Dave Marks
is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in the UK. He writes music for Film, TV, Online content, Theatre, Live Events and Video Games.
In 2025, he'll be out on tour with The World Of Hans Zimmer, Simon McBride (Deep Purple) and The Limitless Orchestra.
Throughout his career, he has created music and media for a wide range of local, national and global brands, including:

VIDEOS
The Crossing
Fire 'em up!
The Hound (Main theme)
Game of Thrones (Celtic Remix)
Across a Stranger's Sea
Heroes (Ala David Byrne)
Disco Bass 01
WOHZ Flamenco
More Metallica, more Black album. This riff was the start of side 2 and it was the perfect combination of speed, precision and heaviness. It was a great challenge to learn this - and just like the Soul II Soul track, it was all about consistency and groove.
It’s my @sandbergguitars 5 string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings and some serious distortion from Parallax X. #Metal #bassist #metallica #studio #thrash #bass #bassguitar #plectrum #pickbass
FAT POCKETS: 2 of 2
Here’s the second part of Fat Pockets - starting with @martymccloskeydrummer taking a wild drum solo!!! @sandbergguitars @ebsswedenofficial @elixir_strings @prsguitars_europe @ludwigdrumseurope #livemusic #tour #bass #bassguitar #drums #drummer #bassist #leadguitar #rockguitar #rock
HAMBURG!!!! You were such an amazing crowd - such great energy. Here’s a little clip of us going down a prog rabbit hole on Uniform of Youth. @simonmcbrideguitar @martymccloskeydrummer @ebsswedenofficial @sandbergguitars @sandbergguitars.uk @prsguitars_europe @prsguitars @ludwigdrumseurope @elixir_strings @danielthegigrig @sourceaudio @tcelectronic #livemusic #tour #bass #bassguitar #drums #drummer #guitar #guitarist #bassist
FAT POCKETS: 1 of 2 - Here’s a clip from last nights show in Berlin with @simonmcbrideguitar and @martymccloskeydrummer - absolutely rocking out on the track Fat Pockets. @sandbergguitars @ebsswedenofficial @prsguitars_europe @prsguitars @elixir_strings #livemusic #tour #bass #tourlife #bassguitar #rockguitar #guitarsolo #drums #drumsolo
The Black Album. Wow. I know it’s much cooler to hit the deep cuts, and I started on Master of Puppets, but after the horrendous sound of And Justice for All, the Black album was unreal. The excitement around it as the singles dropped was palpable. For people without MTV, it was all about hoping that the Saturday morning Chart Show on ITV would be the Rock chart (as opposed to Indie or Dance) and when it was, you’d get to see the new Metallica video. This song was SOOOOO heavy and my teen band loved playing it when we rehearsed.
It’s my @sandbergguitars 5 string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings and some serious distortion from Parallax X. #Metal #bassist #metallica #studio #thrash #bassguitar #plectrum #pickbass
RIFFS OF MY YOUTH 05: I’M BROKEN
I’m back with Pantera. This time, it’s a track from Far Beyond Driven. This album was so huge and heavy and aggressive sounding and it was SO much fun to play the riffs. There were two riffs in particular on this album that just CRUSHED. Can anyone guess what the other one was?
It’s my @sandbergguitars 5 string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings and a HEALTHY amount of distortion from Parallax X.
#Metal #bassist #pantera #studio #plectrum #pickbass #bassguitar
Simon McBride Tour rehearsals 02:
Show Me How to Love
Here’s a quick clip of us rehearsing at Simon’s home studio - tour prep is well underway! We’re all super excited to be getting out on the road in Europe at the end of March and playing these songs live!!! Recorded on our @presonus digital mixer with @roswellproaudio mics and some @neuraldsp fx!!!
#rehearsals #rock #bluesrock #deeppurple #guitar #guitarist #bass #bassist #drums #drummer
RIFFS OF MY YOUTH 04: GET A LIFE
I had spent so much of musical life playing rock and metal, so I wanted to branch out. I remember my older sister had Soul II Soul’s Greatest Hits (on tape) so I started digging in. The repetitive nature of the grooves and the consistency it asked for was really challenging for me - I had been all about energy, aggression and vibe, but probably not as much about precision and pocket as I should have. Cue a LOT of hip-hop, soul and pop playing. Interesting brain fact: whatever kind fo odd brain I have, I haven’t heard this song properly in about 30 years. Still remembered every word as soon as I heard it. Trying to sing complex lyrics while I hold down a groove is ALWAYS good practice.
It’s my @sandbergguitars 5-string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings.
#bassist #soulIIsoul #studio #pop #groove #bassguitar
Simon McBride trio rehearsals: The Stealer (part 02) - Here’s a cut of us live in the studio running through The Stealer, ahead of our tour at the end of March! It’s been a few years since we played together as a trio and it’s like we never stopped. #guitar #guitarist #deeppurple #drums #bass #rock #classicrock #studio
RIFFS OF MY YOUTH 03: BADGE
As a teenager, I was often hipped to great songs by the transcriptions in the Guitar World, Guitar Techniques, Bass Player and Bassist & Bass Techniques magazines. Badge showed up, so I went hunting and found it on my dad’s Cream LP. As soon as I heard it, I knew why Jack Bruce was considered a legend. Such a distinctive line, with fantastic creative playing throughout.
It’s my @sireusaofficial Fretless 5-string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings.
#Classicrock #bassist #cream #jackbruce #studio #bassguitar #fretless #fretlessbass #bassline #basscover
RIFFS OF MY YOUTH 02: 6:00
I can still remember the first time I heard Dream Theater - they previewed the album ‘Awake’ on the BBC 1 Rock Show and this was the first song they played. What an opener. It’s a riff that sits right in the middle of grooving and challenging, so it feels FUN to play.
It’s my @sandbergguitars 5 string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings and a little splash of distortion from Parallax X.
#Metal #bassist #dreamtheater #studio #prog
RIFFS OF MY YOUTH 01 - I was looking for something new to practice and instead I went back to my early days and dug out my favourite riffs. I could play this when I was 16 and it’s still sounding pretty respectable. It’s my @sandbergguitars 5 string through my @ebsswedenofficial rig with @elixir_strings and a HEALTHY amount of distortion. For me, PANTERA were the greatest metal rhythm section of all time. Playing their stuff is a challenge and a pleasure. #Metal #bassist #pantera #studio #plectrum #pickbass
We hit the studio after NAMM to do a session for @roswellproaudio - always a blast to have musicians of this calibre to play with. We decided to jam on The Red One - a wonderful song by @patmetheny - Drum sounds come courtesy of the amazing @jakobtopfloor and Charlie @ultimatestudiosinc has vibes, dog and gear to make your dreams come true. #studio #music #sessionmusician
Well that was mental. Last night the @bassmagazineonline awards show was FILLED with bass and friends - we got to see Tool live(!!!) @johnjpatitucci @monofartsneon and @lesclaypool - and it was great to hang with @scottsbasslessons @henriklinder @beneath_the_bassline @sheplaysbass @solobasssteve @dingwallguitars @guerillabass and @mattissonbass - all in all, an awesome night at NAMM!!!
It’s almost here!!!! The new album from bona fide Rock legend @donaireykeys featuring @simonmcbrideguitar @jonfinnigandrums @mitchelemms and @carlsentance sounds INCREDIBLE - we recorded this before lockdown with @piersmortimer and it’ll be available at the end of March on @earmusic - really hoping we get out to play it live some time in 2025!!!
Beautiful to get rocking out with these two nutters in @dubaiopera over the weekend. @hanszimmer has been a constant source of inspiration in my musical life and @igudesman is so exceptional, creative and awe-inspiring, that I always say yes. Before I know the location, the project, the fees - just YES. This time, I collaborated with Aleksey to create From Time To Time: Inception Variations - and Hans joined us to play it onstage. I learn, grow and meet so many awesome people every time we get to create together. Both of these men have enriched my life to no end. #livemusic #orchestra
My bass tone is crushing it on this gig! There’s no better feeling than arriving on a stage with an @ebsswedenofficial rig behind me. @bosse_bas you’re a legend!!! And my new @sandbergguitars.uk bass is still blowing my mind. Beautiful photography by @viktor.andriichenko.fotograf and amazing vibes with @thelimitlessorchestra and @hanszimmer #livemusic #bass #bassguitar
Well. The @worldofhanszimmer Autumn tour is done. It is, without a doubt one of the most incredible things I have ever done in my life. As a little memory capture, what started as a backstage jam has now been turned into a little single. I recorded people in backstage rooms, hotels, onstage and in any corner where we could make it happen. A pair of Roswell mics and a lot of ingenuity got it sounding fabulous. Recording is all about capturing what’s in front of you, and having a cast of astonishing musicians on hand means there was magic at every turn. Thank you so much to everyone who gave their time, love and energy to it. Special mention for @jeroensimons013 for tech help at every show. #wohz #tour #hanszimmer #recording #acoustic #acousticguitar #bass #tourlife
The end of Inception absolutely devastated me tonight. We have one more show to play. It’s a lot of feelings. The audience shone all their phone lights for us, and one by one they went out until @berfinaksu was left playing alone. @sandra.tomek has created something truly special with this show - through the people she has entrusted with it. We get to touch something truly numinous here and through that, we get to share something transcendent with a room full of strangers. There’s nothing but love in the room. #wohz #tour #livemusic
Tonight was a real trip. I met the legendary @officialjohnmclaughlin way back in my early 20s when he was playing with The Heart of Things and tonight he came to see the @worldofhanszimmer show. He was humble, charming and had words of warm encouragement - back then and again tonight. Special thanks to @julian_v.s.touring for inviting him along. It’s always a delight and an honour to perform for a master.
Another green room jam - this one showcases the incredible @futurelove.s_official with @elamirguitar bringing his very own funky flamenco style and @lucy.landymore playing found objects as amazing percussion! We did a cheeky overdub with @saulius.petreikis on bamboo flute and some harmonies from Futurelove. Voice, flute and guitar were all recorded using my @roswellproaudio mini K87s and my @sandbergguitars bass is rocking @elixir_strings through an @ebsswedenofficial microbass 3. Shout out to @encyclopia for her sterling video work!!! #wohz #livemusic #recording #tour #hanszimmer #acoustic #acousticguitar #bass #bassguitar #wonderfulworld #vocalist #flamencoguitar #percussion
Putting my new custom @sandbergguitars California TT V through its paces in the @worldofhanszimmer green room. Today it’s neck pickup, treble rolled off, a little bass boost and some disco funk!!! Recorded into an @ebsswedenofficial Microbass 3 for a bit of extra dirt! #recording #bass #bassguitar #bassplayer #bassist #disco #funk
More impromptu flamenco fun backstage on the @worldofhanszimmer tour with the unstoppable @elamirguitar - @lucy.landymore and I reached for the green room snacks to make percussion happen!! Captured on my beautiful @roswellproaudio mini K87s #wohz #livemusic #tour #recording #acoustic #acousticguitar
Pre-show jam for Dortmund - @elamirguitar is bringing the fire yet again with some incredible flamenco playing - and the rest of us are grooving along! @sandbergguitars bass into @ebsswedenofficial microbass 3 preamp with @elixir_strings and the mics are a stereo pair of @roswellproaudio mini K87s #wohz #livemusic #tour #recording #flamenco #flamencoguitar #jamming
Leipzig - you rocked! We had a beautiful first show, packed with amazing musical memories. Shout out to Mike from @sandbergguitars who made the trip to catch the show with friends and family - you guys made me such a beautiful bass, it was a pleasure to play it for you! #wohz #livemusic #hanszimmer #tour
One of my favourite parts of tour prep is building a killer board filled with amazing sounds. There’s a great blend of analog and digital here with parts from my long-time bass dream partners @ebsswedenofficial as well as new additions from @ehx @aguilaramp and the heart of my switching system, modulation and verbs - @neuraldsp This board has a wealth of incredible sounds for my new @sandbergguitars bass, my @think_ns electric upright and my @kalabrandmusic bass ukulele. Be warned, it’s gonna sound HUGE!
Prep continues for the incredible @worldofhanszimmer shows in Europe this autumn. The Dark Knight= Dropped-D electric upright bass bowed with sub-octave and fuzz. It’s gonna be MONSTROUS. Big shout out to @think_ns for this incredible instrument. A bunch of @ebsswedenofficial and @neuraldsp on the floor completes the picture! #livemusic #hanszimmer #filmmusic #electricuprightbass #steinbergerbass #electricbassist
View more