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{{short description|American musician (born 1972)}}
{{unreferenced|date=March 2007}}
{{Notability|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist 2
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
|Name = Mark Morton
{{Infobox musical artist
|Img = Lamb of God-0401-Mark Morton.jpg
| name = Mark Morton
|Img_capt = Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton at With Full Force 2007
| image = 2015 RiP Lamb of God - Mark Morton by 2eight - DSC5322.jpg
|Background = solo_singer
| caption = Morton performing at [[Rock im Park]] 2015
|Birth_name = Mark Duane Morton
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
|Genre = [[Groove Metal]]<br>[[Metalcore]]
| birth_name = Mark Duane Morton
|Associated_acts = [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|November 25, 1972}}
|Occupation = [[Songwriter]], [[Guitarist]]
| birth_place = [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], U.S.<ref name="allmusic" />
|Label =
| genre = {{flatlist|
|URL = [http://www.lamb-of-god.com]
* [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
* [[groove metal]]
* [[metalcore]]
* [[thrash metal]]
* [[hard rock]]
}}
}}
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active = 1989–present
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* songwriter
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Spinefarm Records|Spinefarm]]
* [[Rise Records|Rise]]
}}
| current_member_of = [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]]
| website = {{URL|lamb-of-god.com}}
}}

'''Mark Duane Morton''' (born November 25, 1972<ref name="allmusic" >{{Cite web |title=Mark Morton Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-morton-mn0001354858 |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>) is an American musician who is the [[lead guitar]]ist and one of the founding members of the [[groove metal]] band [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Demasi|first= Vincent |date=January 1, 2007 |title=All God's children: Lamb of God's Willie Adler and Mark Morton spread the gospel of American metal|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-155736590/all-god-children-lamb.html|website=Accessmylibrary.com}}</ref>

== Career ==
[[File:Mark Morton in Axis circa 1988.jpg|thumb|upright|Morton (right) with Axis, circa 1988]]
In December 2018, Morton announced his solo debut album, ''[[Anesthetic (album)|Anesthetic]]'' to be released on March 1, 2019, through [[Spinefarm Records]]. A single from the album titled "The Truth Is Dead" was released following the announcement and features Morton's [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]] bandmate [[Randy Blythe]] as well as [[Arch Enemy]] frontwoman [[Alissa White-Gluz]] on vocals.<ref name="morton debut">{{cite web |title=LAMB OF GOD Guitarist's 'Anesthetic' Solo Album To Feature Guest Appearances By LINKIN PARK, PAPA ROACH Members |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lamb-of-god-guitarists-anesthetic-solo-album-to-feature-guest-appearances-by-linkin-park-papa-roach-members/ |website=[[Blabbermouth]] |date=December 14, 2018 |accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref> The album also features a posthumous collaboration with late [[Linkin Park]] frontman [[Chester Bennington]],<ref name="chester1">{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Spencer |title=Lamb of God's Mark Morton to release album featuring Chester Bennington, Randy Blythe, Myles Kennedy, and more |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/12/lamb-of-god-mark-morton-album-chester-bennington-randy-blythe-myles-kennedy/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |date=December 14, 2018 |accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref> which was teased all the way back to April 2017.<ref name="chester2">{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Axl |title=Lamb of God's Mark Morton Collaborating with Linkin Park's Chester Bennington |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2017/04/12/lamb-of-gods-mark-morton-collaborating-with-linkin-parks-chester-bennington/ |website=[[MetalSucks]] |date=April 12, 2017 |accessdate=December 14, 2018}}</ref> The song titled "Cross Off" was released as the album's second single on January 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2018/12/18/lamb-of-gods-mark-morton-announces-solo-collaborative-album-anesthetic-featuring-a-stack-of-guests/|title=Lamb of God's Mark Morton announces solo collaborative album 'Anesthetic' featuring a STACK OF GUESTS!!!|last=brownypaul|date=December 18, 2018|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US|access-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>

Morton's memoir, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was released on June 25, 2024, which delves into his personal and professional life, including struggles with addiction, grief, and the music industry. Morton reveals that writing the memoir was a therapeutic process, allowing him to reflect on and make sense of his experiences.<ref>{{cite web |last=DiVita |first=Joe |title=Lamb of God's Mark Morton Talks Writing Memoir 'A Fun, Little, Mellow Book About Desolation' |url=https://loudwire.com/lamb-of-god-mark-morton-memoir-desolation-interview/ |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |date=June 27, 2024 |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref>

== Discography ==
=== Solo ===
==== Studio albums ====
*''[[Anesthetic (album)|Anesthetic]]'' (2019, [[Spinefarm Records]])


==== EPs ====
'''Mark Morton''' is one of the two guitarists of the American heavy metal band [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]].
*''Ether'' (2020, [[Rise Records]])


==Biography==
==== Singles ====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
Morton has a signature guitar deal with [[Jackson Guitars|Jackson]]. He is the most reserved, introverted member of the band, and admits that he doesn't feel comfortable in the public eye. Aside from guitar, he's an avid wine enthusiast, a [[cigar]] aficionado, as well as an amateur race car driver. In their DVD release, Killadelphia, he got into a fist fight in which he bested liquored-up vocalist [[Randy Blythe]].
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! colspan="4" scope="col" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US<br />Airplay<br /><ref name="BB Air">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chester-bennington/chart-history/rka/|title = Chester Bennington| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
!style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|[[Mainstream Rock (chart)|US<br />Main.]]<br /><ref name="BB Main">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mark-morton/chart-history/rtt/|title = Mark Morton| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
!style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|[[Hot Rock Songs|US<br />Rock]]<br /><ref name="BB HRS">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mark-morton/chart-history/ark/|title=Mark Morton|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
!style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|[[Billboard charts#Rock|US<br />Hard Rock<br />Digital]]<br /><ref name="BB Main" />
|-
! scope="row"| "The Truth Is Dead"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Randy Blythe]] and [[Alissa White-Gluz]])</span>
| 2018
| —
| —
| —
| —
|rowspan="3"| ''Anesthetic''
|-
! scope="row"| "Cross Off"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Chester Bennington]])</span>
|rowspan="2"| 2019
| 25
| 7
| 37
| 11
|-
! scope="row"| "Save Defiance"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring [[Myles Kennedy]])</span>
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
!scope="row"|"All I Had to Lose"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring Mark Morales)</span>
|2020
|—
|—
|—
|—
|''Ether''
|-
| colspan="7" style="font-size:8pt;" | "—" denotes a release that did not chart.
|}


=== With Burn the Priest ===
Mark Morton, [[Chris Adler]] and [[John Campbell]] formed Lamb of God in [[1990]] at [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] where they were floor mates. When Morton left to pursue a master's degree, the band found a new guitarist, [[Abe Spear]]. When the band decided to retire from it's purely instrumental sound, they added vocalist, [[Randy Blythe]]. At this point, they were known as [[Burn the Priest]]. Morton re-joined the group and Burn the Priest released a self titled full length album soon thereafter.


* Demo Tape (1995, independently released)
He cites [[Jeff Loomis]] as one of his inspirations. As Morton frequently uses [[pentatonic scale|pentatonic scales]] and [[harmonic minor scale]], it has been noted that he has a [[blues]] style to his music. He plays almost all of Lamb of God's guitar solos and forms most of the heavy groove rhythms. Co-guitarist, [[Willie Adler]], plays most of the fast picked and staccato riffs.
* Split with ZED (1997, [[Goatboy Records]])
* Split with Agents of Satan (1998, Deaf American Recordings)
* ''[[Sevens and More]]'' (1998, [[mp3.com]])
*''[[Burn the Priest (album)|Burn the Priest]]'' (1999, [[Legion Records]])
*''[[Legion: XX]]'' (2018, Epic / Nuclear Blast)


=== With Lamb of God ===
His gear consists of varius [[Framus]] Guitars, [[Gibson Les Paul]]s and as well as his own signature model, The [[Jackson Guitars|Jackson]] MM1 Dominion strung with GHS Boomer Strings 10-52 tuned to [[Drop D tuning|drop-D]], loaded with Seymour Duncan 59 pickups, although the band does endorse EMG's. Onstage, Mark uses two [[Mesa]] Mesa Mark IV [[Instrument amplifier |amplifiers]] with nine Mesa 4X12 cabinets (only two of the cabinets actually have speakers in them, the other seven are for show). His rack gear includes a [[Sennheiser]] wireless system, a DBX [[compressor]] which he uses as a [[noise gate]], and a splitter box which divides his amplifier [[channel]]s to the cabinets. Mark only uses a few pedals on stage, Original [[Crybaby]] Wah Pedal, MxR [[Eddie Van Halen]] Phaser which "makes his solo's sear", MxR Overdrive pedal, and a boss tuning pedal.
*''[[New American Gospel]]'' (2000, Prosthetic Records) (credited under his middle name, Duane)
*''[[As the Palaces Burn]]'' (2003, Prosthetic Records)
*''[[Ashes of the Wake]]'' (2004, Epic Records)
*''[[Killadelphia (album)|Killadelphia]]'' (2005, Epic Records)
*''[[Sacrament (album)|Sacrament]]'' (2006, Epic Records)
*''[[Wrath (Lamb of God album)|Wrath]]'' (2009, Roadrunner Records/Epic Records)
*''[[Resolution (Lamb of God album)|Resolution]]'' (2012, Roadrunner Records/Epic Records)
*''[[VII: Sturm und Drang]]'' (2015, Epic Records/Nuclear Blast Records)
*''[[Lamb of God (album)|Lamb of God]]'' (2020, Epic Records/Nuclear Blast Records)
*''[[Omens (Lamb of God album)|Omens]]'' (2022, Nuclear Blast Records)


== References ==
He has also been credited to some of Lamb of God's albums, specifically [[New American Gospel]] under his middle name only, ''Duane''.
{{Reflist}}


=== Further reading ===
Morton is known for writing Lamb of God's more over-the-top songs. These include "Redneck", "Descending", "Vigil", and "Remorse is For the Dead".
*[https://www.loudersound.com/news/lamb-of-god-s-mark-morton-reveals-pain-behind-embers Lamb Of God's Mark Morton reveals pain behind Embers]
*[https://www.fuse.tv/2015/12/lamb-of-god-interview-mark-morton LAMB OF GOD'S MARK MORTON TALKS GRAMMY NOM & TOURING AFTER PARIS ATTACKS: INTERVIEW]
*[https://www.jacksonguitars.com/features/mark-morton Mark Morton] at [[Jackson Guitars]]


== External links ==
Jackson Guitars currently endorses Morton.
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{allMusic}}


{{Lamb of God}}
All info found on www.lamb-of-god.com, and 2005 release Killadelphia dvd.


{{Authority control}}
{{LambOfGod}}


[[Category:Living people|Morton, Mark]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morton, Mark}}
[[Category:Heavy metal guitarists|Morton, Mark]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Music of Richmond, Virginia|Morton, Mark]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Richmond, Virginia]]
[[Category:Lamb of God (band) members]]
[[Category:Virginia Commonwealth University alumni]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:1972 births]]

Latest revision as of 20:09, 12 December 2024

Mark Morton
Morton performing at Rock im Park 2015
Morton performing at Rock im Park 2015
Background information
Birth nameMark Duane Morton
Born (1972-11-25) November 25, 1972 (age 52)
Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1989–present
Labels
Member ofLamb of God
Websitelamb-of-god.com

Mark Duane Morton (born November 25, 1972[1]) is an American musician who is the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the groove metal band Lamb of God.[2]

Career

[edit]
Morton (right) with Axis, circa 1988

In December 2018, Morton announced his solo debut album, Anesthetic to be released on March 1, 2019, through Spinefarm Records. A single from the album titled "The Truth Is Dead" was released following the announcement and features Morton's Lamb of God bandmate Randy Blythe as well as Arch Enemy frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz on vocals.[3] The album also features a posthumous collaboration with late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington,[4] which was teased all the way back to April 2017.[5] The song titled "Cross Off" was released as the album's second single on January 8, 2019.[6]

Morton's memoir, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was released on June 25, 2024, which delves into his personal and professional life, including struggles with addiction, grief, and the music industry. Morton reveals that writing the memoir was a therapeutic process, allowing him to reflect on and make sense of his experiences.[7]

Discography

[edit]

Solo

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]

EPs

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Airplay
[8] 		US
Main.
[9] 		US
Rock
[10] 		US
Hard Rock
Digital
[9]
"The Truth Is Dead"
(featuring Randy Blythe and Alissa White-Gluz) 		2018 — — — — Anesthetic
"Cross Off"
(featuring Chester Bennington) 		2019 25 7 37 11
"Save Defiance"
(featuring Myles Kennedy) 		— — — —
"All I Had to Lose"
(featuring Mark Morales) 		2020 — — — — Ether
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

With Burn the Priest

[edit]

With Lamb of God

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Mark Morton Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Demasi, Vincent (January 1, 2007). "All God's children: Lamb of God's Willie Adler and Mark Morton spread the gospel of American metal". Accessmylibrary.com.
  3. ^ "LAMB OF GOD Guitarist's 'Anesthetic' Solo Album To Feature Guest Appearances By LINKIN PARK, PAPA ROACH Members". Blabbermouth. December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  4. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (December 14, 2018). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton to release album featuring Chester Bennington, Randy Blythe, Myles Kennedy, and more". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  5. ^ Rosenberg, Axl (April 12, 2017). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Collaborating with Linkin Park's Chester Bennington". MetalSucks. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  6. ^ brownypaul (December 18, 2018). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton announces solo collaborative album 'Anesthetic' featuring a STACK OF GUESTS!!!". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  7. ^ DiVita, Joe (June 27, 2024). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Talks Writing Memoir 'A Fun, Little, Mellow Book About Desolation'". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "Chester Bennington". Billboard.
  9. ^ a b "Mark Morton". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Mark Morton". Billboard.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
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