marcus king
30 Signature Guitars for Modern Artists
For decades, having a signature guitar was reserved for classic rock legends — the Claptons, the Hendrixes, the Pages, the SRVs and EVHs. But that’s no longer the case. From pop-punk to heavy metal, alt-country to neo-soul, modern artists of all genres and backgrounds are getting signature guitars from companies big and small. Among the titans of the industry, that intentional shift came with a new generation being put into decision-making positions. “When I started, it was largely classic rock and very much a pantheonic Hall of Fame,” Fender’s Executive VP for Products Justin Norvell says of the early 2000s. “It was an end-of-an-iconic-career kind of thing. But it was my feeling that it should be something that people can use to reflect back upon themselves. A Telecaster can mean James Bu...
Marcus King Rocks Through the Pain on Dan Auerbach-Produced Young Blood
Marcus King is all of 26 years old, but he plays rock’n’roll as if he was genetically engineered in a laboratory from bits of Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons and Stevie Ray Vaughan. King’s music feels timeless, especially when he’s laying waste to concert stages with his longtime mates in the Marcus King Band. A different side of King emerges on his solo albums, the newest of which, Young Blood, arrives Friday (Aug. 26) as the first in a new deal with Rick Rubin’s American Records/Republic. The project re-teams King with the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who previously produced King’s 2020 solo album El Dorado. Both that album and Young Blood were recorded at Auerbach’s Easy Eye studio in Nashville. This time around, King is backed only by bassist and longtime Auerbach collaborator Nic...
Marcus King Teams With Desmond Child on New Single
Marcus King has released a new single, “Blood on the Tracks,” co-written with famed songwriter Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Kiss, Aerosmith). The song, accompanied by a music video filmed at Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio, follows King out of a toxic relationship and onto a metaphorical train to start anew. [embedded content][embedded content] The video for “Blood on the Tracks” maintains the ’70s road movie feel of King’s music. Bursts of guitar and kick-heavy drums build upon the artist’s recently released single “Hard Working Man,” with the addition of a flute that brings to mind The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.” The nostalgia-fueled tale of personal liberation suggests Easy Rider or Thelma & Louise with a happy ending. “Blood on the Tracks” reflects ...
Marcus King Announces Dan Auerbach-Produced New Album
Guitarist Marcus King will release his next album, Young Blood, on August 26 as his first in a new deal with Rick Rubin’s American Records/Republic. The project re-teams the 26-year-old phenom with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. who previously produced King’s 2020 solo album, El Dorado. Both that album and Young Blood were recorded at Auerbach’s Easy Eye studio in Nashville. Unlike El Dorado and King’s three earlier albums backed by his regular live band, Young Blood is a trio record featuring bassist and longtime Auerbach collaborator Nick Movshon and drummer Chris St. Hilare, who played percussion on El Dorado. The album’s first single, “Hard Working Man,” is a thumping love song with classic ‘70s rock vibes and one of King’s kookiest choruses to date. [embedded content][embedded content]...
