1977 – My original inspiration to play the drums was after attending a sold-out Led Zeppelin concert in May 1977 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. I was 16 years old and John Bonham's drumming penetrated my soul. I wanted to be a part of that energy and share the feelings I felt while listening to him.
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| Mark Gault, left - Jeff O, middle, Click to enlarge, X top right, to close. |
| At 17, I saved up and bought my first drum set. I worked hard as a bus-boy at Rosecroft Race Track and a bunch of other jobs and also sold my car, an AMX, to buy a used, black, 1971 Ludwig Pro-Rocker set. It cost $800, which was a ton of money back then! (Inflation calculator says that would be $3200.00 today.) |
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I couldn't wait to set up the drums in the basement. My brother Tim and I bought a P.A. and Jeff joined us and we started practicing. Tim sang lead, and we all had a blast. However, trouble soon arrived when it became clear that my mother and step-father, Bob, HATED Rock n' Roll and especially the drums. Bob insisted that I wasn't allowed to play drums in the house -- even when he wasn't home!
Thank goodness for my Granny Katherine Louise and my great-grandmother, whom we called 'Bertie'. When I told them that I wasn’t allowed to practice drums in the house, they invited me to practice at their house, which luckily, was right next door, anytime that I wanted to! So, I set up my drums in their basement. They loved having me over and they’d feed me, too. (Win, win.) One time I came upstairs, after playing Boston's "More Than a Feeling", (among my favorite albums to play to) and I saw Bertie sitting there. I asked her if my playing was too loud or bothering her, as she was almost 90 years. She said; "It's alright Mark, I'm up here keeping time with you on my leg." |
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1980 - 1982 Spoiled Rotten
Maryland teenagers idea of heaven!
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| Tim at our first gig, me behind him. Click to enlarge, X top right, to close. |
We played Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Steppenwolf, Elvis and Judas Priest. My brother, Tim Gault was lead singer, Jeff Ocheltree, Guitar, me on drums. As Spoiled Rotten, we played the famous Stardust Hotel in Waldorf, MD and numerous house parties. These are treasured memories as my brother Tim passed away in 2005.
1982 – 1984 The Assassins
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| Mark, The Assassins -- The Chancery, Washington, DC 1982 Click to enlarge, X top right, to close. |
We played many colleges in the DC area, such as James Madison University, George Mason University, and many ‘girls only’ colleges. (Hell, yeah!) Edison High School.
1984-1986 Local Fingers
Band formed at the University of Maryland, College Park. Played clubs around the DC metro area, and College Park. Mike Reardon on bass/vocals, Rocky Demietric, lead vocals/acoustic guitar, Steve on keyboards, me on drums. Did a studio recording entitled; “Rolling Around With You.”
Took a break from 1987-1989.
1990 – 1996 Viper
I formed this band with Dave Mairs, guitar/back up vocals, Randy Baker on bass, Mike Blankenship 1st lead singer, Colin Corkum 2nd Lead singer, me on drums and lead vocals. Changed the name to Fear No Evil in 1992. Kept this band in action until 1996.
Took the next year off from constant gigging, but played in various bands, subbing.
1997-2000 Up in the Air Band
Played with this band for three years. Mark Sheppard, Billy.
1999 - 2002 Second Chance
I was in both bands at the same time for awhile. We played lots of Annapolis area shows.
2002-2005 Dr. Move Band
2005-2006 Mike Numera and the Rhythm Handlers
Recorded original studio album. Interviewed on WRNR Annapolis with Damien Einstein. Played the Maryland Seafood Festival, Eastport Seafood Fest and various other festivals.
2006-2007 No Trace
Rick Fernandez, Jeff Ocheltree (old bandmate and I reunited after 25 years), Mark Lockheart.
2007 Moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.
Went to clubs, met many musicians and played gigs with various bands.
2008 – Performed in “Bands in the Sand” in Madeira Beach, with Jeff Cinnotti, bass, PJ and Billy Roberts
2010
Played with members of Bertie Higgins band; Jimmy Rogers and Paul Glen
After that evening, Valerie and I performed at the Yacht Club with Chuck O’Dell on guitar, Bill Simpson, bass, Colin Ward, guitar, Darren Joy, guitar/vocals/back-up vocals and me singing lead and on drums.
VIDEO: The late, great VALERIE CARTER w/ Mark Gault
VIDEO: Let it Bleed, Rolling Stones - with Valerie Carter
(Sadly, Valerie died March 4, 2017 at age 64. I performed at her Life Celebration.)
2010 – 2013 CROSSROADS, an Eric Clapton Tribute band
Made a studio album/CD
Ric Arra, lead guitar/ vocals, Gary Bush, bass/Vocals, then replaced by Charlie Souza (from the New Young Rascals), bass guitar, Bill Segal, keyboards. We played amphitheaters and large clubs all over Florida from the Panhandle to the Keys. (B.B. King's House of Blues, Jupiter Beach Amphitheater, 3X at large Nudist Colonies (LOL!), Jannus Landing, St. Pete and more.)
2014 – 2015 Cellfish Band
Joe Koltay, guitar/vocals, Phill Stokes (Original member in Pure Prairie League), bass/vocals, Jason Jennings, Chris Trip, Bass, Vocals, me on drums, I sang lead on half of our 40 set song lists.