On this episode of Lipps Service, Scott Lipps sits down with one of country’s biggest acts and best guitarists today – Marcus King. Marcus and his band most recently released the LP Darling Blue, the band’s first since 2018. They start by getting into the story behind his song “Cadillac,” meeting his wife, his Southern upbringing, musical heroes, and the early days of making music with his family. Marcus opens up about the trauma that shaped his songwriting, his faith, and the decision to leave school to pursue music, as well as his thoughts on Americana, keeping guitar music alive, and forming The Marcus King Band. He shares candid insights about working with other music greats such as Dan Auerbach, Dave Cobb, and Rick Rubin, while also discussing his struggles with mental health, microdosing, and his journey toward sobriety. The two explore the renaissance of honest rock ’n’ roll, how old movies inspired his latest record, and his dream collaborations (and a few ghosting stories). The interview wraps with Marcus listing his top five guitarists and top five roots and Americana artists. Tune into a great and insightful chat with the legend – Marcus King! 

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CREDITS (Instagram handles) 

Host @scottlipps 

Produced by @whitakermarisa 

Edited by @toastycakes 

Music by @robbyhoff 

Recorded at Fringe Podcasts NYC 

0:00:31 - “Cadillac” and how he met his wife 

0:02:30 - Upbringing  

0:04:00 - Music heroes 

0:07:00 - Playing music with family 

0:07:40 - Trauma that led to his songwriting 

0:09:51 - Channeling emotions into music at a young age 

0:10:45 - Faith 

0:11:24 - Parents and decision to go into music 

0:14:18 - Decision to leave school and pursue music

0:18:00 - Americana

0:20:00 - Keeping guitar music alive 

0:21:40 - Going to LA for the first time 

0:24:11 - Forming the Marcus King Band 

0:25:55 - Working with Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys

0:28;00 - Dave Cobb vs Dan Auerbach 

0:28:45 - Rick Rubin 

0:32:00 - Mental health 

0:34:34 - Microdosing 

0:35:20 - Notoriety, its challenges

0:38:00 - Darling Blue

0:41:45 - Collaborating process

0:42:51 - Journey with sobriety 

0:44:13 - Sobriety and rock bottom 

0:45:00 - Renaissance of honest rock ‘n’ roll 

0:46:17 - Album recording process

0:47:28 - Dream collaborators and getting ghosted 

0:49:40 - Top 5 guitarists 

0:54:24 - Top 5 roots, Americana, and country artists