John Erskine, 1st (or 6th) earl of Mar

• Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s
• Genres: Rock
• Instrument: Vocals, Drums

Biography

Singer, songwriter, and drummer John Mars began performing professionally around the last wave of the free-love '60s. His first trip to a recording studio happened in 1972, when he was a member of a rock & roll group known as the Martians. During his long career, Mars also recorded with Brian's Children, Stuart Broomer, and the Children. In the '90s, he went solo and completed two new albums to add to his credits.

During his childhood, Mars was influenced by many artists, including Elvis, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Eddie Cochran, Dick Clark Five, and Little Richard. Like many young boys, John Mars did his own impersonations of his favorite rock stars, singing along and playing air guitar or pounding out rhythms on whatever object was solid enough to take the beating. About the time he hit his teens, he got his first real drums and sticks. Drum lessons came next, and soon his music teacher helped Mars land spots with groups like the Young Rascals and Martha & the Vandellas.

Mars, still a teen, gathered up a couple of friends around 1970 to form the Martians, also known as John Mars and the Martians. Other members were guitarist Stan Baka and bassist Kevin Cosman. The group landed gigs when and where it could, playing a mixture of cover tunes from popular groups of the period like the Stones and Captain Beefheart. With time, the band came up with some original numbers also, before splitting. Baka was killed by a drunk driver a few years later.

In 1973, Mars, on his own again, found an interest in jazz and the blues. He spent some years sitting in with a few Toronto jazz groups, before joining forces with Stuart Broomer, in 1979, to form a duo that lasted for nearly a full decade. The team recorded one full-length album together, Annihilated Surprise. Mars was also working with the rock & roll group Brian's Children during this same time, recording a couple two-sided singles. The group disbanded, then re-formed with new members and a new name, the Children. It recorded one album, Electric Playground, in 1989. There were many changes in the lineup during the life of this group, but in the end, things feel apart for good.

In 1992, Mars recorded a debut solo album, Hay Waggon Inn, that was only released on cassette. His next endeavor was to from the group Natural Born Lovers, with friend and guitarist Mike Ardelli. Mars enjoyed the roots rock type music the group performed, but it was a short-lived pairing. This time it was a brain tumor that snatched the partner and friend from Mars.

It took seven long years for him to do a sophomore solo offering. The album, Whasup?, hit the stores in 1999. A few of the 13 tracks from the album are "When Do You Come Back," "I'll Never Do You Wrong," "Friday Night Gig," "Pristine Christine," and "Nervous Breakdown." ~ Charlotte Dillon, All Music Guide

Whasup? Buy this CD