The 5-minute Interview: David Marks, musician

'People say I'm not a real Beach Boy'

John Hall
Sunday 18 May 2008 19:00 EDT
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(AP)

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Known to many as the "forgotten Beach Boy", David Marks, 59, was the band's rhythm guitarist and sang vocal harmonies until 1963. He rejoined the group in 1997 until a hepatitis C diagnosis forced him to quit again. He has now recovered and is back performing.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Rehearsing for the Beach Boys show in Edinburgh.

A phrase I use too often ...

"I don't know". I'm always saying that.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Everyone else. People tend not to listen to one another.

The most surprising thing to happen to me was ...

Getting a gold disc for selling 2 million copies of the Beach Boys compilation Sounds Of Summer.

A common misconception of me is ...

That I wasn't a real Beach Boy. I've pretty much been written out of history but I was in the band from the very beginning.

I am not a politician but ...

If I were I would try and work on world peace. At the very least I'd try to prevent any future wars.

I'm good at ...

Playing my guitar and making new music.

I'm bad at ...

I've been told I'm a bad driver but I think I'm pretty good.

The ideal night out is ...

Dinner and a jazz concert. I find rock concerts a little too chaotic these days.

In weak moments I ...

I'm pretty self-disciplined. I rarely get tempted.

You know me as a musician but in another life I'd have been ...

An artist. I love art.

The best age to be is ...

Somewhere after 40.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is ...

Have as much fun as you can without bumming anyone else's trip.

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