Another tour has come and gone, this time it was North America. I ended up having to book the thing myself, pretty short notice. It was stressful to book, but I managed. It was stressful to get through, due to short-notice routing, but I did it. I had ups and downs, but it was mostly a great trip and a great time. I finally saw Puerto Rico, and if that ain’t one of the best places to play and visit, I dunno what is. Very few shows were disappointments, but the couple that were took place in cities I had expected better from. Now I know. I also realized that I am an outsider to the press, and even to the people in whatever ‘scene’ I may be dragged into. This in particular was not depressing or surprising, but kind of amusing to me, in that I seriously have had a major role in influencing a lot of the same stuff that is being written about and heavily attended – whether people wish to know or acknowledge that or not. I think a lot of folks, for example, don’t realize just how much I wrote and sang in The King Khan & BBQ Show or if I was even there at all, hahaha! But I was. And my contributions may not be respected right now, down to the biased, side-taking reviews, lack of coverage, the sullying, the vilifying etc… but my music and its breadth will be remembered in the future, when image and this moment’s attitudes are forgotten for the façade that they are. The music will always rise to the top – even if it is coveted by few. One thing I DID, however, find unsavoury was how some ‘friends’ and music buddies I had made through the last few years had no problem turning their backs once they had concluded that I am not part of something ‘hip’, anymore. That would be my assumption. That some folks are scared to not be ‘cool’ and possibly face lensless judgement. I guess I had just assumed that kind of clique-y desperation was happening far away from my world. The truth is that no matter how tiny the ‘scene’, how inconsequential the music, however 3rd rate the media coverage and ‘celebrity’, people are consumers and suckers for the most part, generally reverting back to their adolescent insecurities and mechanisms. Oh well. Good riddance. You follow the leaders, and I will be over here doing my own thing.

I am proud of my many contributions. I am proud of my 2 (3!) new albums. I am proud to be doing something perceived as being cloying, while remaining pure. I am proud of my live show. I will paraphrase and combine what I was told once in NYC and once in Paris. My patience and defeat are often rewarded in observations like this from excited strangers, who feel how much I give from my soul at a show and inspire me to continue:

“When I close my eyes I hear pirate radio, complete with the static, with the sound of the signal cutting, the styles changing, tempos crashing, vinyl popping and scratching, like on a juke-box. I am excited to hear what will happen next. When I open my eyes, I see only one man lovingly sacrificing himself for a purpose he doesn’t quite understand. It’s magic.”

I love everyone who helped me out, housed me, drove, promoted me, lied to me, loved me, hated me, had a drink with me, laughed with me, lent me gear, bought my stuff, played with me, came to the shows, tried to fight me, fed me – even those who prove me right by saying shit like, “He doesn’t wear a turban live?! I’m not going.” I just want to play my music, make my music. It is what keeps me going.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Months ago, I was trying to book a small tour around the holidays in Europe. But like with anywhere else, it has proven unnecessarily difficult. Here is what was managed:

Dec 15th: Copenhagen, DK – Stengade
Dec 16th: Stockholm, SW – Vielle Montagne
Dec 17th: Goteborg, SW – Showdown
Dec 22nd: Rome, IT – Init
Dec 27th: Bergen, NO – Garage
Dec 28th: Berlin, DE – Monarch

My plan is to come back to Europe in 2012 and play some other cities and see some friends. If you read this and promote, feel free to write me with ideas.

MARK

SIDE B
Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 2
Let Me Freeze
Apophis To the Slaughter
Sweeter Than Wine
For Those Who Don’t Exist

Mark Sultan has two new albums waiting to be released on vinyl in the US and beyond sometime in the fall on In The Red Records out of Los Angeles, California. The names of the albums are ‘Whatever I Want’ and “Whenever I Want’, respectively, with a CD release entitled ‘Whatever/Whenever’ following their heels containing 7 songs from each album, 14 of a total 26. The songs are in a similar vein that he has mined of late (and for years): early rock’n’roll, psych, avant garde, free jazz, doo wop, early r&b, garage punk, punk rock, etc… thrown in a pot and simmered over his incredible vocals. Covers of such artists as Ultravox, The Stains, The Four Lords and a couple more round out the collection. Collaborators include Choyce (Red Mass), Jared (Black Lips), Cole (Black Lips), Erin (Spits), Danny (The Gories), etc…”

The first 200 on each LP are on blue vinyl. Get at In The Red.

SIDE B
Song In Grey
If I Had a Polaroid
Blood On Your Hands
Just Like Before
Repulse Me, Baby
I Turned Them All Down
Never Coming Home

Mark Sultan has two new albums waiting to be released on vinyl in the US and beyond sometime in the fall on In The Red Records out of Los Angeles, California. The names of the albums are ‘Whatever I Want’ and “Whenever I Want’, respectively, with a CD release entitled ‘Whatever/Whenever’ following their heels containing 7 songs from each album, 14 of a total 26. The songs are in a similar vein that he has mined of late (and for years): early rock’n’roll, psych, avant garde, free jazz, doo wop, early r&b, garage punk, punk rock, etc… thrown in a pot and simmered over his incredible vocals. Covers of such artists as Ultravox, The Stains, The Four Lords and a couple more round out the collection. Collaborators include Choyce (Red Mass), Jared (Black Lips), Cole (Black Lips), Erin (Spits), Danny (The Gories), etc…”

The first 200 on each LP are on blue vinyl. Get at In The Red.

For a few years now, I have come to a conclusion regarding the music that I have loved forever: Rock N Roll MUST be destroyed. Killed, in order to preserve it and its spirit. I can’t be the only one who has thought this. Or that there was no need for a Gremlins 3-D.

Maybe now is the perfect time, given that anarchy is being co-opted for a surrealist ad-campaign. Maybe it’ll make more sense. Maybe the idea is now as trendy as the entity I am trying to repossess ownership from. Maybe I am a liar, a foolish punk rocker. Maybe my bitching is trendier than everything.

There is an alternate history being written of the music I love, written and left for dead at the hands of culture ghouls. For the last few years, I have watched and, at times, indulged. And had a lot of fun. Years from now, there will be another batch of kids revisiting rock’n’roll, starting bands according to the information that they have gleaned from the past. The artifact for them to touch and understand, for them to learn from, is a forgery. It is an impudent and unrepentant alternate history. Its allure has skewed the music’s innocence. Motivations have changed, confusing the music’s soul. That, in turn, has trickled down to some people who start bands. This alternate history wears like an ill-fitting shirt on the music’s eternal being, the tastemakers using prefab iconography for their own gain, and the inherent naiveté of the music itself and its players as their pop-culture ammunition. This artifact has and will be captured on high-end film, big tours, magazines, etc…. The hierarchy is in place with the competitive nature of sports and square lifestyles reigning over fun, integrity, sigils and community. In the end, it is the same machinery used in mainstream music that I stupidly thought most of us were against, maaaaan. And if you are not part of this private club? No crazy booking agents, shows, festivals, labels, magazines, TV, films…. Banished to invisibility by the ‘popular kids’. Fuck that jock shit. But I’m not saying I would want this music to stay small, like the guy who was into Band X before they got big, but rather to get it back to the ‘mainstream’ consciousness because of its merits and quality and rightful place in the hearts of everyone. Some bands have achieved this.

A lot of bands don’t know or have forgotten how things always were. When bands rode horses miles and miles into 3 feet of snow to play some crummy town for a pack of Popeye cigs and a California Raisins backpack at the mercy of a telegram. This is a small subgenre of music. Has been for years. And has always lived on. But if the vampires suck every last drop of life from the real thing in front of our eyes, this will never come back to life. It will be remembered as just another stupid trend, like skoth or skwing. Can we afford to have the anonymous bands, promoters, clubs… who are held upon the shoulders of the spirits ignored as the other history that time forgets? The history that actually sits upon a very real timeline, where thoughts, vision, sounds and fuckery have been passed along with care for years? Sincere rockabilly fans and 60’s garage purists haven’t blinked an eye, and continue to protect rock’n’roll by innocently using the untouchable camouflage of the ‘uncool’.

That being said, I am not defending expensive costumes, Sonics covers, wrestling masks, one-man bands, ‘trash’, zombies, ‘voodoo’, hipster stereotypes from any genre/music ‘lifestyle’, Del Taco, the desperate dressing by-the-numbers ‘cool’ to fit in, or shtick over songs. Do everything you can with soul. Wrap rock’n’roll up in the stink of sincerity so the tastemakers and the vampires cannot enjoy it. Confuse them. Shroud the music and disguise it. Smuggle it with love and knowledge, inside your body, mind and damaged colon. But how long can this method last, without condescension and irony tearing out the floorboards like cops?

I believe that the only way to protect its soul is to destroy it, in the hopes that the future generations will wash it off and resurrect/resuscitate it, relisten/revisit and let it flourish again. Destroy it before they destroy its soul for good, while we just watch, defeated, from our imaginary, elitist towers. This is my contribution. Like this planet, I believe rock’n’roll needs to die to live. This is my only protest. Fuck money, fuck politics, fuck the world. This is me, destroying the music I love and the life I live on my own terms. Can you hear its soul beating somewhere within? If not, good. My name is Marco Antonio Pepe and I am a liar.

Read this however you wish: a complaint from a bitter old rocker, a manifesto, lies and trickery, boredom, parody…prententious ass-grabbery, self-imposed alienation, a regrettable joke, provocation, a naïve plea… Tear at this stupid diatribe with your genitalia. Tear it to shreds so that you understand it is bullshit, but not without thought. But
Listen to the music.
Sometimes I love you.

I need anyone listening to this ‘performance’ to know now that this is how I sound live. This is what you will hear at my one-man shows. This. And although it was recorded in improvisation, and this was the first time I attempted to use a floor tom, cymbal and delay pedal, I LIKE this sound and will continue to do it, to your liking or chagrin. Folks know of my disdain for 95% of one-man bands, including my own at times. But I like what I am doing, now. I hope you do, too.

Mark

So much news!! Holy shit! What the FUCK am I doing to myself!?!? Hahahahaha…OK, so firstly, I dunno if I addressed this yet, but thanks to Rob and everyone at the Reverberation Appreciation Society for an awesome time at the Psych Fest show in Austin. Great folks, great bands, etc…Thank you.

What else have I been up to show-wise…Hmmm…Well, chronologically, my next shows are gonna be in SOUTH AMERICA!!! Starting NEXT WEEK!!

AUGUST
25 – Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL: Hula-Hula A-Go-Go @ Saloon 79
26 – Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL: A Obra Bar Dançante
27 – Goiânia, BRAZIL: Metropolis
28 – Porto Alegre, BRAZIL: Santander Cultural

SEPTEMBER
2 – Curitiba, BRAZIL: Wonka Bar
3 – São Paulo, BRAZIL: Clube Berlin 6th Anniversary Bash!!
9 – Valparaíso, CHILE: Bar La Cantera
10 – Santiago, CHILE: Bar Loreto
11 – Montevideo, URUGUAY: TBC

I am really stoked to be able to go back and see friends and visit such wonderful places, and play some shows with BlackNeedles. Gonna be so much fun! I hope to drink ayahuasca and eat a toucan. I DO know that I will be recording in Sao Paulo. Fucked up tropicalia meets synth meltdown meets doo-wop – fucking STOKED!!!

Right after South America, I go to Montreal, where I will be practicing with Les Sexareenos for our Pop Montreal gig! A reunion? Sorta, I guess. Just a bunch of friends playing for kicks – we might even record us a new single!

A few days earlier, I will be joining Bloodshot Bill for The Ding-Dongs’ second show EVER! At L’Esco! That will be wild!!

SEPTEMBER
20 – THE DING-DONGS at L’Esco
24 – LES SEXAREENOS at TBA (Pop Montreal)

Check out each band’s respective new facebook pages with full, up-to-date discographies to listen to and videos to watch.

Speaking of The Ding-Dong’s discography, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we have a new 4-song EP coming out on my newly revamped label, SULTAN RECORDS!!! Here is a link to its facebook page, with all the old stuff that was put out back in ‘98/’99 available to listen to. Some may sound dated, I dunno…but that’s what was up in Montreal (and Toronto), at the time.

I will add some new songs from these new Sultan releases in the next week or so!:

Mark Sultan Livin’ My Life (alt) / Pounding / Shadow With The Golden Eyes	The King Khan & BBQ Show We Are The Ocean / Terrapin	The Ding-Dongs Lucky Day / The Dump / Zach / Weekend

All are 7” 45rpm, all 1000 pressed (650 black, 350 white), all vinyl only. Distributed through Revolver & FAB. All other copies go to bands for sale. I won’t be doing mailorder, as I don’t have time. So go to your mom n pop’s and DEMAND them (they should be out in a few weeks) OR catch these bands on tour or wherever. MORE STUFF TO COME!!!

After these releases, or sometime during, will come this fantastic split 7” I did with Black Lips for Hozac.
Black Lips – ‘I Wanna Dance With You’
Mark Sultan – ‘Song In Grey (alt)’

Ok, so what then…AHHHH! My two new albums are coming out on In the Red in October. The two LPs are called ‘Whatever I Want’ and ‘Whenever I Want’. Both will be released with a limited colour vinyl run.

Here are the track listings:

SIDE A Axis Abraxas Livin’ My life Calloused Hands Graveyard Eyes Quit The Human Race Just For a Moment No Worries SIDE B Song In Grey If I Had a Polaroid Blood On Your Hands Just Like Before Repulse Me, Baby I Turned Them All Down Never Coming Home	SIDE A Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 1 In Future Worlds Satisfied And Lazy Pancakes Party Crasher Not Another Day See Them Wave Goodbye SIDE B Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 2 Let Me Freeze Apophis To the Slaughter Sweeter Than Wine For Those Who Don’t Exist	Axis Abraxas Satisfied And Lazy Song In Grey Just Like Before Calloused Hands In Future Worlds Let Me Freeze If I Had A Polaroid Never Coming Home Graveyard Eyes Party Crasher No Worries For Those Who Don’t Exist

And here is a little more about these albums:
“Mark Sultan has two new albums waiting to be released on vinyl in the US and beyond sometime in the fall on In The Red records out of Los Angeles, California. The names of the albums are ‘Whatever I Want’ and “Whenever I Want’, respectively, with a CD release entitled ‘Whatever/Whenever’ following their heels containing 7 songs from each album, 14 of a total 26. The songs are in a similar vein that he has mined of late (and for years): early rock’n'roll, psych, avant garde, free jazz, doo wop, early r&b, garage punk, punk rock, etc… thrown in a pot and simmered over his incredible vocals. Covers of such artists as Ultravox, The Stains, The Four Lords and a couple more round out the collection. Collaborators include Choyce (Red Mass), Jared (Black Lips), Cole (Black Lips), Erin (Spits), Danny (The Gories), etc…”

I will be adding songs from the new albums onto this site and also the player on this facebook page. When and how many? Could be now and again. Could be as many as I please. Best advice is to check.

These albums will be followed in the Spring by the rerelease, but as far as I am concerned REAL, OFFICIAL release of my 2010 album ‘$’, which was totally left for dead by people who gained my trust and shit on it, as well as one more NEW ALBUM. These, too, will be released simultaneously.

And ya, in the fall I will be doing a Canadian/US tour. All I can say for now is that it starts in late October in the Canadian West and goes everywhere else, including Puerto Rico, finally. I can also tell you I am playing this awesome festival:

I will announce these finalized tourdates in the coming weeks.

SEE YOU ALL SOON. XO
Mark

twitter | facebook

Write me for interviews and In Ihe Red for promo.

a) Livin’ My Life (alt. mix)
b) Pounding
Shadow With The Golden Eyes

audio samples forthcoming!

a) Lucky Day
The Dump
b) Zach
Weekend