Ron Marks is the guitarist for American Rock band Subsonic and former Celtic Frost guitarist. Interview February 20, 2014.
1. What’s new in the life of Ron Marks?
My affiliation with DSN Music (dsnmusic.com) has allowed Subsonic to become a global entity, regarding distribution. We also played some U.S. tour dates last Summer. I’d hoped to bring the band to Europe this Summer, but we’re still working on that. And releasing an album of songs like Honeycomb is something I’ve wanted to accomplish for a long time.
2. How was it recording the new Subsonic album Honeycomb?
It was the most challenging album I’ve ever done. The songs are very personal and the arrangements are relatively complex. And performing those tracks on an acoustic guitar proved quite demanding for me. Rock-n-roll is my first love and there’s certainly some rock music on this release. But I grew up listening to Jazz and didn’t hear a rock album until I was twelve. Then came rock and metal and also Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, to only name a few. Honeycomb is one way for me to express some broader music horizons that I’ve loved since I was a kid.
3. Who is the members playing on the album and where do they all come from in music?
I write the tracks and perform almost everything on Subsonic releases. An exception on this release is some percussion work on the song Jane. Those tracks are played by my cousin Steve Marks.
4. Throughout the years what type of guitars and amplifiers did you use to create the albums tones?
I’ve had endorsements deals with Dean Guitars and Marshall Amps for more than a decade. They’re always great to me, so it’s no secret that I use their gear to a great extent in studio and onstage. But since Honeycomb is an obvious departure from previous Subsonic releases, I played a Martin J40 acoustic guitar on this album exclusively. No amps were used on this release.
5. It is said that you have over 500 songs recorded will all these songs be published at one point?
It would be pretty hilarious for me to believe that everything I’ve written and recorded is worthy of being released. I’m not completely delusional. I wouldn’t agree to it even if that offer was presented to me.
6. To get a good insight on your discography with Celtic Frost which albums do you appear on. Also what’s your memory’s like recording the albums?
I co-wrote and played on Vanity/Nemesis. When I first joined Celtic Frost they had already concluded recordings for Into the Pandemonium. We then performed or U.K. and U.S. tours but I didn’t have a chance for any studio work then. When Tom Fischer later invited me to be part of writing and recording Vanity/Nemesis it was a great opportunity, and one I’d wanted since I joined the band.
It was a tremendous experience. We wrote and rehearsed new material in Zurich for some weeks before flying to Berlin to begin sessions. There were lots of laughs and some frustrations as well. All of the things that go into recording an album. And we all witnessed the fall of communism firsthand the night that Checkpoint Charley was opened. All of this while recording a Celtic Frost album in Berlin. What more could a guy ask for?
7. What’s some of the craziest stuff you’ve seen on the road with Celtic Frost?
I was attacked by some girl onstage in Detroit. She had me by the hair and other places, and I couldn’t get her off of me. She was really violent about it. Finally a couple of roadies ripped her loose and threw her back into the pit. Probably happens often in such circles, but it was a first for me then.
After a show in Boston, some of the boys(me included) hit the town so to speak. And when we all came back for bus call around midnight our tour manager showed up wearing a police officer’s leather jacket with the badge attached. Seems that an officer gave him a ride back to the bus and he put on the jacket by “mistake”. At the time it seemed pretty funny but when we pulled into our next venue in Philadelphia around dawn, several police cruisers were waiting for us in the parking lot. They threatened to take everyone to jail. Somehow, someone pulled our thief from his bunk. He returned the jacket and they let us go.
Our last show on that U.K. tour was at the Odeon Hammersmith in London on Halloween night. Quite possibly my favorite CF show ever. The place was packed and we played a great set. I wanted to greet some fans during a song and I walked in front of the P.A. system. I never made that mistake again… Being the last show on the tour our crew decided to have some fun with us. While playing our last encore (Procreation Of The Wicked) they proceeded to tear down the stage leaving each of us with one amp and only a kick and snare drum.
8. What could we find interesting in your music collection at home?
Oscar Peterson Trio, Bill Evans, Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Aerosmith, Alex Harvey Band, The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, The Residents, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. It goes on and on…
9. Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician?
It varies of course. Some days you’re writing and others you’re recording and mixing. Others still you can’t find an idea for a song at all. Some days you have rehearsals for upcoming shows. Some shows are for Subsonic and others are with other bands. And some days you spend paying your damned bills so you can get back to making music. It’s a juggling act, much like most peoples’ lives. I may have different priorities than most, but it’s never easy.
10. Where do you see the future of music going in 100 years?
I won’t pretend to know what music will be like in 100 years. I don’t really want to know what the future of music will become. Isn’t that the fun of it?
11. Any words for future musicians?
First of all, I hope there continues to be musicians in the future. I don’t see a lot of interest in it. Everyone’s giving away their music and talents now. How the hell are musicians supposed to feed themselves? If you love it then don’t allow anyone to talk you out of doing it. And, above all, don’t fall for marriage, kids and a house. If you do then your life as a musician is over. You are then a part-time musician. Some very wise older musicians passed that along to me in my early twenties and I listened. And they were right.