Screaming Trees
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Screaming Trees was a musical group considered part of the grunge music movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Founded in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985, their sound was a mixture of arty '60s psychedelia and west-coast punk rock. Though critically regarded, they never achieved the superstardom of other grunge acts such as Nirvana and Soundgarden. They disbanded after touring for their last record, Dust, released in 1996.
The founding members were brothers Gary Lee Conner (guitars) and Van Conner (bass), vocalist Mark Lanegan, and drummer Mark Pickerel. They recorded several records on the SST record label between 1985 and 1989, culminating in the anthology SST Years 1985-1989. Pickerel left after their major label debut, Uncle Anesthesia, in late 1991, and was replaced by Barrett Martin. They achieved some commercial success with their final two albums, 1992's Sweet Oblivion and Dust. This was driven in part by the song "Nearly Lost You", which appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Singles. On their last tour in 1996, guitarist Josh Homme, a former member of the band Kyuss, joined the Screaming Trees for some shows.
All members have moved on to other musical projects. Lanegan has released several highly acclaimed solo recordings, and was a part-time member of Queens of the Stone Age, Homme's current band. Lanegan released "Bubblegum," his latest solo album in August of 2004, and is working with former The Afghan Whigs leader Greg Dulli in a new project named The Gutter Twins. In 2006, he released a collaboration with former Belle and Sebastian cellist Isobel Campbell entitled Ballad Of The Broken Seas to great critical acclaim.
Van Conner formed the band VALIS in 1998 with Dan Peters, Patrick Conner and Kurt Danielson. The group is currently on Small Stone Records and has released 4 albums. VALIS/Kitty Kitty, Vast Active Living Intelligence System, Head Full of Pills and 2005's Champions of Magic. After Dan and Kurt left the group they were replaced with Sean Hollister, Wes Weresch and Adrian Makins
Barrett Martin, with Layne Staley, also founded the grunge supergroup Mad Season in 1995.
Band Members
- Mark Lanegan - vocals
- Gary Lee Conner - guitars
- Van Conner - bass
- Mark Pickerel - drums (1985-1991)
- Sean Hollister - drums (1989-1990)
- Dan Peters - drums (1990-1991)
- Barrett Martin - drums (1991-2000)
Discography
Studio Albums
- (1986) Clairvoyance (Velvetone)
- (1987) Even If and Especially When (SST)
- (1988) Invisible Lantern (SST)
- (1989) Buzz Factory (SST)
- (1991) Uncle Anesthesia (Epic)
- (1992) Sweet Oblivion (Epic)
- (1996) Dust (Epic)
EPs
- (1988) Beat Happening/Screaming Trees (Homestead)
- (1988) Other Worlds SST Recorded in 1985 at Velvetone
- (1990) Change Has Come (Sub Pop)
- (1991) Something about today (EP) (Epic)
- (1992) Winter Songs Four Track (Epic)
Compilations
- (1990) (SST)
- (2001) Nearly Lost You Sony
- (2004) (Sony)
Singles
- (1992) Dollar Bill (Epic)
- (1993) Nearly Lost You (Epic)
- (1993) Shadow of the Season (Epic)
- (1993) Butterfly (Epic)
- (1993) Nearly Lost You (Epic)
- (1996) All I Know (Epic)
- (1996) Sworn & Broken (Epic)
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
| US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | |||
| 1991 | "Bed of Roses" | #23 | - | Uncle Anesthesia |
| 1993 | "Nearly Lost You" | #5 | #12 | Sweet Oblivion |
| 1993 | "Dollar Bill" | #28 | #40 | Sweet Oblivion |
| 1996 | "All I Know" | #9 | #9 | Dust |
| 1996 | "Dying Days" | #27 | - | Dust |
External links
- [Van Conner's personal site]
- [Van Conner's band VALIS]
- [Time For Light: A Fansite]
- [Screaming Trees fan site]
- [Screaming Trees Lyrics]
- [A brief history of the band's formation from the perspective of Gary Lee Conner]
- [Detailed accounts of the production of each Screaming Trees album with commentary from Gary Lee Conner]
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