Biography

Contact: Mark Lightcap
mlightcap1@msn.com
530-801-1216


Click HERE to go to Mark Lightcap, TINGLE

Click HERE to go to BAD DADDY, VINTAGE


Still Rockin' the World - Release Date: August 23, 2017

The five members of BAD DADDY, formed in 2005, have always loved rock & roll. From the early roots to the latest craze, a special place is reserved in BAD DADDY’s collective heart for this iconic music. Band members Mark Lightcap, Bruce Marelich, Cole Spohr, Vinnie Carini, and Scott Hilke have come together to create their own vision of rock and roll and have included 13 of their favorite BAD DADDY songs on their latest album, “Still Rockin’ the World”.

SONGS IN ORDER OF RELEASE:

1. RED EYE (Featured Track)(3:31)

Bruce had been learning some Stevie Ray Vaughn licks and some of his simple chords, and experimenting with moving them around the neck rather then just playing standard bar chords. Playing this hard driving music led to him thinking about a hard driving train, which helped him write the lyric about the girl leaving on the train (Red Eye) with the jealous boyfriend in obsessed, frantic pursuit. BAD DADDY loves to play this song live and had to have it on their album, "Still Rockin' the World".

Lead vocal/Lead guitar: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

2. I CAN'T DANCE (3:04)

I wrote "I Can't Dance" because I can't dance! Just ask my lovely, patient wife. I even took some Western Swing dance lessons and I still can't dance. My wife is mystified by the fact that I can keep a beat, write songs, and play music on stage, yet can't dance. I tell her, "I might not be able to dance, but you think I'm cute and love me so it really doesn't matter."

Lead vocal/Guitar/Keyboards: Mark Lightcap
Lead guitar/Vocals: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

3. LITTLE IDA LEE (4:21)

Little Ida Lee is such a crowd pleaser BAD DADDY had to include it in their "Still Rockin' the World" album. The idea for this song came to Bruce based on an acquaintance of he and his wife. This person was a looker and when she went out dancing she had the full attention of all the boys in the club. Unfortunately her boyfriend didn't appreciate any of that attention. Little Ida Lee is the sad tale of his experience.

Lead vocal/Lead guitar: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

4. BETTER WATCH OUT (3:45)

The basic music and groove came to Bruce while playing in his studio in Palo Cedro, California. It reminded him of "Mac the Knife" in an odd sort of way. He liked the dark, "beware" type feeling it gave him. At the age of 14 Bruce used to take the C Bus from San Carlos, California up to San Francisco. Once there he would and walk down to Market Street. His mother had passed on and the only way he could get up there to get his allergy shots was on this bus. Market Street opened Bruce's eyes to a whole different world, complete with questionable ladies showing off their "goods". Thinking about those experiences led him to write the lyric.

Lead vocal/Lead guitar: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

5. ROLLING THUNDER (5:35)

Back around 2006 Bruce and his family lived on a horse ranch and raised and showed horses. During that period of his life he met a young kid who was a horse trainer and rodeo bull rider. Bruce heard a lot of experiences about what bull riding was like from the perspective of the riders. He learned that the bull riders wanted to ride the toughest bull there was. The tougher the bull the more points they got if they lasted the full 8 seconds. Bruce also learned the bull-riding language and used this knowledge to write the lyric to "Rolling Thunder". The music reflects the wild, frantic 8 seconds that seems to take a lifetime to the bull-rider.

Lead vocal/Lead guitar: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

6. GOTTA BE A WOMAN (3:47)

I originally wrote "Gotta Be a Woman" and we played it as is for quite a while. My principle theme was that "women" were powerful, and often used their sexual attraction to wield that power over men. One day, co-writer Cole Spohr suggested that the lyric might be a little too sexy and suggestive. I agreed completely and before I knew it Cole had a brand new second verse. This verse focused as much on the powerful brains of women as it did their sexuality. I loved Cole's re-write and we've performed it that way ever since.

Lead vocal/Lead guitar: Bruce Marelich
Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

7. CALLING ALL ANGELS (3:41)

I wrote this song because I felt that our society is getting way too comfortable with the homeless epidemic. In addition, it's way too easy to think that this could never happen to "us". Each homeless person has their own story and own reason for being in the situation they are in. Perhaps it's poor choices, but it could just as well be unlucky circumstances beyond one's control, losing a job, a provider for the household that dies unexpectedly, an addiction, a mental heath issue. BAD DADDY band members wanted to raise awareness about homelessness and agreed that "Calling All Angels" belonged on the album. Plus we love to sing those beautiful harmonies in the chorus.

Guest lead vocal: Robert Catalano (R.I.P.) Lead guitar/Vocals: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

8. HURRICANE (3:21)

Bruce said that when he came up with this song he was channeling Eddie Cochran and Bo Diddley. He had been listening to an old time radio program and was playing along with some of the old tunes to get some ideas and inspiration. Thus was "Hurricane" born.

Lead vocal/Lead guitar/: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

9. STEPPING ON GLASS (3:30)

The lyrics in a song don't necessarily have to reflect the songwriter's life. I wrote Stepping On Glass by imagining what it must be like for a guy (or girl for that matter) to get in a bad relationship that is like stepping on glass. Ouch! Although my marriage and my wife are the best things that ever happened to me, not everyone is as lucky. This song is a crowd favorite when we play it live. They love to dance to the groove!

Lead vocal/Guitar/Keyboard: Lightcap Lead guitar/Vocals: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

10. GOOD AS IT GETS (5:06)

My wonderful wife and I live in the middle of 32 acres in Butte Creek Canyon, one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see. You seldom hear a siren and traffic noise is almost non existent. It's a peaceful and serene place to live your life . . . and write songs. "Good As It Gets" is a direct reflection of our life, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. Sitting on our veranda, watching the sun set in a liquid fire of red, sipping a glass of Chardonnay, is about as "Good As It Gets."

Lead vocal/guitar/keyboard: Lightcap Lead guitar/Vocals: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

11. GOOD AS IT GETS (short version) (4:17)

12. COMPLICATIONS (3:27)

I remember when Bruce and I wrote this song. I took a trip up to his home in Palo Cedro to do some co-writing and he said, "I have this idea for a real up-tempo rocker." He played me what he had which was the melody, chord structure, and chorus lyric. (I remember telling him I had never heard the word, "conflagration" used in a lyric before.) I immediately fell in love with the song and we started hashing out the rest of the lyric and wrote a bridge. We took some real creative license with this one and put the person in each verse in an extremely awkward predicament. When we were done, there was no doubt that the characters in the lyric were suffering from what can only be described as life's complications.

Lead vocal/Lead guitar: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard: Mark Lightcap Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

13. RIFLE RANGE SONG (5:32)

Normally when I write a song, the hook line in the chorus becomes my title. That is not the case with "Rifle Range Song". As a matter of fact the title appears nowhere in the lyric. The following story tells why it's called "Rifle Range Song": Back in the 60's when I joined Uther Pendragon we used to practice in, you guessed it, a rifle range. One of the band members had access to it and opened it up for us during non business hours. Lead guitarist, Bruce Marelich (also lead guitarist in BAD DADDY) worked a swing shift at Litton Industries. He would get off work about 11 Pm. We'd pack the band equipment in the back of his Nash Rambler, and head on the down to the rifle range. We'd set up and start playing around midnight and wouldn't stop until the sun came up. We would, as the song says, ". . . keep playing until we drop."

Lead vocal/Guitar/Keyboard: Lightcap Lead guitar/Vocals: Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki

14. SHE WON'T BE COMING HOME (3:09)

When I wrote "She Won't Be Coming Home" my oldest daughter was trying to extract herself from a bad marriage. Her ex threatened to murder her when she left. Fortunately she escaped with no physical harm to herself or their two children. Domestic abuse is a serious problem world wide. This song celebrates the escape of one person from an abusive relationship.

Lead vocal/Guitar/Keyboard: Lightcap Lead guitar/Vocals Bruce Marelich Guitar/Vocals: Cole Spohr Drums/Vocals: Vinnie Carini Bass guitar: Scott Hilki


Rhythm guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter MARK R. LIGHTCAP remembers his first introduction to rock music. He was in Junior High in the San Francisco Bay Area and had been given a transistor radio for his birthday. Tuning it to one of the local rock and roll radio stations, KFRC or KYA, he would lay in bed at night listening to such greats as The Coasters, The Bryds, and Chuck Berry. Of course, if his mother caught him he would hear her yell, “Turn off that darn radio and go to sleep!” Mark would “hear” songs in his head that he had never heard before. Some would call it gifted, others might call it schizophrenic. Regardless, he would hear songs never before written, complete with a melody, vocals, and instrumentation. In the beginning, Mark couldn’t figure out how this happened and didn’t realize until later that he was destined to be a songwriter/musician. It wasn’t until he met BAD DADDY’s lead guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Bruce Marelich at San Carlos High School that his passion for music became a tangible thing. Bruce taught Mark how to play guitar. A year later, Mark joined Uther Pendragon a band that Bruce was in. After graduating high school Mark moved into the "Band House". For the next 10 years Uther Pendragon played all over the San Francisco Bay Area. Although they never had the good fortune to release an album, many years later Guerssen Records, a record label in Spain, heard their music on-line and in 2016 released a triple vinyl LP called San Francisco Earthquake. It is now in its second pressing: HERE Lightcap’s songs have been on TV and film, featured in a Nickelodeon movie of the week, and taken first place in the Great American Song Contest, a second place in the International Song Contest, and a top ten finish in the Billboard Song Contest.

Lead guitarist/vocalist/songwriter BRUCE MARELICH learned how to play guitar at an early age and continues to perfect his craft. His first songs, penned during his teenage years were featured on Uther Pendragon’s album “San Francisco Earthquake”. He, together with Mark Lightcap and Cole Spohr, wrote the songs on BAD DADDY’s “Still Rockin’ the World”. Bruce isn’t sure where the inspiration for his incredible songwriting talents comes from, he’s just happy it comes. He opens up, and out pour these amazing songs like “Red Eye”, “Little Ida Lee”, and “Hurricane”. His creative juices don’t stop with his songwriting prowess. Marelich’s guitar instrumentals are so unique they defy fitting them into any particular box. He pulls out all the stops on BAD DADDY’s latest album, “Still Rockin’ the World”. You will hear solos that range from blistering riffs complete with controlled feedback on the rocker “Rifle Range Song”, to a tender, tasty solo on the positive, inspirational song “Good As It Gets”. His solo on “Red Eye” defies description; you have to hear it to believe it! Although he has been compared to the greats such as Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana, he maintains a sound all his own. Bruce’s use of sustain and controlled feedback is incredible. Back in the early days he had been experimenting and using a ‘fuzz box’ (like the one used in Heart Full of Soul by the Yardbirds) and, along with that, a small pre-amp plugged directly into the guitar used to ‘overdrive’ the signal. This gave a distinct sustain when used correctly. Marelich says, “I guess you could say that I was influenced by the great Carlos Santana’s guitar work.” Coincidentally Lightcap and Marelich were recording a 4-song demo at Pacific Recording Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area at the same time Santana was recording their Abraxas album. While they were there to mix down their demo, the engineer played them the bass and percussion tracks off Santana’s album. Say Lightcap and Marelich, "We were completely blown away when we heard those tracks. In was a sound unlike anything we'd ever heard in rock music."

Multitalented COLE SPOHR has been with BAD DADDY since its inception in 2005. He plays a multitude of instruments, including the guitar, harmonica, mandolin, and banjo. His harmonica expertise is highlighted in BAD DADDY’s song, “Hurricane”, on their album “Still Rockin’ the World”. With an incredible baritone voice, he brings a refreshing versatility to the band. Cole loves Americana music as much as he loves rock and roll. BAD DADDY’s first album, VINTAGE, recently re-released due to popular demand, features several Americana songs. Cole is the lead vocalist and co-writer on “Life of Sorrow”, a soulful song that highlights the plight of the American slaves. He penned the Americana song, “The Devil’s in the Details”, also on VINTAGE.

VINNIE CARINI is much more than Bad Daddy’s drummer, he is also a gifted vocalist who loves to sing harmony. Vinnie says, “When I listened to the amazing harmonies on “Stingy”, on BAD DADDY’s debut album, VINTAGE, I was hooked.” In addition to playing the drums, Vinnie brings an extraordinary vocal range to the band. On the “Still Rockin’ the World” album you can hear Vinnie hit a high "A" note on “I Can’t Dance”, and a low, low "E" on “Gotta Be a Woman”. His vocal range is unparalleled by anyone else in the band. Vinnie is an incredible drummer who has been in many Northern California bands throughout the years. He has learned to play exactly what the song needs, no more, no less. Lightcap enthusiastically explains, "It’s easy for a drummer to play a cover song exactly like the drummer who played the original track, it’s quite a different story to find someone with Vinnie’s unique talent and creativity, who can figure out exactly what a brand new song needs. Vinnie is a master at doing just that."

When bass player extraordinaire SCOTT HILKE joined the band, he brought the group an unparalleled excellence on that instrument. Scott has been in several Northern California bands throughout the years and when he decided to join BAD DADDY the band members were ecstatic. Scott knows what bass line a song needs to give it that “thump”. He is creative, talented, yet humble. He plays to make the song better.

It’s all about the song and BAD DADDY has picked 13 of their best to include on their “Still Rockin’ the World” album.

Produced by: Mark Lightcap/Bruce Marelich/Cole Spohr
Tracks recorded at: Bad Daddy Studio, Chico, California, USA
Remote recording: Marelich Studio, Shingletown, California, USA
Engineer: Mark Lightcap
Mixed by: Mark Lightcap, BAD DADDY, James Atkinson
Mastered by: Landr Audio Mastering
Graphic Design: Mark Lightcap/Bruce Marelich