Each band member was asked to answer the same following questions. Here’s Mark’s answers.
What do you see as your main role in the band?
I consider myself almost like a father figure to this band. I started this band in 1990 with some specific guidelines and dreams and over the years I have struggled to find people with like-minded opinions. I hesitate to call myself a leader of the band because my talent is no greater than any other member; nor do I wish to be a dictator. I do, however, confess to surrounding myself with people who think just like me. Scary, huh?
List other roles you believe you fill in the band.
Since I was very young, I have sought out and listened to music that you will NEVER hear on the radio. I believe a lot of musicians spend their lives copying the Top 40 songs off the radio. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this (in fact, their income is most likely far superior to mine), I get bored with the norm. I have tried to expose every member of this band to music that I like to think they wouldn’t have heard without me. At times when I can’t find a suitable candidate to present to them, I simply compose it.
List your musical influences (in no particular order).
Oh, my! I don’t believe the site has enough storage space! Hahaha. I’ll try to condense the list. At the top would certainly be The Beatles. Call me an old man…call me sentimental…but I think the songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney will never be matched in my lifetime. Another great influence was my Dad, Rodney Teeters. Sadly, he passed away just before our first CD was released but his music will flow through my veins the rest of my life. He gave me much more than chords and harmony and theory. He gave me an entire world. I miss him very much and consider myself lucky to be his son and his guitar player. My other influences include Yes, Dream Theater, America, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Frank Zappa, Spock’s Beard (Neal Morse in particular), Emerson Lake & Palmer, James Taylor, Robin Trower, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Kings X, Jethro Tull, Roy Buchanan, Eric Johnson. The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Kansas, Journey, Pink Floyd and Bach! I could go on forever here. I’ll stop, but hopefully you’ve caught on to the fact that I steal ideas from LOTS of sources.
What musical instruments do you play?
Keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, sax, autoharp, dulcimer, swinette and a partridge in a pear tree.
What kind of equipment do you use?
BC Rich Warlock guitar (from the late 1970’s), Fender California Series American Strat, Fender Mexican Strat, Epiphone Les Paul, Washburn EA20 Acoustic/Electric, (2) Yamaha FG-160’s, Yamaha 12-string acoustic, Yamaha Classical guitar, Washburn mandolin, Kay mandolin, Roland RS70 synth, Yamaha DX27S synth, D’Addario EXL110 strings, John Pearse 100L strings, Peavey Classic 50 212, MXR Dyna Comp, Big Muff Pi, Boss Heavy Metal, Rocktron Austin Gold, Boss GE7 EQ, Korg AX1000G, E-bow and big hands! I’ve been told that’s why the women like me.
Why did you get into the music business?
I can honestly not answer this question. I am told I started playing the piano at the age of 4. I don’t remember learning or why I wanted to play. The fact that my dad played probably influenced me a lot. I know that in my 46 years of living, it’s the only thing I’ve discovered that I’m good at. I have no desire to look any further.
If you were banished to an island for the rest of your life and you could only take 5 CDs with you, what would they be?
Hmmm…I don’t like this question. In reality, I would probably rip 50 CDs into 5 MP3 discs and take those…but in the spirit of the interview, I’ll give it a shot:
* The Beatles - Abbey Road
* Yes - Close To The Edge
* Spock’s Beard - The Kindness of Strangers
* Jethro Tull - Aqualung
* A CD full of Allison’s voice…singing anything…Truly one of the most gifted singers I’ve ever heard in my life.
100 years from now, if this band is remembered, what would you like people to remember about it?
That’s the whole point, isn’t it? To be remembered? Why else do it? I could be artsy and say we only play for the enjoyment of playing. And I convince myself of this occasionally. But I think, truly down deep inside, I personally want this band to be remembered. I want to leave something behind in this world so people will think of us occasionally. Hopefully, our songs will continue on in some form or another. I always have this dream where the band continues on…long after my death…as a member dies, he is replaced by a young member…the everlasting band! Hahaha.
100 years from now, what would you like people to remember about you?
That I was a nice guy…with nice hands.
List anything else about yourself and/or the band that you would like included in your bio:
I am very proud of this band and the people involved in it…past and present. Some people who are no longer with us still linger on in spirit and we count them all as close friends. The current members are great. Doug and Billy, our 2 newest members, continue to amaze me at each and every practice. They are kind, gentle people who love music as much as I do and I’m proud to share a stage with both of them. Charlie has been our soundman for most of our career. I think we’re one of the few bands who think of a soundman as a member of the band. Charlie has a great ear for music and I only wish I had the energy he puts into each and every show. Many times, the person behind the board doesn’t share in the spotlight, but this band knows that we’re not who we are without Charlie at the mixing console.
That would leave two members to say something about; Jason and Allison. While I am the only original member of the band left, Jason has been with the band almost from the beginning and Allison joined not long afterwards. I’ve watched them grow tremendously in the time I’ve known them. Jason was a great drummer when I first heard him play and he continues to try new and different things. Sometimes live on stage, I’ll think of a really weird counter-melody or something and the second I try it…he’s right with me. It’s like he reads my mind. He’s also went from not singing at all to becoming one of the best harmony singers I’ve ever worked with. I consider Jason to be my brother in every sense of the word…literally…my brother.
Last but not least, there’s young Allison. Without Allison, there would be no Mindchaser. She is my inspiration and my best friend. This band has suffered enough hardship to shipwreck 10 bands, but I keep going because of Allison. I want the world to hear what I hear. I want the world to be inspired by her as I am. Natural singers like Allison aren’t made…they’re born. She is gifted with a voice that can go from a soft whisper to a scream. If you think girls can’t sing rock’n'roll, come hear Allison belt it out. If you like Ann Wilson of Heart, you’ll like Allison. If you like Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Steve Perry, John Cowan…you’ll like Allison. You can feel the emotion in her voice. It takes my breath away sometimes to hear her sing. I wield such power through her. Anything (and I do mean ANYTHING) I can imagine and compose, she can sing. Now, that we’re writing together, it’s even better. Her intelligence and mastery of the English language is amazing. She’s not your Mom’s girl-singer, that’s for sure.
In closing, I would like to thank all my brothers: all music lovers, all music critics. They keep me on my toes and never let “good enough for rock’n'roll” be an option. I would like to thank my Mom for teaching me that God gave me this talent; my wife for having a REAL job so I can continue with my music; my son, Anthony, for showing me that I WILL be remembered after I’m dead(because he acts just like me) and each member of the band for giving your all. I look forward to many more years of the same.