Former Screaming Trees frontman and longtime Queens of the Stone Age collaborator Mark Lanegan has passed away, according to his publicist. He was 57. Lanegan became the vocalist for Screaming Trees in 1985. Along with Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden, the band is considered one of the pioneers of grunge and was one of the most successful underground music acts of the 1990s.
The group scored Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart with the singles “Nearly Lost You” and “All I Know.” At the time, Lanegan also launched a concurrent solo career, beginning with 1990’s “The Winding Sheet,” which featured guest appearances by Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. Lanegan’s 2004 album, “Bubblegum,” was critically acclaimed cracking the top 40 on Billboard’s Top Independent Albums Chart.
“Our beloved friend Mark Lanegan passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland,” the publicist’s statement read. “A beloved singer, songwriter, author and musician, he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley. No other information is available at this time. The family asks everyone to respect their privacy at this time.”
Lanegan also appeared on five Queen’s of the Stone Age albums, 2000’s “Rated R”, 2002’s “Songs For The Deaf”, 2005’s “Lullabies To Paralyze”, 2007’s “Era Vulgaris” and 2013’s “…Like Clockwork”. Regarding Screaming Trees, Lanegan told Consequence.net, “I realize there’s people out there who like the music. It’s something I sort of left in its place. … I appreciate the people out there who love the music, and I’m glad it exists. But I’m glad I don’t have to sing it anymore.” He also said he was always game to rejoin Queens of the Stone Age: “I’m just there when [Josh Homme] calls,” he said. “I love the Queens.”
Rockers mourned the loss on Tuesday. Lamb of God’s Mark Morton tweeted: “I am so profoundly grateful to have had the chance to make music & become friends with Mark Lanegan. Few artists ever achieve the level of honesty & authenticity that he did. He was absolutely brilliant. Godspeed my friend.”
Longtime rock DJ/VJ Matt Pinfield wrote: “We lost a brother today. Mark Lanegan was an incredible voice, spirit and talented soul. This was taken at his studio right when I went to say goodbye to him and his wife Shelley before they moved to Europe. We will miss you my friend.”
