Mark Morton

Morton grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. He got his first acoustic guitar during his youth. Morton found the blues early on and was first inspired to play guitar after hearing Eddie Van Halen. Morton was also influenced by British blues guitarists such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Some of his other personal influences include Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Hanneman. Before college, Morton played guitar in Killing Cycle, a high school thrash metal band with drummer Joey Huertas and singer Chris Marrow. The band performed at local venues and recorded four original songs at a studio Morton found. It dissolved when Marrow enlisted in the Marines, and Morton left for college.

Morton and his first wife had their first child, in 2009 a daughter named Madalyn. However she died the day after her birth due to a bacterial infection contracted during delivery. Morton has another child with his first wife, born in 2010, and one with his second wife, born in 2021. Morton's memoir, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir" was released on June 25, 2024, which delves into his personal and professional life, including struggles with addiction, grief, and the music industry. Morton reveals that writing the memoir was a therapeutic process, allowing him to reflect on and make sense of his experiences. Morton lives near Richmond, Virginia, with his wife and children. Although Morton previously struggled with alcoholism and an opiate addiction he has since recovered and now lives a sober lifestyle.