Marco Mendoza
Encyclopedia
Marco Mendoza is an American
musician. He spent his formative years living with his grandmother in Tijuana
, Mexico
. He started playing the guitar at an early age, adopting the bass when he was invited to join a band that needed a player.
Mendoza played in John Sykes
' band Blue Murder, from 1991 until 1993. Mendoza is the bassist
for the reformed version of Thin Lizzy
with whom he is touring Europe throughout 2011. Mendoza joined the band in 1996 then left in 2000. From 2000 to 2003 he toured with Ted Nugent
. Mendoza returned to Thin Lizzy in 2005 replacing Randy Gregg and left again in 2007. He then toured with ex-Dokken
guitarist George Lynch
in his band Lynch Mob. After John Sykes
' departure from Thin Lizzy 2009, Scott Gorham
set to work on creating the greatest lineup of Thin Lizzy since Phil Lynott
's passing. Rejoining him are old band mates Brian Downey
(the only founder of the band now playing) and Darren Wharton
. New to the lineup are Def Leppard
guitarist Vivian Campbell
and former The Almighty vocalist Ricky Warwick
. After months of pre-production and rehearsals, the band issued a press release about their new lineup in May 2010. This version of Thin Lizzy started an extensive world tour in January 2011 and is scheduled to continue for the foreseeable future.
Mendoza has also played for the band Soul SirkUS
and with a lot of other musicians from different backgrounds including: Suzy K, Right Said Fred
, Robert Williams, Roch Voisine
, Rafael Aragon, Debby Yeager, Tin Drum and Tommy Shaw
, among others.
In 2004 Mendoza toured with Whitesnake
, another band that once featured Sykes (and also features Aldridge), and appears on their DVD Live... In the Still of the Night. In 2004, Mendoza guested on keyboardist Derek Sherinian
's solo album Mythology
.
On July 6, 2007, Mendoza released his first solo album Live For Tomorrow
, through Frontiers Records
in Europe. The record was produced and co-written by Richie Kotzen
and features guest performances by Steve Lukather
, Ted Nugent
, Doug Aldrich
, Tommy Aldridge
, Brian Tichy
, Marco Renteria (Jaguares) and others.
Mendoza has five children, Marco Renteria (bassman in award winning Jaguares and played on Mendoza's Live For Tomorrow), Aaron, Ava, Faith and Max. He married his current wife Leah on December 2, 2001.
Mendoza is a well-known supporter of gun rights. He enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping, and the general outdoors. Mendoza is commonly known to hunt with fellow musician and frequent collaborator Ted Nugent
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. He spent his formative years living with his grandmother in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He started playing the guitar at an early age, adopting the bass when he was invited to join a band that needed a player.
Mendoza played in John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
' band Blue Murder, from 1991 until 1993. Mendoza is the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for the reformed version of Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
with whom he is touring Europe throughout 2011. Mendoza joined the band in 1996 then left in 2000. From 2000 to 2003 he toured with Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
. Mendoza returned to Thin Lizzy in 2005 replacing Randy Gregg and left again in 2007. He then toured with ex-Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
guitarist George Lynch
George Lynch
George Lynch may refer to:*George Lynch *George Lynch *George Lynch...
in his band Lynch Mob. After John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
' departure from Thin Lizzy 2009, Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham is an American guitarist and songwriter who rose to international recognition as one of the "twin lead guitarists" of the Irish-formed rock band, Thin Lizzy...
set to work on creating the greatest lineup of Thin Lizzy since Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
's passing. Rejoining him are old band mates Brian Downey
Brian Downey (drummer)
Brian Michael Downey is an Irish drummer.Downey is the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, and a friend from childhood of co-founder and frontman Phil Lynott. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in...
(the only founder of the band now playing) and Darren Wharton
Darren Wharton
Darren Wharton is a British keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He has fronted his own band, Dare since 1989, but first came to attention as a member of Thin Lizzy.-Biography:...
. New to the lineup are Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
guitarist Vivian Campbell
Vivian Campbell
Vivian Patrick Campbell is a Northern Irish rock guitarist who is a member of Def Leppard and was, from May 2010 to November 2011, a member of Thin Lizzy. Prior to joining Def Leppard in April 1992, he had been a member of Whitesnake, Sweet Savage, Trinity, Riverdogs, and Shadow King...
and former The Almighty vocalist Ricky Warwick
Ricky Warwick
Ricky Warwick is possibly best known as the frontman for the Scottish band The Almighty. Starting out as a rhythm guitarist in New Model Army, Ricky formed The Almighty in 1988. Warwick was the lead vocalist and played guitar in various formats of the band. In 1996 he left The Almighty...
. After months of pre-production and rehearsals, the band issued a press release about their new lineup in May 2010. This version of Thin Lizzy started an extensive world tour in January 2011 and is scheduled to continue for the foreseeable future.
Mendoza has also played for the band Soul SirkUS
Soul SirkUS
Soul SirkUS is a band that initially featured singer Jeff Scott Soto, guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Marco Mendoza, and drummer Deen Castronovo.-History:...
and with a lot of other musicians from different backgrounds including: Suzy K, Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred is an English pop band, formed in 1989 by brothers Richard Fairbrass and Fred Fairbrass, later joined by their friend Rob Manzoli. The group is named after a song of the same name which was a hit for Bernard Cribbins in 1962...
, Robert Williams, Roch Voisine
Roch Voisine
Joseph Armand Roch Voisine, OC better known as Roch Voisine, is a Canadian Acadian singer-songwriter, actor, and radio and television host...
, Rafael Aragon, Debby Yeager, Tin Drum and Tommy Shaw
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
, among others.
In 2004 Mendoza toured with Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, another band that once featured Sykes (and also features Aldridge), and appears on their DVD Live... In the Still of the Night. In 2004, Mendoza guested on keyboardist Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
's solo album Mythology
Mythology (Derek Sherinian album)
Mythology is the fourth solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. Sherinian again draws upon some of the greatest talent from the worlds of rock and jazz music...
.
On July 6, 2007, Mendoza released his first solo album Live For Tomorrow
Live for Tomorrow
Live for Tomorrow is the first solo album of Marco Mendoza. It was produced and co-written by Richie Kotzen, who also recorded most of the guitar tracks and made several vocal appearances...
, through Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:...
in Europe. The record was produced and co-written by Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.At a young age, Richie Kotzen was taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by the band KISS to learn the electric guitar...
and features guest performances by Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
, Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
, Doug Aldrich
Doug Aldrich
Doug Aldrich , is a Los Angeles-based hard rock guitarist, since 2003 a member of Whitesnake. He founded the band Burning Rain with Keith St.John in 1998 and has played previously with the bands Dio, Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, and Bad Moon Rising...
, Tommy Aldridge
Tommy Aldridge
Tommy Aldridge is a veteran heavy metal and hard rock drummer. Aldridge is noted for his work with numerous bands and vocalists, most notable being Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Whitesnake, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy.Self taught, Aldridge was inspired by Cream,...
, Brian Tichy
Brian Tichy
Brian Tichy is a drummer, guitar player, vocalist and songwriter. He is currently the drummer with Whitesnake. Previously he was the drummer for Foreigner from 2009 until 2010, when he was replaced by Jason Sutter. Tichy began playing drums at age eight and started playing guitar at age 12...
, Marco Renteria (Jaguares) and others.
Personal and current life
Mendoza lives in Huntington Beach and, when not touring, has played with his band Mendoza, Heredia, Neto on Tuesday nights at La Ve Lee Jazz Club in Studio City. The band has recorded a live CD.Mendoza has five children, Marco Renteria (bassman in award winning Jaguares and played on Mendoza's Live For Tomorrow), Aaron, Ava, Faith and Max. He married his current wife Leah on December 2, 2001.
Mendoza is a well-known supporter of gun rights. He enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping, and the general outdoors. Mendoza is commonly known to hunt with fellow musician and frequent collaborator Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
.
Discography
- 2004 MythologyMythology (Derek Sherinian album)Mythology is the fourth solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. Sherinian again draws upon some of the greatest talent from the worlds of rock and jazz music...
- 2004 Live... In the Still of the Night DVD
Tribute albums
- 1999 Little Guitars: A Tribute to Van Halen
- 2000 Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica
- 2001 Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute
- 2002 Pigs and Pyramids: An All Star Lineup Performing The Songs of Pink Floyd
- 2002 One Way Street: A Tribute to Aerosmith
Other collaborations
- 1990 Ward One: Along the WayWard One: Along the WayWard One: Along the Way is the debut solo album from Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward. Originally released January 10, 1990, and features a wide array of guest musicians, including then-former Black Sabbath band member Ozzy Osbourne.-Track listing:...
with Bill Ward - 1993 Nothin' but TroubleNothin' But Trouble- Track listing :All tracks by John Sykes except "Itchycoo Park" by Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriott# "We All Fall Down" - 4:47# "Itchycoo Park" - 3:46 # "Cry for Love" - 6:57# "Runaway" - 5:58# "Dance" - 4:08# "I'm on Fire" - 4:45...
- 1994 Screaming Blue Murder with Blue Murder
- 1995 Real World with Tin Drum
- 1995 Out of My Tree with John SykesJohn SykesJohn James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
- 1996 Feels Good with Michael Ruff
- 1996 Smashing! with Right Said FredRight Said FredRight Said Fred is an English pop band, formed in 1989 by brothers Richard Fairbrass and Fred Fairbrass, later joined by their friend Rob Manzoli. The group is named after a song of the same name which was a hit for Bernard Cribbins in 1962...
- 1996 Kissing Rain with Roch VoisineRoch VoisineJoseph Armand Roch Voisine, OC better known as Roch Voisine, is a Canadian Acadian singer-songwriter, actor, and radio and television host...
- 1997 LovelandLoveland (album)Loveland is a studio album by John Sykes, it also includes a '97 version of "Please Don't Leave Me" with Phil Lynott. The song "Don't Say Goodbye" was dedicated to John Lennon.-Track listing:#"Everything I Need" - 4:03#"Didn't We Say" - 4:11...
- 1997 Sugar Cane with Rafael Aragon
- 1998 Date with the Devil's Daughter with Robert WilliamsRobert Williams (drummer)Robert Williams is a drummer and solo artist who has worked with Captain Beefheart, Hugh Cornwell, John Lydon and Zoogz Rift as well as recording solo.His albums include:*Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band:...
- 1998 7 Deadly Zens7 Deadly Zens (album)- Personnel :* Tommy Shaw: all guitars, mandolins, baritone guitars* Ted Nugent: lead guitar on tracks 1 & 12* Jeffery "C.J." Vanston: Hammond B-3, Wurlitzer & Fender-Rhodes electric pianos on tracks 2, 3, 8 & 10...
with Tommy ShawTommy ShawTommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums.... - 2000 20th Century with John SykesJohn SykesJohn James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
- 2000 One Night OnlyOne Night Only (Thin Lizzy album)One Night Only is a live album by rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 2000. Thin Lizzy had reformed in 1996 for a series of gigs marking ten years since the death of singer/songwriter/bassist Phil Lynott. Latterday Lizzy guitarist John Sykes now took the lead vocal while Marco Mendoza was recruited...
Thin LizzyThin LizzyThin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums... - 2000 Into the LightInto the Light (David Coverdale album)Into the Light is the third solo album by David Coverdale. In between 1978 and 1997, Coverdale and his band Whitesnake produced 10 studio albums...
with David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:... - 2001 Full Bluntal NugityFull Bluntal NugityFull Bluntal Nugity is a live album by Ted Nugent, recorded on New Year's Eve at Ted Nugent's annual Whiplash Bash in Detroit, MI.-Track listing:#"KLSTRPHK" [Instrumental] - 3:59#"Paralyzed" - 4:27#"Snakeskin Cowboys" - 5:58...
with Ted NugentTed NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career... - 2002 CravemanCravemanCraveman is an album by Ted Nugent released in 2002. The name is a portmanteau of the words crave and caveman.The album continues the trend, started in the mid-1990s, of Nugent returning to the rawer, harder-rocking sound that made him famous in the 1970s...
with Ted NugentTed NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career... - 2004 MythologyMythology (Derek Sherinian album)Mythology is the fourth solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. Sherinian again draws upon some of the greatest talent from the worlds of rock and jazz music...
with Derek SherinianDerek SherinianDerek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X... - 2005 World Play with Soul SirkUSSoul SirkUSSoul SirkUS is a band that initially featured singer Jeff Scott Soto, guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Marco Mendoza, and drummer Deen Castronovo.-History:...
- 2006 Live... In the Still of the Night with WhitesnakeWhitesnakeWhitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
- 2007 Are You Listening? with The CranberriesThe CranberriesThe Cranberries are an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, later changed by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. The band currently consists of O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler...
' vocalist Dolores O'RiordanDolores O'RiordanDolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. She led The Cranberries to worldwide success and fame for 13 years before the band took a hiatus in 2003. Her first solo album Are You Listening? was released in May 2007... - 2009 Play My GamePlay My GamePlay My Game is the debut solo album by vocalist Tim Owens. Many well known musicians perform on the album. Play My Game was released by Steamhammer/SPV on May 15, 2009 in Germany, May 18, 2009, in Europe and May 19, 2009 in the US and Canada....
with Tim "The Ripper" Owens - 2009 No BaggageNo BaggageBonus Track Version Bonus Track Version B-Sides-Reception:No Baggage received mixed or average reviews upon its release, receiving a 45/100 critic score and a 6.5/10 user score on MetaCritic...
- 2009 Smoke and MirrorsSmoke and Mirrors (album)Smoke and Mirrors is the fifth album by rapper O.C. of the D.I.T.C. crew and the second album he released in 2005.The album features no guest appearances at all and is fully produced by the relatively unknown Mike Loe from The Bronx except for the track "I'm Da Boss" which is guest-produced by...
with Lynch MobLynch Mob (band)Lynch Mob is an American band featuring former Dokken guitarist George Lynch, who has been the band's only permanent member. The rest of the original band which featured Oni Logan, Anthony Esposito and Mick Brown have come and gone, and in some cases, come back.-1989 Formation:Lynch Mob was formed...
With John Sykes
- 20th Century (1995)
- Out of My Tree (2000)
- 20th Century (2000)
- Nuclear Cowboy (2003)
- Bad Boy Live! (2005)