Biography

Mark Appleton was born 30th January 1962 in Manchester (UK), raised in a happy home by father Harry Webster Appleton II and mother Jean Appleton. He attended Moorside primary, junior and high schools before going on to Eccles Sixth Form College. He was successful at school but fluffed most subjects at college due to one major distraction - guitar. His band Elgin (formerly called Vienna) were 'big' in the local area, won the college band competition, played a small number of largely successful but inconsequential shows before disbanding in 1980 when the singer went to university and bassist joined the RAF.

In 1983 Mark formed an original band, Professor Fate, but when family matters temporarily became the priority and despite showing a lot of promise, he left the band in 1988 and the band folded shortly afterwards.

With restless fingers, Mark went on to join a hard rock covers band called Kick the Kat which continued into the late nineties before slowing down in the new century, apart from the very occasional get-together.

Apart from a Saturday job in a record shop, his employment in the rat race was in a high street bank, starting in 1980 reaching the role of Senior Business Manager in 1998, before resigning in 2008 after some ill health. He married Lynne in 1987 and they raised three children... Lindsey, Christopher and Luke.

After his days in banking, he set up a record label, Rocksector Records, which grew for twelve years before switching attention to management services mainly looking after former Iron Maiden singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Blaze Bayley, and Absolva. Both bands include Mark's sons on lead guitar (Christopher) and bass (Luke). Mark has acted as Blaze Bayley's tour manager since 2014 and general manager since 2016. Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2022 and this has meant he's slowed down on the tour manager duties and concentrates on the more office based duties such as press, financial, promotional, contractual, strategy.

Whilst continuing with management services and running Blaze Bayley Recording and Rocksector Records, Mark also has ambitions to become a writer, blogger and to release some of his own music and songs.

Rocksector Records also runs SOS Festival in Oldham, North Manchester, which was originally a concept of wife Lynne and operates well, now in its 17th year.