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Lanegan
Grunge’s golden era gave us some of the greatest rock voices of all-time – Chris Cornell, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and of course, Mark Lanegan.
During a recording career that spanned several decades, Lanegan’s unmistakable and instantly-recognizable vocals were featured on classic recordings as a member of various groups (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age), plus collaborations (Isobel Campbell, Greg Dulli), guest spots (UNKLE, Soulsavers), and steady solo work.
Additionally, Lanegan was one of rock’s great poets/lyricists, as well as the author of several popular books. But the singer also endured addiction, hard living, and health difficulties – before passing in 2022, at the age of 57.
As a tribute, the book Lanegan has been assembled – featuring over 20 all-new interviews. Collaborators, friends, and admirers share their memories of this truly unique figure and vocalist, including Screaming Trees’ Gary Lee Conner, Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, author Charles R. Cross, TV/radio personality Matt Pinfield, and photographer Charles Peterson (plus producers and/or musicians that were involved in the creation of Mark’s best work).
During a recording career that spanned several decades, Lanegan’s unmistakable and instantly-recognizable vocals were featured on classic recordings as a member of various groups (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age), plus collaborations (Isobel Campbell, Greg Dulli), guest spots (UNKLE, Soulsavers), and steady solo work.
Additionally, Lanegan was one of rock’s great poets/lyricists, as well as the author of several popular books. But the singer also endured addiction, hard living, and health difficulties – before passing in 2022, at the age of 57.
As a tribute, the book Lanegan has been assembled – featuring over 20 all-new interviews. Collaborators, friends, and admirers share their memories of this truly unique figure and vocalist, including Screaming Trees’ Gary Lee Conner, Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, author Charles R. Cross, TV/radio personality Matt Pinfield, and photographer Charles Peterson (plus producers and/or musicians that were involved in the creation of Mark’s best work).
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
12 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Greg Prato
67 books79 followersGreg Prato is a Long Island, New York-based journalist, whose writing has appeared in such renowned publications as Rolling Stone. He is the author of several popular books, 'A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon,' 'Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story,' 'Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music, 'No Schlock . . . Just Rock!,' 'The Eric Carr Story,' 'MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video,' 'Sack Exchange: The Definitive Oral History of the 1980s New York Jets,' 'Too High to Die: Meet the Meat Puppets,' 'Dynasty: The Oral History of the New York Islanders, 1972-1984,' and 'The Faith No More & Mr. Bungle Companion.'
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 16, 2023
I enjoyed reading this, though it was bittersweet with the ghost of Lanegan always peering over my shoulder. Unfortunate that it wasn’t better put together—it needed a good solid proofread.
April 28, 2023
This was a bit of a money grab, hastily put together to punt out on the one year anniversary of Mark Lanegan's passing. It lacked a decent editor with sentences that repeated, spelling errors and grammar mistakes and it's clearly been done on the cheap with an uninspired cover and layout. The opportunistic vibe is hard to escape, I can't fault those who knew Mark wanting to talk about him after his death, especially since his passing was sudden, but I feel like this kind of collection would have been in better taste given time (this is particularly compounded by the included speculation on Lanegan's cause of death, which has not been released for public consumption). But then maybe given time with their grief, then maybe some of these contributors might not have said what they said.
But some of the content is nice. The recollections of Lanegan's volatility and fierce loyalty cast across all the contributors. All sing the praises of Lanegan's way with words, his lyrics more poetry in many ways that was enhanced by his voice. There is a sadness, that Mark watched many of his close friends pass that is reflected in a way by Alain Johannes speaking of Mark, Natasha [Shneider] and Chris [Cornell] all being gone that he has had to experience.
Regardless. The general intent feels... tacky.
But some of the content is nice. The recollections of Lanegan's volatility and fierce loyalty cast across all the contributors. All sing the praises of Lanegan's way with words, his lyrics more poetry in many ways that was enhanced by his voice. There is a sadness, that Mark watched many of his close friends pass that is reflected in a way by Alain Johannes speaking of Mark, Natasha [Shneider] and Chris [Cornell] all being gone that he has had to experience.
Regardless. The general intent feels... tacky.
May 17, 2023
So glad this book was written, thank you as a fan.
I was only into Lanegan and the Trees from ‘88 to ‘00, the other bands/music just didn’t do it, I was a Mississippi Blues guy, psychedelic rock guy. Lanegan & the Trees influenced me as a singer/songwriter more than anyone. I didn’t have a lot of idols, he made a very short list.
For some it started with Bubblegum, but for me it ended. I threw the cd out the window in the Seattle Arboretum taking a shortcut to work actually. I skimmed every song and didn’t like the direction.
Before that job I was working at a psych hospital just down from Lanegan’s apartment on Pill Hill. I was also living two houses down across from “ROGERS” on MLK. I was on the west corner of the intersection, Mike Johnson was two houses down on the north corner for 2-3 years of the 7 years I lived there. I’d see Mike Johnson at 10:55pm fast walking to “ROGERS” before it closed at 11 just like I was. I didn’t know they’d fallen out. I’m not much younger but was intimidated. We might smile or wave. I’d also see Lanegan when I was going to work on Pill Hill. He was clearly messed up, hanging with another junkie or by himself. Hiding in the daylight disguised as a junkie… He was a little more obvious after he bleached and bobbed his hair. A few times I walked right past him either coming or going from the psyche ward. It was even more surreal to me then walking passed Duff with a backpack on as he was going to class at SCC when I’d cut through campus on the way to work.
A friend and I at work were both pretty obsessed with his voice/music/persona. There was no internet updates back them. After Dusk we made a small clay figurine of him standing and singing into a little mic. We put it between two of the TV monitors where we closely watched patients we had tied to beds. The idea was that if our little Lanegan was still standing the next day then Lanegan must still be alive. It was our way of dealing with it, he looked like death in person. The statue stayed up for over two years until we shut it down in ‘99 I believe.
I read his book during Covid, I couldn’t believe he wrote one. It took me back to that time and didn’t feel good. I was pretty messed up back then and Lanegan helped me through that time as much as he drove me deeper into the shit.
This book is special for me because it lets a lot of people who were close to him react to things in his autobiography, things maybe some were uncomfortable saying if he were still alive. It also broadens the perspective on the early records that are still sacred to me. It puts the ballast back in the boat because after he passed I was very upset I was especially upset. I figured his the best years of his career was ahead of him after reading the his book. This book has grounded me in that area of my life.
As first a singer and second a guitar player and now also a psychotherapist, I’ve admired the voices of the five greats who died over the years, I had to leave Seattle to do it. The only thing I would add is that it’s a lot different singing very dark lyrics for fans than it is to play the old songs for fans on guitar. It’s just a theory. Of course there have to be other contributing factors and many are brought up in a section of this book.
Mahalo from Big Island!
I was only into Lanegan and the Trees from ‘88 to ‘00, the other bands/music just didn’t do it, I was a Mississippi Blues guy, psychedelic rock guy. Lanegan & the Trees influenced me as a singer/songwriter more than anyone. I didn’t have a lot of idols, he made a very short list.
For some it started with Bubblegum, but for me it ended. I threw the cd out the window in the Seattle Arboretum taking a shortcut to work actually. I skimmed every song and didn’t like the direction.
Before that job I was working at a psych hospital just down from Lanegan’s apartment on Pill Hill. I was also living two houses down across from “ROGERS” on MLK. I was on the west corner of the intersection, Mike Johnson was two houses down on the north corner for 2-3 years of the 7 years I lived there. I’d see Mike Johnson at 10:55pm fast walking to “ROGERS” before it closed at 11 just like I was. I didn’t know they’d fallen out. I’m not much younger but was intimidated. We might smile or wave. I’d also see Lanegan when I was going to work on Pill Hill. He was clearly messed up, hanging with another junkie or by himself. Hiding in the daylight disguised as a junkie… He was a little more obvious after he bleached and bobbed his hair. A few times I walked right past him either coming or going from the psyche ward. It was even more surreal to me then walking passed Duff with a backpack on as he was going to class at SCC when I’d cut through campus on the way to work.
A friend and I at work were both pretty obsessed with his voice/music/persona. There was no internet updates back them. After Dusk we made a small clay figurine of him standing and singing into a little mic. We put it between two of the TV monitors where we closely watched patients we had tied to beds. The idea was that if our little Lanegan was still standing the next day then Lanegan must still be alive. It was our way of dealing with it, he looked like death in person. The statue stayed up for over two years until we shut it down in ‘99 I believe.
I read his book during Covid, I couldn’t believe he wrote one. It took me back to that time and didn’t feel good. I was pretty messed up back then and Lanegan helped me through that time as much as he drove me deeper into the shit.
This book is special for me because it lets a lot of people who were close to him react to things in his autobiography, things maybe some were uncomfortable saying if he were still alive. It also broadens the perspective on the early records that are still sacred to me. It puts the ballast back in the boat because after he passed I was very upset I was especially upset. I figured his the best years of his career was ahead of him after reading the his book. This book has grounded me in that area of my life.
As first a singer and second a guitar player and now also a psychotherapist, I’ve admired the voices of the five greats who died over the years, I had to leave Seattle to do it. The only thing I would add is that it’s a lot different singing very dark lyrics for fans than it is to play the old songs for fans on guitar. It’s just a theory. Of course there have to be other contributing factors and many are brought up in a section of this book.
Mahalo from Big Island!
March 6, 2023
VUOSISADAN ÄÄNI, TÖRKEÄ NIHILISTI
"Hän osui monesti naulan kantaan kieroutuneella huumorillaan. Olisin toivonut, että hän olisi ripotellut enemmän outoa Lanegan-huumoria kirjaansa", Sub Popin toimitusjohtaja Megan Jasper sanoo Mark Laneganin muistelmateoksesta Sing Backwards and Weep (2020, suom. 2021).
Samaa mieltä oli kuulemma Dinosaur Jr:n J. Mascis, jota Lanegan kutsuu kirjassaan penninvenyttäjäksi.
"Huumoria löytyy sieltä täältä", Jasper jatkaa, "esimerkiksi sanaharkasta Liam Gallagherin kanssa, mutta sitä saisi olla enemmän." Totta: Laneganin muistelma on lohduttomin addiktiokuvaus, jonka olen lukenut (Tove Ditlevsen kirii rinnalle). Sing Backwards ylittää synkkyydessä kevyesti Hubert Selbyn Jr:n romaanin Unelmien sielunmessu (1978, suom. 1985) ja siitä tehdyn elokuvan (2000).
Tämä ei ansio. Selbyn tekstistä paistaa myötätunto kaikkia kovan onnen sotureita kohtaan, kun taas Lanegan vetää nihilismissään överit. Charles R. Cross sanoo tuoreessa haastattelukirjassa Lanegan (2023), ettei voi suositella nimihenkilön muistelmia kenellekään.
Greg Praton laatima "suullinen historia" antaa lisävalaistusta siihen, miten tässä näin kävi. Kirjasta käy selväksi, yhä uudelleen, että entinen Screaming Trees- ja Queens of the Stone Age -vokalisti ja ennen muuta vaikuttava sooloartisti Mark Lanegan (1964—2022) oli äärimmäisen kriittinen itseään ja tuotantoaan kohtaan. Ja kantoi — Jasperin mukaan — niskassaan melkoista lastia häpeää.
Häpeän alkuperää voi muistelma- ja haastattelukirjojen perusteella arvailla (heroiinikoukku, kotitausta).
Kun häpeän ja kohtuuttoman itsekritiikin kylkeen lätkäistään raudanluja näkemys siitä, mitä haluaa, ja toisaalta epävarmuus omista kyvyistä, voi ihmetellä, miten Lanegan onnistui (vastoin kaikkia ennusteita) elämään niinkin pitkään — pidempään kuin kukaan Seattle-bändien keulakuvista, paria poikkeusta lukuun ottamatta.
Vastaus piilee ehkä yhteistyössä. Lanegan osallistui lukuisiin musiikillisiin projekteihin ja sai sitä kautta hetkellisen vapautuksen oman itsensä tyranniasta. Häntä tuuppivat eteenpäin ja auttoivat ihmiset, joista osa on saanut äänensä kuuluviin Praton laatimassa kirjassa.
Se on ajoittain oikein hauska, joskin loppua kohden suru alkoi painaa ainakin tätä kuulijaa.
Laneganin elämäntilanteesta kuolemaa edeltäneinä vuosina on alkanut tulla tietoa tipoittain — kuplan puhkaisi hieman yllättäen herra itse covid-muistelmassaan Devil in a Coma (2021). Tilanteen tiivistää osuvimmin entinen Red Hot Chili Peppers -kitaristi Josh Klinghoffer, joka soitti rumpuja yhdellä Laneganin keikalla (Stoned and Dusted 2019) Joshua Treen kansallispuistossa:
"Kuulin aina: 'Joo, Lanegan on ollut kuivilla kolme vuotta.' Ja seuraavan kerran, kun kuulen hänen nimensä: 'Jumankauta, en usko, että kaveri on nukkunut kuukauteen.' Ja toisinaan kuuli, että tiedot olivat vanhentuneita."
Tämä kirja päivittää tilanteen niin ajan tasalle kuin nykyoloissa on mahdollista. Laneganin kuolinsyytä ei ole kerrottu: leski vaikenee vuodentakaisesta kuin Mary Hemingway. Jokainen saa tehdä omat johtopäätöksensä — niin kirjan kertojatkin tekevät.
"Hän osui monesti naulan kantaan kieroutuneella huumorillaan. Olisin toivonut, että hän olisi ripotellut enemmän outoa Lanegan-huumoria kirjaansa", Sub Popin toimitusjohtaja Megan Jasper sanoo Mark Laneganin muistelmateoksesta Sing Backwards and Weep (2020, suom. 2021).
Samaa mieltä oli kuulemma Dinosaur Jr:n J. Mascis, jota Lanegan kutsuu kirjassaan penninvenyttäjäksi.
"Huumoria löytyy sieltä täältä", Jasper jatkaa, "esimerkiksi sanaharkasta Liam Gallagherin kanssa, mutta sitä saisi olla enemmän." Totta: Laneganin muistelma on lohduttomin addiktiokuvaus, jonka olen lukenut (Tove Ditlevsen kirii rinnalle). Sing Backwards ylittää synkkyydessä kevyesti Hubert Selbyn Jr:n romaanin Unelmien sielunmessu (1978, suom. 1985) ja siitä tehdyn elokuvan (2000).
Tämä ei ansio. Selbyn tekstistä paistaa myötätunto kaikkia kovan onnen sotureita kohtaan, kun taas Lanegan vetää nihilismissään överit. Charles R. Cross sanoo tuoreessa haastattelukirjassa Lanegan (2023), ettei voi suositella nimihenkilön muistelmia kenellekään.
Greg Praton laatima "suullinen historia" antaa lisävalaistusta siihen, miten tässä näin kävi. Kirjasta käy selväksi, yhä uudelleen, että entinen Screaming Trees- ja Queens of the Stone Age -vokalisti ja ennen muuta vaikuttava sooloartisti Mark Lanegan (1964—2022) oli äärimmäisen kriittinen itseään ja tuotantoaan kohtaan. Ja kantoi — Jasperin mukaan — niskassaan melkoista lastia häpeää.
Häpeän alkuperää voi muistelma- ja haastattelukirjojen perusteella arvailla (heroiinikoukku, kotitausta).
Kun häpeän ja kohtuuttoman itsekritiikin kylkeen lätkäistään raudanluja näkemys siitä, mitä haluaa, ja toisaalta epävarmuus omista kyvyistä, voi ihmetellä, miten Lanegan onnistui (vastoin kaikkia ennusteita) elämään niinkin pitkään — pidempään kuin kukaan Seattle-bändien keulakuvista, paria poikkeusta lukuun ottamatta.
Vastaus piilee ehkä yhteistyössä. Lanegan osallistui lukuisiin musiikillisiin projekteihin ja sai sitä kautta hetkellisen vapautuksen oman itsensä tyranniasta. Häntä tuuppivat eteenpäin ja auttoivat ihmiset, joista osa on saanut äänensä kuuluviin Praton laatimassa kirjassa.
Se on ajoittain oikein hauska, joskin loppua kohden suru alkoi painaa ainakin tätä kuulijaa.
Laneganin elämäntilanteesta kuolemaa edeltäneinä vuosina on alkanut tulla tietoa tipoittain — kuplan puhkaisi hieman yllättäen herra itse covid-muistelmassaan Devil in a Coma (2021). Tilanteen tiivistää osuvimmin entinen Red Hot Chili Peppers -kitaristi Josh Klinghoffer, joka soitti rumpuja yhdellä Laneganin keikalla (Stoned and Dusted 2019) Joshua Treen kansallispuistossa:
"Kuulin aina: 'Joo, Lanegan on ollut kuivilla kolme vuotta.' Ja seuraavan kerran, kun kuulen hänen nimensä: 'Jumankauta, en usko, että kaveri on nukkunut kuukauteen.' Ja toisinaan kuuli, että tiedot olivat vanhentuneita."
Tämä kirja päivittää tilanteen niin ajan tasalle kuin nykyoloissa on mahdollista. Laneganin kuolinsyytä ei ole kerrottu: leski vaikenee vuodentakaisesta kuin Mary Hemingway. Jokainen saa tehdä omat johtopäätöksensä — niin kirjan kertojatkin tekevät.
March 28, 2023
I was underwhelmed at first (maybe because of the lazy and uninspiring cover), but this is ended up really good read.
The beginning is kind of repetitive considering most of it was covered in Lanegan's autobiography, but in the second part, when we go to solo career and QOTSA period, this book really gets going. Lots of tough, dark, sometimes hilarious stories - I liked the fact that Mark's friends were honest and did not let him off the hook (the assault in an elevator part is as rough as it gets). They described him with all his layers and complexities.
I would love to hear more from some names that did not participated in the book, but also were involved with Mark's music for a long time like Barrett Martin, Josh Homme, James Lavelle (UNKLE) , PJ Harvey, or Rich Machin (Soulsavers). But on the other hand I get it - Lanegan's death is still so fresh in everyone's minds.
The beginning is kind of repetitive considering most of it was covered in Lanegan's autobiography, but in the second part, when we go to solo career and QOTSA period, this book really gets going. Lots of tough, dark, sometimes hilarious stories - I liked the fact that Mark's friends were honest and did not let him off the hook (the assault in an elevator part is as rough as it gets). They described him with all his layers and complexities.
I would love to hear more from some names that did not participated in the book, but also were involved with Mark's music for a long time like Barrett Martin, Josh Homme, James Lavelle (UNKLE) , PJ Harvey, or Rich Machin (Soulsavers). But on the other hand I get it - Lanegan's death is still so fresh in everyone's minds.
December 22, 2023
I love Lanegan and it pains me to rate this so low, but all this is is a book of interviews, verbatim. While the interviews are interesting, I wish the author actually spent the time to weave them into a cohesive story of the post-Sing Backwards and Weep era like hinted at in the intro.
Also, this was clearly rushed out without proper review or editing. Multiple typos, a weird repeating sentence, inconsistent formatting.
Also, this was clearly rushed out without proper review or editing. Multiple typos, a weird repeating sentence, inconsistent formatting.
March 11, 2023
A collection of interviews with folks who knew Lanegan, it's well put together and worth a read for his fans.
October 16, 2024
Prato is an excellent storyteller. Not as engrossing as the books Mark penned, but all in all a good read.
January 23, 2025
Could have been sequenced better. Interview fragments split into "categories". Good read overall.
April 30, 2023
I love when I have been a fan of someone for decades, and believe I know all there is to know, only to be proven wrong. This book gave me so much new insight into a man I already considered one of the greatest singers and songwriters to have ever done it. I still feel the loss of Lanegan deeply and truly wish he still drew breath.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews