Born in Northern New Jersey, and further corrupted in the Billy Joel immortalized city of Allentown, PA, Composer/Guitarist Mark Dannells was drawn to music as far back as he can remember. After playing in several local bands in high school, his quest to make this profession his life long career led him to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Post graduation, he joined several touring bands such as Fear Glory and Nantucket that performed hundreds of dates over the next several years. His playing eventually received national attention and he was invited to audition for such acts as Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Mark, along with his bandmates in Blacklight Posterboys and Fox 5 Creative Services director John Kukla, were presented with an EMMY in the spring of 2000. The award was for the song "Have A Nice May" that Mark co-wrote and produced that was used by the Atlanta Fox affiliate to promote their May sweeps week. He is also involved with production and composition for various artists, and has worked with the companies Placement Music and Audiosocket to produce music for such shows as Anthony Bourdain's "The Layover' and Drop Dead Diva.
In 2001, Dannells was asked to join Atlanta based Elektra Recording artists Brand New Immortals, a band that included former Black Crowes, Train and current Lynryd Skynyrd bassist Johnny Colt and singer/guitarist (now with John Mayer) David Ryan Harris. Dannells has also played with producer/singer/songwriter Butch Walker, GRAMMY® nominated singer/songwriter Angie Aparo, and multiplatinum rockers Skid Row.
Currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Mark performs constantly with various incarnations of the the PleaseRock music collective, including the ever popular Yacht Rock Revue. In addition to their sold out headlining shows across the US, they have acted as a back up band for artists such as Eddie Money, Rick Derringer, Bobby Kimball (Toto), Mickey Thomas (Starship), Steve Augeri (Journey), Matthew "Break My Stride" Wilder, Gary "Dreamweaver" Wright, Robbie "Steal Away" Dupree, Peter Beckett and Ron Moss (Player) and Walter "Magnet and Steel" Egan. In early 2020, Yacht Rock Revue released their first full length album Hot Dads in Tight Jeans that not only broke the Billboard Top 200, it was featured in articles by Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Spin, and The Wall Street Journal.
When the entire touring industry came to a halt in spring of 2020 because of COVID-19, Mark expanded his skillsets by producing a series of guitar themed videos called "Monkeyboy's Six String Strings of Smooth", and narrating for audiobooks. Since October of 2020, he currently has several audiobooks available on Amazon/Audible with more in production.
For a more in depth performance bio, please read the following:
2019- PRESENT
THE BURNED OVER
Occult themed "Baphometal" band formed with former GWAR vocalist Kim "Vulvatron" Dylla. Debut Ep to be released in 2025.
The Burned Over Official website
2019-PRESENT
THE BLOODY WOLVES OF VENICE
Atlanta hard rock supergroup consisting of Mark Dannells, John Driskell Hopkins (Zac Brown Band), Greg Lee (YRR), Mike Rizzi (5/8, Tony Lewis), and Mick Murphy (Chevy Metal). 5 song EP released in 2019, and music is featured in 2019 indie film "Adolescence".
Bloody Wolves of Venice EP at Apple Music
Official Video for "Baby" by The Bloody Wolves of Venice
2007-PRESENT
YACHT ROCK REVUE/PLEASEROCK
Guitarist for several groups under the PleaseRock Music Collective.
Including:
-Yacht Rock Revue- Wildly successful tribute to late 70s/early 80s soft rock. Voted "Best Overall Musical Act" in 2010 and "Best Cover Band" in 2011-2015 for Atlanta's Creative Loafing Best of Poll. Performances in front of thousands monthly between tour dates, festivals and private events.
Yacht Rock Revue at Pleaserock.com
Yacht Rock Revue on Facebook
-Please PleaseRock Me- Beatlesology tribute that spans the career of the fab four, solo material and notable covers.
Please PleaseRock Me at PleaseRock.com
-Rockfight & Live Albums- Sets from Led Zeppelin, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, etc. Also perform complete records such as Dark Side of the Moon, Sgt. Pepper, Thriller, Led Zeppelin IV and Purple Rain.
2006-PRESENT
THE GREATER VAVOOM
Popular Atlanta Based Indie Rock/Electronica act. Full Length CD "Hot Gold" Released in 2008. Notable performances include opening for STP/Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland, and headlining official Lady Gaga Atlanta Aftershow.
The Greater Vavoom on Facebook
"Hot Gold" on iTunes
2009
RUSS-T COBB
Live dates with singer/songwriter and producer/engineer (Avril Lavigne, Butch Walker, Bowling For Soup) Rusty Cobb. Appear on his TBA 2011 CD release.
1993-PRESENT
ANGIE APARO
Sporadically backed up Grammy nominated singer/songwriter ("Cry" Faith Hill, "Big Time" Big and Rich, "Free Man" Tim McGraw, etc.) since the cover days in the early 90's. Numerous live performances and appeared on "The One with the Sun" (2003), "For Stars and Moon" (2003) and the Dan Huff produced "El Primero del Tres"(2006). Angie Aparo Official Website
2009
JIM STAPLEY
Backing up British singer for his Atlanta residency prior to his debut release on Keifer Sutherland's Ironworks Records.
Jim Stapley on Ironworks website
2009
HOLD ON BRUCE LEES
Second Lead Guitarist for .38 Special Co-founder/Guitarist/Songwriter Jeff Carlisi's live band performing the hits of .38 Special.
Jeff Carlisi Official Website
2008-2010
Y-O-U
Popular Atlanta Based Indie Americana/Soul/Pop act. Chosen as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's "25 Best Bands on Myspace" in 2006.
2006
SKID ROW
Filled in for live dates for the multi-platinum rock band during original guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo's brief hiatus.
Skid Row Official Website
2004-2009
METALSOME INCORPORATED
Part-time guitarist for live Karaoke band with 300+ songlist. Called “The Thunderdome of Karaoke.” by Rolling Stone and “One of America's Wildest Parties." by Spin Magazine.
Metalsome Inc at Metalsome Promotions
2003-2007
THE WARM GUNNS
Atlanta based rock band. Numerous regional performances, US college airplay and released two CDs "Dark Fun" and "Meet the Swan".
"Meet the Swan" on iTunes
The Warm Gunns on myspace
2003-2004
BALL/MIRROR DOWN
Guitarist with LA area Hard Rock/Metal band. Band included Guitarist/ Vocalist/Drummer Brian Tichy (Billy Idol, Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne), Drummer Joe Travers (Duran Duran, Zappa Plays Zappa), Bassist Michael Devin (Whitesnake, Kenny Wayne Shepherd) and Drummer/Bassist Dorian Heartsong (Powerman 5000). Played numerous live shows in the Los Angeles area and appeared on the 2003 independent release "Bleed Defeat".
Brian Tichy Official Website
2002
BUTCH WALKER
Toured to support acclaimed producer/singer/songwriter Butch Walker's first solo album "Left of Self Centered" (2002) on Arista. National tours with Lit and headlining dates. Appeared in music videos for "Rock Vocal Power" and "My Way".
Butch Walker Official Website
2003
BRANDON KELLY
Live dates with Alabama based singer/songwriter on his 2003 Southeastern Tour. Appeared on his 2007 Paradyne release "How Love Goes".
2001
BRAND NEW IMMORTALS
Band featured former Black Crowes and Train bassist Johnny Colt, singer/songwriter (and guitarist for John Mayer) David Ryan Harris and drummer Kenny Creswell. National Tours with Tantric, Better Than Ezra and headlining dates to support Elektra/Music Company release "Tragic Show" (2001). Televised performances of songs "Reasons Why" and "Turn Around" on HBO's live music show "Reverb".
1998-2001
BLACKLIGHT POSTERBOYS
Popular Atlanta based band. Released 2 Indie CDs "BLPB" (1998) & "Psychotic Love Songs" (2000). Also featured on "Roadrash:Jailbreak" video game, and the song "If The Animals Could Talk" was voted best song on its soundtrack by thousands of gamers worldwide.
Blacklight Posterboys on myspace
2000
BETH WOOD
Live dates with Texas based singer/songwriter on her 2000 Southeastern Tour. Appeared on her 1999 Mehaffey Publishing release "Late Night Radio".
Beth Wood Official Website
1990-1995
FEAR GLORY
Atlanta Based Soul/Hard Rock Band. Toured the southeast extensively and also supported Kansas for several weeks on their 1991 US Tour.
1989-1990
NANTUCKET
Toured the US with North Carolina based former Epic Recording Artists Nantucket.