Mark Craney was born in the mid-west US city of Minneapolis, on August 26th, 1952. In an interview with Rhythm Magazine (January 1990) Craney recalls:

"I started the summer of my 12th year. The Christmas before that, I became a diabetic, and I think my parents were thinking, 'Wow, poor Mark. He's going to have a plagued life; let's find something for him’. So they bought me a set of drums. My dad brought 'em home, set 'em up backwards. My mother has since told me that she knew that very night that drums would be what I would be doing with my life. She's a very intuitive, fabulous woman.



From then, I was in this cute band, and all the parents were into it and they'd help us out. But pretty soon they were going, 'Hmmmm; this isn't so cute any more.' And each parent would gradually fall away until it was basically my parents who were still there. And I know that a big part of the success that I've had is just from their support.



I went on in local hippie bands, and into fusion bands, and with different bands in different cities, Kansas City, Denver, all kinds of places. I always believed in leaving a band if it wasn't happening. I didn't believe in sticking it out 'til the bitter end, 'til we all really hated each other. So I would just pack my truck up, get my dog, and split; and they'd all be wagging their fingers after me."

After high school, he went, like so many counterparts from across the Atlantic, to Art School, before becoming a professional musician.



He has taught drums for twenty years as well as having had a varied career as a powerhouse stick-man for Jean-luc Ponty, Tommy Bolin, Mark-Almond Band, Gino Vanelli and Eddie Jobson.



Through his work on Eddie's Zinc album, he was recommended to Ian Anderson as a potential player on Ian's would-be solo effort which became the Tull "A" album in 1980.



Touring with Tull in that year in support of the record Mark became a firm friend of the band and later of his replacement, twice-removed, Doane Perry.



Mark had the disadvantage of ill-health, first through diabetes and then from kidney disease which has almost cost him his life, as well as career.



In spite of his problems Mark continued to play with many artists such as Jeff Beck, The Headpins, Tower of Power and, having rehabilitated himself on two occasions when his kidneys gave out, managed a long period with Eric Burdon until 1996 when he became too ill to play and had no option but to await the kidney transplant which is still hoped for.



Doane Perry gave his considerable time and energy to put together a benefit album and concert for Mark in 1998, aided and abetted by many of Mark's previous employers including Uncle Eric and the Tull boys too.



The CD "Something With A Pulse" is available on Laughing Gull Records #LG002 through "A New Day" magazine.



On November 26, 2005 Mark Craney died in his sleep. He had been ill for many years fighting with an on-going kidney ailment, transplant rejections, stroke paralysis and associated medical problems.