Mark Pirro

Mark Pirro (born July 1, 1970) is an American musician (bass guitar), audio engineer, and record producer based in Dallas, Texas. He is a founding member of Tripping Daisy, an alternative rock band that was active from 1991 to 1999.[1] He is an original and current performing member of The Polyphonic Spree,[2] and also performed with the groups Menkena[3] and Foreign Fires.[4][5] Pirro is the inventor of the Copperphone, a specialty microphone that he designed and distributes through his company Placid Audio.[6]

Mark Pirro
Mark Pirro performing with Tripping Daisy 2017
Background information
Born (1970-07-01) July 1, 1970
OriginCleveland, Ohio, United States
GenresAlternative rock, symphonic rock
Occupation(s)Musician, audio engineer, record producer, inventor
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, vocals
Years active1989–present
LabelsIsland, Hollywood, Good, Kirtland, MCA, Columbia, TVT, and Beggars Banquet
Websiteplacidaudio.com

Career

Pirro is a founding member of Tripping Daisy along with vocalist Tim DeLaughter and guitarist and pianist Wes Berggren.[7][1] The group released its first album Bill in 1992 on the independent label Dragon Street Records.[8] It later signed with Island Records where it released the album I am An Elastic Firecracker in 1995 and Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb in 1998.[8] The group's song I Got A Girl made it to number 6 on Billboard's alternative rock chart.[9] Pirro performed with Tripping Daisy on Late Night with Conan O'Brien[10] in 1993 as well as supported Def Leppard during the North American portion of the Slang World Tour.[11][12] Pirro played with the group until 1999 after the death of Berggren. Pirro and the remaining members completed the group's fourth album after Berggren's death and released it under its own record label, Good Records.[8]

Pirro went on to join The Polyphonic Spree, a choral symphonic rock band formed by DeLaughter in 2000.[5] The 25 member group includes two keyboardists, a harpist, and a 10-person choir.[13] As part of the group, Pirro has toured with David Bowie, played at a Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, been on the MTV Video Music Awards, and performed Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in front of former Beatles' producer George Martin.[14][13][15] Additional appearances including performing with Paul Rodgers and the remaining members of Queen during Queen's 2004 induction ceremony into the UK Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[16] He has toured internationally with The Polyphonic Spree throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Uganda.[13][17] He also appeared with the group in the 2015 film The Big Short, as well as on the soundtrack to the movie.[18]

Pirro is the inventor of the Copperphone, a hand crafted microphone designed and built through his company Placid Audio. The Copperphone uses components from vintage communications equipment as well as a mechanical filtering device to achieve a limited bandwidth frequency response similar to that of AM radio and the nostalgic sound of the early days of recording. He designed the first Copperphone while playing with The Polyphonic Spree, as a way to produce a "telephone" voice effect for lead singer DeLeaughter.[6] The Copperphone has been used by many artists, including Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Lou Barlow, Rush, Norah Jones, Jack White, St. Vincent, as well as Grammy Winning producer Jacquire King.[19][20]

Pirro has been known to use instruments, software and effects from Musicvox, iZotope, FEA Labs, and Waterstone Guitars.[21][22]

Discography
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Songs from the Rocky Horror Picture Show: Live in London Group Member Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2013 Yes, It's True Bass Guitar Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2012 Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays, Vol. One Engineer, Bass Guitar, Tambourine Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2012 Rubble Guts & BB Eye Engineer and vocal Album from the group Preteen Zenith
2010 Disconnect from Desire Engineer School of Seven Bells
2009 Chlorine Colored Eyes Noise The Crash That Took Me
2009 WeeSee Engineering and mixing Children's audio/visual project by Rolyn Barthelman with original score by Polyphonic Spree singer Tim Delaughter[23][24]
2008 Nightmare Revisited Bass Played on Town Meeting Song as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree[25]
2008 Visioneers Bass, Engineer, Mixer Soundtrack to movie Visioneers[26]
2007 Live from Austin TX Bass, Bass Instrument, Member of Attributed Artist Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2007 Marry Me Bass, Main Personnel St. Vincent
2007 SXSW Live 2007 Bass, Vocals A compilation featuring an original song from The Polyphonic Spree ("When the Fool Becomes King")
2007 The Fragile Army Bass, Engineer Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2006 I Like U Engineer, Mixing producer Black Tie Dynasty
2005 Thumbsucker Bass, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Mixing Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2005 Murderball Bass Played as a member of The Polyphonic Spree on the track Light & Day[27]
2004 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Bass Played with The Polyphonic Spree on songs It's the Sun and Light & Day[28]
2004 Together We're Heavy Bass, Member of Attributed Artist Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2003 Wig in a Box Bass, Mixing A compilation featuring a song from the movie soundtrack performed by The Polyphonic Spree ("Wig in a Box")
2002 The Beginning Stages of the Polyphonic Spree Bass, Vocals Recorded as a group member of The Polyphonic Spree
2002 We're Birds Engineer, Producer, Vocals El Gato
2000 Tripping Daisy Bass, Vocals Recorded as a group member of Tripping Daisy
1998 Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb Bass, Vocals, Percussion Recorded as a group member of Tripping Daisy
1998 Popaganda Producer A compilation featuring an original song from Tripping Daisy ("Cartoon Bikini")
1997 Come on Feel the Metal Bass A compilation featuring a song by Judas Priest performed by Tripping Daisy - ("Electric Eye")
1996 The Craft Bass A movie soundtrack compilation featuring a song by Harry Nilsson performed by Tripping Daisy - ("Jump Into The Fire")
1995 I Am an Elastic Firecracker Bass Recorded as a group member of Tripping Daisy
1995 Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits Bass A compilation featuring a song by Bobby Hart / Danny Janssen performed by Tripping Daisy - ("Friends/Sigmund and the Seamonsters")
1994 Get It On Bass Recorded as a group member of Tripping Daisy
1992 Bill Bass Recorded as a group member of Tripping Daisy

References
  1. Crain, Zac (25 November 1999). "Tripping, falling". The Dallas Observer. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. Rushing, Brenna (15 January 2012). "Concert review: Burning Hotels, Mon Julien, Air Review, and Menkena at Granada Theater". Pegasus News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. Grubbs, Eric (27 December 2011). "Mark Pirro on Finding a Place to Plug In, Other First Show Experiences". The Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  5. Benson, John (4 July 2007). "Spree to pack stage at House of Blues". Vindy. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. Peacock, Justin (April 2008). "Placid Audio Coperphone". Recording Mag. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  8. Basham, David (29 October 1999). "Tripping Daisy". MTV News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  9. "Tripping Daisy Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  10. "Billboard Bits: Step Up Benefits, The Polyphonic Spree, The Strokes". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  11. Tripping Daisy (1993). Tripping Daisy on Conan O’Brien (Television talk show). Gorilla vs Bear.
  12. "Q&A with Rick Savage". Hard Radio. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  13. McClain, J. "Musician Mark Pirro". Teen Ink. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  14. "Pop band packs a big crowd – on stage". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  15. Polyphonic Spree (2004). The Polyphonic Spree performing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Television). UK Music Hall of Fame Ceremony: Gorilla vs Bear.
  16. "Queen Inducted Into UK Music Hall of Fame". QueenZone. 12 November 2004. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  17. Phillips, Amy (1 March 2010). "Yeasayer to Join Polyphonic Spree and La Blogotheque on Trip to Uganda". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  18. Formo, Brian (24 January 2016). "The Big Short Review: Exciting, Passionate Filmmaking". Collider. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  19. Micallef, Ken (1 February 2010). "Norah Jones, producer Jacquire King, and engineer Brad Bivens embark on a bolder and darker trip for the fall". Electronic Musician. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  20. Fountain, Gail (19 August 2011). "Gear Profile: The Copperphone by Placid Audio". Performer Mag. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  21. "Polyphonic Spree bassist talks about recording with Vinyl, Trash and Ozone". iZotope. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  22. "Artists". Waterstone Guitars. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  23. "WeeSee World credits". WeeSee World. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  24. Wilonsky, Robert (27 May 2009). "Wee! No, Wee See. See? Or: Tim DeLaughter Has a New Baby, a DVD Art Project". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  25. Nightmare Revisited (Media notes). Various Artists. 2008. p. Credits inside cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. Visioneers official soundtrack (Media notes). Various Artists. 2008. p. Credits inside cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. Music From The Film Murderball (Media notes). Various Artists. 2005. p. Credits inside cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Original Soundtrack (Media notes). Various Artists. 2004. p. Credits inside cover.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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