Mark Richardson (musician)

Personal life

In 1973, aged three, whilst living in Dunblane, his grandmother bought him a tin drum for Christmas. Richardson first played a proper kit aged six at his friends house. This became his first kit in 1976, (a Ludwig Junior).

Richardson lived the first seven years of his life in Leeds and grew up playing golf and rugby from the age of 5 and went on to be a competent golfer and played rugby union for East Yorkshire.

Richardson played in bands throughout his school years with his best friend and guitar player Phil Lavery.

Richardson is a passionate biker and completed Enduro Africa a 2,500 km bike ride across South Africa to raise money for the charity, Riders For Health, Enduro India (2,500 km from Goa to the Kerala Backwaters) Experience Africa with Riders For Health (1,500 km) in 2011 and 2014, competed in the 12-hour Dawn To Dusk, numerous Hare and Hound events across the country at clubman level achieving 3rd place in the Desert Rose Hare and Hounds championship in 2012. His dream is to complete the Africa Eco Rally (the original Paris-Dakar route).

Richardson makes a cameo appearance as a bouncer in the 2009 movie, Souled Out.

Little Angels (December 1991 – July 1994)

In 1991 he moved to London to join Little Angels after Michael Lee left to join The Cult. Matt Sorum had left The Cult to join Guns and Roses after their drummer, Stephen Adler, had allegedly been kicked out due to his growing drug habit. Richardson's first ever professional engagement was with the Little Angels on the 'Jim'll Fix It' show, a kids prime time TV show that helped children fulfil their dreams. Hailing from Scarborough, Little Angels were tipped for success and in 1992 wrote and recorded Jam, the bands 3rd record on Polydor. It entered the UK album charts at number 1. Despite touring extensively in Europe, stadium supports slots with Bryan Adams, Van Halen and Bon Jovi, adding to their already large fan base in the UK, the band split in the summer of 1994.

b.l.o.w (June 1994 – May 1995)

As well as Richardson, the band consisted of Bruce John Dickinson (guitar) and Jimmy Dickinson (keys), who were both members of Little Angels, vocalist Dave Gooding and bassist Nicky Boyes. b.l.o.w. released their first "mini" album, Man And Goat Alike, within 5 months of getting together. The album itself was recorded over a mere four days at Jacob's Studios in Surrey. b.l.o.w. was soon out on the road, playing alongside the likes of Thunder and famously held a competition to stay at fans houses because they couldn't afford hotels. Feeder supported them on this tour in support of their first EP 'Swim.' Presenting a distinctly "homegrown" image, b.l.o.w. issued demo tapes to fan club subscribers & released their first mini-album through mail order in music magazine Kerrang! before it was available in the shops.

Skunk Anansie (August 1995 – 2001 and April 2009 – present)

Richardson joined Skunk Anansie in August 1995 after meeting them at the Kerrang! Awards. Skunk Anansie were looking for a permanent replacement for Robbie France so an audition was set up and Skunk were reborn. His first job with the band was to record some movie soundtrack music for the film Strange Days followed by the video for Charity. His first gig with the band was the Leeds Heineken festival. Skunk went on to tour extensively around the world, covering the globe many times over the next six years. Most notable support tours were Therapy? and Lenny Kravitz in Europe and Sevendust, Rollins Band, Rammstein in the US. Skunk Anansie enjoyed success in the UK Charts with three Top 20 albums. Richardson played drums on their second album Stoosh in 1996 and their third album Post Orgasmic Chill in 1999. These albums were both certified platinum and gold in the UK respectively, and both sold over five and a half million copies worldwide. Richardson also plays on the tracks from Paranoid and Sunburnt at Skunk's live shows. Richardson re-joined Skunk Anansie, after playing two gigs in April at the Water Rats venue in Kings Cross, London. A singles compilation Smashes and Trashes was released in November 2009 with a tour to follow. 2010 saw the band record a brand new record 'Wonderlustre' followed by a European arena tour and festival season of 45 festivals in 2011. Black Traffic followed in 2012 and Skunk hit the road again in Europe and playing more arenas and another 40 odd festivals in the summer of 2013. In September 2013 they played a sold out acoustic show at London's Cadogan Hall and released 'An Acoustic Skunk Anansie Live In London' to critical acclaim. The band again hit the road in Europe in support of the release.

Feeder (January 2002 – April 2009)

In January 2002, Feeder's drummer Jon Lee committed suicide in his Miami home. Richardson was asked by Feeder's frontman—Grant Nicholas—to be the new drummer with the band. Richardson had previously worked with Feeder when they supported b.l.o.w. as well as Skunk Anansie. His first gig with Feeder was a warm-up for the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2002, at the Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms on 21 August. Richardson recorded drums on 2002's Comfort In Sound, 2005's Pushing the Senses, tracks for 2006's The Singles album and 2008's Silent Cry. All of these albums including Comfort in Sound (his first album with Feeder) made the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. On 6 May 2009, it was announced that Feeder had 'ended their partnership' with Richardson after seven years.

Sessions

Sunna, Amy Macdonald, Globus, Ace, Feeder, Skin

Endorsements

Zildjian cymbals Tama drums Remo drum heads Vic Firth drum sticks Roland] electronics Stageworks accessories Protection Racket drum cases Triumph Motorcycles

Music Support

Richardson is a co-founder of the charity Music Support 'when I got sober in 2003 there was no information for people wanting to be sober in the music business. Almost 60% of entertainment industry workers have sought help for mental health issues and 40% of those have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness. so myself and my best mate Johan Sorensen (also of Portobello Behavioural Health), tour manager Andy Franks and music business professional Matt Thomas created Music Support. The (soon to be) charity is a non-profit collective of volunteers and professionals providing help and support for individuals in any area of the music industry suffering from addiction, emotional or mental health issues.'

Drum accessories

Richardson is a co-founder of Tunerfish Lug locks, a drum small accessory which prevents detuning of the tuning bolts.

Bam Bam Productions

Richardson set up Bam Bam Productions in 2014 with Adam Pain and Clive Cherry to film the video content for the Detroit Institute of Music Entertainment. The production company now 'makes music videos in the low to mid range budget bracket.'