Mark Tulin

From SPCodex, The Smashing Pumpkins wiki
Mark Tulin
Tulin in 2010 performing with Spirits in the Sky
Background information
Birth nameMark Shalom Tulin
BornNovember 21, 1948
Philadelphia, PA, US
DiedFebruary 26, 2011(2011-02-26) (aged 62)
Avalon, CA, US
ArtistsSpirits in the Sky, Backwards Clock Society, The Smashing Pumpkins
RoleBass
Years active2009–2010
Associated actsThe Electric Prunes
WikipediaMark Tulin

Mark Shalom Tulin (November 21, 1948 – February 26, 2011)[1] was the bassist with the psychedelic rock band The Electric Prunes.

Biography[edit | edit source]

In 2009 he joined The Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan in the studio to demo songs for what would become the band's eighth album, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.[2]

Tulin met Corgan in 2008 when the latter was recording music with The Seeds front man Sky Saxon. In an interview with the band's official website, Tulin praised these sessions with the band saying they were times of "limitless possibility" and that the new music was "...interesting, innovative, and arresting."[3]

Mark Tulin—a middle-aged Caucasian male with long brown hair wearing a white shirt and black vest—plays bass guitar and smiles while Billy Corgan—a middle-aged Caucasian male wearing a dark green hat and red-and-black striped shirt with a brown jacket—plays electric guitar to his left.
Tulin performs on stage with Billy Corgan at a benefit concert for Sky Saxon.

Following the death of Sky Saxon in June 2009, Tulin took part in Corgan's tribute band Spirits in the Sky which played a show on July 24, 2009.[4] Following the success of the show, Corgan had the band play a small tour of extremely small venues in California in August 2009. These shows included Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro on guitar with Corgan, as well as many of The Smashing Pumpkins' longtime collaborators. In November 2009, Tulin played in the band Backwards Clock Society with Billy Corgan and longtime Smashing Pumpkins collaborator Kerry Brown to raise money for Laura Ann Masura, a former Smashing Pumpkins Fan Club chief, who suffered from a serious motorcycle accident.[5]

In March 2010, following the departure of Smashing Pumpkins touring bassist Ginger Pooley to raise her newborn infant, Tulin was announced as a temporary live bassist until a permanent replacement could be found.[6] During this time, Tulin played his only full-length show with The Smashing Pumpkins on April 17, 2010 in celebration of Record Store Day. A few days later, Tulin played "Widow Wake My Mind" with the band on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In May 2010, the band officially announced Nicole Fiorentino as the newest official member of the band.[7]

In an interview with Ultimate Guitar, Corgan confirmed that Tulin's bass parts were featured on the first EP of Teargarden by Kaleidyscope - Vol. 1: Songs for a Sailor.[8]

In late 2010, Tulin was recording and performing with The Electric Prunes, who were signed to independent label Starry Records started by Kerry Brown.[9]

Death[edit | edit source]

On February 26, 2011, Tulin collapsed while helping out at the Avalon Underwater Clean-Up in Avalon, California. Baywatch Avalon and Avalon Fire Department medics responded immediately, but he could not be revived and was pronounced dead. He was 62 years old.[10]

Studio appearances[edit | edit source]

Touring stats

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Woolsey, Julian (February 28, 2011). "Electric Prunes Bassist Mark Tulin Dead at 62". rockedition.com. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  2. "Corgan 'in a great mood', demoing new and fresh material", hipstersunited.com, March 26, 2009.
  3. [http://blog.hipstersunited.com/2009/04/16/mark-tulin-these-sessions-are-about-limitless-possibilities "Mark Tulin: These Sessions are about limitless possibilities", hipstersunited.com, April 16, 2009.
  4. "Billy Corgan to lead Sky Saxon tribute band at the Echoplex on July 24", hipstersunited.com, April 16, 2009.
  5. "About Us - Laura Anns Jams". Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  6. "The Smashing Pumpkins Announce Search for New Bassist and Keyboardist" Archived 2012-05-24 at the w:Wayback Machine, smashingpumpkins.com; accessed April 17, 2016.
  7. "The Smashing Pumpkins Announce New Member, Bassist Nicole Fiorentino" Archived 2012-03-15 at the w:Wayback Machine, smashingpumpkins.com; accessed April 17, 2016.
  8. "There Are Always More Riffs than Words" Archived 2014-10-27 at the w:Wayback Machine, ultimate-guitar.com; accessed April 17, 2016.
  9. "The Electric Prunes", startone.us; accessed April 17, 2016.
  10. Woolsey, Julian (February 28, 2011). "Electric Prunes Bassist Mark Tulin Dead at 62". rockedition.com. Retrieved February 28, 2011.