Martin Clarke
BASS GUITARS
Martin was born in Shoreditch, London - a real cockney! - but moved to Essex as a boy,where he has lived ever since. He studied 'cello at school but spent more time with the thing on his lap trying to use it as a bass. So much so that at the age of 13 his Dad advanced him the amazing sum of £70 (£700 inflation adjusted - crikey) to buy his first bass guitar, a Wilson - cheap - a Fender was unimaginable! He played in various schoolboy bands before settling down to a career and family at a ludicrously young age. Drawn to the world of international banking (why?) he had a stellar career in the City trading Eurobonds, made a bit of money and ended up running the securities trading subsidiary of a major US bank in London. Well past his 'sell by' date at the age of 43, he gave up worshipping at the shrine of Mammon and downsized, which process was made easier because his children were young adults.
As the demands of his career made band commitments impossible, he remained an enthusiastic bedroom player and jam sessioneer, keeping his playing skills up to scratch by emulating the great bass players in the Jazz, Funk and Rock genres (thank you Mark King!). With the end of his city career however, he was quick to audition for a band andmet Steve Webb - the band actually broke up during the audition - a surreal experience. The pair realised that they had a common passion - to produce extraordinary music with no compromises; and thus was born Tokamak. Ten years of rehearsal, gigs and personnel changes have brought the band to its current peak of performance. As if that wasn’t enough music, Martin also plays bass, guitar and bass pedals in a fantastic
Genesis Tribute Band - Los Endos.
Martin is a guitar repairer and luthier which enables him to hang around with other
musicians! Check out his website here
