“It really was like my first solo record — I just kind of did it to see if I could do it,” said Lamb of God founding member and guitarist Mark Morton, as he recently hung out with Chuck Armstrong on Loudwire Nights to discuss his new book, Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir.
Morton admitted that writing Desolation was a lot harder than putting together an album, echoing sentiments shared by other musicians, such as System of a Down’s Serj Tankian. “It’s just very, very time-consuming,” Morton said. “It’s more difficult than making music in a very practical sense. For me, music comes very naturally — and writing a book does not.”
Despite the challenges, Morton hopes the memoir will provide some therapeutic value for fans and readers. “I hope that someone who reads this book understands that, you know, addiction and alcoholism aren’t a matter of intelligence, they’re not moral or ethical failures,” Morton shared. He emphasized that addiction and alcoholism rob people of connection and life, but recovery is possible. He hopes those struggling might pick up Desolation and realize they’re not alone.
In addition to discussing his memoir, Morton shared his excitement about the upcoming Ashes of Leviathan tour with Mastodon. “We’ve been good friends the whole time,” he said. “For us to team up and do this tour with some friends — it’s going to be a hoot, man.”
Both Lamb of God and Mastodon are celebrating the 20th anniversaries of their iconic albums, Ashes of the Wake and Leviathan, respectively. Released on the same day in 2004, the two bands are joining forces to mark the milestone with a special tour.
Morton also hinted at more exciting projects in the pipeline, though he kept details under wraps. “Oh man, I’ve got my hands in so much cool stuff, I wish I could tell you about that,” he teased.
As fans eagerly await the tour and Morton’s next moves, his memoir Desolation offers a deep dive into his personal journey and struggles, providing a raw and honest look at the life of one of metal’s most influential guitarists.
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