When host Jason Green asked Markets if he has spoken to the other two members of the original BULLET BOYS lineup, guitarist Mick Sweda and drummer Jimmy D’Anda, Marq said: “No. I was surprised by some of the things that they both had to say (after the recent split).
“Listen, I would never bash anybody or talk down people that I love or maybe something that didn’t work musically.” Markets added. “But like I said, I wish them the best in everything they do and the best of luck in this crazy business. But we’re moving forward and we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
Marq went on to say that some of the previous issues between the other members resurfaced when they met recently BULLET BOYS reunion.
“I had a great time playing with them,” the singer explained. “I love them. We had great shows. I loved it. I stood up for the fans, to do something really special.
“There was a lot of turmoil before I even got back into the band that I didn’t know about,” Markets claimed. “So when I went back to it, there was already this friction between the three of them that they hadn’t even spoken for months before I even came back to it—for things that they had gone through in another project, they played But I didn’t know about any of those things. I came in with an open heart, ready to work and ready to do some things. We were trying to put together something to release to fans musically, and it was very difficult I don’t know why… It just wasn’t in the cards at the time.
“You’ll never hear me beat those guys. I love them; I love them dearly,” Marq repeated. “And I don’t feel it’s right to be in the business this long. You don’t come up and talk down about people you love and work with. And I don’t. I have nothing but love for them guys. And like I say – not to be redundant – but I wish them the best in the future and the best in their musical careers.”
December last year, Sweat toldMarko Syrjala of metal rules on dissolution of the latest original BULLET BOYS reunion: “Well, every time we get together — and we’ve tried to do reunion things over the years — we know there’s a shelf life. We know there’s going to be a moment where everything either implodes or explodes, one or the other other And unfortunately it happened sooner than we all hoped. There are some pretty interesting personalities in the band. Very strong, for better or for worse. So yeah, it was a real shame that it happened. I was really looking forward to going out and doing a lot of dates that summer and we had a lot of things lined up. But it’s like some people don’t want to deal with that kind of negativity.”
Sweat went on to say that “there are some very deep fundamental rifts” between the original members of the BULLET BOYS and added: “I will never do anything with BULLET BOYS again. It’s just been so… I don’t know what the right word is. I suppose it’s just tainted by all the different people who’ve been in it. It doesn’t even make sense to me to think about it… And it’s a shame because there was some good money involved BULLET BOYS if we had stayed together. There aren’t many bands that are all original. And that was a big thing – the promoters like it. But unfortunately it was not to be. So yes. And it’s also funny because every time that happens, and it’s happened a few times where I’ve had to leave the band again, it’s like, ‘Thank you. Now I can clear my head. I don’t have to take the calls. I don’t have to be awake at night. I can just do something else.'”
Sweat previously opened up about his recent departure from BULLET BOYS in an interview with “This That & The Other With Troy Patrick Farrell” more than a year ago. Talks about the personal differences that ultimately caused them to reunite BULLET BOYS to fall apart Mick said: “It’s very hard to explain. I know there’s a lot of external noise, I know there’s voices whispering in everybody’s ear, and when everybody gets away from that buzz (from playing together) starts the putting in. I I don’t want to speak for anybody else, but you start to wonder what’s going on. And then you hear that something happened and somebody did that, or somebody did that or said that, and it’s all just starting to manifest in this… is uncertainty, I suppose is distrust. And for me, I have to be able to trust the guys in my band; I need to be able to know that someone is not going to go behind someone else’s back and say something or do something. And I guess it just starts to disappear with time. It’s funny – when you get back together, all that just recedes into the background because there’s a bigger goal in mind and a bigger picture; you will achieve it and you will not let everyone down. So it’s easy to overlook it. But there comes a point where it just feels like it’s poisonous and toxic and nobody needs that in their lives, especially at our age.”
When Sweat first discussed his exit from BULLET BOYS during a Facebook Live stream on January 3, 2022, he said: “In the past, I know it’s been brought up that anyone who’s not in BULLET BOYS has given up on the fans. And that may or may not be something you want to hear in interviews or whatever. And believe me, it has nothing to do with giving up on fans and everything to do with just not wanting to travel down a road that’s filled with strife and mistrust and bitterness and everything else.
“It’s really, at this point in our lives, imperative — at least for me; I’m going to speak for myself here — that I just remove all kinds of toxicity,” he explained. “And I’m sure you all understand that it just can’t be a part of my life anymore. And the fact that we were all original and had some great shows and had a great time playing shows — there’s no doubt about it; I had a wonderful time and I was looking forward to doing it all in 2022 – but when it gets to a point where it’s toxic, you can’t have it in your life…
“I’m grateful that everyone understands and I apologize to you guys. I was really looking forward to this being a good run, being a good year and finding a way to get through it. But it’s not going to be like that be.”
The original BULLET BOYS lineup returned live in December 2019 with a sold-out performance at the Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
Except for one show in 2011, original BULLET BOYS members D’Anda, Sweat, winner and Markets had not performed together since 1993.
BULLET BOYS formed in 1988 at the peak of the Los Angeles glam metal movement. As a collection of talented musicians, BULLET BOYS was able to quickly capture the attention of music fans around the world. Unlike other rockers of the time BULLET BOYS possessed more hard rock-blues fusion than pure hair metal. Thanks to comparisons to e.g AEROSMITH and VAN HALENtalent scouts came running and the band quickly got their first major label contract.
BULLET BOYS‘ self-titled debut was released in 1988 via Warner Bros. and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned two hit singles, a cover of O’JAYS classic “For the Love of Money” and “Cheer Up In Ya”both of which charted on the Mainstream Rock chart and saw regular airplay MTV. BULLET BOYS went on to release two more albums, 1991’s “Freak Show” and the 1993s “Za-Za”before division.
The new BULLET BOYS lineup, with Marketsguitarist Ira Black (OF GODS & MONSTERS, LIZZY BORDEN, METAL CHURCH), bass player Brad Long (Y&T, BURNING RAIN) and drummer Fred Aching (POWERFLO, BILLYBIO), came live in January 2022 at RokIsland Fest in Key West, Florida.