Mark Rock ‘Em Dead

Mark fell into the role of radio presenter by accident when interviewed for the Chris Stagg’s Punkified show on Surrey Hills Radio station and asked to do a one-hour guest show on Rocking Fox to promote a vinyl LP he had just released to benefit suicide prevention and youth mental health charities. The show went down well enough with listeners that he was offered his own one-hour show.  Not being someone to do things by half he chose to take a two hour show slot instead.

Mark was press-ganged into the Punk Rock life when, aged thirteen, the older brother of a friend lent him some UK Subs and GenX singles. He never turned back and began a dive deep into the genre which continues to this day in his mid-fifties.  This has resulted in an unhealthy obsession with Johnny Thunders and all things related to the New York Dolls.

Being able to play several instruments quite badly (or being multi-talentless as he calls it) meant that he was never going to be in a successful band, or any band for that matter. So, the next best thing could only be starting his own record label. Rock Em Dead Records started as a cottage industry DIY Punk affair and ended up being a professional affair, releasing bands known and unknown bands from across the globe.  He has also written extensive gig and record reviews for BrumLive webzine.  This also resulted in a matter of a couple of hours’ notice being given the task of a taking a “short interview” with John Lydon. This turned into a one hour plus chat about music and non-league football.

There are many myths about Mark; that he’s a grumpy Northerner, narrow minded about music (only likes New York Punk 1973-1978), a musical elitist (“you like Coltrane but not Courtney Pine, Lee Scratch Perry but not UB40, Robert Johnson but not Robert Cray.  Your problem is you’re a musical elitist!”) but only one of those myths has any truth.  The listener can determine which.

As there is an exceptionally good Punk show on Rocking Fox already, Mark’s show will be digging into any genre and play almost anything if it is ‘keeping it real’, as the kids say. The fact that Mark is not scared of genres, long track time lengths (which may go against general radio play principals) and annoying people, then the AKA of the show is “How to lose listeners and Alienate People”.  Meaning, come to the show with a broad mind, an attention span, and prepare to embrace the weird and Mark will sort the wheat from the chaff.

You can now email the show direct too – rockemdead@rockingfoxradio.co.uk

.