9 Questions

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mark Martinez moved to
Tucson in 1985 to get away from the cold. His love of music led him to
work in record stores—he was a manager at Zia Records and worked
at Sam Goody—and in recent years, he’s turned his photography
hobby into a business specializing in band and live-music photos. He
also works part-time at the Rialto Theatre.

What was the first concert you ever saw?

Black Sabbath, in 1975. My first day of work at my first job (I was
an usher) was this show. What a great job! I was able to see all the
great rock bands of the ’70s.

What CDs are in your changer right now?

My current favorites are the new ones from The Decemberists, Grizzly
Bear, Dredg and Ben Harper. Other than listening to new releases, I
usually have my iPod on shuffle play.

How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes,
8-tracks)?

Wow, I never really counted, but a good guess would be several
thousand CDs and a couple of hundred pieces of vinyl.

Do you download music, and if so, legally or illegally?

Yes, mostly to discover new music. Gotta feed the music addiction. I
still buy music, but have to shop more wisely.

What was the first album you owned?

Fleetwood Mac, self-titled, and Aerosmith, Toys in the
Attic.

What song would you like to have played at your funeral?

Frank Zappa, “Eat That Question.” No need for words—just a
great instrumental!

Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don’t know
about? What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

I’m addicted to American Idol … but shhh, don’t tell
anyone.

What band or artist changed your life, and how?

My second day of work at my first job was Rush and Cheap Trick at
the Chicago Auditorium. Cheap Trick was good, but seeing Rush live
performing 2112, wow! I was hooked on concerts and live music
after this show!

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all
time?

Frank Zappa, The Grand Wazoo.

This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2009.