The raspy voiced singer and his band was a fixture in the alternative rock scene of the 90’s.

Talking about Mark Lanegan, vocalist for the Screaming Trees, solo artist and author, who died Tuesday, Feb 22, 2022. He was 57.

representative for the artist confirmed that Lanegan died in his home in Killarney, Ireland. Information about the cause of the singer’s death is unavailable at this time. His representative also mentioned that “The family asks everyone to respect their privacy at this time.”

Rolling Stone wrote, “Lanegan rose to prominence in the late Eighties and early Nineties as frontman for Screaming Trees, the psychedelic-leaning, Ellensburg, Wash’, hard-rock group that foreshadowed grunge.” It also added that, “His deep, dramatic voice gave weight to guitarist-songwriter Gary Lee Conner’s compositions in the band’s early days before he took more of an active role himself.”

The Screaming Trees had a couple of alternative rock hits in the 90’s that include “Nearly Lost You,” “All I Know” and “Bed Of Roses.” The former track figured prominently in the 90’s era movie “Singles” soundtrack that also featured music from contemporaries such as Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins.

The singer, real name Mark William Lanegan, born Novermber 25, 1964, had a respectable solo career that started with the release of his debut album “The Winding Sheet.” The album featured guest musicians such as Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Lanegan managed to hold both his solo career and being the frontman of the Screaming Trees at the same time until the latter was dissolved in 2000.

Lanegan has worked with Layne Staley of Alice In Chains and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. He also played for Queens Of The Stone Age, Belle and Sebastians’ Isobel Campbell and Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli among others.

Lanegan authored the 2020 memoir “Sing Backwards and Weep.” In it, he detailed his battles with addiction to heroin and alcoholism while trying to forge a music career. With the help of Courtney Love, Lanegan cleaned up when the former paid to send him to rehab.

“I remember Courtney leaving me a letter saying, ‘Kurt loved you as a big brother and would have wanted you to live. The world needs you to live.’ That was powerful because I hadn’t done any good for anybody in years,” Lanegan said in a Rolling Stone interview.

Mark Lanegan’s last album was the 2020 release “Straight Songs Of Sorrow.”

Musicians paid their respects through Twitter. Peter Hook of New Order and Joy Division wrote: “Mark Lanegan was a lovely man. He led a wild life that some of us could only dream of. He leaves us with fantastic words and music! Thank god that through all of that he will live forever.”

Screaming Trees drummer Mark Pickerel wrote: “May you truly rest in peace, big brother.” While Velvet Underground founding member John Cale said, “Mark Lanegan will always be etched in my heart – as he surely touched so many with his genuine self, no matter the cost, true to the end.” Iggy Pop also paid high praise for Lanegan when he wrote: “Mark Lanegan, RIP, deepest respect for you. Your fan, Iggy Pop.”

Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/23/mark-lanegan-screaming-trees-vocalist-and-grunge-pioneer-dies-at-57/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mark-lanegan-screaming-trees-vocalist-and-grunge-pioneer-dies-at-57)