Quick Facts
Biography
Mark Stanley (born November 7, 1968) is an experimental musician based in Maryland, USA. A multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, his primary instrument is guitar, on which he touches a wide mix of styles, including jazz, psychedelia, post-punk, art rock, avant-pop, and avant progressive rock. As a visual artist he is known as Mark Mason Stanley.
Stanley has been working with members of The Muffins since his first recording, "Disconcerto" by Chainsaw Jazz (1993). He has performed live with The Muffins, 9353, Chainsaw Jazz, Clutch, Kristeen Young, Spookey Ruben, and Troy Van Leeuwen. Stanley was a founding member of the band Handsome (band) with Peter Mengede. He co-fronts the band Farquhar with Mark Smoot, is the bandleader of Mark Stanley and The Droogs and has recorded under the pseudonyms Pig Manikin, Johnny Foodstamps and Levitating Pam.
Education
Stanley studied at Berklee College of Music before graduating from NYU with a degree in Jazz Studies. His private teachers include Wayne Krantz, Hal Galper, Bruce Arnold, Charlie Banacos and Paul Bollenback.
Family
Mark Stanley is the 2nd cousin of Owsley Stanley, the great grandson of Augustus Owsley Stanley, Pierce Crosby, and Otto Hilgard Tittmann and is the great great-grandnephew of William Owsley.
Discography
Stanley has released ten recordings as a bandleader:
- "Living Machine" (2000)
- "Insect Warriors" (2002) featuring Dennis Chambers, Mark Egan and Sean Rickman
- "Blueberry Submarines" (2002)
- "Humans" (2004)
- "9 Volt" (2004)
- "Gift Ideas For The Universe" (2005)
- "Taste The Magic" (2006)
- "Oceanic Fields" (2013)
- "Dark Brain" (2014) featuring Oz Noy, Jean-Paul Gaster (Clutch), Peter Fraize and Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra),
- "NYANDERTHAL" (2016)
Farquhar
His band Farquhar has made three records distributed on Cuneiform Records
- "Farquhar" (1999)
- "Meadow Full Of Serpents" (2005)
- "Dreamshit" (2012)
Love and Rockets
- "Lift" (1998) Lift (Love and Rockets album)
Spookey Ruben
- "Bed and Breakfast" (2001) Bed and Breakfast (album)
Clutch
- "Pitchfork" (1991) Pitchfork (album)