GUITAR
This video showcases Mark's music career up to 2008. The soundtrack is taken from the instrumental masters of Quench's 2008 EP "Reality Radio", mixed with an edited home demo, where Mark played guitar, bass and drums.
Quench exploded onto the UK scene with the release of their award winning debut album Afterglow in April 2003. With their unique brand of 21st Century rock, Quench fused blistering guitars, harmony-laden hook-lines and high-octane live performances to create a fresh and exciting audio experience. "No More Pretending" was taken from their final EP, "Reality Radio", produced by Joe Gibb (Funeral For A Friend, Jane's Addiction). Along with so many others in the UK scene, Quench called it a day in 2009. Reality Radio and Afterglow are still available through iTunes.
GALLERY
 King Awesome - the premier 80s stadium rock tributeMark's brothers in ROCK! King Awesome. |
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 CC from King AwesomeGuitar on fire! Literally! |
 Mark Hamilton Les PaulA shot taken from Quench's farewell gig at the Greenbelt Festival in 2009 |
 Quench - Greenbelt ReviewQuench supported MXPX and Fightstar on the main stage. |
 Mark Hamilton - Star Wars FigureIf rock bands had their own Star Wars figures? |
 Quench - Reality Radio coverThis was the album cover Mark designed for Quench's 2008 final EP. |
 Mark Hamilton with Ronnie WoodMark with Ronnie Wood backstage at the Cornbury Festival when he was playing guitar for Miriam Jones. |
 Quench live on TVMark Hamilton performing live with Quench on TV. |
 King AwesomeCC Van Jovi from King Awesome. |
 Mark Hamilton and Ray DaviesAnother backstage photo from the Cornbury Festival . This one features Mark Hamilton and Ray Davies of The Kinks with Miriam Jones and The Red Sea. |
 Mark Hamilton live on Radio 2This photo was taken at BBC Radio 2 when Mark was recording a live session for Dermot O'Leary's Saturday show. This was shot minutes before hanging with Whispering Bob! |
 UK Tour Poster - Josh Doyle |
 Mark Hamilton - Photo Montage |
 Mark Hamilton and Zane Lowe |
 Mark Hamilton with Jimmy NesbittWhen Mark was playing with Doug Walker's band they had a residency at The Water Rats in London. One night Jimmy Nesbitt came to see them. |
 Mark Hamilton - Quench Live |
 Mark's Mesa Boogie Lonestar SpecialMark was endorsed by Mesa Boogie while playing with Josh Doyle in the USA. This amp was used exclusively in recording Doug Walker's debut album at Townhouse Studios in London with producer Danton Supple (Coldplay). |
 Mark Hamilton - Rocking OutMark's favourite guitar when playing with Quench was his Gibson Firebird Studio (as used by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters). |
 Mark recording acoustic sessionRecording Doug Walker's acoustic album in Manchester. |
 Mark Hamilton - Townhouse StudioRecording guitar in the control room at Townhouse Studios, London. |
 Mark Hamilton - Rock jump!Quench live at Creation Fest in Devon. Nice air! |
 Mark recording acoustic guitarMark with Danton Supple (Coldplay) recording at Townhouse Studios. Mark was wearing his Gun 'Gallus' shirt - his favourite rock band growing up. |
 Mark Hamilton live at The ZodiacThe Zodiac is Oxford's best known venue. Now renamed the O2 Academy. |
 Mark Hamilton - Flying VMark's Gibson Flying V which he picked up in the USA. |
 Mark Hamilton and Chris MoylesChris Moyles championed Doug Walker's single 'The Mystery' when it was released. Chris met up with the band during a press launch. |
 Mark Hamilton and Doug WalkerMark and Doug recorded an acoustic version of Doug's Top 40 hit 'The Mystery' live on Nuts TV! |
 Mark Hamilton - the Metallica Years!Live on stage in Croatia with TVB in 1996. |
 Mark Hamilton on Nuts TVThis bar interview on Nuts TV followed Mark's acoustic performance of 'The Mystery' with Top 40 artist Doug Walker. Also in the bar were Big Cook and Little Cook from kids TV! |
 Mark Hamilton - Live MainstageA shot of Mark playing with Quench on the main stage at the Greenbelt Festival, supporting MXPX and Fightstar. |
 Quench - Live @ GreenbeltA shot of Mark playing with Quench on the main stage at the Greenbelt Festival, supporting MXPX and Fightstar. |
 Mark Hamilton - Live in GermanyA live shot from Rocknacht in Germany, with Quench. |
 Mark Hamilton backstage with GLCMark backstage with Welsh Rap crew, Goldie Lookin' Chain! Guns don't kill people, rappers do! |
 CC Van JoviMark Hamilton as CC Van Jovi from King Awesome rocking his Charvel DK24 |
 Mark Hamilton live on TVFrom Clan Gathering, Scotland with Martyn Layzell's band. |
 Quench live on TVLive on TV with Quench. |
 Quench promo shot 2002 |
 Dermot O'Leary's Radio 2 showMark Hamilton recorded live on Dermot's show with Doug Walker. Their chosen cover version of Kids In America by Kim Wilde. |
 Mark Hamilton - jump 2002Live at the Soul Survivor Festival with Quench in 2002. |
 Live at Loch Lomond FestivalMark Hamilton playing live with Doug Walker's band at Loch Lomond, sharing the bill with Idlewild, Ocean Colour Scene and The Sex Pistols. |
 The Crowd at Greenbelt 2003Quench opened the Main Stage at the Festival. Mark's amp blew up seconds before the intro track due to a roadie blowing the power! Thankfully he borrowed a Marshall from another band. |
 Mark Hamilton - selection of passesMark's collection of backstage passes accumulated over the years. |
 Mark Hamilton - live with QuenchA shot of Mark playing with Quench on the main stage at the Greenbelt Festival, supporting MXPX and Fightstar. |
DOUG WALKER - "Shed A Little Light" - Live TV Perfomance
JOSH DOYLE
Mark has played guitar for Josh several times over the years. In 2006, he moved to Nashville TN to join Josh's new alternative rock outfit, also featuring Paul Evans (Delirious) and Jordan Hester (Tait). They went into the studio with producer Joe Baldridge (Beck, Family Force 5) and recorded "High School Soldier", which can be heard on Josh's album "Values and Virtues". Prior to this, Mark can be heard on the infamous "Barnroom Demos" by Entrace Thesis, Josh's first project following the split of Top 20 pop/punk pioneers - the Dum Dums. The video above doesn't feature Mark, but showcases "Solarstorms", one of the songs they played live together. This version was recorded after Josh won an American national songwriters' competition.
MARTYN LAYZELL - "Blessed Be Your Name" live on TV
Mark played live for Martyn Layzell (Survivor Records) at many of the UK's largest Christian festivals as well as playing guitar on the live album "Stand In Awe". This song was recorded live on TV at Clan Gathering, Scotland (2007).
Taken from a live TV session in April, 2008, this song was taken from Doug Walker's debut album "Fear Together" (Warner Music UK), produced by Danton Supple (Coldplay). Mark recorded the guitars for the album and toured with Doug Walker between 2007-2008, opening for artists as diverse as Seasick Steve, Amy Macdonald, Craig David, The Subways, The Wombats and The Sex Pistols.
This was a comedy side project Mark and a few of his muso mates put together. The ultimate 70s funk disco tribute! Mark featured on guitar as Jango Love!
THE MOJO COLLECTIVE - Comedy 70s funk disco
ENDORSEMENTS
During his music career, Mark has been endorsed by the following fine companies.
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Mesa/Boogie Amplification
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Picato Musicians Strings
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Line 6
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Pedal Train Cases
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Scott Dixon Cases
A huge thanks to all these fantastic companies for their support and service over the years.
DISCOGRAPHY
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Route 66 (live) by Vicky Beeching (Spring Harvest) (2011)
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High School Soldier (Values and Virtues) by Josh Doyle (2009)
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Fear Together by Doug Walker (2008) (release t.b.c.)
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Reality Radio by Quench (2008)
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High School Soldier by Josh Doyle (2007) (release t.b.c.)
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Stand In Awe (live) by Martyn Layzell and St Aldates (2006)
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One God (live) by Martyn Layzell (Spring Harvest) (2006)
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Heavenbound (live) by Martyn Layzell (New Wine) (2006)
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Dredd vs Death OST Playstation/X-Box/PC game (2003)
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Afterglow by Quench (2003)
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Mandora EP by Mandora (2003)
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Barnroom Demos by Entrace Thesis (Josh Doyle) (2002)
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Icons Be Bygones by Ripcord (2001)
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Number One Superguy by Numberone Superguy (2000)
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Rumpus Room by Ripcord (2000)
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What About Us by TVB (1997)
Plus guest appearances on recordings by Psalmistry, Bunkbed and Freeslave.
Mark Hamilton was best known as the lead guitarist in Quench, an award winning UK rock band signed to Elevation Records. He currently records session guitar from his home studio and performs live as his alter-ego 'C.C. Van Jovi' in 80s Hair Metal tribute band - King Awesome! Check out www.kingawesome.rocks. Mark can also be spotted burning through a set of rock anthems with Inner City Sumo!
As a session musician, Mark has also played lead electric and acoustic guitars for Warner Bros’ Top 40 pop artist Doug Walker, Martyn Layzell (Survivor Records), Vicky Beeching (EMI), Miriam Jones and Josh Doyle (Nashville based ex-frontman and chief songwriter of Top 20 punk/pop band The Dum Dums).
Mark has toured in over 20 countries and his credits include an MTV Live appearance with Italian superstar Elisa and performing on the same bills as a number of diverse high-profile artists including: The Sex Pistols, Fightstar, Destiny’s Child, Amy Macdonald, Ocean Colour Scene, The Subways, The Enemy, The Wombats, Seasick Steve, Ellie Goulding, Craig David, Idlewild, MXPX, Elliot Minor and Scouting For Girls... oh, and The Vengaboys.
Mark also recorded the industrial metal guitar parts for the Playstation game, "Dredd vs Death" which, for a kid who grew up reading 2000AD and loving Judge Dredd stories featuring the Dark Judges, was a dream come true!
Throughout his career, Mark appeared in several national newspapers and magazines, and on radio and TV (including performing at MTV Studios in London, on several live TV concert broadcasts and live in session on Dermot O’Leary’s BBC Radio 2 show). He has also recorded at many prestigious studios including Townhouse (London) and has worked with a number of respected producers including Danton Supple (Coldplay, Starsailor), Joe Baldridge (Beck, Family Force 5) and Joe Gibb (Jane’s Addiction, Funeral For A Friend). Mark also taught guitar to a number of private students and has taught seminars, workshops and lectures at various schools and colleges in the UK and Europe.
IZZY SAVAGE - "Silent Night" - Christmas Number One.
Another comedy creation of Mark's, where he gets to live out his fantasy as an 80s 'Hair Band' shredder - part Slash, part Nigel Tufnel, part Aldous Snow, part Ozzy, this outrageous character can be spotted performing in Mark's home town of Oxford... as long as there's a brandy glass full of M&Ms with the red ones taken out, provided backstage! Check out YouTube for other Izzy videos.
King Awesome are the ultimate tribute to those explosive late 80s nights on L.A.'s Sunset Strip where big riffs and even bigger hair ruled the airwaves, where you rocked all night and partied all day, when your rallying cry was nothin' but a good time! Following hard in the footsteps of their 80s heroes, King Awesome fuse blistering riffs, anthemic choruses and an incendiary live show full of high kicks, fists pumps and tongue-in-cheek references to all your favourite 80s clichés! With an 'all killer: no filler' greatest hits set including Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Poison, Whitesnake and all their hard-rockin' amigos, King Awesome hold their crowds in the palm of their leather-gloved hands and party like it's 1989!