Marco Mendoza Fast Focus

IN 2014, THE DEAD DAISIES SNATCHED MARCO Mendoza away from his Thin Lizzy-turned-Black Star Riders gig.

- Freddy Villano 

It seems fitting that a band influenced by ’70s rock icons Humble Pie, Deep Purple, Grand Funk Railroad, and Bad Company would recruit a bass player whose resumé includes Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, and Whitesnake. For Mendoza, the timing was auspicious. “When Thin Lizzy transitioned into Black Star Riders, I lost a lot of interest—it turned into something else,” he admits. “Musically it was cool, but it just wasn’t the right place for me anymore, so I started looking over the fence.” Fortunately for the 59-year-old, that’s where the Daisies were lurking. Now, Mendoza says he’s in a great place creatively. “I feel like I’m part of something that’s moving forward, as opposed to just hanging out and waiting for what’s going to happen next.”