Maybe his death got overshadowed by Gary Brooker’s, but Mark Lanegan also died, aged 57. Grunge was a big thing for me and my musical socialization, and the Screaming Trees are one of my favorite bands of the genre. I also love his solo work and the things he’s done with the Queens Of The Stone Age and especially the albums he did with Isobel Campbell. Just the other day, I bought his autobiography “Sing Backwards And Weep”. I haven’t got around to read it yet, but judging from what I’ve heard, it must describe a tough and tragic life, which now has come to an early end. I read in his obituaries that he barely survived a Covid infection in 2020 after spending weeks in a coma and was able to write a book about it last year, only to die a year later. RIP.
Just saw this. Apparently been suffering from long-COVID for over a year. No COD given.
Ugh, same age I am now.
What a talent. So much beyond The Screaming Trees and QotSA…
My favorite song of his collaborations with Isobel Campbell, maybe appropriate:
Their collaboration wasn’t even mentioned in the piece I read about his death. They are the only music of his that I own and just about my favorite series of duets. My favorite:
I don’t know where you came from to their music, but for me they were unimaginable sides. I was a fan of both the Screaming Trees and Belle And Sebastian, but when I first read about that collaboration, I couldn’t believe how this could work out. You have the gruffest Grunge guy, doom and gloom anytime, with the most gravel voice this side of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits, and Isobel from the twee band (with a knack, of course), who always sounded like flowers and sunshine. Of course it worked very well, and it really wasn’t a one-sided affair, she not only sang background to him (but often lead), but wrote and produced much of the songs. A magical collaboration, I love those albums.
One of the last aired episodes of “Parts Unknown” before Anthony Bourdain died was on Seattle and featured Mark Lanegan’s music heavily throughout the show and there was a very sweet interview as well. It’s so awful they’re both gone but this episode had a lot of magic going on–get out your hankies.
This one hits me hard. I was big into grunge, and I was also big into the SST Records catalog. Saw Screaming Trees play twice and they were great. I still think Dust is one of the best albums of all times.
Yes, love this one. I enjoy his solo work and collaborations. I’m a big QOTSA fan so always like hearing him pop up there.
RIP Mark. 
I was flipping through Sing Backwards and Weep during a recent trip to the bookstore. I’ve got half a mind to go back and pick it up. I’m not what you’d call the biggest Screaming Trees fan in the world – I love “Nearly Lost You” and can vaguely recall the chorus of “All I Know,” but that’s basically it – but he seems to have lived the kind of life that makes for a rich memoir.
This was a bit of a shock to me when I found out. I hadn’t heard about his covid struggles…
I was a bit late for Screaming Trees, but once upon a time, I was a bit obsessed with Bubblegum, and every new release since has been a highlight for me. Not everything always worked equally well for me, but there’s been a lot of brilliance over the years in his solo works, and his collaborations were as surprising as they were inspired—not just with Isobel Campbell (although that’s probably my favorite, too), but also with Greg Dulli as Gutter Twins and with Soulsavers. He will be sorely missed.
It’s been some time, but I have to share Isobel Campbell’s heartfelt and moving tribute to her friend and collaborator I just discovered:
ETA: and please educate me: which Heathcliff does she compare him to? I don’t get the reference.
It’s a reference to Wuthering Heights, where Heathcliff is a sort of ambiguous character between romantic interest and vengeful antihero.
Ah, thanks, I’ve never read “Wuthering Heights”, I only know the Kate Bush song. Your characterization of who Heathcliff was makes Isobel Campbell’s words even more moving.