Mark Thwaite
Encyclopedia
Mark Gemini Thwaite 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 guest appearances with Al Jourgensen
, Revolting Cocks
, Gary Numan
, Roger Daltrey
, P.J. Harvey, Grand Theft Audio, Alanis Morissette
, German band Dead Guitars
and Combichrist
.
. Thwaite later formed Lichfield UK based rock band Monteagle with local musicians including Dave Pearson, later known as Computerchemist
. Thwaite spent part of 1985 living in Toronto
, Canada, joining Gothic rock
band National Velvet
, before returning to the UK in 1986. After forming a few bands in the Birmingham
area, he relocated to London
in 1989.
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. 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, 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.
. During this period, Thwaite also collaborated with Roger Daltrey
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
Thwaite featured on two studio albums with The Mission, Neverland and Blue
, and a compilation album, Sum and Substance, before they disbanded in 1996.
's live band for his upcoming world tour to promote studio album Angels with Dirty Faces
. Thwaite continued to work with Tricky, contributing to three studio albums and performing with Tricky and P.J. Harvey on the David Letterman
show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
. He also performed with Tricky
on UK show Later With Jools Holland
. He also performed guitar on Tricky
's remix of MethodMan's Judgement Day single.
(2001).
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 Keidis and John Frusciante
.
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
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).
, and the EP Axiomatic, co-produced by John Fryer
, the band were later dropped by Universal during a restructure, and Thwaite relocated to the USA in 2005.
vocalist Peter Murphy
to promote Murphy's album Unshattered
. 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, NY, which is followed by a week of recording sessions in Woodstock, NY featuring session
drummer Josh Freese
, who is 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 on some songs.
with Killing Joke
/ Ministry
bassist Paul Raven and Warrior Soul
vocalist Kory Clarke. 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.<
In 2007, Mark worked with Peter Murphy
on new songs and performed shows in Portugal and Spain with Murphy in late 2007, followed by a major Retrospective US tour in 2008. Thwaite's ongoing collaboration with Tricky also continued, 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
, and playing live with them, first to promote the GIAB album and then for their four-show "farewell" event at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London.
In 2008, Thwaite contributed lead guitar to Pristine, the opening track from German based band Dead Guitars
' on their 2008 album Flags.
In October 2008, Thwaite joined Peter Murphy
to begin recording material for a new album, expected to be released in 2010. Also in 2008, Thwaite joined Murphy's touring band for their Retrospective South American tour, continuing with the band for their 2009 Secret Cover tour of the US and Europe.
of Ministry
and Revolting Cocks
on It's Always Christmas Time, 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. The Mission released the live video of the Farewell shows recorded in 2008 on the Final ChapterDVD box set, which reached No.6 in the UK Music DVD chart.
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. He also played on Voices in My Head, a song by Jourgensen 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
.
SPV records released Dum Dum Bullet by The Mission
in June 2010, a companion CD to The Mission's swansong album God Is A Bullet released in 2007. The compilation features various B-sides, outtakes and remixes. Thwaite performs as guitarist and co-writer on several songs. The CD also includes Thwaite’s seven-and-a-half-minute remix of Dumb (Dambusters 617 Squadron mix); Thwaite states that he "deconstructed the studio version and recreated a dancefloor monster with new sounds, loops and additional guitars".
, 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.
Thwaite joined US electro-punk band Imperative Reaction
onstage as guitarist at Das Bunker club in Los Angeles
on New Year's Eve December 2010 to perform As We Fall.
January 2011 saw the commercial release of the 'Bastard Art' documentary on DVD, about the musical career of Sex Gang Children
founder Andi SexGang
, including an interview with Mark Gemini Thwaite (who previously played with former SGC bassist Dave Roberts in offshoot band The Children).
In March 2011 Mark Thwaite joined Peter Murphy and band for a 29 date US tour promoting the forthcoming studio album Ninth set for release on 7 June, also featuring performances and a joint composition by Murphy/Thwaite. A digital EP featuring I Spit Roses and The Prince & Old Lady Shade (both featuring Thwaite on guitar) was released on iTunes and Amazon on 22 March.
Thwaite also contributed a remix for The Bitter Years for the Aesthetic Perfection
CD The Devil's in the Details remix EP, released in April 2011 as a strictly limited edition CD.
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
, Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
, New Disease, Spear of Destiny
Spear of Destiny (band)
Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1982 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.-Biography:...
, Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of: guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers , saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The...
, Mob Research
Mob Research
Mob Research is an American based rock band, with a multi national line-up including Killing Joke / Ministry bassist Paul Raven, The Mission guitarist Mark Thwaite, Peter Murphy) drummer Nick Lucero and Warrior Soul vocalist Kory Clarke.-History:...
(with Paul Raven of Killing Joke), and Canadian band National Velvet
National Velvet (band)
National Velvet were a Canadian goth rock band in the 1980s and 1990s. The band took its name from the 1944 Elizabeth Taylor movie National Velvet....
plus various guest appearances with Al Jourgensen
Al Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
, Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
, Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
, Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, P.J. Harvey, Grand Theft Audio, Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, German band Dead Guitars
Dead Guitars
In 2003 Pete Brough, one of the founder-members of German band , and Ralf Aussem, guitarist from the original 12DD cast, founder and mastermind behind Sun , joined forces with vocalist Carlo van Putten and collectively gave life to Dead Guitars....
and Combichrist
CombiChrist
Combichrist is a Norwegian Aggrotech band formed in 2003 by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua based in Atlanta.-Formation:The first material LaPlegua wrote was a few powernoise/techno crossover tracks under the moniker DRIVE...
.
Early years
Thwaite's first school band formed in 1980 included fellow school-mate Steve Ellett on drums (later known as Steve Danger from British metal band WolfsbaneWolfsbane (band)
Wolfsbane are an English heavy metal band. Formed in 1984, the band remained active until lead singer Blaze Bayley went on to join Iron Maiden in 1994. After a couple of reunion shows in 2007 and 2009, Wolfsbane officially reunited in June 2010...
. Thwaite later formed Lichfield UK based rock band Monteagle with local musicians including Dave Pearson, later known as Computerchemist
Computerchemist
computerchemist is the ongoing solo project of Dave Pearson, , an English musician who lives in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, after moving from the UK in 2008.-Biography:...
. Thwaite spent part of 1985 living in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada, joining Gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band National Velvet
National Velvet (band)
National Velvet were a Canadian goth rock band in the 1980s and 1990s. The band took its name from the 1944 Elizabeth Taylor movie National Velvet....
, before returning to the UK in 1986. After forming a few bands in the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
area, he relocated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1989.
In 1989 Thwaite joined London-based Gothic group The Children (featuring Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts (musician)
Dave Roberts was the bass player of the band Sex Gang Children who were a prominent act in the gothic rock movement of the 1980s, recording under the name ‘Dave Sex Gang’. He left the band in 1983 after their only album Song and Legend, setting up the group Carcrash International with various...
of Sex Gang Children
Sex Gang Children
The Sex Gang Children are a positive punk group that formed in the early 1980s in England. Although the original group only released one official studio album, they remain one of the more well-known bands out of the early Batcave scene and have reformed for new albums and touring various times...
on vocals), and performed on the 12" single Never Get Out Alive released in 1990. During this time Thwaite was introduced to Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon is an English musician.-Musical career:Brandon's music career started in 1978, in Clapham, South London, with the formation of punk group The Pack, in which he was the singer/songwriter....
, founder member and vocalist for Spear of Destiny
Spear of Destiny (band)
Spear of Destiny is a British rock band, established in 1982 by singer and songwriter Kirk Brandon and bassist Stan Stammers. It has had an ever-changing line-up through the years.-Biography:...
and Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of: guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers , saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The...
. This began a 3-year collaboration between Thwaite and Brandon.
Thwaite performed live with Spear of Destiny in 1990, and replaced original Theatre of Hate guitarist Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
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
Sod's Law (album)
Sod's Law is the sixth studio album by Spear of Destiny, released by Burning Rome Records in 1992 and subsequently re-issued by Snapper Music in 1997.-Track listing :All songs written by Kirk Brandon....
and the subsequent tour.
The Mission, 1992-1996
In 1992, Thwaite joined the recently-reformed UK Gothic rock band The MissionThe Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
. During this period, Thwaite also collaborated with Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
on a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio play titled A Fake’s Progress, based on the life of Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
's manager Justin de Villeneuve
Justin de Villeneuve
Justin de Villeneuve was Twiggy's manager from 1966-1973. He was born in Edmonton, London as Nigel John Davies.Justin de Villeneuve worked as a Mayfair hairdresser before meeting Twiggy as a teenager. They became a couple, and as her career as a model took off, he became her manager and helped to...
. Thwaite also contributed guitars to a remix for Situation 2 release Salvation (SIT 98) by UK band Terminal Power Company
Terminal Power Company
Terminal Power Company was a British industrial-alternative band.-History:Formed in 1989 in Birmingham, UK, by Paul Aspel and John Roome, designed specifically to be a "cyberpunk band", the band cited many diverse visual influences on their music. Amongst these were William Gibson, John Shirley -...
Thwaite featured on two studio albums with The Mission, Neverland and Blue
Blue (The Mission album)
Blue is a studio album by The Mission. It was released in 1996 and was their last album of the decade. It reached #72 on the UK Albums Chart and #11 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.-Track listing:# "Coming Home"# "Get Back to You"...
, and a compilation album, Sum and Substance, before they disbanded in 1996.
Tricky
In 1998, Thwaite was invited to join TrickyTricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
's live band for his upcoming world tour to promote studio album Angels with Dirty Faces
Angels With Dirty Faces (Tricky album)
Angels with Dirty Faces is the fourth album of Bristol, England rapper/producer Tricky, released in 1998. The title is taken from the film of the same name....
. Thwaite continued to work with Tricky, contributing to three studio albums and performing with Tricky and P.J. Harvey on the David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
. He also performed with Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
on UK show Later With Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
. He also performed guitar on Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
's remix of MethodMan's Judgement Day single.
The Mission, 1999 and onwards
The Mission re-formed once again in 1999, with Thwaite rejoining the band to tour the USA and Europe. 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, AuraAura (The Mission album)
Aura is the ninth studio album by The Mission. Released in 2001, it was their first studio album since Blue in 1996. The album was also released as a slipcased limited edition 2CD set...
(2001).
During the same period, Thwaite also recorded guitars for Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
's Mission Accomplished EP - his first for Epitaph records, released in 2000, followed by Blowback
Blowback (album)
Blowback is the sixth album by Tricky, released in 2001. Like Nearly God, Blowback contains several collaborations, but the album's sound is much brighter and more relaxed by comparison. Tricky himself said that he wanted to get airplay with this album, while most of his earlier albums were made to...
, an album which included collaborations between Thwaite and Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, Flea
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...
, Anthony Keidis and John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
.
Owing to touring commitments with Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Thwaite was unable to play on The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
's next tour, and officially left the band in September 2001. He toured the United States with Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, as special guests of rock band Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
in 2001
While continuing to work with Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Thwaite also collaborated with Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
on heavy industrial metal
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
reworkings of Are 'Friends' Electric?
Are 'Friends' Electric?
"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a 1979 song written by Gary Numan, released under the name of his then-band Tubeway Army as a single and on the album Replicas...
and This Wreckage for Numan's RIP single (released in 2002) and Hybrid
Hybrid (Gary Numan album)
Hybrid is a remix album, consisting of songs by Gary Numan remixed by other artists, plus three new tracks created specifically for the album. Hybrid was recorded in autumn of 2002 and released in March 2003 with a collaboration from various industrial rock/heavy rock musicians such as Rico,...
album (2003).
New Disease
In 2003 Thwaite formed UK based rock band New Disease. After signing to Universal records and releasing the single Like Rain produced by Canadian producer David BottrillDavid Bottrill
David Bottrill is a Canadian record producer. He has won three Grammys. Currently, he owns Rattlebox Studios in Toronto, Ontario with producer Brian Moncarz...
, and the EP Axiomatic, co-produced by John Fryer
John Fryer (music)
John Fryer is an English record producer. Best known for his production work, he also branched out as a musician as one of only two constant members of This Mortal Coil , providing keyboards, strings and synthesizer sequencing for the band, and its offshoot, The Hope Blister.- Career :Starting out...
, the band were later dropped by Universal during a restructure, and Thwaite relocated to the USA in 2005.
Peter Murphy
Thwaite toured the USA and Europe in summer 2005 with BauhausBauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
vocalist Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
to promote Murphy's album Unshattered
Unshattered
Unshattered is an album by the British singer Peter Murphy. It was released on October 5, 2004.-Track listing:# "Idle Flow" – 5:18# "Kiss Myself" – 4:19# "Piece of You" – 5:19# "Face the Moon" – 5:24# "Emergency Unit" – 4:05...
. During this period, Wayne Hussey
Wayne Hussey
Wayne Hussey is a British musician, best known as lead singer of The Mission and guitarist with The Sisters of Mercy....
invited Thwaite to rejoin The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
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
Sarah Fimm
Sarah Fimm is an American singer-songwriter, residing in Woodstock, NY. She toured and collaborated with iconic singer Peter Murphy , and supported Delerium in 2008. Her music has been featured on MTV's The Real World and Road Rules, Mark Hamill’s Comic Book: The Movie, D.E.B.S...
for a concert supporting British goth pioneers Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
in Buffalo, NY, which is followed by a week of recording sessions in Woodstock, NY featuring session
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
drummer Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
, who is best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
and Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
plus Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
on bass, known for his work with King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
and Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
also makes a guest appearance on vocals on some songs.
Mob Research
In March 2007 Thwaite formed a studio-based project Mob ResearchMob Research
Mob Research is an American based rock band, with a multi national line-up including Killing Joke / Ministry bassist Paul Raven, The Mission guitarist Mark Thwaite, Peter Murphy) drummer Nick Lucero and Warrior Soul vocalist Kory Clarke.-History:...
with Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
/ Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
bassist Paul Raven and Warrior Soul
Warrior Soul
Warrior Soul is an American hard rock band formed by lead singer Kory Clarke, guitarist Cliff St. Croix , later replaced by John Ricco, later replaced by Alex, a Scotsman living in New York City , and guitarist Chris Moffett. Then Peter Jay Tsudis...
vocalist Kory Clarke. 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.<
In 2007, Mark worked with Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
on new songs and performed shows in Portugal and Spain with Murphy in late 2007, followed by a major Retrospective US tour in 2008. Thwaite's ongoing collaboration with Tricky also continued, with contributions to 2008 studio album Knowle West Boy
Knowle West Boy
Knowle West Boy is the eighth studio album by rapper and producer Tricky, released by Domino Records on 7 July 2008 in Europe, and 9 September 2008 in North America.-Track listing:# "Puppy Toy" – 3:34...
: he also continued as a member of The Mission, contributing to their 2007 album God is a Bullet
God Is a Bullet
God Is a Bullet is the tenth and final studio album by The Mission. It was released in 2007.-Track listing:# "Still Deep Waters" - 3:10# "Keep It in the Family" - 3:59# "Belladonna" - 3:34# "To Love & to Kill With the Very Same Hand" - 4:27...
, and playing live with them, first to promote the GIAB album and then for their four-show "farewell" event at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London.
In 2008, Thwaite contributed lead guitar to Pristine, the opening track from German based band Dead Guitars
Dead Guitars
In 2003 Pete Brough, one of the founder-members of German band , and Ralf Aussem, guitarist from the original 12DD cast, founder and mastermind behind Sun , joined forces with vocalist Carlo van Putten and collectively gave life to Dead Guitars....
' on their 2008 album Flags.
In October 2008, Thwaite joined Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
to begin recording material for a new album, expected to be released in 2010. Also in 2008, Thwaite joined Murphy's touring band for their Retrospective South American tour, continuing with the band for their 2009 Secret Cover tour of the US and Europe.
Al Jourgensen
During 2009, Thwaite collaborated with Al JourgensenAl Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
of Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
and Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
on It's Always Christmas Time, a Christmas-themed single released in November 2009. In December 2009 Thwaite joined Jourgensen in his recording studio in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
to write and record material for a forthcoming solo project by Jourgensen. The Mission released the live video of the Farewell shows recorded in 2008 on the Final ChapterDVD box set, which reached No.6 in the UK Music DVD chart.
Thwaite continued to work with Jourgensen, playing lead guitar on the track Filthy Senoritas, from the Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
2010 album Got Cock?
Got Cock?
-RevCo:*Al Jourgensen - keyboards, programming, background vocals, production*Josh Bradford - vocals*Sin Quirin - guitars, bass, keyboards*Clayton Worbeck - programming, audio remix -Additional personnel:*Sammy DAmbruoso - drum programming...
released in April 2010. He also played on Voices in My Head, a song by Jourgensen 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
Mike Scaccia
Michael "Mike" Scaccia is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist for the metal bands Ministry, Rigor Mortis, and The Revolting Cocks.- Professional life :...
and Tony Campos of Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
.
SPV records released Dum Dum Bullet by The Mission
The Mission (band)
The Mission are a gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly dissolved rock band The Sisters of Mercy.The band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams , soon adding...
in June 2010, a companion CD to The Mission's swansong album God Is A Bullet released in 2007. The compilation features various B-sides, outtakes and remixes. Thwaite performs as guitarist and co-writer on several songs. The CD also includes Thwaite’s seven-and-a-half-minute remix of Dumb (Dambusters 617 Squadron mix); Thwaite states that he "deconstructed the studio version and recreated a dancefloor monster with new sounds, loops and additional guitars".
Present
In summer 2010 Thwaite resumed touring with Peter MurphyPeter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
, undertaking the Dirty Dirt European tour and some dates in Canada. During the tour Thwaite joined frontman Andy LaPlegua
Andy LaPlegua
Andy LaPleguaa, born September 15, 1975 in Fredrikstad, Norway, is a musician originally known for being founder and lead vocalist of the futurepop band Icon of Coil...
and his band Combichrist
CombiChrist
Combichrist is a Norwegian Aggrotech band formed in 2003 by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua based in Atlanta.-Formation:The first material LaPlegua wrote was a few powernoise/techno crossover tracks under the moniker DRIVE...
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.
Thwaite joined US electro-punk band Imperative Reaction
Imperative Reaction
Imperative Reaction is an electro-industrial band founded in 1996 by Ted Phelps and David Andrecht from the remains of the band D.N.A.-History:...
onstage as guitarist at Das Bunker club in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on New Year's Eve December 2010 to perform As We Fall.
January 2011 saw the commercial release of the 'Bastard Art' documentary on DVD, about the musical career of Sex Gang Children
Sex Gang Children
The Sex Gang Children are a positive punk group that formed in the early 1980s in England. Although the original group only released one official studio album, they remain one of the more well-known bands out of the early Batcave scene and have reformed for new albums and touring various times...
founder Andi SexGang
Andi Sexgang
Andi Sexgang was vocalist of the band Sex Gang Children who were a prominent act in the Gothic rock movement of the 1980s, his band played once at the infamous Batcave club...
, including an interview with Mark Gemini Thwaite (who previously played with former SGC bassist Dave Roberts in offshoot band The Children).
In March 2011 Mark Thwaite joined Peter Murphy and band for a 29 date US tour promoting the forthcoming studio album Ninth set for release on 7 June, also featuring performances and a joint composition by Murphy/Thwaite. A digital EP featuring I Spit Roses and The Prince & Old Lady Shade (both featuring Thwaite on guitar) was released on iTunes and Amazon on 22 March.
Thwaite also contributed a remix for The Bitter Years for the Aesthetic Perfection
Aesthetic Perfection
Aesthetic Perfection is an American electronic-industrial musical project created by Daniel Graves in 2000. The style is reminiscent of many aggrotech, industrial, dance music bands, while also leaning towards other styles such as alternative music....
CD The Devil's in the Details remix EP, released in April 2011 as a strictly limited edition CD.
Discography
External links
- markthwaite.com official site (retrieved 25 April 2010)
- The Mission UK official site (retrieved 25 April 2010)
- http://www.petermurphy.info Peter Murphy official site