomore album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
. The album would go on to reach Number 1 on the Billboard charts
and earn a double platinum certificate for sales. Ford would go on to perform on the next two Black Crowes releases, Amorica
(1994) and Three Snakes and One Charm
(1996) and is also credited for tracks from the band's two unreleased albums (1993's Tall and 1997's Band; later released together as The Lost Crowes
). His addition to the Black Crowes sound, which consisted primarily of slide guitar
and southern
twang
, helped define the band at the time. Ford's ability to adapt to core songwriter, Rich Robinson
's music and crunchy rhythm guitar
sound, solidified him and Robinson, as arguably, the preeminent guitar duo of the 1990s.
Ford was dismissed from the Black Crowes in the Fall of 1997, following the band's stint on the summer-long Furthur Festival tour, leaving fans wondering what direction the Crowes might be headed. Black Crowes leaders Chris and Rich Robinson cited Ford's excessive drug use as the reason for his firing, a reason that was confirmed by the guitarist entering a rehab facility soon after his dismissal.
Gov't Mule
before joining the Chris Stills Band for a summer tour. Upon the conclusion of that tour, Ford quit the Chris Stills Band to form Federale, a joint venture between himself and Luther Russell
(who were eventually joined by drummer Jimi Bott and bassist Freddy Trujillo). The band gained attention from major label Interscope Records
, and a record deal was almost immediately in the works. Federale toured briefly , opening for acts like Gov't Mule, but disbanded after Interscope Records was bought out by Universal Music Group
and their commercial viability was called into question.
During 2000, Ford joined the Pink Floyd
/blues
jam
/tribute band
Blue Floyd, which originally featured Allen Woody
(guitar, bass), Matt Abts (drums), Johnny Neel
(keyboards) and Berry Oakley Jr. (bass). Providing their own bluesy take on Pink Floyd standards, Blue Floyd was a great success and allowed Ford to remain the public eye while he contemplated his next move.
Ford left Blue Floyd at the close of 2001, opting to again to go solo. In January 2002, during one of his many regular appearances at the Malibu Inn in Malibu, CA, Ford welcomed Chris Robinson to the stage for a set of obscure-yet-memorable covers. This performance marked the first time Ford and Robinson had performed with one another since Ford's dismissal from The Black Crowes nearly five years prior. Robinson again joined Ford at the Malibu Inn two weeks later, confirming that they had made amends. Ford even co-wrote "Sunday Sound," a track featured on Robinson's solo debut, New Earth Mud
.
Following his acoustic-based stint at the Malibu Inn, Ford decided to form a full-fledged electric band. Featuring fellow Blue Floyd member Berry Oakley Jr. (bass) and newcomers Gootch (drums) and Chris Joyner (keys), Marc Ford and The Sinners hit the road in early 2002. During the tour, Ford would often take time out (with and without The Sinners) to record tracks for his highly anticipated debut effort entitled ' It's About Time', which was released on Anko Records in the fall of 2002. In 2003, Marc Ford and The Sinners gained some helpful attention from country-rock singer Lucinda Williams
, who became somewhat of an ambassador for the group. She secured the band a deal with Lost Highway Records and Ford began finalizing his material for the sessions.
The Lost Highway deal did not come to be, however, as the band's representative at the label was fired and things subsequently fell through. The Sinners still had an opening slot on Lucinda Williams' ongoing tour, a slot that was fairly open-ended. Without a label backing them up, however, it was almost financially impossible for The Sinners to hit the road. Instead, Ford accepted an invitation to join Ben Harper
and the Innocent Criminals, relegating The Sinners to an indefinite hiatus.
Ford toured with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals for the majority of 2003, from which their live EP Live at the Hollywood Bowl was drawn. Ford continued his association with Ben Harper and his band through the close of 2004, featuring on Harper's collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama
, There Will Be a Light
, when he was called to rejoin The Black Crowes for their "All Join Hands" reunion run.
Ford toured with The Black Crowes through the Summer of 2006 and despite some new songs being debuted during live performances, no new studio material was released. Although it was often rumored that the band was in the studio, this was never confirmed or denied by the band and to date no material has emerged from any sessions during that time period. On September 5, 2006, two days before he was due to hit the road for the fall leg of the ongoing Black Crowes reunion tour, Ford's lawyer notified the Black Crowes management via fax that, effective immediately, the guitarist would no longer be a member of the band. The following day, Ford put out a press release announcing that he had left the Crowes in order to protect his hard-fought sobriety and that he had recently produced albums for emerging artists The Pawnshop Kings and Ryan Bingham
.
Ford confirmed in a November 2006 interview with Hittin' the Note magazine that he is contractually prohibited from discussing his time in the Black Crowes during the period of 2005-2006. In a later interview with the magazine, Ford revealed that this contractual limitation was "in perpetuity."
was released March 13, 2007 on Shrapnel Records
subdivision Blues Bureau. Coinciding with the release of Weary and Wired was Ford's feature interview on the cover of jam-band oriented music magazine Hittin' the Note (Issue #52).
Throughout 2007 Marc Ford hit the road in support of his new album, with bandmates Mark "Muddy" Dutton, Elijah Ford and new drummer Dennis Morehouse in tow. The tour found the band performing across the United States, as well as select dates in Spain, Germany, Russia and at a handful of European festivals. During later dates on the tour, Ford unveiled as many as six new songs, hinting at another album on the way. The tour continued through the end of 2007, upon which Ford took a short break.
Early in 2008, Ford played sporadic shows on the West Coast, some with his Fuzz Machine band and some with a new venture, Jefferson Steelflex. In addition, Ford and son Elijah joined Ryan Bingham
for several dates on his tour, performing songs from the Ford-produced album Mescalito. Ford played slide guitar
on Bingham's appearances on The Tonight Show
and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
in the Summer, 2008.
Ford is currently producing The Steepwater Band's next studio effort, an LP tentatively titled "Grace & Melody" slated for release in late summer or early fall 2008, at Compound Studios in Signal Hill, CA (recording began the first week of May 2008). Marc first met the Chicago-based power trio
when their bands shared a festival bill in Bilbao, Spain (summer 2007). Ford joined the band on stage to jam on a pair of songs including a cover of Neil Young
's "Cortez the Killer
", following a sit-in by his bandmate/son Elijah. The Steepwater Band's subsequently provided support for Ford's headlining gig at the Double Door in Chicago on July 26, 2007; this time Jeff Massey and Tod Bowers (of The Steepwater Band's) joined Ford's band for their encore. Soon after Ford approached the trio about producing their next effort.
In early August 2008, it was announced (via his record label) that Ford's new record would be available online and in stores on September 23, 2008. Entitled Marc Ford and the Neptune Blues Club
, the record features entirely new material performed by the newest incarnation of Ford's band The Neptune Blues Club (himself on guitars and vocals, Mike Malone on keyboards and vocals, Anthony Arvizu on drums, Bill Barrett on harmonica and John Bazz on upright bass). This latest version of his band is a slight reconfiguration of the Jefferson Steelflex band, which performed earlier in the year prior to Ford's short stint with Ryan Bingham.
During the latter part of 2008, Marc Ford took up playing lead guitar at the Vineyard Community Church in Laguna Niguel, California. Via that gig, He produced and contributed guitar work to Vineyard Music artist Chris Lizotte's album, "Signal Hill Revival." The album saw release in early 2009. Ford's association with both the church and Lizotte continues to the present day.
In early 2009, it was rumored that The Neptune Blues Club was working on its second second record at Compound Studios. However, Ford's deal with Shrapnel Records' subsidiary Blues Bureau had expired after 2008's Neptune Blues Club and by mid-2009 it seemed that The Neptune Blues Club had expired with it. One sole track from the sessions, "Shalomar Dreams," was released via online distributor BandCamp.com and it remains the only material released from the second album sessions to date.
In May 2009, it was revealed that Ford would be joining the touring band for blues artist Booker T. Jones
(of Booker T. & the MG's fame). Ford has been confirmed as the guitarist for June through September 2009.
In the Fall of 2009, Ford launched a download site to showcase and facilitate the sale of his archive of soundboard recordings from his solo work. The shows released thus far focus entirely on The Neptune Blues Club. It is unclear if the site will cover other eras of Ford's solo career.
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He's a former lead guitarist of the rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
and the leader of his own bands (Burning Tree
Burning Tree
Burning Tree was an American hard rock/blues rock power trio from Los Angeles, California. The band performed from the late 1980s to 1990.The band was started in 1987, by the guitarist Marc Ford and drummer Doni Gray, and were soon joined by bassist Mark 'Muddy' Dutton to complete the three piece,...
, Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club, Jefferson Steelflex, Fuzz Machine, Marc Ford & The Sinners).
Burning Tree
Ford began his career with the blues-rockBlues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
outfit Burning Tree
Burning Tree
Burning Tree was an American hard rock/blues rock power trio from Los Angeles, California. The band performed from the late 1980s to 1990.The band was started in 1987, by the guitarist Marc Ford and drummer Doni Gray, and were soon joined by bassist Mark 'Muddy' Dutton to complete the three piece,...
in the late 1980s. A power trio featuring Ford on guitars and vocals, Mark Dutton on bass and Doni Gray on drums, Burning Tree released their self-titled debut album on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in 1990. A commercial failure but a critical success, Burning Tree allowed Ford and Co. to tour extensively throughout most of 1990 and 1991. The band's career was cut short when Ford left to join The Black Crowes, whom Burning Tree had opened for on its first (and only) tour.
The Black Crowes
In mid-1991, Marc Ford sat in a couple of times with The Black Crowes in-concert, performing The Allman Brothers BandThe Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
's classic hit, "Dreams". When The Black Crowes severed their relationship with their original guitarist Jeff Cease, Ford was asked to fill the vacancy, stepping into the lineup just in time for the band to record their 1992 sophomore album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is the second album by the American blues-rock group The Black Crowes, released on May 12, 1992. It was the first record by the band to feature Marc Ford on lead guitar, replacing Jeff Cease, who was fired the year before.It features four hit singles;...
. The album would go on to reach Number 1 on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
and earn a double platinum certificate for sales. Ford would go on to perform on the next two Black Crowes releases, Amorica
Amorica
Amorica is the third album by The Black Crowes. It was released in late 1994 on American Recordings and re-issued in the US and UK in 1998 with two bonus tracks. The album cover's depiction of pubic hair, from a 1976 United States Bicentennial issue of Hustler magazine, caused controversy...
(1994) and Three Snakes and One Charm
Three Snakes and One Charm
Three Snakes and One Charm is the fourth album by the American blues-rock band The Black Crowes. It was released on July 23, 1996.The album's cover logo resembles a 45 rpm record insert. The limited box set edition of seven 7" vinyl EPs included a custom adapter in shape of the logo...
(1996) and is also credited for tracks from the band's two unreleased albums (1993's Tall and 1997's Band; later released together as The Lost Crowes
The Lost Crowes
The Lost Crowes is a compilation album by American rock band The Black Crowes. The two-disc compilation comprises material composed and recorded during the Tall and Band sessions in 1993 and 1997, respectively...
). His addition to the Black Crowes sound, which consisted primarily of slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
and southern
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
twang
Twang
An old onomatopoeia for the sound of a vibrating string - for instance of a bow or a musical instrument, or the sound of a vibrating spring of an air gun....
, helped define the band at the time. Ford's ability to adapt to core songwriter, Rich Robinson
Rich Robinson
Rich Robinson is an American musician and founding member of the rock and roll band The Black Crowes. Along with older brother Chris Robinson, Rich formed the band in 1984 while the two were in high school...
's music and crunchy rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
sound, solidified him and Robinson, as arguably, the preeminent guitar duo of the 1990s.
Ford was dismissed from the Black Crowes in the Fall of 1997, following the band's stint on the summer-long Furthur Festival tour, leaving fans wondering what direction the Crowes might be headed. Black Crowes leaders Chris and Rich Robinson cited Ford's excessive drug use as the reason for his firing, a reason that was confirmed by the guitarist entering a rehab facility soon after his dismissal.
Solo and collaborations
After his departure from The Black Crowes, Ford formed a solo band, Marc Ford and the Uninvited, and continued to make live appearances in the United States for the rest of the year. In 1998, Ford sat in numerous times with renowned jam bandJam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
before joining the Chris Stills Band for a summer tour. Upon the conclusion of that tour, Ford quit the Chris Stills Band to form Federale, a joint venture between himself and Luther Russell
Luther Russell
Luther Russell is an American musician who has been recording since 1991, initially as lead singer/songwriter of his old band, The Freewheelers, who made two albums for DGC and American, respectively....
(who were eventually joined by drummer Jimi Bott and bassist Freddy Trujillo). The band gained attention from major label Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, and a record deal was almost immediately in the works. Federale toured briefly , opening for acts like Gov't Mule, but disbanded after Interscope Records was bought out by Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
and their commercial viability was called into question.
During 2000, Ford joined the Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
/blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
jam
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
/tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
Blue Floyd, which originally featured Allen Woody
Allen Woody
Douglas Allen Woody was bass guitarist best known for his tenure in the rock groups The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Artimus Pyle Band, The Peter Criss Band, Blue Floyd, and Montage.-Biography:...
(guitar, bass), Matt Abts (drums), Johnny Neel
Johnny Neel
Johnny Neel is an American vocalist, songwriter, and musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known for his songwriting, stage, and session work for the Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, and Dickey Betts....
(keyboards) and Berry Oakley Jr. (bass). Providing their own bluesy take on Pink Floyd standards, Blue Floyd was a great success and allowed Ford to remain the public eye while he contemplated his next move.
Ford left Blue Floyd at the close of 2001, opting to again to go solo. In January 2002, during one of his many regular appearances at the Malibu Inn in Malibu, CA, Ford welcomed Chris Robinson to the stage for a set of obscure-yet-memorable covers. This performance marked the first time Ford and Robinson had performed with one another since Ford's dismissal from The Black Crowes nearly five years prior. Robinson again joined Ford at the Malibu Inn two weeks later, confirming that they had made amends. Ford even co-wrote "Sunday Sound," a track featured on Robinson's solo debut, New Earth Mud
New Earth Mud
New Earth Mud is the solo debut album of Chris Robinson. It was released on 22 October 2002. Initial pressings came with a bonus DVD, including a documentary on the making of the disc plus several acoustic live performances.-Track listing:...
.
Following his acoustic-based stint at the Malibu Inn, Ford decided to form a full-fledged electric band. Featuring fellow Blue Floyd member Berry Oakley Jr. (bass) and newcomers Gootch (drums) and Chris Joyner (keys), Marc Ford and The Sinners hit the road in early 2002. During the tour, Ford would often take time out (with and without The Sinners) to record tracks for his highly anticipated debut effort entitled ' It's About Time', which was released on Anko Records in the fall of 2002. In 2003, Marc Ford and The Sinners gained some helpful attention from country-rock singer Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams is an American rock, folk, blues and country music singer and songwriter. She recorded her first albums in 1978 and 1980 in a traditional country and blues style and received very little attention from radio, the media, or the public. In 1988, she released her self-titled album,...
, who became somewhat of an ambassador for the group. She secured the band a deal with Lost Highway Records and Ford began finalizing his material for the sessions.
The Lost Highway deal did not come to be, however, as the band's representative at the label was fired and things subsequently fell through. The Sinners still had an opening slot on Lucinda Williams' ongoing tour, a slot that was fairly open-ended. Without a label backing them up, however, it was almost financially impossible for The Sinners to hit the road. Instead, Ford accepted an invitation to join Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and the Innocent Criminals, relegating The Sinners to an indefinite hiatus.
Ford toured with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals for the majority of 2003, from which their live EP Live at the Hollywood Bowl was drawn. Ford continued his association with Ben Harper and his band through the close of 2004, featuring on Harper's collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind at Talladega, Alabama in 1939. The three main vocalists of the group and their drummer/percussionist are all blind....
, There Will Be a Light
There Will Be a Light
There Will Be a Light is a gospel album by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama, released in 2004.This album would go on to pick up a Grammy award for Best Gospel album while Harper would also win a Grammy for the track, "11th Commandment."...
, when he was called to rejoin The Black Crowes for their "All Join Hands" reunion run.
Black Crowes reunion
After a three-year hiatus, the Robinson brothers reformed the Black Crowes in early 2005 for a series of gigs and (later) a new album. In March 2005, it was announced that Marc Ford would be returning to the lead guitar spot. Ford never severed his ties with Harper, however, appearing on his 2006 album Both Sides of the Gun and performing a handful of shows in support while an active member of The Black Crowes.Ford toured with The Black Crowes through the Summer of 2006 and despite some new songs being debuted during live performances, no new studio material was released. Although it was often rumored that the band was in the studio, this was never confirmed or denied by the band and to date no material has emerged from any sessions during that time period. On September 5, 2006, two days before he was due to hit the road for the fall leg of the ongoing Black Crowes reunion tour, Ford's lawyer notified the Black Crowes management via fax that, effective immediately, the guitarist would no longer be a member of the band. The following day, Ford put out a press release announcing that he had left the Crowes in order to protect his hard-fought sobriety and that he had recently produced albums for emerging artists The Pawnshop Kings and Ryan Bingham
Ryan Bingham
Ryan Bingham is an Americana singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, California.After garnering critical acclaim for his first two studio releases on Lost Highway Records, 2007's Mescalito and 2009's Roadhouse Sun, Ryan Bingham went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning producer T Bone...
.
Ford confirmed in a November 2006 interview with Hittin' the Note magazine that he is contractually prohibited from discussing his time in the Black Crowes during the period of 2005-2006. In a later interview with the magazine, Ford revealed that this contractual limitation was "in perpetuity."
Solo again
Shortly after his sudden departure from The Black Crowes, Ford reunited with his Burning Tree bandmates for three gigs at The King King in Hollywood, CA. Following the impromptu dates, Ford enlisted Doni Gray to be his bandmate, along with Muddy and his son Elijah Ford, for a new studio album he had begun preproduction on. Touted by the guitarist as a more guitar-based recording, Weary and WiredWeary and Wired
Weary and Wired is the second album by guitarist and singer-songwriter Marc Ford. The album was released on March 27, 2007 on the Blues Bureau International label.- Track listing :# Featherweight Dreamland - 3:17# Don't Come Around - 3:43...
was released March 13, 2007 on Shrapnel Records
Shrapnel Records
Shrapnel Records is a guitar-oriented record label started in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. Guitarist Marty Friedman , one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii...
subdivision Blues Bureau. Coinciding with the release of Weary and Wired was Ford's feature interview on the cover of jam-band oriented music magazine Hittin' the Note (Issue #52).
Throughout 2007 Marc Ford hit the road in support of his new album, with bandmates Mark "Muddy" Dutton, Elijah Ford and new drummer Dennis Morehouse in tow. The tour found the band performing across the United States, as well as select dates in Spain, Germany, Russia and at a handful of European festivals. During later dates on the tour, Ford unveiled as many as six new songs, hinting at another album on the way. The tour continued through the end of 2007, upon which Ford took a short break.
Early in 2008, Ford played sporadic shows on the West Coast, some with his Fuzz Machine band and some with a new venture, Jefferson Steelflex. In addition, Ford and son Elijah joined Ryan Bingham
Ryan Bingham
Ryan Bingham is an Americana singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, California.After garnering critical acclaim for his first two studio releases on Lost Highway Records, 2007's Mescalito and 2009's Roadhouse Sun, Ryan Bingham went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning producer T Bone...
for several dates on his tour, performing songs from the Ford-produced album Mescalito. Ford played slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
on Bingham's appearances on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
in the Summer, 2008.
Ford is currently producing The Steepwater Band's next studio effort, an LP tentatively titled "Grace & Melody" slated for release in late summer or early fall 2008, at Compound Studios in Signal Hill, CA (recording began the first week of May 2008). Marc first met the Chicago-based power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
when their bands shared a festival bill in Bilbao, Spain (summer 2007). Ford joined the band on stage to jam on a pair of songs including a cover of Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's "Cortez the Killer
Cortez the Killer
"Cortez the Killer" is a song by Neil Young from his 1975 album, Zuma. It was recorded with Young's band Crazy Horse and ranked #39 on Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos and #321 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time....
", following a sit-in by his bandmate/son Elijah. The Steepwater Band's subsequently provided support for Ford's headlining gig at the Double Door in Chicago on July 26, 2007; this time Jeff Massey and Tod Bowers (of The Steepwater Band's) joined Ford's band for their encore. Soon after Ford approached the trio about producing their next effort.
In early August 2008, it was announced (via his record label) that Ford's new record would be available online and in stores on September 23, 2008. Entitled Marc Ford and the Neptune Blues Club
Marc Ford and the Neptune Blues Club
Marc Ford and the Neptune Blues Club is the third album by guitarist/singer-songwriter Marc Ford...
, the record features entirely new material performed by the newest incarnation of Ford's band The Neptune Blues Club (himself on guitars and vocals, Mike Malone on keyboards and vocals, Anthony Arvizu on drums, Bill Barrett on harmonica and John Bazz on upright bass). This latest version of his band is a slight reconfiguration of the Jefferson Steelflex band, which performed earlier in the year prior to Ford's short stint with Ryan Bingham.
During the latter part of 2008, Marc Ford took up playing lead guitar at the Vineyard Community Church in Laguna Niguel, California. Via that gig, He produced and contributed guitar work to Vineyard Music artist Chris Lizotte's album, "Signal Hill Revival." The album saw release in early 2009. Ford's association with both the church and Lizotte continues to the present day.
In early 2009, it was rumored that The Neptune Blues Club was working on its second second record at Compound Studios. However, Ford's deal with Shrapnel Records' subsidiary Blues Bureau had expired after 2008's Neptune Blues Club and by mid-2009 it seemed that The Neptune Blues Club had expired with it. One sole track from the sessions, "Shalomar Dreams," was released via online distributor BandCamp.com and it remains the only material released from the second album sessions to date.
In May 2009, it was revealed that Ford would be joining the touring band for blues artist Booker T. Jones
Booker T. Jones
Booker T. Jones is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T. and the MGs. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime...
(of Booker T. & the MG's fame). Ford has been confirmed as the guitarist for June through September 2009.
In the Fall of 2009, Ford launched a download site to showcase and facilitate the sale of his archive of soundboard recordings from his solo work. The shows released thus far focus entirely on The Neptune Blues Club. It is unclear if the site will cover other eras of Ford's solo career.
Recent
In February 2010, Ford released his fourth studio album, Fuzz Machine, featuring material recorded while on a touring break in the Fall of 2007 with the band of the same name. The album's release coincided with Ford's mini-tour of Spain, on which he utilized The Steepwater Band as his backing band. The tour prompted the launch of a new website for Ford, the central theme of which is based around the Fuzz Machine recording. The album was exclusively available at all of Ford's performances on the mini-tour, followed by an online distribution in November.Discography
- Burning TreeBurning TreeBurning Tree was an American hard rock/blues rock power trio from Los Angeles, California. The band performed from the late 1980s to 1990.The band was started in 1987, by the guitarist Marc Ford and drummer Doni Gray, and were soon joined by bassist Mark 'Muddy' Dutton to complete the three piece,...
with Burning TreeBurning TreeBurning Tree was an American hard rock/blues rock power trio from Los Angeles, California. The band performed from the late 1980s to 1990.The band was started in 1987, by the guitarist Marc Ford and drummer Doni Gray, and were soon joined by bassist Mark 'Muddy' Dutton to complete the three piece,...
(Epic Records, 1990) - The Southern Harmony and Musical CompanionThe Southern Harmony and Musical CompanionThe Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is the second album by the American blues-rock group The Black Crowes, released on May 12, 1992. It was the first record by the band to feature Marc Ford on lead guitar, replacing Jeff Cease, who was fired the year before.It features four hit singles;...
with The Black CrowesThe Black CrowesThe Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
(American Recordings, 1992) - AmoricaAmoricaAmorica is the third album by The Black Crowes. It was released in late 1994 on American Recordings and re-issued in the US and UK in 1998 with two bonus tracks. The album cover's depiction of pubic hair, from a 1976 United States Bicentennial issue of Hustler magazine, caused controversy...
with The Black CrowesThe Black CrowesThe Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
(American Recordings, 1994) - Three Snakes and One CharmThree Snakes and One CharmThree Snakes and One Charm is the fourth album by the American blues-rock band The Black Crowes. It was released on July 23, 1996.The album's cover logo resembles a 45 rpm record insert. The limited box set edition of seven 7" vinyl EPs included a custom adapter in shape of the logo...
with The Black CrowesThe Black CrowesThe Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
(American Recordings, 1996) - It's About Time (Anko Records, 2003)
- The Lost CrowesThe Lost CrowesThe Lost Crowes is a compilation album by American rock band The Black Crowes. The two-disc compilation comprises material composed and recorded during the Tall and Band sessions in 1993 and 1997, respectively...
with The Black CrowesThe Black CrowesThe Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
(Rhino, 2006) containing the previously unreleased studio albums- Tall (1993)
- Band (1997)
- Weary and WiredWeary and WiredWeary and Wired is the second album by guitarist and singer-songwriter Marc Ford. The album was released on March 27, 2007 on the Blues Bureau International label.- Track listing :# Featherweight Dreamland - 3:17# Don't Come Around - 3:43...
(Blues Bureau, 2007) - Marc Ford and the Neptune Blues ClubMarc Ford and the Neptune Blues ClubMarc Ford and the Neptune Blues Club is the third album by guitarist/singer-songwriter Marc Ford...
(Blues Bureau, 2008) - Fuzz MachineFuzz MachineFuzz Machine is the fourth album by guitarist/singer-songwriter Marc Ford. The album was released initially at Marc Ford's live shows on his tour of Spain with The Steepwater Band in February 2010. Later, it saw an online-exclusive release via...
(BandCamp, 2010)
Live Recordings/Collaborations
- The Scarecrows Featuring Marc Ford with The Scarecrows (David Pedroza Music, 1988; released 2005)
- Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds with Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds (Geffen Records, 1992)
- The Very Crystal Speed Machine with Thee HypnoticsThee HypnoticsThee Hypnotics were a 1990s British garage/psychedelic/hard rock band. They were part of the early alternative rock scene, releasing two full-length albums and an EP from 1989-1990 before taking an enforced hiatus due to their drummer breaking his back in a car accident while they were on tour in...
(American Recordings, 1994) - Pacific Coast RamblerPacific Coast RamblerPacific Coast Rambler is the second album by the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers. As with their first release, it is a home-made recording with the focus on Mark Olson.Pacific Coast Rambler was re-released in 2001 by Koch Records.-Track listing:...
with The Original Harmony Ridge CreekdippersOriginal Harmony Ridge CreekdippersThe Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers are an Americana group formed by songwriter Mark Olson and his wife Victoria Williams after Olson left his previous band The Jayhawks...
(Creek Dippers, 1998) - Live... With a Little Help from Our Friends with Gov't MuleGov't MuleGov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
(Sanctuary Records, 1999) - Live at the Hollywood Bowl EP with Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and the Innocent Criminals (Virgin Records, 2003) - Live at the Hollywood Bowl (DVD) with Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and the Innocent Criminals (Virgin Records, 2003) - Lovers and Thieves with Scott Thomas (Halfpipe Records, 2003)
- Songs From the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison with Various Artists (Koch Records, 2003)
- There Will Be a LightThere Will Be a LightThere Will Be a Light is a gospel album by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama, released in 2004.This album would go on to pick up a Grammy award for Best Gospel album while Harper would also win a Grammy for the track, "11th Commandment."...
with Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and the Blind Boys of Alabama (Virgin Records, 2004) - Live at the Apollo (Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama)Live at the Apollo (Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama)Live at the Apollo was a concert by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama filmed at the Apollo Theater , on October 12, 2004 and released as a DVD and a CD.The DVD was released on March 29, 2005 and the CD on March 14, 2005....
with Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and the Blind Boys of Alabama (Virgin Records, 2004) - Live At The Apollo (DVD) with Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
and the Blind Boys Of Alabama (Virgin Records 2004) - Both Sides of the GunBoth Sides of the GunBoth Sides of the Gun, is a Ben Harper album released in 2006. Split into two discs, the title suggests at the two sides of Harper's musical nature. The first disc is made of mostly acoustic and string-driven songs hinted at on the last track of Harper's previous album Diamonds on the Inside...
with Ben HarperBen HarperBenjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
(Virgin Records, 2006) - Freak 'n' Roll...Into the Fog (CD/DVD) with The Black CrowesThe Black CrowesThe Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
(Eagle Vision, 2006) - Let's Rock with Ariel Belont (Dreamland Music, 2007)
- Locksley with PawnShop Kings (producer, Owen Brothers Publishing, 2007)
- Mescalito with Ryan BinghamRyan BinghamRyan Bingham is an Americana singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, California.After garnering critical acclaim for his first two studio releases on Lost Highway Records, 2007's Mescalito and 2009's Roadhouse Sun, Ryan Bingham went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning producer T Bone...
(producer, Lost Highway, 2007) - Grace and Melody with Steepwater Band (producer, Diamond Day Records, 2008)
- Road House Sun with Ryan BinghamRyan BinghamRyan Bingham is an Americana singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, California.After garnering critical acclaim for his first two studio releases on Lost Highway Records, 2007's Mescalito and 2009's Roadhouse Sun, Ryan Bingham went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning producer T Bone...
(producer, Lost Highway, 2009)