of the choruses, I hope. I hope we just have a fantastic time.
[ WM ] That’ s great. I love it. And lastly, what are your guitars of choice, both electric and acoustic?
[ John Mark ] On the album I used a 90’ s Gibson 335 electric guitar. Most of the rhythm electrics are that guitar and Gabe’ s Strat. And then for acoustic guitar I got a late 40’ s Gibson J45. I don’ t take it on the road. And those are two of my favorite guitars. On the road though, I’ ve got an Elliott Tonemaster. It’ s a jazzmaster, but built by a custom builder in North Carolina, A guy I’ ve known for a long time. And I got a Japanese Telecaster with upgraded pickups. And then I just bought a Blueridge acoustic guitar. my whole life. And as a 7-year-old, I couldn’ t say this, but now I realize those two feelings are the two tenets of the Christian faith. Love God and love your neighbor. And I’ d felt that as a 7-year-old, I joke and say that I had achieved theological completion at seven years of age.“ All My Life” is from that moment and realizing that that thread has continued throughout my whole life, even when I didn’ t realize it or want it or is even running away from it. It was with me the whole time. That’ s where that song really comes from. It’ s from that moment and realizing that that thread has continued throughout my whole life, even when I didn’ t realize it or want it or is even running away from it. It was with me the whole time.
[ WM ] Thanks for that descriptive of“ All My Live”. The production on the project is superb. I’ ve only met Gabe( Wilson) once. It was back when he was in Rock and Roll Worship Circus, and they played up in the mountains of Southern California near my house close to 20 years ago. And I had a lovely visit with him. I have a huge level of respect for his giftings. So did you track in North Carolina?
[ John Mark ] We tracked initially at a studio called Echo Mountain in Asheville, North Carolina. That studio is somewhat of a famous studio, but it’ s built in an old church in downtown Asheville. We did overdubs at Gabe’ s home studio.
[ WM ] You’ re in the midst of a sizable national tour. What’ s your hope for the new songs that you’ ll be introducing all over the country?
[ John Mark ] Man, I hope the greatest hope for any song is that someone else would embrace it and make it their own. And so that’ s what I hope is that when we sing these songs that I get to see other people singing. The best part of what I do, is being able to be in rooms with people and hear them sing. It’ s just indescribable to be on a stage and hear those words come back at you and feel like,“ oh, the Lord used me to offer this moment to this wonderful group of people, and they’ ve taken it, and it doesn’ t belong to me anymore. And they’ ve run with it”. That’ s the greatest thing. So that’ s what I hope. I hope people take these songs. I hope they sing‘ em with their families and sing‘ em in the car and sing them in churches. And I hope they come out to the shows and just scream their faces off on some
I was playing a bunch of the new Martins, and they’ re fine, but they didn’ t seem to have the ones I was picking up that I could afford or that I felt comfortable with. I wanted a guitar that I’ m not afraid to take on the road because a guitar is a tool and I don’ t want to damage it, but I also don’ t want to be afraid. I want to be able to bump it and not worry about it. If we’ re having a good time and things are going well, then. So anyway, I was blown away at the personality of the Blueridge, so that’ s the one I’ m taking out on the road.
And lastly, I just got a brand new red, Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar ®, I actually bought it for the Cosmic Supreme Tour. I thought it looks like the cosmic supreme guitar!
[ WM ] Yeah. Well, listen, it’ s been really great visiting with you.
[ John Mark ] Thank you. Thank you so much. It was a joy to talk to you. I hope I gave you some good material.
[ WM ] You did! God bless you and keep you and yours on the tour! 12 May 2025 Subscribe for Free...