Mark Gemini Thwaite: Guitarist

MarkGT was live and studio guitarist for TRICKY (ex-Massive Attack) between 1998-2008, recording guitars on 'Mission Accomplished EP (2000), 'Blowback' (2001), and 'Vulnerable' (2003) and contributed guitars to Tricky's new album 'Knowle West Boy', released in Europe in July 2008.

BIOGRAPHY 1998-2008

MGT joins Tricky as guitarist in March 1998, in preparations to tour and promote Tricky's new album 'Angels with Dirty Faces', released on Island Records May 26, 1998.

The first single was a duet with PJ Harvey called "Broken Homes", released on May 11, 1998 in the UK. The first part included the b-sides "Anti Histamine", "Money Greedy", and "Taxi". The second part had the hip hop mix, as well as "Money Greedy" and "360 Degrees".

The band warmed up with a short club tour of the USA in May 1998, covering the south east coast, which was followed by shows at the London Forum, PinkPop festival in Holland, then a short European Tour, followed by a main stage appearance at Glastonbury98 festival, alongside Blur and Robbie Williams. The band also appeared on 'Later with Jools Holland' in the summer alongside Smashing Pumpkins, The Creatures and Simply Red, where they performed 'Broken Homes' with PJ Harvey, plus a rock version of 'The moment I feared'. The band returned to the USA for a major 6 week tour during July/August, including live band appearances on David Letterman (with PJ Harvey again) performing 'Broken Homes' and the Chris Rock show performing 'Carriage for two'...

During the US tour November/December98 Tricky is asked to remix 'Judgement Day' by Method Man (Wu Tang Clan) and drafts Mark into the studio to add some guitars to the mix... this remix single was released in March 1999 on Def Jam Recordings...

The British tour scheduled for October 1998 was cancelled due to health problems suffered by Tricky... the band reconvened for a 5 week US tour in November /December 1998... the band re-emerged for a European tour during June/July 1999, as well as concerts in Japan and Turkey (cancelled due to the earthquake) in August... The new Tricky album JUXTAPOSE was released on 13th August 1999.

A US tour is planned for September/October 1999, which Mark passed on due to touring commitments with THE MISSION, newly reformed for a Resurrection tour of the USA and Europe in 1999... Mark rejoined the Tricky band for the 'Blowback' recording sessions & world tour during 2000/2001. MGT then went on to record guitars on Tricky's second album for Epitaph; 'Vulnerable' was recorded mostly at Cherokee studios in Los Angeles and released in May 2003.

MGT performed at Tricky's Los Angeles show at the Mayan theater on 3rd October 1999 (in between Mission tour rehearsals in Orange CA) By all accounts it was a fun show... Mark rejoined Tricky and band for a one-off show at the 205 club in New York City on New Years Eve 1999... MGT also contributed guitars to Tricky's remix of 'Judgement Day' by Methodman (Wu Tang Clan) at Soundtrax studio in New York..

MARCH 2000 :
MGT lends his guitar expertise in the recording studio in West London in March 2000 for the new TRICKY album 'Blowback' for new European record label Epitaph. Mark and the band are currently recording tracks for a new Tricky EP called 'Mission Accomplished'...

SEPTEMBER 2000: MGT travels to New York USA at the beginning of September for 2 weeks to record guitars on 8 new Tricky songs for his new album 'Blowback'. Further recordings are planned with the full Tricky band lineup of Perry Melius (drums), Wayne Nunes (bass), Gareth Bowen (keyboards/samplers) and MarkGT in a London studio at the end of September. Tricky signs to Hollywood Records in the USA.

"<Tricky's> remix of Method Man's "Judgement Day", the lead single from Tical 2000 showed that in collaboration his work could be adapted to this genre. Credited to Tricky alone, it featured touring guitarist, Mark Thwaite (The Mission/New Disease) playing live on the mix. It's this element that makes it work; the rickety bassline, the loose rhythm guitar and the Indian melody line hacked from some longer guitar noodling all serve to support Methodman with an up-tempo rhythm.. This was the last of the Tricky remixes/productions which were actually of any worth": STYLUS MAGAZINE - TRICKY BIOGRAPHY

NOVEMBER 2000: Before the next leg of the Mission Recon2000 tour in November, Mark has been busy recording with Tricky and producer Rob Cavallo (who also produced Green Day / Goo Goo Dolls / Alanis Morrisette). While you're waiting for the recording to be released, it's worth mentioning that MGT's debut recording appearance on a Tricky release will be on the 'Mission Accomplished' EP due for release by Epitaph in Europe sometime in October/November.

Aside from the EP tracks, there are a further 14 recorded due for release Summer 2001. This is the first Tricky release Mark has featured on since joining him in March 1998 (although Mark did record guitars for the remix of "Method Man (Wu Tang Clan)" single. The new Tricky studio album 'Blowback' is due for release summer 2001.

Mark performs live with Tricky and band at two shows in California in April 2001. Tricky's appearances at the San Francisco Fillmore (26th April) and the Coachella Festival (28th April) are the first live performances by the Tricky band since New Years Eve 1999. The Coachella festival line up includes Janes Addiction, Chemical Brothers, Iggy Pop and Fatboy Slim.
Mark also recorded guitars on 8 tracks on Tricky's new album 'Blowback', which is scheduled for release this summer. Amongst the songs recorded, Mark appears on 'Girls' alongside performances from Anthony Keidis and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Mark also appears on a track with Alanis Morrissette. Other artists to contribute to the album include Ed Kowalczyk from Live and Cyndi Lauper. 'Blowback' is scheduled for release in Europe on June 25th (Anti/Epitaph) and 17th July in the USA (Hollywood records).

'Blowback' includes a collaboration with Tricky & Anthony Keidis, John Frusciante and Flea of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, plus a version of 'Something in the way' by Nirvana. The first single from the album, 'Evolution Revolution Love' features Ed Kowalczyk from LIVE.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2001: TRICKY TOUR WITH TOOL IN NORTH AMERICA
Tricky band appear as special guests to TOOL for 6 week North American tour. Tricky appears with Tool most nights contributing vocals, and Maynard James Keenan, Adam Jones and Justin Chancellor get onstage and jam with the Tricky band. Maynard also appears with Tricky to sing 'You don't wanna' by Tricky on one show. Tricky also appears in the 'Parabola' Tool video released summer 2002.

AUGUST 2002: NEW TRICKY ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS (Vulnerable)
MarkGT & the Tricky band (Gareth Bowen, Perry Melius, Wayne Nunes) returned to Cherokee studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles during July/August 2002 to record guitars on 16 new tracks for Tricky's next studio album 'Vulnerable' for Epitaph records (Europe), due for release May 2003. The last Tricky album Mark collaborated on ('Blowback' 2001) has now gone gold in several countries including Canada, France and Australia.
'VULNERABLE' was released in summer of 2003. Featuring MarkGT guitar contributions on 8 tracks (although curiously only credited on the sleeve notes on four tracks) the album was generally received with mixed reviews. Tricky later partied company with his European label ANTI/Epitaph; the album later received a North American release through Sanctuary USA, though no live tour was booked to promote it. Mark left the Tricky band during 2003 to concentrate on his new solo project NEW DISEASE.

Mark rejoins Tricky and his live band in July 2006 for rehearsals in the UK, for a series of live festival performances in Europe and a slated American tour in August 2006. This includes a headline appearance at the Vila De Mouros festival with Iggy Pop and the Stooges in Portugal in July 2006. The US tour is later rescheduled tentatively for early 2007 as Tricky commences work on a new studio album. MGT is enlisted to record guitars on 5 new studio recordings in California in April 2007 for Tricky's as yet untitled and unreleased studio album, tentatively scheduled for late 2007 release on Domino records.

Mark's latest collaborations with UK artist TRICKY can be heard on the brand new studio album 'Knowle West Boy'. This is the eighth studio album by the maverick UK artist Tricky, and the third album release to include guitars by MGT since Mark started performing with Tricky in 1998.

Named after his place of birth (Knowle West), the album is a personal rediscovery of sounds and influences.Mixing hip hop, punk, reggae and rock with his own inimitable style, results in a broad yet intense record.