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Ampage lead singer and bassist Mark Mason was seriously injured
Saturday while competing in the California Ironman 70.3 in San Diego. 









| Metal / Hard Rock (2007-06-28) | |
Hard Rockers Ampage Celebrate 'Future Days Gone By' |
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Ampage's hard driving, dynamic, yet melodic new CD release, "Future Days Gone By" is in fact, a 15 song anthology celebration of both the best of their hits from two of their three previously released albums, (?Iron Horse?, and ?Falling Higher?), and also features 5 previously unreleased tracks, and 1 brand new song, delivering to fans over 20 years of all the best of Ampage dating from 1986 to 2007.
Like most great bands remaining successful for multiple decades, (which is no easy feat amongst the vast competition of both legendary performers and the many hot up and coming acts in the music industry), Ampage has undergone over the years several band personnel changes, (which can ultimately make or break any band,) but Ampage has remained strong and dedicated throughout those changes, to spite all the 'bumps' in road of a touring hard rock band, to bringing to their fans nothing less than high quality, high caliber, and incredibly dynamic rock performances both live on stage and in the studio; as reflected on their previously released albums, which can be attested to by their multitudes of fans worldwide.
The personnel changes that Ampage has experienced and undergone over the years, (which can prove deadly for some bands), some of which include the switch of lead guitarist Mark Englert, (of Dramarama), who joined Ampage in 2001, replacing guitar legend Earl Slick (of David Bowie and John Lennon fame,) and Loren Molinare (of Little Caesar), and original drummer Michael Kroeger who rejoined Ampage replacing Rick Allen (Def Leppard), actually serve as an asset on the sizzling new CD, "Future Days Gone By" as it provides extra thrill factor and star attraction for fans, as fans can enjoy the best performances of ALL of the great performers who have contributed to the great sound of Ampage during their time performing with this outstanding band; plus all the powerful prowess of the Ampage's current line up, all on this one hard driving double CD release.
Changes over the years to the line up of Ampage have been aplenty, so fans can expect to be thoroughly well rocked on Ampage's new CD, "Future Days Gone By", by such prolific performers as Gary Busey... Yeah, that Gary Busey! Highly acclaimed actor in such movies as The Buddy Holly Story, in which incredibly, Busey performed all the guitar and vocal performances himself in his role in that film. Gary Busey has also starred and is well known for his performances in such films as: Lethal Weapon, A Star is Born, The Hitchhiker, Point Break, Eye of the Tiger, Predator 2, amongst many others. Besides Busey's immense talent as an actor, he has also been quite successful in the music industry and is also a highly skilled drummer, guitarist and vocalist and served as a drummer/percussionist by billing himself as Teddy Jack Eddy, having played percussion for such greats as Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson, amongst others. Gary Busey, who makes a guest appearance on the beginning of the CD's song "D Day", in the preacher's monologue.
Gary Busey performed with Ampage and fans can enjoy Busey's performances with the band Ampage, featured on Ampage's 2001 released CD "Falling Higher," as well as on Ampage's new CD, "Future Days Gone By". ...Some of the other stellar and/or legendary performers which performed with Ampage and can be heard on both their previous releases as well as featured on "Future Days Gone By" include such great performers as: Rick Allen of Def Leppard, Michael Monarch of Stepenwolf, Earl Slick of Bowie and John Lennon, John Easedale of Dramarama, John Taylor of Duran Duran, actor/musician Jeff Conaway of Taxi, and Grease as well as other outstanding musicians who have contributed to the great sound of Ampage over the years. Incidentally, Jeff Conaway was the producer of all of the MTV videos for Ampage in the 1990?s.
Besides all the great past performers of the band which have taken their place in music history with the band Ampage, Ampage's current line up proves equally as impressive and talented in both the studio and on stage. Ampage's current stellar line up consists of:
Mark Mason- Lead Vocals and Bass: Founding force of the band, Mark is also a prolific songwriter with many credits ranging from television, to major movies, such as: "I'm Dangerous Tonight" in 1990, "Bikini Summer II" in 1992, in which Jeff Conaway, (also of Ampage), also starred and directed. Mark's songwriting talent was featured also in the in the 1994 NBC Movie of the Week Robin Cook's "Mortal Fear". In 1999, Mark Mason along with Rick Allen, (world renown drummer for Def Leppard), wrote and recorded the theme song for the Disney Movie "Brink".
To add to Mark's impressive list of professional credits, he is also recognized for his work collaborating with other musical greats as Tommy Shaw of the legendary rock band Styx, and with songwriter Wes Arkin of Guns & Roses fame, to name just a few Mark's many credits throughout his illustrious long term professional career as a songwriter and musical performer. The remarkable versatility, total pro creative adaptability and high quality of Mark's style of songwriting and vocal and bass musicianship, has earned Mark wide recognition amongst many of the music and movie industry's elite as being a "musician's musician".
When Mark isn't on stage you will probably find him swimming, biking, and running. He trains between 2 - 4 hours a day in between band rehearsals, recording and concerts. Mark has competed in triathlons and ironmans all over the world.
Mark Englert- Guitars: Besides Mark Englert's melodic, yet blistering hot lead guitar licks with Ampage, Mark Englert is also well renown for his work with the band Dramarama. And has been featured on VH1's "Bands United", as well as featured on MTV's "Alternative Nation" and "120 Minutes", and has made a number of television guest appearances on such television shows as: Late Night With David Letterman, The Dennis Miller Show, as well as two live performances on The Joe Franklin Show. Mark's musical performances has also been featured in a number movies as well, such as: Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Mayor of the Sunset Strip, The Dream Master, and Higher Learning.
After performing on 10 albums between both Dramarama and Ampage, and just as many tours to promote those albums, Mark is a well seasoned veteran musician with more than enough experience to know what it takes to deliver to any audiences a show they won't soon forget.
Dave Swendig- Keyboards Dave Swendig is also well known for his work with the band Hell N' Back, as well as a measurable success in his own solo career, releasing "Sands of Time" in 2005. Dave joined Ampage shortly after, adding his mastery on keyboards and backing vocals, and an even larger presence on stage and in the studio to Ampage's already immense sound with Dave's signature style on keyboards, and to the dynamic showmanship of Ampage's live performances.
Michael Kroeger- Drums Another of the original founding forces of Ampage, Michael Kroeger is back with the band, (after being filled in for by Rick Allen of Def Leppard), and is a lead footed force to be reckoned with on drums. Michael's thunderous capabilities on drums can heard on Ampage's second album, "Iron Horse" which was released in 1997. Mike brings his (greased) lightening to the stage, and can be experienced by fans in Ampage's electrifying live performances.
With all of the musical credits and featured appearances of the world renown performers who have contributed to the sound of Ampage, which can be heard on their sizzling new CD, "Future Days Gone By", no doubt, this CD is destined to become one of the most celebrated albums of 2007. But the real party starts with their upcoming tour to promote the CD, which is at present, being organized by "music industry's man with the plan," Tony Saldano, CEO of the respected and renown T&T Management & Booking Agency, which is one of the top names in management and booking, both in the US and worldwide, as Ampage is exclusively signed with T&T Management and Booking Agency.
And
of course, Tony Saldano is not called "the man with the plan" for
nothing, as right now, he is working on putting together a massive
tour, aligning Ampage up to co-headline along side with some of the
biggest legendary names in the history of hard rock, in T&T's
Management & Booking Agency's "80's Hot and Heavy Tour". In the
planning, are such legendary artists as: Def Leppard, Jackyl,
Cinderella, Great White, Poison, Ratt, Skid Row, Spinal Tap, Vince Neil
of Motley Crue, and Slaughter; as well as lining up dates for Ampage's
own tour which is also in the planning to be kicked off this fall, in
which you can catch both the sizzling, dynamic performances of Ampage
headlining, along with some of T&T Management & Booking's red
hot new additions to their roster, such as fast rising LA band,
Shameless, which also has been recently signed exclusively to T&T
Management & Booking Agency's roster, and is on tour to promote
their brand new CD, "Now Playing" on 909 Records, as well as some of
the other outstanding new acts signed to this agency.
NOW THAT'S A PARTY!!! ...Consider this YOUR written invitation to attend the celebration!
Team Fox member and Ironman Mark Mason is in Kona, Hawaii for the Ford Ironman World Championship which will take place this Saturday, October 10. The Ironman triathlon includes a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run!
Not only is Mark an incredible athlete, taking on one of the greatest athletic challenges, he is also a talented musician. As the lead singer of the rock band Ampage, Mark and his bandmates have written and recorded a song titled, “Ironman Sam.” The song will be played on two radio stations in Hawaii over the race weekend and 1/3 of all the proceeds from sales of the song will be donated to Team Fox!
NEW AMPAGE SINGLE FEATURES DEF LEPPARD'S RICK ALLEN ON DRUMS
November 4, 2009
AMPAGE lead singer/bassist Mark Mason competed at the 2009 Ford Ironman
World Championship in Kona Hawaii. Mason and his band Ampage also wrote
and recorded "Ironman Sam", which features Rick Allen of Def Leppard on
drums, to commemorate this event.
This song features Mark Mason on bass and lead vocals, Rick Allen of
Def Leppard on drums, Mark Inglert of Dramarama on guitar and Pamela
Mason on backing vocals. Rick Allen recorded the tempo of the drums to
Mason's running pace of an 8 minute mile. The song is 8 minutes long.
All proceeds from this song will be donated to the Michael J. Fox
Foundation For Parkinsons. Mason wrote and recorded this song to
celebrate getting picked to compete in the Ford Ironman World
Championship in Kona this year. "This is a dream come true for me" says
Mason, "I wanted to give back to a sport that has given me so much."
"Ironman Sam" can be purchased at this iTunes link.