Mark Morton (guitarist)

Mark Morton
Morton performing at Rock im Park 2015
Morton performing at Rock im Park 2015
Background information
Born
Mark Duane Morton

(1972-11-25) November 25, 1972
Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1989–present
Labels
Member ofLamb of God
Websitelamb-of-god.com markmortonmusic.com

Mark Duane Morton (born November 25, 1972[1]) is an American musician who is the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the heavy metal band Lamb of God.[2]

Early life and influences

Morton grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia.[3] He got his first acoustic guitar during his youth.[4] Morton found the blues early on and was first inspired to play guitar after hearing Eddie Van Halen. Morton was also influenced by British blues guitarists such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Some of his other personal influences include Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Hanneman.[5][6]

Before college, Morton played guitar in Killing Cycle, a high school thrash metal band with drummer Joey Huertas and singer Chris Marrow. The band performed at local venues and recorded four original songs at a studio Morton found. It dissolved when Marrow enlisted in the Marines, and Morton left for college.[7]

Career

Lamb of God

After graduating from Lafayette High School.[8] Morton then attended Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia where he met John Campbell, Chris Adler, and Matt Conner the four of them started a band named Burn the Priest in 1994.[9] Soon after the band formed Morton left the group to pursue a masters degree in hopes of becoming a college professor.[10] However he ultimately returned to the band in 1997, and following multiple lineup changes, they recruited vocalist Randy Blythe and released their eponymous 1999 debut under their original band moniker, Burn the Priest. When guitarist Abe Spear left and was replaced by Adler’s younger brother, Willie, the group renamed itself Lamb of God. They signed with Prosthetic Records in 2000 and released New American Gospel in September of that year.[11]

Since then Morton and Lamb of God have gone on to become a significant band in the metal genre, releasing ten albums under the name Lamb of God and two under Burn the Priest.[12][13] They have produced two gold records for Ashes of the Wake (2004) and Sacrament (2006). They have also received five Grammy nominations in the Best Metal Performance category.[14]

Morton also composed the music for the bands 2013 documentary As the Palaces Burn.[15]

Morton (right) with Axis, circa 1988

Solo career

In December 2018, Morton announced his solo debut album, Anesthetic to be released on March 1, 2019, through Spinefarm Records. A single from the album titled "The Truth Is Dead" was released following the announcement and features Morton's Lamb of God bandmate Randy Blythe as well as Arch Enemy frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz on vocals.[16] The album also features a posthumous collaboration with late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington,[17] which was teased all the way back to April 2017.[18] The song titled "Cross Off" was released as the album's second single on January 8, 2019.[19] "Cross Off" quickly became one of his most popular songs and reached the top 10 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Chart peaking at number 7.[20]

In December of 2019 Morton announced he would release a five song EP featuring collaborations with Lzzy Hale , Howard Jones, John Carbone and Mark Morales.[21] It was later released in January 2020.

On January 16, 2025 Morton released a new single "Hell & Back" featuring Jaren Johnston.[22] The album Without the Pain was later released in April of that year and featured a country rock style.[23] The album featured multiple collaborations with the likes of Isbell, Grace Bowers, Charlie Starr and Cody Jinks. Guitar World wrote on the album stating "beyond the guest stars, Morton’s bluesy chops and soulful solos make it stick."[24]

Gear

Morton with Full Force 2007

Morton has a large guitar collection with his first guitar being a 1975 Deluxe Les Paul that was hacked up for humbuckers. Morton had a longstanding relationship with Jackson guitars that spawned a line of Dominion signature models. However in September of 2022 it was announced that Morton had signed with Gibson.[25]

In February of 2026 his first signature Gibson guitar called the Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt was released.[26]

Personal life

Morton and his first wife had their first child, in 2009 a daughter named Madalyn. However she died the day after her birth due to a bacterial infection contracted during delivery.[27] Morton has another child with his first wife, born in 2010, and one with his second wife, born in 2021.[28][29]

Morton's memoir, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was released on June 25, 2024, which delves into his personal and professional life, including struggles with addiction, grief, and the music industry. Morton reveals that writing the memoir was a therapeutic process, allowing him to reflect on and make sense of his experiences.[30]

Morton lives near Richmond, Virginia, with his wife and children.[31]

Although Morton previously struggled with alcoholism and an opiate addiction he has since recovered and now lives a sober lifestyle.[32]

Discography

Solo

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Airplay
[33]		 US
Main.
[34]		 US
Rock
[35]		 US
Hard Rock
Digital
[34]
"The Truth Is Dead"
(featuring Randy Blythe and Alissa White-Gluz)		 2018 — — — — Anesthetic
"Cross Off"
(featuring Chester Bennington)		 2019 25 7 37 11
"Save Defiance"
(featuring Myles Kennedy)		 — — — —
"All I Had to Lose"
(featuring Mark Morales)		 2020 — — — — Ether
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

With Burn the Priest

With Lamb of God

References

  1. 1 2 "Mark Morton Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ Demasi, Vincent (January 1, 2007). "All God's children: Lamb of God's Willie Adler and Mark Morton spread the gospel of American metal". Accessmylibrary.com.
  3. ↑ "Book Review - Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir By Mark Morton". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Lamb of God's Mark Morton: My 1st Guitar Was an Acoustic. I Never Stopped Playing It". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ McIverpublished, Joel (February 18, 2016). "Under The Influence: Mark Morton". Louder. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Jeff Hanneman Dead at 49: World Loses a Giant SLAYER - Metalholic". Metalholic. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ Morton, Mark; Opipari, Ben (2024). "Killing Cycle". Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir. Hachette Books. chap. 5, pp. 63–67. ISBN 978-0-306-83098-3.
  8. ↑ "Lafayette High School Celebrates 50th Anniversary". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. October 9, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ Villano, Freddy. "Lamb of God's Adler, Morton & Campbell: Wrath Reborn - Premier Guitar". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Remembers Leaving the Band to Pursue Master's Degree: 'I Was Going to Be College Professor'". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ New American Gospel - Lamb of God | Album | AllMusic, retrieved March 30, 2026
  12. ↑ Pementel, Michael (June 18, 2020). "Lamb of God's Self-Titled Effort Is the Album of Their Career | Review". Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ "The 'Big 4' Bands of 2000s Metal". Loudwire. September 19, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ "LAMB OF GOD Scores Fifth Grammy Award Nomination in Best Metal Performance Category for "512"!". Horror Society. December 8, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ wookubus (February 23, 2013). "Lamb Of God's Mark Morton Shares Track From His Score For The Bands Upcoming Documentary". Theprp.com. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ "LAMB OF GOD Guitarist's 'Anesthetic' Solo Album To Feature Guest Appearances By LINKIN PARK, PAPA ROACH Members". Blabbermouth. December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  17. ↑ Kaufman, Spencer (December 14, 2018). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton to release album featuring Chester Bennington, Randy Blythe, Myles Kennedy, and more". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  18. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl (April 12, 2017). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Collaborating with Linkin Park's Chester Bennington". MetalSucks. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  19. ↑ brownypaul (December 18, 2018). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton announces solo collaborative album 'Anesthetic' featuring a STACK OF GUESTS!!!". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  20. ↑ Kaufman, Spencer (March 5, 2019). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton unveils video for "Cross Off" featuring Chester Bennington: Watch". Consequence. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Announces 2020 Solo EP 'Ether'". Loudwire. December 21, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ Adams, Gregory. "Hear LAMB OF GOD guitarist MARK MORTON's new Southern rock blazer "Hell & Back"". Revolver. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Album review: Mark Morton – Without The Pain". Kerrang!. April 7, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  24. ↑ published, Andrew Daly (August 25, 2025). ""He handed me that famous pink Strat. That riff is the first thing I played – it had that riff in it. I'm lucky to be the guy it came out for": Mark Morton on his all-star solo album feat. Grace Bowers, Tyler Bryant and a perfect solo from Jason Isbell". Guitar World. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  25. ↑ published, Amit Sharma (August 1, 2023). ""The first guitar that I really fell in love with was a Les Paul – going to Gibson felt very full circle because that's where I started": Mark Morton on his future with the guitar giant, his enviable vintage collection and touring with Pantera". Guitar World. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Introducing the Gibson Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt". Gibson. February 3, 2026. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  27. ↑ Blabbermouth (June 26, 2024). "LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON Says Chapter About Passing Of His Daughter Was 'Hardest' One To Write In Memoir". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  28. ↑ Blabbermouth (March 28, 2022). "LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON Says His Two Daughters Are His 'Biggest Accomplishment'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Shares Daughter's Wholesome Reaction to His Guitar Playing". Loudwire. July 26, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  30. ↑ DiVita, Joe (June 27, 2024). "Lamb of God's Mark Morton Talks Writing Memoir 'A Fun, Little, Mellow Book About Desolation'". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  31. ↑ Morton, Marks (June 2024). Desolation. Hatchett. pp. 300–301. ISBN 0306830981.
  32. ↑ Blabbermouth (December 27, 2024). "LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON Celebrates Six Years Of Sobriety". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Chester Bennington". Billboard.
  34. 1 2 "Mark Morton". Billboard.
  35. ↑ "Mark Morton". Billboard.

Further reading

  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Mark Morton at Wikimedia Commons
  • Mark Morton at AllMusic
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.