Tickle Your Taint Eclectic Music Reviews: Mark Lanegan (1964-2022)

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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Mark Lanegan (1964-2022)

By El Jefe

Mark Lanegan passed yesterday: 22-2-22. His words and melodies moved me to face some of my most intimate feelings. His music defined sincerity. Dark Mark had a way of telling his story that made me sympathetic to his nightmares, understand him, and learn about myself in the process. For me, he represented a generation. He stood out, even in his modesty. He inspired, even with all of his flaws and indiscretions.

He had been preparing for this day for years, watching so many of his closest musical comrades drop, feeling like the horses where at the door, as he said, “to take him where he shouldn’t want to go.” There are too many references to his impending death to note here in this short reflection. But, sidestepping it numerous times, he knew it was coming.

His recent album tells all the tales of a hard life. It surely is “a sweet straight song of sorrow.” The album has a way of going back to his roots, his life story, and forging a new musical direction. It represented an approach to music for Lanegan where he opened up creatively and uniquely. I felt like I knew him better after listening to it, and listening to it, and listening to it, especially during tough and heavy times.

Living in Europe now, I have been waiting for him to tour. He has a larger following and often focused his tours here. The only time I saw him live was with the Screaming Trees in NYC in the early 1990s, standing with his foot on the base of the mic stand, peering while belting out songs from Sweet Oblivion. It may sound exaggerated, but I saw this as one of the perks of living here: I would see Lanegan again. I never did. It tears me up.

I could write forever about Mark Lanegan and what his music has meant to me. I will say only that his work and career taught me that being honest and sincere means that there are no easy roads for making a meaningful life. Genuinely and humbly looking at yourself can make you look ugly at times. But, there is no real gratification in insincerity. There is no victory in self-deception. A life worth living is not easy or uncomplicated, or always (or mostly) beautiful or righteous. There is no joy without despair. There is hope for contentment in honesty, courage, and determination. Thank you, Mark. I feel like a lost an old friend today. Goodbye.