HRH: First off, thanks for taking the time to talk with Hardrock Haven. Now, looking back on your career, do you consider yourself a singer or a songwriter, first?

Marcie: Thank you as well, and most importantly, thank God for the opportunity to speak and be heard. I must say that I am a singer first and foremost. Singing always came natural to me, where songwriting I had to learn. Although, some songs that I wrote over the years have come to me in dreams and others were almost as if they were given to me by a spiritual nature. It’s kind of strange when it happens that way. You feel as if you are a vessel for some spiritual entity who wishes to have their presence known. The whole song practically writes itself in less than a half an hour and when it’s over ... you feel like you have purged yourself and ask ... whoa ... man where did that come from?

HRH: In your recent Melodic Rock interview, you said “it’s kind of painful to listen to some of that stuff now …” in reference to your first two King Kobra albums. Do you feel a sense of nostalgia for those incredible albums as well?

Marcie: Melodic who? Just kidding Andy! :-) Derric, It’s good to know you’re reading the stuff though. Mmmmm nos•tal•gi•a (n -st l j , n -) n. A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past. The condition of being homesick; homesickness.
Interesting you chose this word. I can honestly say I have no nostalgia for these albums. Sorry all you King Kobra fans. I had a pretty good time back then but I wasn’t being true to myself so there are also a lot of very painful memories for me as well.

HRH: What’s it like knowing that even after over a decade out of the spotlight — your last
live gig was in 1993 — you still have such a following?

Marcie: Do I really? How many Mark/Marcie fans out there in the world would you estimate there are? What would you say, perhaps 100-200 people in each major metropolis throughout Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S.?? Is that an over statement? Who knows? Since I really don’t think about it much, I really can’t say. But to those who stay loyal ... my heart and my love goes out to you. Thank you so much.

HRH: You’ve been a part of a few successful bands (Signal, Unruly Child, etc.), as well as a
notable solo career. Did you like the team effort of being in a band, or do you prefer to
call the shots?

Marcie: Being in a band had its advantages early on as I really didn’t want to think about business. All I wanted to do was just make the music, meet the groupies, do the drugs, and live the life style I fantasized it should be like. Later on after being taken advantage of so many times, I realized there is only one way to make sure things get done right and that’s to do it yourself. So some of those old sayings are really true it seems! Word! You younger musicians out there!!!

HRH: I was listening to Unruly Child’s Waiting for the Sun, with Kelly Hansen singing, and
noted that you are the songwriter for one of the best songs on the CD, “Forever.”
Have you heard Hansen sing on that? He did your vision justice, if you haven’t. Did
you ever record that song as well?

Marcie: You know, I never had the opportunity to meet Kelly after all these years. He is a very talented singer and I wish him nothing but success! I believe “Forever” was the third song Bruce, Guy, and I wrote together during our first of many writing sessions to come while seeking enough material to go after a recording contract. We of course made a demo of it and it came out sounding fantastic. I’m surprised to hear you have never heard the original version of it. Shame on you! However you’re in luck because it appears on the Marcie Free Tormented album. Third track in ... Just fabulous babe! We actually tried recording it with Beau Hill during the recording of the U C record. But it just didn’t come out as good as the demo and we were running out of time in the studio and had to wrap things up in order to keep on schedule. I never have heard the version with Kelly singing it. Sorry.

HRH: Guy Allison and Bruce Gowdy from Unruly Child are keeping the machine churning.
Regardless of their singer, they seem to have the ability to create memorable and
indelible AOR music. Is there any way you’d lend your voice to another one of their
creations?

Marcie: God bless em‘. Bruce and Guy are very very good friends. I am sure they will probably still be writing and creating those as you say, “indelible” A.O.R songs long close to their departure from this earth. I wish I could’ve been a part of that creative process. However I know that it was just not meant to be between us. Perhaps in our next life.

HRH: What was your highest charted single?

Marcie: I don’t believe any of our singles ever charted. We never were around that long. Iron Eagle perhaps. I really don’t know. Sorry.

HRH: Who do you like to listen to sing?

Marcie: Goodness gracious great balls o baby! There are so many I cannot list them all. But here’s a few to give you an idea. Aretha Franklin, Allison Kraus, Gladys Knight, Vince Gill, Steve Perry, Celine Dion, Lou Gramm, Brad Delp, Joe Walsh, Freddie Mercury, Paul Rogers. Those represent some of the greatest achievers in vocalization. However you’d probably be surprised to know I have a growing respect for the so called “quirky” singers who have achieved great success in this crazy business of ours and immensely enjoy listening to them. Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, the Buggles (Trevor Horn), Ice House, The Fixx, ABC, The Thompson Twins, Men At Work, and many many others of the '80’s alternative wave.

HRH: Are their any new artists that peak your interest or impress you?

Marcie: I could probably count on one hand the number of new bands I am presently aware of ... I feel silly. I know I like this one song by a newer band called SR-71. That song being “Tomorrow.” Uhmm ... Hmmmph! See now you’ve stumped me. I am old give me a break ... I listen to freaking talk radio alright?

HRH: How have the reviews been for the Signal Live and for the Mark Free Live 1993
releases?

Marcie: I really don’t know. What do you hear? I can tell all the people out there though that the Signal Live recording is the only one in existence and it was recorded by a two vocal mic feed in front of the stage direct to the mixer, so it is what it is and if anyone expects unbelievable quality then they should wait until we all die and come around next lifetime to hopefully capture the moment then. I only put it out for those who are history buffs and wish to have something that will undoubtedly go down in history as a one of a kind. However in the case of the Mark Free Live in Europe 1993, there is an exception being that quality 24 track masters do exist in the hands of those who have no legal right to hold them. Them being Mark Ashton, and Bruce Mee. They had no legal right to record my show that night. Audio or visual. Period. By the way ... if you happen to run into either of them will you mention this for me? I want those masters!!!!!!!!!!!

HRH: You are in a different place in your personal life than Mark Free, obviously. Where do
you find the impetus for writing music today compared to who you were 20 years
ago?

Marcie: The answer is simple ... I don’t. I don’t think about music much at all any more. Oh, I did for a few years afterwards but it was only a knee jerk reaction to what I had been accustomed to doing all the years that had I devoted my life to music and nothing else. If I feel like sitting down and playing my acoustic guitar now it is simply for enjoyment only and not for the sole intent of writing a song that will change the path of music today and the lives of the populous as we know it. It is a very freeing experience.


HRH: When you decided to live your life as you truly are, as Marcie Free, did you have any
support groups or peers to lean on or get guidance from?

Marcie: Derric ... You are a very sneeky interviewer. You sneek like ten questions into one. LOL! No problem. I’ll separate them for you. Yes I did. I joined quite a few number of Trans-gendered support groups in the beginning in Los Angeles. Thankfully it helped a lot.

HRH: Meaning, people can find support groups for parents who lost their children, support groups for gambling addicts … almost anything in the world. So, is there a support group for rock stars
who undergo a gender change?

Marcie: No. That seems to be one in a million. So no support groups for my specific crisis.

HRH: Did you find that the global Metal Community is more understanding than you may have originally thought? Rock and metal fans could honestly give a rip when Rob Halford came out announced his homosexuality, although maybe that’s because few were surprised. Still, he received zero backlash. It takes bravery to make such a public move, on both your parts. Although your story is different, do you feel that you were accepted in the same light?

Marcie: No. I found the exact opposite in Los Angeles especially. Simply put, they are hugely a bunch of redneck homophobes. Not the fans in particular as much as the musicians themselves. And it greatly saddens me that in 2005 I still have to answer this question. I would have gladly been gay than to be transsexual one hundred times over. In societal terms there is no comparison regarding the consequences on the impact of ones life between being transsexual to that of simply being gay. For more insight as to why I said what I said just now, you will have to read my book someday.

HRH: Moving on … along with some demos that may see the light of day, do you plan on
recording some new music? And will you be working with Bryan Holland and
SorceryStudios for those releases?

Marcie: I am not sure exactly how it will all play out at this point but Bryan has certainly been there for me and has been and continues to be a dear friend of mine who also provides me great assistance when it comes to the technical side of things especially dealing with computers. I have been in touch recently with an old friend from Los Angeles who was very successful doing his own thing. His name is David Arkenstone. We have discussed the possibility of doing something again with no pressure. Who knows? I do have quite a few songs that I have written which I would love to record someday. So keep watching kiddies ...

HRH: Thanks again for taking the time to speak with Hardrock Haven. All your fans, and I
as well, appreciate it. Is there anything I left out that you’d like to leave with our Hardrock Haven faithful?

Marcie: Just know that I have been very deeply touched by all of your long lasting loyalty, and wonderful outpouring of support all these years. It has made my life feel much more complete as an individual knowing I have touched your lives and you have touched mine. God bless us each and everyone.
Love,
Marcie
xoxoxoxoxox