Manilla Road Founding Guitarist/Vocalist Mark Shelton Dead at 60

Photo: Stefan Hackländer

Mark “The Shark” Shelton, best known as the founding guitarist and vocalist of heavy metal favorites Manilla Road, died today at the age of 60. No other details are known at this time. Decibel extends our sympathies to Shelton’s family, friends and bandmates.

Manilla Road were formed in 1977 and became favorites in the heavy metal scene, appealing to trad and doom metal fans in addition to hard rock listeners. Their last album was 2017’s To Kill a King and they performed at Chaos Descends Festival in Germany last weekend. Manilla Road were at Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany when Shelton died; a GoFundMe to help with expenses has been arranged.