Sara Marsh

Sara Marsh
Background information
Also known as	Mini Murray (The Iron Maidens)
Origin	Hawthorne, California, U.S.
Genres	Heavy Metal Hard rock Tribute
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1989—2010
Website	sarabaracuda.com
Notable instruments
Lush Custom Strat B.C. Rich ST

Sara Marsh was one of two guitarists of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens (billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden"). In addition, she is a former founding member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls (billed as, "All Female, All Ozzy, All The Time...Covering All Eras Of Ozzy"). Sara Marsh was also a guest guitarist for a couple of tours with Mistress of Reality while The Iron Maidens were looking for their second singer. Prior to those works, Marsh was also the guitarist of the band Bandit (1989–1994).

Biography

Born in Hawthorne, CA, Sara Marsh grew up with music, as her father and grandfather both played tenor saxophone while her mother had a collection of Beach Boys records. Following her father's footsteps, Marsh took up alto saxophone and guitar at age 15 following years of taking up private piano lessons. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, she switched her focus on playing guitar.^[1]

In 1989, Marsh, along with Cathy Montgomery, Sece Foster, Karen Chambers and Robin MacDonnel, formed an all-female metal band called Bandit, whose music had been described by fans as a mix of The Pretenders and Megadeth. After Bandit disbanded in 1994, Marsh moved to Kansas City, KS, to finish her college degree in Special Education teaching. While in Kansas, she worked with several night club bands with musical ranges from Glam metal to Speed metal to Country.^[2]

In 2001, Marsh - along with drummer Linda McDonald and guitarist Josephine Soegijanty of Phantom Blue - joined vocalist Jenny Warren and bassist Melanie Sisneros to form The Iron Maidens, an all-female tribute band to Iron Maiden. As a member of The Iron Maidens, Marsh's stage name was "Mini Murray," a parody of Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray.^[3] Her favorite Iron Maiden songs are "Die With Your Boots On" and The Clairvoyant".^[4]

She also performed with members of Phantom Blue on their reunion at the Michelle Meldrum Memorial Concert in Hollywood, CA, on May 26, 2009.^[5][6]

Discography

The Iron Maidens

• World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden (2005/2006)
• Route 666 (2007)
• The Root of All Evil (2008)
• Metal Gathering Tour Live in Japan 2010 (video, 2010)

Guest musicians Sara Marsh has jammed with The Iron Maidens

• Phil Campbell (of Motörhead) - Guitar; (4 total shows performed) (2005–2008)
  • Performed "The Trooper" with the Maidens on 4 shows.
• Michael Kenney - Keyboard for Iron Maiden
  • Played keyboard with the Maidens on various shows.
• Jeff Loomis (of Nevermore) - Guitar; (1 total show performed) (2006)
  • Performed "The Trooper" with the Maidens on the 6/23/06 show in Seattle, WA.
• Robin McAuley (of Survivor; formerly of McAuley Schenker Group) - Vocals; (1 total show performed)
  • Guest vocalist.
• Alex Skolnick (of Testament) - Guitar; (1 total show performed) (2003)
  • Performed "The Trooper" with the Maidens on the 6/18/03 show in New York City, NY.
• Jason McMaster (of Dangerous Toys) - Vocals; (1 total show performed) (2009)
  • Performed "Wrathchild" and "Remember Tomorrow" with the Maidens on the 5/26/09 Michelle Meldrum Benefit show in Hollywood, CA.
• Michelle Meldrum (of Meldrum; formerly of Phantom Blue) - Guitar; (3 total shows performed) (2006)
  • Filled in for the final leg of the Maidens' 2006 schedule following Elizabeth Schall's release from the band.
• Dave Ellefson (of Megadeth) - Bass; (1 total show performed) (2010)
  • Performed "Killers" with the Maidens on the 1/15/10 NAMM Coffin Case show in Anaheim, CA.

The Little Dolls

• Girls Got Rhythm! (Various artists) (2006)
  • "I Don't Know" ^[7]

Equipment

When she was touring with The Iron Maidens, Marsh's had several main guitars. Recently (2009) it was a cellophaned green-on-black Lush Custom Strat with DiMarzio Super Distortion and two Super Distortion S pickups. The 5 way toggle is set up to split the pickups for single coil as well. She also acquired a flat black one with identical specs a years later. Her favorite is a yellow B.C. Rich ST with EMG 81/85 Floyd Rose pickups (which she had owned since her early days with Bandit). Marsh also owns an 80'z Charvel/Jackson with EMG's that is tuned a half step down as well as her first black B.C. Rich which is now tuned B-B. Her acoustic guitar is a Martin from the 70's signed by David Crosby. In addition, Marsh own an old analog Roland keyboard (JX-3p) as well as a shamisen she recently acquired in Tokyo in 2010 and has become quite skilled at. For sound amplification, Marsh uses a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier and an arsenal of various stomp boxes as she doesn't favor the digital rack sound. At home, she uses a POD 2.0 for home recording and low volume jams with friends.

References

1. ^ Sara Marsh's Family Bio
2. ^ Sara Marsh's Band History
3. ^ The Iron Maidens Band Bio
4. ^ WeROCK City - Sara Marsh Bio
5. ^ The Iron Maidens Forums - Phantom Blue Reunion Show - May 26, 2009
6. ^ The Iron Maidens Forums - Michelle Meldrum Tribute Show 05/26/09 @ The Whisky
7. ^ All Access Magazine - Girls Got Rhythm

External links

• SaraBaracuda.com - Sara Marsh's official site
• SoundClick: Sara Marsh
• Sara Marsh's YouTube Channel

Persondata
Name	Marsh, Sara
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