Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan |
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Mark Lanegan (born November 25, 1964) in Ellensburg, Washington) is an American rock musician and songwriter. Lanegan began his music career in the 1980s. In 1985, he became the vocalist for grunge group Screaming Trees; the group broke up in 2000. Lanegan would start a low-key solo career, but in 2004 Lanegan released his big breakthrough album Bubblegum. In addition to leading the The Gutter Twins, Lanegan has also been involved in other musical projects, including hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age and longterm collaborations with Isobel Campbell. He has undertaken some other surprisingly eclectic collaborations, such as co-writing and providing vocals for Black River by the electronic outfit, Bomb the Bass.
Biography
Early life
Lanegan rarely talks about his childhood years. In 1996, during an interview for Pacific Northwest periodical "The Rocket" he said that he drove a combine.[1] It is known that he came from a 'dysfunctional' family that he tried to avoid, and was heavily into drugs by the age of 18, having already been arrested and sentenced to one year's imprisonment for drug-related crimes.[2] He managed to get out of jail by taking a year-long rehab course. Around this time he met and befriended Van Conner with whom he would eventually form the Screaming Trees. At this point his relationship with the Conner brothers was restricted to talking about music and working for their parents' electronics hardware store. This job apparently largely involved repossessing televisions, microwaves and toasters from nearby trailer parks and having guns pulled on him.[3] In 1984, Mark held a job in a pea field, as a "grease monkey." Two months before the band's first record release, Mark was planning to leave the Screaming Trees to pursue a job in Las Vegas. However, on his last day of work his legs were run over by a tractor and he had to be hospitalized. After his recovery he continued to tour with the band well into the 1990s.
Musical career
(1985–2000) Screaming Trees
Along with Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Screaming Trees became one of the most successful bands from Seattle's emerging grunge scene in the early 1990s. The band was formed in 1985 by Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, and bassist Van Conner.[4] Mark Pickerel would later be replaced with Barrett Martin.
The band signed to Sub Pop, releasing the Other Worlds EP in 1985 (Originally available only in a cassette format, the album was re-released on CD and LP by SST Records in 1987).[4] Though the band was being courted by major labels, in 1986 they signed to Velvetone records to release their debut album, Clairvoyance in 1986.[4] Musically the album is a combination of psychedelic music and hard rock, while it bears many similarities to early grunge.[4]
In 1987, the band released their second effort, and their first for SST Records, Even If and Especially When.[4] After the release of the album in 1987 the band began working on the American indie circuit, playing shows across the US.[4] Their follow up album was Invisible Lantern released in 1988. Buzz Factory was the fourth full-length album by Screaming Trees and their final record released through SST released in 1989.
In 1991, the band released their fifth effort, and their first for a major label.[4] Uncle Anesthesia was released in 1991 and was produced by famous Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell.[4] Uncle Anesthesia included the single "Bed of Roses". "Bed of Roses" gained considerable airtime on alternative rock radio stations. The song "Bed of Roses" peaked at number 23 on the modern rock tracks and was the first Screaming Trees release to chart.[5]
Martin replaced previous drummer Pickerel and the new line up recorded Sweet Oblivion in 1992.[4] Sweet Oblivion was the band's breakout album and included the hit singles "Nearly Lost You", "Dollar Bill", and "Shadow of the Season". The two first singles gained considerable airtime on alternative rock radio stations, while the video for "Nearly Lost You" became an MTV and alternative radio hit in the fall of 1992, thanks to the momentum of the Singles soundtrack. "Nearly Lost You" peaked at number 5 on the Modern Rock Tracks and number 50 in the United Kingdom and was the first single to chart outside the United States.[4] Sweet Oblivion sold a total of 300,000 copies in the United States.[4]
The band's final album was Dust. The album spawned several singles, including "All I Know", and "Dying Days". Dust peaked at number 134 on the Billboard 200 and number 39 on the Canadian album chart which was the first Screaming Trees album to chart outside the United States. Despite favorable reviews, the album did not match the sales of Sweet Oblivion.
Following the Dust tour in the United States, Screaming Trees took another hiatus for Lanegan to begin his work on his third solo album, Scraps at Midnight, which was released in 1998. The band headed back into the studio in 1999 and recorded several demos including the song "Ash Grey Sunday" and shopped them around to labels but nobody was interested.[4] The band played a few surprise shows in early 2000 to try to gain a label's attention but they were unsuccessful and in 2000 after a concert to celebrate the opening of Seattle's Experience Music Project, the band surprisingly announced their official breakup.[4]
(1990–2004) Solo work and Side Projects
In 1990, Lanegan released his first solo album, The Winding Sheet, on the legendary label Sub Pop, which also hosted Nirvana, Soundgarden and many others. Around this time, Lanegan had a blues-based side-project which featured Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana fame on guitar and bass respectively, with then Screaming Trees drummer Mark Pickerel on drums.[6] A number of tracks were recorded, including a cover of Leadbelly's version of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", appearing on The Winding Sheet, and "Ain't It a Shame," which is available on the Nirvana box set With the Lights Out.[6] Cobain also supplied backing vocals on "Down in the Dark" on Lanegan's debut.[7] Nirvana would later go on to perform "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" at their famous Unplugged performance in New York. In the end, the majority of the album was recorded with Pickerel on drums, Mike Johnson (who would later go on to play bass with Dinosaur Jr) on guitar, Steve Fisk on piano and organ, and Jack Endino on bass.[6]
The second record, 1994's Whiskey for the Holy Ghost, was a far more cohesive recording, with such ethereal songs as "The River Rise," "Kingdoms of Rain," "Riding the Nightingale" and "Beggar's Blues."[6] Taking nearly three years to make, the album came close to not seeing the light of day as Lanegan was set to throw the master tapes in a pond outside of the recording studio, only to be stopped by Producer Jack Endino at the last moment.[6] "Kingdoms of Rain" was re-recorded on the collaboration album with "Soulsavers" in 2007 and released as a single.
In 1995, Lanegan appeared on Above, a sideproject by Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley under the name Mad Season. The group was formed in late 1994 by Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and John Baker Saunders of The Walkabouts. Lanegan appeared on "Long Gone Day" and "I'm Above".[8]
In 1998, Scraps at Midnight was released. The album was recorded the previous winter after completing a tour with his band the Screaming Trees, which was unfortunately plagued by great inner-turmoil.[6] It was recorded in Joshua Tree, California and produced by long-time friend and collaborator Mike Johnson, immediately after Lanegan was released from rehab.[6]
The fourth studio album was recorded in 1999. The album became entitled I'll Take Care of You, which is a cover album by Lanegan where he covers songs by prominent folk, R&B and punk artists such as Tim Hardin, Booker T. and the MGs and Jeffrey Lee Pierce, as well as country icon Buck Owens.[6]
In 2001, he released his fifth studio album, Field Songs. The album featured friend Duff McKagan, as well as major contributions from former Soundgarden bassist, Ben Shepherd.[9]
2003 saw him appear on Greg Dulli's The Twilight Singers record Blackberry Belle, sharing lead vocal duties on the epic closing track, "Number Nine". This would be the first in many collaborations with Dulli and The Twilight Singers.[10]
On his latest solo album, Bubblegum (2004), Lanegan was joined by a cadre of prominent artists, including P. J. Harvey, Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age, Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers, Dean Ween of Ween, and Duff McKagan and Izzy Stradlin, previously of Guns N' Roses.[11] Also appearing on Bubblegum is Lanegan's ex-wife, Wendy Rae Fowler.[12] The favorably reviewed album is his most commercially successful to date, reaching number 39 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.[5] Some would assume this is due to the appearance of several prominent musical figures, although the album did receive glowing review by critics.[12]
(2000–2005) Queens of the Stone Age
Lanegan's first appearance on a Queens of the Stone Age album was Rated R in 2000, while not an official member of the band Lanegan sang lead vocals on "In the Fade", background vocals on "Leg of Lamb", "Autopilot" and "I Think I Lost My Headache". Rated R became a commercial success and became the first Queens of the Stone Age album to chart.
Shortly after the release of Field Songs, Lanegan became a full-time member of Queens of the Stone Age. Lanegan appeared on the 2002 release entitled Songs for the Deaf, once again singing lead on the tracks "Song for the Dead," "Hangin' Tree," and "God Is in the Radio". The album became the band's big breakthrough and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.[13] He also toured in support for the album over the next two years.[14] Mark toured full-time as a third vocalist for Queens of the Stone Age for support of Songs for the Deaf.[14] Joining his friend Joshua Homme, who supported the Screaming Trees as their touring guitarist in 1996. The album received two Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy nominations for singles "No One Knows" (2003),[15] and "Go with the Flow" (2004).[16]
In 2005, Lanegan would release his last album with Queens of the Stone Age entitled Lullabies to Paralyze where he sang lead vocals on "This Lullaby". The album was delayed during 2004 because of some changes to the line-up: bassist Nick Oliveri was fired and on-off vocalist Mark Lanegan went on tour to support Bubblegum.[17] Lanegan would later appear for the support of the album.[18] Lanegan left the tour for a while, citing exhaustion, but would return to finish the tour with the band.[18]
Lanegan told Christina Fuoco of Live Daily "My relationship with these guys is one of the most satisfying that I've had". "It's great to play with, essentially, my best friends."[18] When he was asked between the difference between Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age he said "It's all rock 'n' roll to me. A band is a band. They're really not that radically different. It's all rock music."[18]
Lanegan has continued to work with Queens of the Stone Age even after leaving the band. In 2007, he appeared on their album, Era Vulgaris, contributing background vocals to the track "River in the Road".
(2004-2008)Collaboration with Isobel Campbell
In April 2004, Lanegan released an EP with former Belle & Sebastian vocalist Isobel Campbell, titled Time Is Just the Same. They would later release a single entitled "Ramblin' Man" for their collaboration album Ballad of the Broken Seas. Campbell wrote and recorded the majority of the album's tracks in Glasgow, with Lanegan adding vocals in Los Angeles. The record was well-received by critics who likened the duo to Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue.[19]
In addition to providing vocals, Lanegan also wrote the track "Revolver" with Campbell. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Prize.[20] Lanegan and Campbell played four UK concerts in January 2007, with the London date being moved to a larger venue as a result of high demand for tickets.
When making the decision of a follow-up to Ballad of the Broken Seas, Campbell stated:
"It was because he kinda disappeared for a year but in my heart I wanted to do another one because as soon as we’d finished Ballad of the Broken Seas I was writing new songs and I was like; ‘Oh God, I’ve got to get Mark to sing these."
After a concert with Lanegan in January, 2007 Campbell asked Lanegan if he would consider making a new album, Lanegan replied: "in a heartbeat".
This time Lanegan flew to Glasgow to record the new album at the end of March for nine days to record the songs Campbell had written. After working with Lanegan Campbell stated: "It is his classic, effortless American voice that I love". Campbell also stated that "I think I was playing about with that a lot so there’s a few of what Mark would call raunchy songs and a few ballads too".[21]
The album, called Sunday at Devil Dirt, was released on May 5, 2008. The track "Who Built the Road" has been the album's only single so far.
(2006–2007) Collaborations
Lanegan has appeared on three releases with The Twilight Singers (Blackberry Belle, She Loves You and A Stitch in Time). In 2006, Lanegan toured with the band in Europe and Israel followed by a fall tour throughout the United States.[22] During this time, Lanegan collaborated with producer and musician, Tim Simenon, on a track for the latter's fourth album as Bomb the Bass - Future Chaos. The song, Black River, was consistently - and warmly - referenced in all reviews of the album, and generally considered to be one of the releases standout tracks. A remix by Gui Boratto was included on limited edition versions of Future Chaos, and it is rumoured that the song will be released as a single during early 2009.
In October 2006, English electronica duo Soulsavers announced on their MySpace site that they were putting the finishing touches to their new album It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land, which features Lanegan on 8 out of 10 album tracks.[23]
Although the album is not credited as Soulsavers & Mark Lanegan, he did have a significant input. As well as appearing as vocalist, the tracks "Revival", "Ghosts of You and Me", "Paper Money" and "Jesus of Nothing" are credited as written by Mark Lanegan and Soulsavers.[23] The album also features a re-working of "Kingdoms of Rain", which was initially released on Lanegan's second solo album, Whiskey for the Holy Ghost. "Revival" and "Kingdoms of Rain" were released as singles from the album.[23]
Soulsavers recorded the tracks in England in 2005 and 2006, with Lanegan recording the vocal parts at Conway Studios in Los Angeles.[23]
The single "Revival" has received significant airplay and can be streamed on the band's MySpace (as well as the video for the track).
On March 9, 2007, a blog entry on Soulsavers' MySpace stated that they had "just confirmed 2 shows on 13 & 14 July in Madrid & Barcelona". On March 15, 2007, Lanegan's fan site Onewhiskey.com was updated to state that Lanegan would be touring with Soulsavers.[6]
The Gutter Twins (2003–present)
The Gutter Twins is the long awaited collaboration between Mark Lanegan and former Afghan Whigs/current Twilight Singers vocalist Greg Dulli. Working on a collaborative album since at least 2003, the pair first played as The Gutter Twins in Rome in September 2005.[24]
On September 22, 2007, it was announced on the pair's MySpace that their long-awaited debut has been completed. Saturnalia was released on March 4, 2008 on Sub Pop, a label both Dulli and Lanegan have worked with before. The duo's first tour commenced on February 14, 2008 in New York City and continued in March and April throughout Europe and the United States.[25]
The album was a big hit and Blast Magazine's Liz Raftery ended up praising the album calling it "an audial descent into the dark emotions that often lurk beneath the surface."[26] The albums highest position was at number 7 in Belgium. The album also peaked at number 117 on the Billboard 200. That means that Saturnalia is the first album since Screaming Trees' Dust that has charted at the Billboard 200 with Mark as a permanent band member.[5][27]
On September 2, 2008, The Gutter Twins released an EP called "Adorata" exclusively on iTunes. Adorata contains 8 tracks, most of them are covers, but also two Gutter Twins-songs that never made it to the album.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Winding Sheet | Sub Pop |
| 1994 | Whiskey for the Holy Ghost | |
| 1998 | Scraps at Midnight | |
| 1999 | I'll Take Care of You | |
| 2001 | Field Songs | |
| 2004 | Bubblegum | Beggars Banquet |
References
- ^ "Screaming Trees". timeforlight.com. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Guardian - The Gutter Twins". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Lanegan's childhood". onewhiskey.com. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Allmusic - Screaming Trees". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ a b c "Artist Chart History - Mark Lanegan/Screaming Trees/The Gutter Twins/QotSA". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i "Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Allmusic - [[The Winding Sheet]]". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Allmusic - [[Mad Season]]". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Allmusic - [[Field Songs]]". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Allmusic - [[The Twilight Singers]]". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Billboard- [[Bubblegum]]". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ a b "Allmusic - [[Bubblegum]]". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "RIAA Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ a b "Billboard - Queens of the Stone Age and Mark Lanegan". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "45th Grammy Awards". Rockonthenet. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
- ^ "46th Grammy Awards". Rockonthenet. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
- ^ "Nick Oliveri, Mark Lanegan Leave Queens Of The Stone Age". VH1. 2004-02-12. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d "Mark Lanegan biography". Musicianguide. 2004-02-12. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Allmusic - Ballad of the Broken Seas". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys win Mercury prize". BBC. 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- ^ "Campbell on Lanegan". BBC. 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- ^ "The Twilight Singers and a interview with Mark Greg". Pitchforkmedia. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
- ^ a b c d "Allmusic - [[Soulsavers]]". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "The Village Voice - The Gutter Twins". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Billboard - New Tour Dates". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Blast magazine - Separated at birth". Blast magazine. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ "Summerskiss - The Gutter Twins New tour dates and new single". Summerskiss. Retrieved 2008-06-24.