Famous for his time in Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age, Mark Lanegan was a crucial part of the grunge scene that emerged in Seattle in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Videos by American Songwriter
His band Screaming Trees helped pioneer the genre, which combined heavy metal guitar riffs with the spirit of punk rock. With a low, raspy voice, Lanegan was critically acclaimed… though he never reached the commercial heights of his peers in Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or Soundgarden.
He detailed his life and career, including his struggles with addiction, in the 2020 book, Sing Backwards And Weep: A Memoir. In the autobiography, Lanegan credited Courtney Love with helping him enter rehab and saving his life following the death of his close friend Kurt Cobain. In 2022, Lanegan died at home in Killarney, Ireland, at age 57.
There are plenty of songs out there that are excellent pieces of work for remembering one of the most dramatic voices in alternative rock. Let’s look at a few of them.
“Nearly Lost You” by Screaming Trees from ‘Sweet Oblivion’ (1992)
Lanegan’s husky baritone reached a wide audience with Screaming Trees’ breakthrough song, “Nearly Lost You”. It was the first single from the band’s sixth album and appeared on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe’s 1992 grunge rom-com Singles. Writing in his memoir, Lanegan said Screaming Trees “were always fighting: fighting each other, fighting fans and promoters and bouncers, fighting to find a direction.”
“Song For The Dead” by Queens of the Stone Age from ‘Songs For The Deaf’ (2002)
In 2000, Lanegan sang lead vocals on “In the Fade” from Queens of the Stone Age’s second album Rated R. He later joined as a full-time member of Josh Homme’s desert rock collective. He was also featured more prominently on Songs For The Deaf, which also includes Dave Grohl on drums. It’s a sinister tune and Lanegan growls in a low melancholy over stoner guitar riffs and Grohl’s frantic groove.
“Where Did You Sleep Last Night” by Mark Lanegan from ‘The Winding Sheet’ (1990)
Nirvana famously covered “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” for MTV Unplugged (1994), but the seeds for Kurt Cobain’s stirring interpretation of Lead Belly’s version were planted on Lanegan’s debut solo album. Cobain and Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic contributed to this recording.
Cobain and Lanegan had discussed recording an album of Lead Belly covers, but it never materialized. Still, Lanegan was in awe of Cobain’s rendition, telling Rolling Stone in 1996 that “his [Cobain’s] version of that song is the definitive version—it blows mine away.”
“Snake Song” by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan from ‘Hawk’ (2010)
Former Belle & Sebastian singer and cellist Isobel Campbell collaborated with Lanegan on three albums. Hawk is the third LP from the duo, featuring a haunting cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Snake Song”. Campbell’s airy voice sits atop Lanegan’s road-worn delivery: a beauty-and-the-beast union perfectly suited for Van Zandt’s dark blues.
“Hit The City” by Mark Lanegan and PJ Harvey from ‘Bubblegum’ (2004)
One of Lanegan’s finest tracks also features PJ Harvey and Josh Homme. Released under Mark Lanegan Band, Bubblegum became his first commercially successful solo album. Though Lanegan continued working with Queens Of The Stone Age, his tenure as a full-time member ended in 2005. However, the QOTSA imprint remains strong here. Add this to your desert trip playlist.
Photo by Roberto Finizio/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.