Mark Keds

Mark Myers
Also known asMark Keds / Hammerton
Born(1970-10-28)28 October 1970
London, England
Died11 January 2021(2021-01-11) (aged 50)
Genres
Occupation(s)songwriter, vocalist, guitarist
Instrumentguitar
Years active1986–2020
LabelsEpic, Speedowax
Websitehttps://www.deadcuts.com/

Mark Myers (28 October 1970 – 11 January 2021),[1] better known as Mark Keds,[2] was an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, from Twickenham, London, best known for leading the bands Senseless Things and Deadcuts.[3] Kerrang! hailed him as a "prolific musician" and "unvarnished talent".[4]

Biography

[edit]

Keds began playing music with future Senseless Things members Morgan Nicholls and Cass Browne in the early 1980s,[5] initially in the bands Wild Division and the Psychotics.[6] They formed Senseless Things in 1986, completing the line-up with the addition of Ben Harding in 1987. The band released four studio albums and a Peel Sessions album between 1989 and 1995, had two Top 20 singles, and toured internationally.

In 1995, Keds briefly joined the Wildhearts, and recorded on the B-sides to the top 30 "Just in Lust" single. He also formed the new band Jolt with Lenie Mets from Senseless Things' touring partners Mambo Taxi, and drummer Spike T Smith; Jolt released a mini-album and a series of EPs and singles between 1996 and 1998. In 2004, the Libertines released the single "Can't Stand Me Now", written by Pete Doherty with Mark Keds[7][8] which reused lyrics from Jolt's "Hey Kitten" single.[1]

After Jolt, Keds formed the Lams (originally called Trip Fontaine), while curating the "Bring Your Own Poison" night at Whitechapel's Rhythm Factory venue,[7] and an accompanying compilation of bands that had played the club.[9][10] By the late 2000s Keds was playing in the band Like a Bitch, although the Lams later released an album, Anarchy Or Death, in 2011.

In 2012, Keds and Jerome Alexandre formed Deadcuts, initially with members of The Wonder Stuff and Miranda Sex Garden, releasing two albums: Dark is the Night (2014) and Hit on All Sixxes (2018); and a series of singles between 2013 and 2019.Other members included Cass Browne (Senseless things /Gorillaz) and collaborations with Alabama 3’s Reverend Wayne Love and Hip hop moguls Flatbush Zombies and Kane Grocery’s [11] In 2018, Keds recorded a track with The Herbaliser which appeared on their album Bring Out The Sound.[12]

Death

[edit]

Keds died on 11 January 2021, at the age of 50.[13] He had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[14]

Selected discography

[edit]

with Senseless Things

[edit]
  • 1989: Postcard C.V. (album)
  • 1991: The First of Too Many (album)
  • 1993: Empire of the Senseless (album)
  • 1994: Peel Sessions (compilation)
  • 1995: Taking Care of Business (album)
  • 1998: The Singles (compilation)

with the Wildhearts

[edit]
  • 1995: "Just in Lust" EP[15] (tracks rereleased on P.H.U.Q. - 2010 reissue)

with Jolt

[edit]
  • 1997: Punk Jungle Rules (mini-album)

with the Libertines

[edit]

with the Lams

[edit]
  • 2011:Anarchy or Death (album)

with Deadcuts

[edit]
  • 2014: Dark is the Night (album)
  • 2018: Hit on all Sixess (album)
  • 2016: “Aries” Flatbush Zombies featuring Deadcuts (single )

as Mark Keds

[edit]
  • 2016: "Candle for Nietsche" (EP)

with the Herbaliser

[edit]
  • 2018: "Twenty Years to the Day" on Bring Out the Sound album (featured vocalist)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Senseless Things' Mark Keds has died, aged 50". NME. 11 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Senseless Things' Mark Keds has died, aged 50". 12 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Senseless Things Singer Mark Keds Has Died, Cause Of Death Unconfirmed". Clash Magazine. 12 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Senseless Things' Mark Keds: An Obituary". Kerrang!.
  5. ^ "We chatted to Mark Keds and Cass Browne from SENSELESS THINGS about their London reunion show, new material and their back catalogue..." musomuso.com.
  6. ^ "Senseless Things".
  7. ^ a b "Deadcuts First Contact • WithGuitars".
  8. ^ "(no subject)". 21 May 2005.
  9. ^ "Album Review: Various - Bring Your Own Poison: The Rhythm Factory Sessions". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Various : Bring Your Own Poison: Live At The Rhythm Factory | NME". NME. 12 September 2005.
  11. ^ "Deadcuts announce new album for 2018". www.gigwise.com.
  12. ^ "20 Years To The Day ft Mark Keds | The Herbaliser". Theherbaliser.bandcamp.com. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Senseless Things | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  14. ^ "Mark Keds died of COPD according to coroner - a very personal eulogy from band member Jerome Alexandre and many other musicians celebrating him | Mark Keds - eulogy". Louderthanwar.com. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  15. ^ "The Wildhearts - Just In Lust". Discogs.
  16. ^ "The Libertines – Can't Stand Me Now (2004, CD)" – via www.discogs.com.
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