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Mark Morton (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mark Duane Morton is the lead guitarist of the American groove metal band Lamb Of God
.
. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy
fame. Morton played rhythm guitar. The band became a popular local act, winning the local battle of the bands competition in 1988.
met in 1990 at Virginia Commonwealth University
where they were floor mates. Several years later, they formed a band under the name "Burn the Priest". Morton soon left to pursue a master's degree, and the band added guitarist,Keven Maglasang and vocalist, Randy Blythe
. After a couple years apart, Morton rejoined the group and Burn the Priest released a self titled full length album. He was credited as "Duane" on the album "New American Gospel" Lamb Of God's first major release.
Morton frequently utilizes pentatonic scale
s and harmonic minor scales, and it has been noted that he has a blues
style to his music. He composes and plays almost all of Lamb of God's guitar solos and forms many of the heavy groove rhythms.
His performing gear consists mostly of various Jackson
guitars, including a Rhoads style and Swee-Tone archtop (both seen in the Killadelphia
DVD) and, most often, his own signature model, the Jackson Dominion strung with GHS Boomer Strings 10-46 tuned to drop-D
, loaded with a Seymour Duncan Invader Pickup in the bridge and a Duncan Jazz in the neck. Onstage, Mark uses two Dual Mesa Boogie Mark V heads amplifiers
with Mesa 4X12 cabinets His rack gear includes a Sennheiser
wireless system, a DBX 266XL compressor
/ noise gate
, and a splitter box. Mark only uses a few pedals on stage, Original Cry Baby
Wah Pedal, MxR Eddie Van Halen
Phaser which "makes his solos sear", MxR Overdrive pedal, and a Boss tuning pedal. Recently, it has been rumored that a signature Crybaby might be in production.
In the liner notes to the album New American Gospel
, he is credited under his middle name "Duane".
Morton is known for writing some of Lamb of God's less conventional songs. These include, "Descending", "Vigil", and "Remorse Is for the Dead". In the DVD documenting the making of Sacrament, he made the point that he likes to "toss in the wildcard, the oddball, 'cause for every three you toss in, one of 'em winds up being real special because it's that different." Morton has also written some of the band's more traditional metal songs, such as, "Now You've Got Something to Die For", "Redneck" and "Walk With Me in Hell".
In September 2011, Morton revealed plans of collaborating with DevilDriver
frontman Dez Fafara
on a new project. According to Morton, Chicago doom legends Trouble
are a big influence on the material. He says 14 "killer tunes" have been written so far, with Morton stating he is "not sure when it'll come to light."
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
.
Before Lamb of God
Morton grew up near Williamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy
Alabama Thunderpussy
Alabama Thunderpussy was a Stoner metal band from Richmond, Virginia. It was founded by Bryan Cox, Erik Larson and Asechiah Bogdan in 1996.-History:...
fame. Morton played rhythm guitar. The band became a popular local act, winning the local battle of the bands competition in 1988.
Biography
Mark Morton, Chris Adler and John CampbellJohn Campbell (bassist)
John Steven Campbell is the bassist and a founding member of the groove metal band Lamb Of God.Unlike many bass players who will use four and five string basses, Campbell at one time played a self modified three-stringed Guild Pilot bass, excluding the higher G-string...
met in 1990 at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
where they were floor mates. Several years later, they formed a band under the name "Burn the Priest". Morton soon left to pursue a master's degree, and the band added guitarist,Keven Maglasang and vocalist, Randy Blythe
Randy Blythe
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist of American groove metal band Lamb Of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts. He is known as D. Randall Blythe on Lamb of God's albums....
. After a couple years apart, Morton rejoined the group and Burn the Priest released a self titled full length album. He was credited as "Duane" on the album "New American Gospel" Lamb Of God's first major release.
Morton frequently utilizes pentatonic scale
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
s and harmonic minor scales, and it has been noted that he has a 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...
style to his music. He composes and plays almost all of Lamb of God's guitar solos and forms many of the heavy groove rhythms.
Jackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
guitars, including a Rhoads style and Swee-Tone archtop (both seen in the Killadelphia
Killadelphia (DVD)
Killadelphia is a 2005 live DVD from US metal band Lamb of God, released on Epic Records and shot and directed by Doug Spangenberg. It consists of footage filmed during the band's two gigs at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia on October 16 and 17 of 2004, hence the pun title of the DVD...
DVD) and, most often, his own signature model, the Jackson Dominion strung with GHS Boomer Strings 10-46 tuned to drop-D
Drop D tuning
Drop D tuning, also known as DADGBE, is an alternate, or scordatura, form of guitar tuning — specifically, a dropped tuning — in which the lowest string is tuned down from the usual E of standard tuning by one whole step to D.- Uses of drop D tuning :In drop D the three bass strings...
, loaded with a Seymour Duncan Invader Pickup in the bridge and a Duncan Jazz in the neck. Onstage, Mark uses two Dual Mesa Boogie Mark V heads amplifiers
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
with Mesa 4X12 cabinets His rack gear includes a Sennheiser
Sennheiser
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG is a private German audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of both consumer and high fidelity products, including microphones, headphones, telephony accessories, and avionics headsets for consumer, professional, and business...
wireless system, a DBX 266XL compressor
Compressor
Compressor may refer to:* Gas compressor, a mechanical device that compresses a gas * A device used to apply video compression to a video signal* A device used to apply audio data compression to an audio signal...
/ noise gate
Noise gate
A Noise Gate or gate is an electronic device or software that is used to control the volume of an audio signal. In its most simple form, a noise gate allows a signal to pass through only when it is above a set threshold: the gate is 'open'. If the signal falls below the threshold no signal is...
, and a splitter box. Mark only uses a few pedals on stage, Original Cry Baby
Dunlop Cry Baby
The Dunlop Cry Baby is a popular wah-wah pedal, manufactured by Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. It is the best selling guitar pedal of all time. The name Cry Baby was from the original pedal from which it was copied, the Thomas Organ/Vox Cry Baby wah-wah. Thomas Organ/Vox failed to register the name as...
Wah Pedal, MxR Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
Phaser which "makes his solos sear", MxR Overdrive pedal, and a Boss tuning pedal. Recently, it has been rumored that a signature Crybaby might be in production.
In the liner notes to the album New American Gospel
New American Gospel
New American Gospel is the second album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2000 on Prosthetic Records. New American Gospel is the first release with Willie Adler on guitar, and the first album under the name "Lamb of God"....
, he is credited under his middle name "Duane".
Morton is known for writing some of Lamb of God's less conventional songs. These include, "Descending", "Vigil", and "Remorse Is for the Dead". In the DVD documenting the making of Sacrament, he made the point that he likes to "toss in the wildcard, the oddball, 'cause for every three you toss in, one of 'em winds up being real special because it's that different." Morton has also written some of the band's more traditional metal songs, such as, "Now You've Got Something to Die For", "Redneck" and "Walk With Me in Hell".
In September 2011, Morton revealed plans of collaborating with DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
frontman Dez Fafara
Dez Fafara
Bradley James 'Dez' Fafara is the current vocalist for DevilDriver and the recently reformed Coal Chamber.-Personal life:Dez is of Portuguese and Italian, specifically Sicilian descent...
on a new project. According to Morton, Chicago doom legends Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
are a big influence on the material. He says 14 "killer tunes" have been written so far, with Morton stating he is "not sure when it'll come to light."
Guitars
- Jackson Sweetone
- Jackson Mark (king) Morton DominionJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
- Jackson RR5Jackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
(Rarely uses it since acquiring his Signature with Jackson. Only used on "Ruin") - Jackson King VJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
(Only used on the New American Gospel recordings) - Jackson USA Custom Shop Swee-ToneJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
- Jackson WarriorJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
- Jackson SoloistJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
(used on the recent No Fear Energy Tour) - Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas DKJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
(used on the recent No Fear Energy Tour) - Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
Standard Gold - Framus Renegade ProFramusFramus is a German guitar, bass, lap steel guitars and banjo manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen ....
(With neck pickup removed) - Framus Camarillo CustomFramusFramus is a German guitar, bass, lap steel guitars and banjo manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen ....
- Jackson RR24Jackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
- JAW Custom Les Paul Style
Amplifiers & Cabinets
- Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
Mark IV Amplifier - Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
Stiletto Deuce Amplifier - Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
4x12 Cabinets (x9) (2 loaded, 7 unloaded) - Marshall AmplificationMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
Hot-Rodded head (Only used on Wrath) - Marshall AmplificationMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
4x12 Cabinets (Only used on Wrath) - Orange AmplificationOrange AmplificationOrange Music Electronic Company is a British electric guitar and public address amplifier manufacturing company, famous for its distinctive sound and bright orange Tolex-like covering on amplifier heads and speaker cabinets...
4x12 Cabinets (Only used on Wrath) - Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
Mark V Amplifier - Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
Triple Rectifier (added to his rig in 2008) - Mesa Boogie Royal Atlantic
Accessories
- Various Seymour DuncanSeymour DuncanSeymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
pickup models with the Duncan SH-1 '59 set prominent - EMGEMG, Inc.EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
Pickups active neck pickup (used live at the Donington Festival Download 2007) - DimarzioDiMarzioDiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
Breed pickups - SennheiserSennheiserSennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG is a private German audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of both consumer and high fidelity products, including microphones, headphones, telephony accessories, and avionics headsets for consumer, professional, and business...
Wireless System - Boss TU-2 Chromatic TunerBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
- DunlopDunlop ManufacturingDunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
Crybaby Wylde Wah - MXRDunlop ManufacturingDunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
EVH Phase 90 - MXR Kerry King 10 Band EQ
- MXR Carbon copy delay
- Rocktron Hush Super C
- DBX 266xl Compressor/Gate
- GHS Boomer Strings 10-46
- 1.14 mm Dunlop Tortex picks
With Burn the Priest
- Burn the PriestBurn the Priest (album)- Epic reissue :On Mar 22, 2005, it was re-released by Epic Records. The album has been remixed by Colin Richardson, remastered by Mark Wilder and features new liner notes by original producer Steve Austin . The cover art was changed in order to be store friendly, but retains the original artwork...
(1999, Legion RecordsLegion RecordsLegion Records was started in 1997 by Michael Brosnan under the name Goatboy Records then changed to Goatboy Farms Recordings. It was centered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The final name change occurred in 1999 for, publicly, unknown reasons...
)
With Lamb of God
- New American GospelNew American GospelNew American Gospel is the second album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2000 on Prosthetic Records. New American Gospel is the first release with Willie Adler on guitar, and the first album under the name "Lamb of God"....
(2000, Prosthetic Records) (Credited under his middle name, Duane) - As the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces BurnAs the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend...
(2003, Prosthetic Records) - Ashes of the WakeAshes of the WakeAshes of the Wake is the fourth studio album by American groove metal band Lamb Of God, released in 2004. The album debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first-week and was rated by Guitar World as the 49th greatest Guitar Album of all Time...
(2004, Epic Records) - KilladelphiaKilladelphia (album)Killadelphia is a live album by heavy metal band Lamb of God in Philadelphia, October 2004, which was released by Epic Records as a DVD. It boasts the entire unabridged audio from the concert documented in the DVD of the same name...
(2005, Epic Records) - SacramentSacrament (album)Sacrament is the Grammy Award nominated fifth studio album from the American groove metal band Lamb of God. Released on August 22, 2006, Sacrament debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 charts with first-week sales of 63,000....
(2006, Epic Records) - Wrath (2009, Roadrunner Records)