Sparklehorse is basically Mark Linkous and friends. To be a bit more specific, his friends include Bob Rupe, Johnny Hott, and David Lowery of Cracker. The Sparklehorse touring band includes Scott Fitzsimmons, Scott Minor, and Paul Watson. Sparklehorse perform perfectly eccentric, southern songs, ranging from whispery, acoustic, at very bottom of lo-fi tracks, to driven, guitar-soaked, electric rock numbers. It's hard stuff to put in words.
Mark lives on a farm in Bremo Bluff, Virginia, with his wife Teresa, who is a herpetologist. They have several pets, including the dogs Hank (an old hound dog), Barko (who has mental problems), and Otis (the dalmation who stars in the 'Hammering the Cramps' video), a couple of horses, turtles, two axolotls, and the cat. He records in a Richmond studio, as well as in his farmhouse, where cow noise is often a problem.
Mark is influenced by various artists. His first moment of clarity, musically, was when a friend played him 'House of the Rising Sun' by The Animals. Mark was hooked because it was louder than a dirt bike. When he was young he was mostly into bluegrass and country, and artists such as George Jones, Johnny Cash, The Stanley Brothers. Later on he got into punk rock, notably the Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, and The Damned. However when forming Sparklehorse it was Mark's intention to make a kind of pop equivalent to Tom Wait's 'Swordfishtrombone.'
Mark's first band was the 'Dancing Hoods.' They were one of many late 80s bands to be labelled the next Replacements. After releasing two independent albums they travelled to L.A. in search of a record deal. When they failed to land a contract, Mark returned to his home in Virginia, and formed a pop group initially called 'Johnson Family,' and later 'Salt Chunk Mary.' In 1995 Sparklehorse was formed.
Before Mark got signed by Capitol, he worked as a chimney-sweep and a house-painter. However after his then manager played what he had recorded to an A&R girl at Capitol, the A&R girl played it to the president of the company, and Sparklehorse was signed without having to play a showcase.
Sparklehorse first released the 'Spirit Ditch' single on Slow River. Then came 'Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot.' With their first L.P. came another three singles, 'Hammering The Cramps,' which was notably featured on Sonicnet, 'Rainmaker,' and 'Someday I Will Treat You Good' which got everyone's attention. In early '96 the band released the E.P. 'Chords I've Known,' featuring several b-sides. By the end of the year 'Vivadixie...' had appeared in NME's, Vox's, Q's, and Rollingstone's 'Best of '96' lists.
Sparklehorse has toured with Cracker, Garbage, Tindersticks, Son Volt, Mazzy Star, and Radiohead, and Mark would also like to perform with The Palace Brothers, and Pavement.
Besides being good friends with Cracker, Mark is also a close friend of Vic Chesnutt, who you should probably have a listen to if you get the chance.
Mark's brother Matt also performs in a Richmond-based band. He fronts 'Spike The Dog,' who have released an E.P. so far.
Sparklehorse's second album was released on the 20th of July in the UK. 'Good Morning Spider' was preceeded by the 'Come On In' 7" on Slow River, and the first UK singles, 'Maria's Little Elbows', and 'Painbirds'.
