Mark Stone (musician)

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See also: Van Halen

Mark Stone was the bass guitar player in a band called "Mammoth" from 1972 - 1974. Mammoth featured Eddie Van Halen (lead vocals, guitar) and Alex Van Halen (drums). Later, David Lee Roth would join the band, and shortly afterwards Stone would be replaced by Michael Anthony just before the band was finally renamed Van Halen. The band decided things were not working out with Stone and decided to look for a replacement bass player, but until deciding to invite Anthony into the band he was still officially a member of Mammoth. He toured the club scene with the band frequently until his replacement.

Stone was never credited with any songwriting for Van Halen, because when he was in the band they largely relied on cover songs for their live set. The band played numerous cover songs in their sets, and it is possible Stone helped select the songs the band used to cover frequently at shows.

Stone's whereabouts since leaving the band are unknown, though it is clear he did not rise to the prominence of the band from which he came. Indeed, out of the history of Van Halen he is not known to music historians at all. He appeared in a DVD about the early days of Van Halen, but talked about the band itself and not his subsequent life. This did however confirm that in the early 21st Century, Stone was still actually alive.

• • Update**

Mark stone is still currently living in Pasadena, California, where the band originally started.