Frank Marino is a Canadian guitarist and singer best known as the leader of Canadian hard rock band Mahogany Rush. He has been described as one of the most underrated guitarists of the 1970s. Marino joined guest host Richard Syrett (Twitter) on Friday's show to discuss fame, his many years working in music, and why he decided to retire from the industry in 2021.
Marino recounted his childhood fascination with drumming and his desire to be like drummer extraordinaire Buddy Rich. He ended up in the hospital at the age of 13 after experimenting with psychedelic drugs in the 1960s. This experience led to a profound psychedelic trip, which he described as crossing a certain threshold and having a lasting impact on him. Marino emphasized the danger of drugs and noted that he never touched them again after the hospitalization.
Richard explored the impact of the psychedelic experience, delving into whether it induced psychosis. Marino likened it to the story of Alice in Wonderland, recalling a sensory overload that affected all his senses. He reflected on the early album covers being indicative of his psychedelic trip and the challenges he faced during that time. Marino delved into the role of the guitar as a lifeline, helping him cope and eventually shaping his musical career.
Marino learned to play the guitar in the hospital. He pointed out he is self-taught, and creates music without any written material. Richard compared him to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, and Marino revealed how this affected his career. He shared experiences with fellow musicians, mentioning that some were unfriendly initially, but over time, as they saw his dedication to his unique style, attitudes changed. Marino also touched on specific albums, including the live Agora Theatre recording, and his decision to part ways with major record labels, opting instead to make music independently.
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The remainder of the program was devoted to Open Lines. Noah in North Carolina told Richard about encountering haunted objects that seem to terrorize his house. He shared examples, including a 1970s mirror/music box and an American lady statue, both believed to have spirit attachments. The issues began when these objects were placed in a specific room, leading to strange noises, Noah recalled. Despite moving them to the living room, the haunting persisted. Noah speculated about a possible spirit attachment due to his involvement with Ouija boards. He also admitted to not properly closing a Ouija board session.
Sherry from Texas shared a personal experience about finding lost items through asking friends and family on the other side for help. Despite these individuals being unkind during life, they now seemed eager to assist after gaining clarity on their roles in her life, Sherry explained. She emphasized the need to make efforts to find the lost item before seeking help and highlighted how the process involves asking for forgiveness from those on the other side. Sherry recounted finding a lost key in a shoe, illustrating the success of her approach. Richard commented about his wife, the mighty Aphrodite, who found a long-lost ring following prayers to a Greek Orthodox Christian saint known for helping find lost objects.