Screaming Trees
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 in Ellensburg, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Mark Lanegan, Gary Lee Conner, Van Conner, Mark Pickerel |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Ellensburg , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
| Website | www |
Screaming Trees emerged as an American rock group formed in 1984 in Ellensburg, Washington. The founding lineup included vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bassist Van Conner, and drummer Mark Pickerel, who was succeeded by Barrett Martin in 1991. Alongside bands such as Melvins and Soundgarden, they played a key role in the development of grunge, combining grunge’s rawness with influences from hard rock and neo-psychedelia.
Throughout the 1980s, Screaming Trees released several EPs and albums on independent labels before signing with Epic Records in 1990. Their first album under a major label, Uncle Anesthesia (1991), included their initial charting hit, "Bed of Roses." After changing drummers, the band launched their most commercially successful record, Sweet Oblivion (1992). The leading single "Nearly Lost You" significantly elevated their visibility, reaching number 5 on the Modern Rock Tracks Chart and gaining international recognition.
Following a prolonged break and various studio sessions, they released Dust in 1996. This album featured the single "All I Know," which climbed to number 9 on rock charts but did not replicate earlier commercial achievements. Difficulties during recording delayed future projects, culminating in the band's dissolution in 2000. Their unfinished album from the late 1990s was eventually issued posthumously in 2011 as Last Words: The Final Recordings. Vocalist Lanegan died in 2022 at age 57, followed by bassist Van Conner’s death in 2023 at age 55.
1984–1989: Formation and early releases
In 1984, the Conner brothers joined forces with Mark Lanegan and Mark Pickerel to establish Screaming Trees in Ellensburg, Washington, located roughly 100 miles from Seattle. Their shared passion for punk, garage rock, and classic rock styles brought them together.
The band practiced at the Conner family’s video rental store and recorded their demo Other Worlds in 1985 with producer Steve Fisk at Creative Fire studio. Initially distributed by independent label K Records, it later received broader release through Velvetone Records based in Ellensburg. Their debut full-length album, Clairvoyance, arrived in 1986 on Velvetone, showcasing a fusion of psychedelic rock and hard rock. With Fisk’s involvement, this release caught the attention of Greg Ginn, resulting in a deal with SST Records.
The band’s second album and first under SST, Even If and Especially When, was released in 1987. They toured extensively across the US indie scene alongside SST acts like Firehose and Meat Puppets. Early in 1988, Screaming Trees collaborated with indie pop group Beat Happening on the joint EP Beat Happening/Screaming Trees. Later that year saw the release of Invisible Lantern, while SST also reissued Other Worlds. Their 1989 album Buzz Factory was hampered by SST’s distribution challenges during the tour cycle, leading to mounting frustration and their eventual departure from the label.
Towards the end of 1989, Screaming Trees briefly joined forces with influential indie label Sub Pop, which released their EP Change Has Come that December. This release featured production work split between Fisk and Jack Endino, and drummer Pickerel later described it as "our best recorded moment".
1990–2000: Era with a Major Label
In 1990, the group secured a contract with Epic Records and unveiled their fifth studio album, Uncle Anesthesia, which was produced by Terry Date alongside Chris Cornell. This record included the track "Bed of Roses", their initial single to chart, reaching No. 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks Chart. Although sales improved, the band continued to maintain a devoted cult following rather than mainstream fame.
Following the release of Uncle Anesthesia, Van Conner toured alongside Dinosaur Jr., with Donna Dresch stepping in as bassist. The band's significant breakthrough arrived in 1992 with the addition of drummer Barrett Martin and the release of Sweet Oblivion. This album featured the successful single "Nearly Lost You", which achieved notable exposure on MTV and alternative radio, climbing to No. 5 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and gaining international recognition. Another single from the album, "Dollar Bill", also enjoyed chart success. Sweet Oblivion sold approximately 300,000 copies within the United States.
The band appeared at prominent festivals including the 1992 Reading Festival, where they were personally invited by Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, as well as the Roskilde Festival. After an extensive year-long tour promoting Sweet Oblivion, internal conflicts caused the group to enter a hiatus. During this break, lead vocalist Mark Lanegan released his sophomore solo effort, Whiskey for the Holy Ghost (1994), and participated in the side project Mad Season, contributing vocals to two tracks on their only album.
In 1995, Screaming Trees embarked on their sole Australian tour during the Big Day Out festival before commencing work on their next studio album. After an initial failed recording session, they collaborated with producer George Drakoulias, resulting in Dust (1996). The album reached No. 134 on the Billboard 200, No. 32 on the UK Albums Chart, and No. 39 on Canada’s RPM Top 100 Albums Chart. Singles such as "Sworn and Broken" and "All I Know" achieved moderate chart positions; however, overall sales fell short compared to Sweet Oblivion. Post-release, former Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme joined as rhythm guitarist.
After another break taken for Lanegan’s third solo record, Scraps At Midnight (1998), Screaming Trees recorded demo tracks in 1999 but were unable to secure a new record deal. They performed surprise gigs in early 2000 to generate interest and issued "One Way Conversation" through Musicblitz Records’ online label. Later that year, following a performance commemorating Seattle’s Experience Music Project, the band officially dissolved.
Final Album and Passing of Lanegan and Van Conner
On June 22, 2011, it was announced that an unreleased Screaming Trees album recorded between 1998 and 1999 would be released under the title Last Words: The Final Recordings. This collection was mixed by Jack Endino and Barrett Martin and became available digitally via Martin’s label Sunyata Productions on August 2, 2011, followed by physical CD and vinyl formats.
Reflecting on his tenure with Screaming Trees in 2021, Lanegan described it as instrumental in shaping his vocal style. He passed away on February 22, 2022, at his residence in Killarney, Ireland.
On January 18, 2023, Gary Lee Conner revealed that Van Conner had died at age 55 due to complications arising from stomach surgery combined with COVID-19 infection; pneumonia was identified as the cause of death.
On Black Friday in 2023, Wrong Turn to Jahannam: Live From Egg Studio 1991 was released, showcasing an unreleased studio rehearsal featuring Dan Peters of Mudhoney on drums during his brief stint touring with the band.
Associated Endeavors
Mark Lanegan embarked on a solo journey beginning with his 2001 release Field Songs and became a member of the alternative rock ensemble Queens of the Stone Age, contributing to two albums prior to his 2005 exit. His sixth solo effort, Bubblegum (2004), marked his most commercially successful and first solo work to chart. Lanegan also collaborated extensively with Greg Dulli through projects such as the Gutter Twins and Twilight Singers, earning widespread critical praise for his joint albums with Isobel Campbell, notably the Mercury Prize-nominated Ballad of the Broken Seas.
Gary Lee Conner established Purple Outside and Microdot Gnome as lead vocalist, releasing a 1999 single that featured contributions from Homme and Pickerel. Between 2016 and 2021, he produced four solo albums.
Van Conner dedicated efforts to his side project Gardener alongside Aaron Stauffer and provided input on Lanegan’s Field Songs. He also took on production and performance roles with Kitty Kitty, VALIS, Gardener, and appeared on Gary Lee’s Sub Pop single. VALIS delivered several releases spanning from 2002 through 2012.
Barrett Martin toured with notable groups including Stone Temple Pilots and R.E.M., issued two solo records, and contributed to both Lanegan’s I'll Take Care of You and Queens of the Stone Age's Rated R. He became part of Tuatara, served as drummer and vocalist for The Minus 5, and participated in two albums by Brazilian musician Nando Reis. In 2019, Martin co-founded the supergroup Silverlites with Peter Buck, Rich Robinson, and Joseph Arthur, culminating in their debut release in 2024.
Following his departure from Screaming Trees in 1991, Mark Pickerel formed Truly alongside Robert Roth, Hiro Yamamoto, and Chris Quinn. Truly produced an EP and two full-length albums before going on hiatus in 1998. Pickerel also contributed drums to three of Lanegan’s solo projects during the ’90s and initiated a solo career starting with Snake in the Radio (2006), followed by three additional albums.
Band Members
- Gary Lee Conner – guitar, backing vocals (1984–2000)
- Van Conner – bass guitar, backing vocals (1984–2000; deceased 2023)
- Mark Lanegan – lead vocals (1984–2000; deceased 2022)
- Mark Pickerel – drums, percussion (1984–1991)
- Barrett Martin – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1991–2000)
- Josh Homme – rhythm guitar (1996–1998)
Live Performance Contributors
- Donna Dresch – bass guitar (1988, 1991)
- Sean Hollister – drums (1991)
- Dan Peters – drums (1991)
Albums
- Clairvoyance (1986)
- Even If and Especially When (1987)
- Invisible Lantern (1988)
- Buzz Factory (1989)
- Uncle Anesthesia (1991)
- Sweet Oblivion (1992)
- Dust (1996)
- Last Words: The Final Recordings (2011)