Wellwater Conspiracy
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Matt Cameron, John McBain, Ben Shepherd |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Wellwater Conspiracy was a rock ensemble originating from Seattle, Washington, established in 1993 by musicians involved in the grunge era side project Hater. The lineup included Soundgarden's drummer Matt Cameron alongside former Monster Magnet guitarist John McBain. Initially, Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd was part of the group until his departure in 1998. The band also worked with prominent figures such as Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden's guitarist Kim Thayil.
History
The inception of Wellwater Conspiracy occurred in 1993 when Matt Cameron, Ben Shepherd, and John McBain—each active in Hater at the time—came together. Their initial recordings were made in Cameron's basement studio. During the mid-1990s, they released three singles before launching their debut album Declaration of Conformity on June 17, 1997, through Third Gear Records, which received favorable reviews. Critics from Rolling Stone noted its psychedelic style reminiscent of 1960s artists like Syd Barrett.
After this release, Shepherd exited the band. Cameron then took on drumming duties for Pearl Jam while maintaining Wellwater Conspiracy as a secondary project alongside McBain. Cameron stepped into the role of lead vocalist for future albums. Their sophomore album, Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives, released on February 9, 1999 by Time Bomb Recordings, sustained their 1960s-inspired musical direction.
The third record, The Scroll and Its Combinations, arrived on May 22, 2001 via TVT Records and showcased a stronger rock influence that critics acknowledged. Their self-titled fourth album, Wellwater Conspiracy, released on September 9, 2003 through Megaforce Records, fused classic British flower power psychedelia with contemporary rock sounds.
Their sound was characterized by psychedelic garage rock infused with contributions from industry collaborators including Glenn Slater (The Walkabouts), Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age).
Members
- Matt Cameron – Drums, Vocals (1993–2004)
- John McBain – Guitar
- Ben Shepherd – Vocals (1993–1998)
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Declaration of Conformity |
|
| Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives |
|
| The Scroll and Its Combinations |
|
| Wellwater Conspiracy |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Sleeveless" | Declaration of Conformity |
| "Sandy"/"Nata Bati Yi" | ||
| 1994 | "Trowerchord" | |
| 1997 | "Compellor" | Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives |
| 2000 | "Tidepool Telegraph" | The Scroll and Its Combinations |
| 2001 | "Of Dreams" |
Additional Contributions
| Year | Track | Compilation | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Far Side of Your Moon" | Succour: The Terrascope Benefit Album | Flydaddy |
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Alternative rock groups from Washington (state)
- Musical groups from Seattle
- American rock music duos
- Megaforce Records artists
- Time Bomb Recordings artists
- TVT Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1993
- Musical groups disbanded in 2004
- 1993 establishments in Washington (state)
- 2004 disestablishments in Washington (state)
- Musical groups disestablished in 2004