Screaming Trees

Grunge/alternative rock band Screaming Trees formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1984. The group was founded by vocalist Mark Lanegan, drummer Dan Peters, and brothers Gary Lee Connor (guitar) and Van Conner (bass), all of whom shared a common interest in rock, punk, and garage music. The quartet recorded a demo cassette - Other Worlds - in 1985. They returned the following year with their official debut album Clairvoyance (1986). The album caught the ear of Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn, who signed the group to his SST Records label. The label released the group’s next album, Even If and Especially When, in 1987, and the band went out on tour to support the release. Screaming Trees released two more albums for SST – Invisible Lantern (1988) and Buzz Factory (1989) – before signing a new record deal with Epic Records. With grunge on the rise, the band was linked to this new movement alongside Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains or Pearl Jam. Screaming Trees rose to the challenge with their 1991 album Uncle Anesthesia, which wasn’t a commercial success but was lovingly embraced by the indie and alternative music scenes. Their 1992 album Sweet Oblivion was a commercial success, reaching Number 4 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The album featured “Nearly Lost You”, which has become their best-known song. Screaming Trees released Dust in 1996, scoring a hit with the single “All I Know”. In 1998, the group went back into the studio and began recording their next album. However, Epic Records dropped the band and the band split in 2000. Those final studio sessions were finally released in 2011 as Last Words: The Final Recordings. The group’s legacy can be heard on their official studio albums as well as on compilations on SST and Epic Records and several EPs released during the group’s 16-year lifespan. Mark Lanegan started a successful solo career and released several critically acclaimed albums and collaborated with several different artists on high-profile projects. On February 22, 2022, Mark Lanegan died at his home in Killarney, Ireland. He was 57 years old.