Def Leppard Drummer To Appear On Upcoming Ampage CD
DEF LEPPARD DRUMMER TO APPEAR ON UPCOMING AMPAGE CD:
January 18, 2009
Rock star Mark Mason, lead singer and bassist for the rock band “AMPAGE” and triathlete, is currently in the studio with his band working on their 5th album titled “Don’t Shoot The Wounded”. Mason has also written and recorded a new song for the album about IRONMAN Triathlons and brought in legendary drummer Rick Allen from Deff Leppard to perform on this song.
“This is a song like no other” says Mason. “Rick and I matched the drum beat to my running at an 8 minute per mile pace. The song is also exactly 8 minutes long. I start running when the song begins, I run to the beat and at the end of the song I have completed exactly 1 mile in 8 minutes flat. I can also adjust the speed of the song and the beats per minute to conform to another runners stride or speed up my own pace. Eventually I want to have a set of songS at one pace to listen and train to. This is the year of the IRONMAN for me. I am currently training 30 hours a week in between writing and recording getting ready for the 2009 season. I will be racing the 2009 Hawaii Ironman 70.3 in May as well as the Vineman Ironman 70.3 in July. I also plan on doing a full Ironman this year but am waiting to see if I get picked from the lottery for The Kona Ironman race. That race has been a dream of mine for years ever since I saw it for the first time in 1981 while I was on tour through the islands. It wasn’t as big then as it is now but it was still an amazing event. I am also doing several olympic triathlons all over the USA including the “Escape From Alcatraz” in June.”
The worldwide release date of the AMPAGE album is October 10th which happens to be the same day as the Kona Ironman. Mason plans on bringing his band and performing at a few select races “hopefully after I win my age group”. Mark Mason races for Andy Potts “TEAM RX” and they are both coached by Mike Doane. “Mike or DOC as I like to call him is an awesome coach with a unique style of training. We made a deal last year, He’ll teach and train me to win triathlons and Ill teach him how to rock on the electric guitar. Lucky for me he is natural guitarist and learns quick. He also writes good songs. I recorded one of them for this new album which Doc will also play some guitar on it. Andy Potts is an amazing athlete and a great all around guy. I have learned a lot from him. He is truly an inspiration to me.”
You can check out Mark Mason on his triathlon website – www.markmasontri.com
Ampage is an american west coast rock band that’s been around since the mid 1980’s fusing hard rock with modern rock, power and melody, passion and compassion. With only 4 albums, soon to be 5 under their belt, Ampage, over the years have shared the stage with other bands such as Eric Clapton, Def Leppard, Social Distortion, Guns N Roses, Billy Idol, and Dramarama to name just a few. Ampage was a Hollywood based strip band when they released their first album in 1987 “Champagne & Caviar” produced by Mitch Mitchel (Hendrix). The band released their 2nd album in 1997 titled “Iron Horse” produced by Duane Baron (Ozzie, Cheap Trick, Heart) and Jeff Klaven (Krokus). The single “Words” with its heavy rotation on radio, did very well in the U.S. and Europe charting #37 on Album Network and R&R. In 2001, Ampage released its 3rd album titled “Falling Higher” again Produced by Duane Baron. This time Ampage had a little help from their friends. Some of the additional players on this album included John Taylor (Duran Duran,) John Easdale (Dramarama), Gary Busey (Buddy Holly, Star is Born), Jeff Conaway (Taxi, Greese) and Rick Allen (Def Leppard) on Drums.
The current Ampage line up includes veteran lead vocalist, bassist, and songwriter Mark Mason who has also written and recorded several songs for t.v. and movies. Mason has also collaborated with other great artists such as Tommy Shaw (Styx) and songwriter Wes Arkin (Guns n Roses). Mason is the only artist in history to legally change some of the lyrics in a John Lennon song (Gimme Some Truth).
After recording 10 albums and several years of recording and touring with Dramarama, lead guitarist Mark Englert joined Ampage in 2001 replacing guitar legend Earl Slick (Bowie, Lennon). Loren Molinare (Little Ceasar, The Dogs) is still lending guitars to the band in the studio and occasionally on stage. Original drummer Michael Kroeger re-joined Ampage replacing Rick Allen (Def Leppard) who was filling in at the time. David Swendig (Hell ‘N’ Back) has replaced Tom Mullaney (Dramarama) on keyboards and backing vocals. Over the years other artists such as John Easedale (Dramarama), John Taylor (Duran Duran), actor/musician Jeff Conaway (Taxi, Grease), Gary Busey (A Star Is born, Buddy Holly ), Billy Wirth (Lost Boys) and Corey Feldman (Lost Boys, E.T.) have joined Ampage live on stage as well as in the studio recording on the bands albums and music videos. In fact Jeff Conaway produced all of the MTV videos for Ampage in the 1990’s.
Ampage’s last album, 2007’s Future Days Gone By, can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com/cd/ampage.
Courtesy of www.markmasontri.com