Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

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spzretent
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Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by spzretent »

I read this last week.
While I appreciate his blunt writing style I was not prepared to detest him as much as I did by the end of this book. What a terrible human being. Not just a junkie but a criminal, sex addict, serial cheater and all around horrible human being.
What I took away is how he didn't OD or get killed during this phase of his life. That is a miracle.
I do realize many of those who's music I love were drug addicts. None of them ever had an account of their life as horrible as this.
Also amazing he could remember all these situations in such vivid detail.
Assuming there will be a more positive follow up to this book.
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sunray
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by sunray »

To be fair, in the run up to this book he's been very open about what a horrible person he was.

Still not got it yet but hoping to pick it up sooner rather than later.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by beaker73 »

I got my signed edition from rough trade last week. Will start reading it next week, when I have some time off work. Very curious about it. He’s not the warmest performer on stage, seen him live a couple of times and was always disapointed by his performance. So I hope reading this won’t destroy my love for his music. Will see what happens, I guess...
"I've been drinking all night long, but my hands are steady"
spzretent
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by spzretent »

sunray wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 7:22 pm To be fair, in the run up to this book he's been very open about what a horrible person he was.

Still not got it yet but hoping to pick it up sooner rather than later.
I knew all that. I still wasn't prepared for what I read. Which leads me to believe there will be another book someday that handles his sobriety. I have met him before at a Soulsavers gig. He was at the merch booth and could not have been friendlier. He asked if I wanted the CD I bought signed and i politely declined. I told him meeting him was good enough for me. He laughed and thanked me.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by niamhm »

Haven`t read it myself yet but heard it was a warts and all job, at least you can`t accuse him of gilding the lily, and he has has turned his life around , so that`s something.

I did read in an interview - The recent Quietus one I think - and he was quite insistent he wouldn`t do a Vol 2, we`ll see I suppose.

I always have a nagging voice in the back of my head reading rock biographies, I recently read Elton Johns, it`s hilarious in parts but if he was as f#cked as he claims for so long, then how can he remember everything? I dare say its all crossed referenced with other sources - hopefully - but you do have to wonder about the veracity of some them. Still looking forward to reading Lanegan`s though, currently ploughing through the Beastie Boys Book, at least in their heavy dope phase, they own up to huge blank spots and not really remembering stuff clearly, good read by the way.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by TheWarmth »

I read an excerpt via Stereogum and was pretty grossed out. The fact that he still seems to care about being perceived as a hardass is embarrassing.
spzretent
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by spzretent »

Someone else's problem now. Glad I read it. Glad I sold it.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by veiko »

spzretent wrote: Fri May 29, 2020 4:47 pm Someone else's problem now. Glad I read it. Glad I sold it.
Btw what's your opinion on "The hard stuff" by Wayne Kramer? Just asking, easy does it.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by spzretent »

veiko wrote: Fri May 29, 2020 8:12 pm
Btw what's your opinion on "The hard stuff" by Wayne Kramer? Just asking, easy does it.
I haven't read it.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by sunray »

Very enjoyable. Well, an engrossing read is probably a more accurate description. Fair play to him for surviving and turning it around. Recommended.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by veiko »

I will try and grab the audiobook of this. Still intrigued by this person, his not an demon and not an angel either.
Right now I'm listening to Cosey Fanni Tutti's audiobook and would not mind it being read a tiny little bit slower, but she is legendary on her own level.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by BzaInSpace »

You might find Lanegan’s book on YT as a mighty 23 hour spoken word thing.

Best & most honest music tale I’ve probably ever read. So good I read it twice last year...

It’s quite something for anyone to be so honest and true with regards to their fucked up life.

The incidental meets with other musicians are great. The scene where the goth people who live across the hall from him (and hate him) and witness Nick Cave walking out of his apartment after scoring is hilarious.

Josh Homme sounds like a good guy - although he looks like a cop.

How he meets Kurt Cobain and what happens is beautifully bittersweet.

How he nearly hooked up with Kirsten from Hole is just WTF.

The end sequences - the chapter trying to score in freezing Europe - is something else.

Glad it worked out for him.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by veiko »

I finished the audiobook version of it, narrated by Mr. Lanegen himself. It was a long journey. He asked for it, he admitted it. If you want an icon getting shattered, then this your chance. Other ordeals are on your own pay. It needs to be advertised more properly. Do not think anything when you just look on the cover of a book - it can deliver destruction and total mental degradation. Very few moments are uplifting from this ride, but it is the joy that honesty will turn you on. The joy from the conclusion, but all the details delivered before are... revolting.

It's like getting a call from a girl, that tells you that you are the dream, but then next day you do not turn up for the date because your best friend gifts you a lot of free money and you turn back - you prefer the needle. Not like in the same order, but something along. Lanegan - you piece of.... Your albums are good and so is your presence. Heavy stuff for heavy readers.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by BzaInSpace »

I still love that book.

It’s a horrible and beautifully honest thing to publish - and I’ve always loved the reactions from my pals who read it anyway - those were extreme. I still hang around with a woman who suggested it was the best piece of writing she’d read 🤭

The point of this was - he nearly died this last year.

Apparently he’s lost the use of most functions. He got COVID really bad…
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by niamhm »

BzaInSpace wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 7:16 pm I still love that book.

It’s a horrible and beautifully honest thing to publish - and I’ve always loved the reactions from my pals who read it anyway - those were extreme. I still hang around with a woman who suggested it was the best piece of writing she’d read 🤭

The point of this was - he nearly died this last year.

Apparently he’s lost the use of most functions. He got COVID really bad…
He`s done another book Barry, way shorter I think, about his illness last yr,
https://www.strangerthanparadiserecords ... -coma.html
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by sunray »

niamhm wrote: Wed Dec 08, 2021 8:50 pm He`s done another book Barry, way shorter I think, about his illness last yr,
https://www.strangerthanparadiserecords ... -coma.html
Cheers for the link. Had no idea about any Covid illness. Or that he was living in Ireland.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by sunray »

Nineteen...Nineteen...Six Five
niamhm
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by niamhm »


Well that sounds reassuringly grim, at least he`s still here
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by natty »

Got Sing Backwards and Weep for Christmas.

It's relentlessly grim, although his telling of some of the stories in it is pretty humorous in places. The story about the "King and Queen of Sweden" and the glass of bloody water nearly made me puke.

It's no wonder he ended up pretty messed up when you read about his relationship with his parents, especially his mum.

Felt bad for Gary Lee Conner, who's always seemed like a pretty chill dude to me, who he absolutely slaughters, but ultimately he's harder on himself than anyone.

Fair play to him for turning himself around. He really did hit rock bottom in a way that few come back from.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by Venkman »

RIP
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by mkb »

Shocking news, RIP
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by olan »

Just seen this on FB now. Big loss to all of us.
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by purespace »

Completely gutted. :cry:
I think I feel it coming on
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by BzaInSpace »

I’m heartbroken
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niamhm
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by niamhm »

Terrible news this,
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Re: Mark Lanegan- Sing Backwards And Weep Autobiography

Post by sunray »

Fuck sake. Thought he was in for the long haul at this point.
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spzretent
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by spzretent »

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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by herman »

[youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp1rL7DI_D4[/youtube]
Full blast...
What a loss
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by runcible »

Pretty devastating news. Whilst his lifestyle and health issues are widely known he seemed to be a survivor. Very sad. He was younger than me too. A predictable medley of his music lined up for today. RIP to one of the great voices of our era.
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by natty »

Hit me hard, this one.

I've been immersed in his catalogue for the last couple of months.

Have been listening to his stuff since I got up this morning and will raise a glass this evening. One of my generation's best voices. Not heard any music of his I don't like.
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by nghst »

I'm listening to Phantom Radio tonight. I feel like I know him a bit because I listened to an interview of him with Marc Maron a couple years ago, which I found out about here. At first I didn't take on his book, because people here commented that he was sort of a bad person by his warts and all life story. Now I'm thinking I might give it a shot. Phantom Radio is the only album of his I got into, but I really got into it. It's definitely one of my favorites.
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by niamhm »

He did so much work the last 10/12 yrs it was easy to take him for granted I think, I`ve been going back and checking some of it again, how good is Gargoyle? What a great album, fantastic stuff, so many songs that just stop you in your tracks, saw a few " best of Mark lanegan" type pieces in the media the last few days and the funny thing is although they`re full of great tracks they all miss most of my fav Lanegan tracks, I think that says something
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by spzretent »

Been listening to a lot of Mark Lanegan these past few days.
My go to Lanegan record has always been Whiskey For The Holy Ghost.
It still is.
That voice.....
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sunray
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Re: Mark Lanegan - dead at age 57

Post by sunray »

A year today. It seems longer.
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