Lamb of God guitarist Mark Morton has officially added the title of published author to his lengthly list of professional accomplishments. DESOLATION: A Heavy Metal Memoir, is now available digitally (with hardback landing July 11th) via Hachete Books frames an important story of self-discovery amid adversity. In the pages, Morton revisits his personal and professional evolution in becoming accomplished musician and songwriter.
Penned with co-author Ben Opiari, Morton presents the duality of his life - achieving unparalleled success with his musical brethren in the grammy-nominated collective Lamb of God, while personally confronting the grief of catastrophic loss - including the tragic passing of his newborn daughter.
Morton speaks candidly about his feeling of helplessness, how self-medicating led to addiction and the contrasting lives of earning mainstream acclaim in a heavy band, while enduring personal tumult. The book offers a frank depiction of the highs and lows of life as a touring musician.
“Initially, I started writing this book just to see if I could do it,” said Morton. “But as the writing process unfolded, it quickly took on much more meaning.
Unpacking my story, I was able to observe events in my life with an objectivity that I hadn't experienced while I’d lived them in real time. Through a lens of hindsight and recovery, I made friends with my past and found value in my most difficult days."
Morton adds his intentions in sharing such a candid look at his personal journey. "I hope that by offering my experiences, I can create a point of connection and commonality. There are a lot of fun stories in here and a few really sad ones. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to share them.”
Echoing the sincerity that translates from Morton's story, Ben Schafer, Executive Editor at Hachette Books spoke about Morton's eloquence as author.
“Mark Morton’s DESOLATION is one of the most remarkable rock memoirs I’ve ever read, and Hachette Books is thrilled to be his publisher. Through its humility, candor, and strikingly unpretentious style, it delivers a life story that is simultaneously relatable and remarkable.
The rise of Lamb of God, Mark’s surprisingly varied influences, and his personal highs and lows are all chronicled with such a disarming and rigorous honesty that readers of all sorts will be moved and inspired to create, to recover, to live in a state of gratitude.”
DESOLATION: A Heavy Metal Memoir is now available via Hachette Books. Order the release - HERE
