Thirty years ago, with the release of single albums worth of work, a legend of Seattle’s alternative music scene was born. A side project conceived by four extraordinarily talented musicians who had come together in a moment of time that would forever be immortalised in the ten songs that make up Above. With their music representing the end of the golden period of the Grunge scene that had taken the world by storm during the first half of the nineties. Singer Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) and guitarist Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) were unquestionably the stars of the project, two troubled musicians who were both at the peak of their respective music careers.
But both artists had been heading down a slippery slope fuelled by hard-narcotics and alcoholism, a slope that was starting to alienate them from their respective bandmates. Alice In Chains had become a huge rock band following the release of their debut album Facelift (1990) and it’s hit single ‘Man In A Box’ – before releasing their masterpiece second album; Dirt (1992). However by 1994 cracks were beginning to form, and Layne Staley’s inability to function within the band saw the cancellation of a tour with Metallica – causing friction which threw them into an unexpected hiatus.
Mike McCready had also experienced his own success with Pearl Jam, whose debut album Ten (1991) immediately blasted them into the mainstream with the band riding the crest of a wave which continued with the release of their second album Vs (1993). However McCready’s own drug use and dependence on alcohol was also starting to impact on his performance within the band, and during the recording sessions for Pearl Jam’s third record Vitalogy (1994), he checked himself into the Hazleden Clinic – a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Minnesota.
While in rehab McCready met bassist John ‘Baker’ Saunders, a relatively unknown Seattle based Blues musician – and a friendship blossomed as they spent time together, bonding through a love of music and under the clarity of a sober mind. Both gentlemen returned home to Seattle and decided to form a musical project to help them focus on their recovery, drafting in their mutual friend Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) to play drums. During their initial jam-sessions they wrote the music for the first two Mad Season songs – ‘River Of Deceit,’ and what would become their haunting album opener; ‘Wake Up’.
Requiring a vocalist to complete the band, McCready – being aware of his self-imposed break from Alice In Chains – spoke to his friend Layne Staley about the opportunity. While also hoping that bringing him into a project with three sober musicians, would have a positive influence on his own spiralling substance abuse. With only a handful of rehearsals between them, and no finished songs … McCready began booking local club gigs in the latter part of 1994.
Initially calling themselves The Gacy Bunch (a mix of serial killer John Wayne Gacy and The Brady Bunch), they first played together at Seattle’s Crocodile Cafe – before making an appearance on Pearl Jam’s Self Pollution pirate-radio broadcast in January 1995. By this time they had a further three songs written that would go on to make up Above, including the rambling and melancholic blues drenched ‘Artificial Red,’ and two darker heavier tracks in ‘Lifeless Dead’ and ‘I Don’t Know Anything.’
As their notoriety grew, plans to record their album were put into place and the band eventually changed their name to Mad Season, allegedly after the period in the English autumn when Magic Mushrooms grow. A period that McCready had enjoyed while visiting the UK on tour with Pearl Jam, and a time he associated with his previous excessive drug and alcohol abuse. They recorded Above in less than a fortnight at the Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, bringing in Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) to sing backing vocals on two tracks – ‘I’m Above’ and on the record’s beautiful ode to past times ‘Long Gone Day.’ A song which also features the prominent avant garde Saxophone work of local Jazz artist Skerik.
And just like that, this extraordinary collection of music was born. A classic album featuring ten beautifully haunting songs which flow perfectly from one to the next. From soulful Blues and Jazz style down-tempo tracks, to songs with the heavier use of distorted guitar riffs – Above perfectly brings together a myriad of influences and inspiration to create a wholly unique concoction.
The rhythm section of Baker and Barrett Martin is free flowing throughout, while Mike McCready’s guitar playing is at it’s very finest, with his total artistic freedom taking his soloing to another level – none less so than on the powerful instrumental; ‘November Hotel.’ As ever, Layne Staley bares his soul with a unique lyrical darkness, providing a brutally honest insight into his own self analysis of addiction and recovery;
‘Wake up young man, it’s time to wake up,
Slow suicide’s no way to go.
The cracks and lines from where you gave up,
They make an easy man to read.’
(Wake Up).
‘Artificial red, smoke, poison consumed,
In the house of ill repute.
Is this the way, I spend my days,
In recovery of a fatal disease’
(Artificial Red)
‘So much blood I’m starting to drown,
Runs from cold to colder.
Tears and lies for answers,
You and open veins,
God knows I’m gone’
(Long Gone Day)
‘My pain is self chosen,
At least I believe it to be.’
(River Of Deceit).
Released on March 14th 1995 via Columbia Records, Above was certified gold by June – peaking at No 24 on the US billboard chart and spawning a hit rock radio single with ‘River of Deceit.’ The band had a manic few months promoting Above, while playing a handful of shows including an iconic performance at Seattle’s Moore Theatre on April 25th – which was fortunately immortalised on film. While they also recorded a cover version of ‘I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier,’ which was contributed to a John Lennon tribute album.
And then … the group went their separate ways. Alice In Chains would regroup with Layne to record their final self-titled album and perform their last run of shows, including the legendary Unplugged performance for MTV. While Pearl Jam would embark on a tour for Vitalogy and start writing for their next successful album; No Code (1996). Barrett Martin and Mark Lanegan would resume touring with Screaming Trees and record Dust – their first album in four years. While Baker would join folk rock group; The Walkabouts.
But McCready always saw the project as “An old girlfriend that you’ll always go back to.” Two years later in 1997, attempts were made to reform and write new music. However these plans faltered due to the unavailability and deterioration in health of Layne Staley, who was slowly descending into a life of solitude away from the limelight. However with their creative juices flowing – McCready, Barrett Martin and Baker did eventually reconcile with vocalist Mark Lanegan to begin working on new music.
Although out of respect to Staley they changed the name of the project to Disinformation – stopping and starting over the next couple of years by finding time to come together and write music whenever the time allowed. However, as the quartet worked towards demoing for a new album tragedy struck, as Baker succumbed to a Heroin overdose in 1999. Naturally the project stalled, although the door was always seemingly left open for the pieces to be picked back up one day in one way or another, and always with the hope that Layne Staley would come back into the fold.
But then three years later in 2002, the singer himself would sadly pass on from his own drug overdose. Leaving Mad Season done, buried spiritually in the minds of their remaining members …
Then … ten years later in 2012, Mike McCready and Barrett Martin would surprisingly come together again to oversee a Deluxe and definitive box set release of Above. With a remastered version of the album and a live recording included of their legendary gig at The Moore. As well as footage from an intimate 1994 NYE show at the RKCNDY and the Self-Pollution radio broadcast. Three new songs with vocals from Mark Lanegan would also be included from the writing sessions of the previously never heard second album, along with the John Lennon cover recorded with Layne Staley back in ‘95. The Deluxe release is a perfect compendium of the bands work, allowing a new generation to appreciate the timeless music they created together … while also paying a final fitting tribute to their departed friends. KZ
Words by Abstrakt_Soul
kult-zilla.com 
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