A brief history :

Pirate Prude got it's name from the EP record by the band Helium released in 1994.  You can make your own interpretation on what the meaning of it is.  I enjoy the alliteration of it and I've been using it as a band moniker for so long I feel the need to just stand behind it.

Pirate Prude has had an interesting run so far.  The early stages began with just myself on vocals and guitar, and my friend Ariel Escoto (lead guitar, ebow).  I made initial recordings by the name of Pillowcore but did not make it widely available.  I managed to book our first gig opening up for the band Xiu Xiu in August of 2004 at the Orpheum in Ybor City.  My friend Eric Turner accompanied us on drums.  It was an exciting opportunity to play out as a trio and really lit a fire in my belly.

Then I met my bassist/friend Andrew Hawthorne in 2005.  Shortly after placing an ad for a drummer, we found one by the name of Scott.  My other cellist/composer friend Tom Kersey joined the band after that.  In April of 2006 we played our first gig at the Bombshell Gallery.   Our lineup only lasted for a few months.  Scott was more focused on his girlfriend so the rhythm section became incomplete.

Tom and I played a few Pirate Prude shows as just a duo since Andrew did not want to play out without a drummer.  Then we found another drummer, Kevin McMahon who responded to my ad on bandmix.  Throughout 2007 Pirate Prude played out with this quartet lineup.  By the end of the year, shows died down and I began working on the Pirate Prude debut Exile In Circuitville which was released on 2008 (Release was in March 2008).  It was a concept album that mirrored both Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville and the Rolling Stone's Exile on Mainstreet.  No, it was not a song by song response but I did find myself looking and listening to both records to determine the lay out of the songs i selected for the album.  Tom also plays on the record.  The next drummer and Andrew never came to fruition on the recordings.

After the record release party in June 2008 I put the project on indefinite hold.  I put down my guitar for the most part and led a creatively devoid life.  Just went to work, spent time with friends and felt like a big chunk of something was missing.

On occassion, from this time in 2008 to 2011, Tom would be cool enough to accompany me on cello as I would play a gig here and there.  The overall excitement i felt in a trio or quartet playing situation was missing.  But still it was nice to hear cello layerings throughout the songs in a live setting.

During 2010 after the ending of a difficult relationship, I went back to playing songs.  This time not my songs but songs written by others.  I guess being inspired by Cat Power's Covers Record really gave me the impetus to make a covers album of my own. So I did.  It's called Under The Covers.  You can listen to it on Soundcloud.  You should share it with others.

I guess the one realization I've come to through the past 8 years of playing on this project is that Pirate Prude is Mark Freifeld.  I have a revolving cast of players but the main player does not change.  I am making every attempt to get a lineup together again.  The point is I can't sit back and wait until that happens.  I have to keep playing.

No, there isn't a following and tons of adoring fans.  But maybe by sharing the songs and experiences that come along the way, you will become a fan.  Eventually more will become fans too.  That is my genuine hope.  Thanks for reading.