Mark Adams is a US musician from Bloomington, United States, born in 1958 and known as a bassist with Saint Vitus. He also performs and records under the name Duke.

Early work

Adams begins as a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in Newcastle’s West End, where he grows up and develops an early interest in rock and roll. As a teenager he listens closely to Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, then forms his first band, Catch 22, in his early teens. That group plays Newcastle club dates for three years with a set that mixes 1950s covers and original three-chord rock songs.

One Hand One Heart

After Catch 22 ends, Adams joins One Hand One Heart after seeing the band on local television and learning they need a singer. The group is managed by Chas Chandler, the former Animals bassist, and later signs to Epic Records. Adams spends years gigging with the band before it releases two singles and an album and then breaks up.

Solo work as Duke

Adams then goes solo and writes So In Love With You, which becomes his first hit and leads him into dance music. Under the stage name Duke, he works with producers Norman Cook and Full Intention on remixes of the song. It first charts in the Netherlands before spreading to other territories. He also says he values Holland as the place where the record begins its wider success.

Collaborations and later recordings

He works with soul singer Bobby Womack on writing and production, describing it as a major experience. Adams also signs to several labels, including Gary Kurfirst’s Radioactive/Universal Records. He later makes the album Fixing Broken Pieces, described as a soul and blues record, with all songs written, produced, recorded, and performed by him on vocals and instruments.

Saint Vitus

In parallel with his other work, Adams is a co-founder and bassist in doom metal group Saint Vitus.