Interview With Frank Marino
Published December 31, 2004
MuzikMan: You do not have a large catalog of recordings for someone that has been in business so long, is there a particular reason for that? Are there many recordings that have not reached the light of day yet? I am sure some of those unreleased tracks will turn up on the remastered series released next year on your new label Justin Time?
Frank Marino: Well, I'm not sure you could call my catalog small, though perhaps it isn't as voluminous as some others. I did 3 albums for 20th Century Fox, 7 more for Columbia, and about 5 other ones for different labels. That's about one every two years on average. That's apart from the special package records or appearances on other records. I think I'm on something like 27 albums in all. But I don't like to make records on a year-by-year basis like I was forced to do when on Columbia. I prefer to take whatever time I want and only make an album when I feel like I have something I'd like to record. My old manager, David Krebs, used to tell me that he thought I was more like a novelist than a rock-musician, and I agree with that. There are things that no one has heard, and perhaps one day they'll see the light of day.
MuzikMan: You can talk about your equipment-what kind of guitars you prefer and what kind of recording process there was with the live album?
Frank Marino: I build my own amps, based on Fender amplifiers. But in the studio I use Marshall as well. Live, I almost never use the Marshalls. I did get a few modified Marshalls from a guy in Sweden named Tommy Folkesson, and he does the best mods I've ever heard, if you want the Marshall sound. I will only use his Marshalls, but I also have an original slightly modded one from the 70's that I will also use from time to time. My guitars are primarily Gibson SG Les Paul's, 1961-1/2. I've got a few other models of SG, but they're all modded to play like the 61's. I use the occasional Strat and Telecaster, but I prefer the feel of the Gibson.
It's funny, but so many people hear my sound and think I'm playing on a Strat through a Marshall, but most of the time I'm not. As a matter of fact, most of the time I don't even use tubes... I use transistor-based power amps, like Crown. Even in the 70's, they thought I was using Marshalls for my live album when I was using Acoustic 270's, head and bottom. But now my modded pre-amp (which I do myself) is tube-based, and my power amp is still transistor. My pedals are less in number than they were in the old days... I used to have 22 of them on my board, and everybody used to give me grief over playing with pedals... now everyone plays with pedals and I hardly ever turn them on. But I mod each one of them myself... they just sound like crap out of the box, no matter which one you buy, it seems.
- Interview With Frank Marino
- Published: December 31, 2004
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- Section: Music
- Writer: MuzikMan
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Comments on this articleComments
My husband and I, have both always been huge Frank Marino fans. I was fortunate to have been acquainted with Frank in the 70's. My husband enjoyed the article and the new info. Do you have the official website for Frank? I have some photographs from M.R. concerts he might enjoy seeing. My husband also is interested in finding the latest CD (not including the live CD) from FM for
purchase. We have collected almost all
of his works. So happy to hear FM is happy and has found the grace of our God!
I cannot believe that Frank Marino is still an underrated guitar player. He is miles ahead of so many others.
I admire him for not selling out his principles. Rest assured, over time, more and more people will get to know his music. Once you hear his music, you will be hooked. Hats off to Justin Time for releasing Real Live!
Do you love superb improvising rock and roll? Then check out this album.
It is so comforting to know Frank is doing well. Have been a fan for 30+ years and his skill at improvisation only seems to have gotten better. I am trying to turn my hip-hop rapping kid into a fan. I hope he can make it down to Texas when he tours again.
I need some fresh memories. ROCK ON!
Frank Marino is most impressive and provides a musical adventure that will leave you hungry for more. Truely astonishing preformances and sound to blow your mind. I hope his next album comes out soon and perhaps he might include a live recent version of The Answer which he left out on Real Live!!!Imagine him on 12 string gutair electric rock with a violin bow!!!
god bless the greatest guitar player of all time. jimi is all smile, please come to texas.
I checked out www.mahoganyrush.com and sure enough, the entire catalogue is right on there streaming. I listened to stuff I hadn't heard in years, and the music is still hot! To think that Eric Johnson, SRV & Steve Vai came along so much later. Frank was doin' the Hendrix genre a long time ago.
THE MOST UNDERRATED GUITARIST OF ALL TIME!
New Real Live-cd is amazing and I still can´t figure out how he can do those things with his guitar. I read an interview from a Swedish magazine and frank said that there´s gonna be some guitar signed by him, a frank model. Does anyone kwow anything about that?
I have been A Frank Marino fan since the 70's & collecting large amounts of Rock material from all over the world; I have never had the opportunity to see FM live on stage but just from listening to him on records it make's your imagination go wild.
Under estimated guitarist you say.... well my opinion is once you hear Frank Marino play there is no place for underestimation but only true admiration.
It's the Crappie record companies that are underestimating great artists such as Frank & therefore I thank humanity for inventing the Web so we die hard rockers can still find good music made by genius artist such as Frank Marino.
A DVD capturing FM playing live is a must; I certainly will be first in line to purchase it.
God Bless Frank Marino.
Rafi,
Israel
Frank Marino is the best guitarist in this planet I hope to see him live again its been kinda boring with out franks music it would be awesome to see frank jam with G3 which is joe Satriani, Steve Vai well all I can say more is that I love you man Frank your the best God bless you and your family and good luck with your music...
We were blessed to see Frank perform in Cleveland on Oct 17, our wedding anniversary. Three and one half hours of pure pleasure! We then went to Pittsburgh and saw him again on Oct 20. By the way, we live in south Florida! Frank is the best, purely amazing.
i have been a fan of frank marino for more than thirty years it was such a pleasure to see the new live cd appear after so many years.I"ve had the opportunity to see frank many times, but I am still looking forward to the next. I live in the Wash.D.C. area so please frank come back soon!
Hey,
I just did a google search on Frank M., and to my surprise, I came across the interview. I have thought about the music, and what may have happened to the band for some time. I saw Frank M. and MR in the late 70's w/Kansas at Rupp arena in Lexington, KY. I remember traveling back to my hometown in Russell Springs Ky. that night w/my cousin, and two other friends at the time. My cousin and I thought that the style and performance by Frank M. & MR was great. The other two thought we were outside the box "if you will" however we were involved in playing, and listening to rock music at the time. I'll never forget the feeling I had that this guy has a personal touch with his guitar and I can feel, and see it. I bought several albums over time and studied the music to a degree. Also a had a concert tee-shirt a wore for some time. I later sold all of my records and tapes to be able to have some money to get married. Well, time (24 years later, the google search revealed that Frank was still out there). I wish you well Frank if you read this, and may God bless you and your family. Good luck with your music as well.
Keith A.
Louisville, KY.
Frank is a stand-up guy. A better man than the rest of the industry. He has kept his morals and standards and that is far more important than all the greenback that has plagued most. Over 30+ years Frank and still diggin' it. God bless to you and family.
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I'm delighted to find this interview with my favorite underappreciated guitar artist of all time. Also happy that Frank had that great surprise of finding out how many of us out here love the music his spirit makes.
Play on.