West of Summit is headed off by Mark "Summit" originally ZINC Mark had decided to put the old project aside and create West of Summit a consistently growing project that is not genre specific but tends to hold close to a melodic metal sound infused with sum alternative and even some punk. in 2005 Mark was the singer for Nailed Shut and was on the brink of being signed, unfortunately some problems arose with Mark and he had to leave the music industry for 6 years and now is back with vengeance and more skill than ever before and is no longer willing to depend on other band members instead he is the sole writer and composer for all the music West of Summit provides. Now as a musical artist he has the freedom to do what he loves with out the restrictions of other members. previous bands: ZINC: lead singer, guitarist, drummer, pianist, bass. Nailed Shut : lead singer Advent : original lead singer Casket : lead singer PRI-MATE : lead singer , guitarist Air Born Sperm : guitarist Mark had found that all these bands he was restricted by what others could do while some members were very dedicated others were very fickle and when your about to do a show with 2000 + people that is not a good thing and will only hold you back as a true musical artist. "every one seems to think its some game or some thing just for fun for me its a life style a job a place of work as entertainers its our job to take it seriously and put on the best show we can for our fans and i don't think enough people realize that out there but the fact is they pay to see us entertain and when you buy a product if thats products not working what do you do take it back right" Mark Summit. Mark Summit was born in Stockton CA, in November of 81 born as the only child to Tony and Kathy in 93 his parents and him moved to Sonora CA, but he spent allot of time going back and forth to Stockton Mark was raised around musically talented people his father Tony was a guitarist and grandfather was Buddy Lumpken / Madden an Irish immigrant that played the banjo and guitar and was very popular in the 50's and 60's and passed away in the late 1980's. Mark's father Tony was an aspiring musician who laid down his dreams of fame when Mark was born. At the age of 3 Mark knew what he wanted to be and how he wanted to do it as the lead singer of a metal band and has since fought hard for that dream and continues to fight to make it to the top to be the very embodiment of metal and to rise to that summit of the music industry. now at the age of 29 his vocals have a wide range his style unique to any but fully capable of sounding like any other out there he is versatile in all string and percussion instruments and continues his growth every day.