The Screaming Trees were an American alternative rock, psychedelic grunge band formed in 1985. Although The Screaming Trees are known primarily as a grunge band their music also incorporated elements of psychedelic rock, folk, country, and punk. The Screaming Trees’ lineup consisted of Mark Lanegan on vocals, Mark Pickerel on drums, and brothers Gary Lee and Van Conners on guitar and bass. Along with The Melvins and Green River, the Screaming Trees are considered to be one of the earliest grunge bands.
The Screaming Trees were signed to former Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn’s SST records along with other alternative groups such as Sonic Youth, Lemonheads, and The Meat Puppets. The Screaming Trees style evolved from alternative psychedelic punk rock to grunge in the early 1990s. The Screaming Trees’ popularity peaked in 1992 with the release of Sweet Oblivion. The Screaming Trees released their final album, Dust in 1996.
The Screaming Trees finally broke up in 2000. The Screaming Trees were highly influential on contemporary artists such as Nirvana and Soundgarden as well as newer groups such as Queens of the Stone Age and Rogue Wave. Mark Lanegan joined Queens Of The Stone Age and provided vocals on several albums before returning to his own successful solo career.
# 10 – Clairvoyance
The final song and title track of The Screaming Trees’ 1986 debut album Clairvoyance
“Clairvoyance” was written by Mark Lanegan, Van Conner and Gary Lee. Conners’ “Clairvoyance” is a mixture of folk rock, punk, psychedelia, and metal. “Clairvoyance” has vocals reminiscent of fellow SST band The Meat Puppets with slight touches of the grunge sound The Screaming Trees would eventually refine in the early 1990s.
# 9 – Black Sun Morning
First appeared on The Screaming Trees 1989 album Buzz Factory
. “Black Sun Morning” was evidence of The Screaming Trees’ evolution from their psychedelic and folk rock roots. “Black Sun Morning” has a slower tempo than the Screaming Trees’ early work. “Black Sun Morning” features screamed punk rock vocals, garage rock riffs, and a psychedelic lead guitar sound reminiscent of The Stooges’ first album. “Black Sun Morning” is one of The Screaming Trees’ earliest pure grunge songs.
# 8 – All I Know
The first single from the final Screaming Trees album, 1996’s Dust. “All I Know” was written by Mark Lanegan, Gary Lee Conners, and Van Conners. “All I Know” is one of The Screaming Trees’ most commercially successful songs. The single “All I Know” peaked at number nine on both the US Alternative Songs chart and the US Mainstream Rock chart. “All I Know” features Barrett Martin on drums instead of Mark Pickerel. “All I Know” is based around a catchy garage rock riff and driving drumbeats. “All I Know” features The Screaming Trees’ trademark psychedelic rock solos paired with the loud/quiet effect.
# 7 – Butterfly
From 1992’s Sweet Oblivion
. “Butterfly” is a catchy hard rock riff-based grunge song. “Butterfly” features loud verses and softer choruses in a style that became associated with grunge music. The lyrics to “Butterfly” are somewhat surreal and psychedelic, yet negative with Lanegan singing “Fly butterfly I’m sick and I want to go home.” “Butterfly” was written by Lanegan and the Conner Brothers.
“Butterfly” is as catchy as it is heavy adding to its mainstream appeal. “Butterfly” stands out as one of The Screaming Trees’ most well-written songs. “Butterfly” features a simple and repetitive piano riff in the background reminiscent of The Stooges. “Butterfly” marks a major departure from The Screaming Trees’ 80’s alternative rock and psychedelic punk music into pure grunge.
# 6 – Dying Days
From 1996’s Dust. “Dying Days” was written by Mark Lanegan and the Conner brothers. The lyrics to “Dying Days” refer to the growing amount of deaths in the mid 90’s Seattle music scene such as Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1994 and Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff the same year. The guitar solo on “Dying Days” was performed by Mike McCready, lead guitarist of fellow grunge band Pearl Jam. “Dying Days” starts off with a grungy acoustic riff and some light background organ for a couple of verses before heavy electric psychedelic grunge guitar comes in.
# 5 – Bed of Roses
The only single from The Screaming Trees’ 1991 album Uncle Anesthesia
. “Bed of Roses” was written by Mark Lanegan and the Conner brothers Van and Gary Lee. “Bed of Roses” marked The Screaming Trees’ transitional period from an underground psychedelic alternative rock band to a mainstream grunge band. “Bed of Roses” hit number twenty three on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. “Bed of Roses” was produced by Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell.
# 4 – Sworn and Broken
The second single from 1996’s Dust. “Sworn and Broken” was not as commercially successful as the singles from Sweet Oblivion had been. “Sworn and Broken” was written by Mark Lanegan and Van and Gary Lee Conners. “Sworn and Broken” failed to chart in the U.S. but reached number seventy-six on the U.K. singles chart. “Sworn and Broken” features an uncharacteristic folk sound and a slower than usual tempo. As “Sworn and Broken” progresses The Screaming Trees trademark garage rock riffs and psychedelic rock guitar solos come in. “Sworn and Broken” contains a rare keyboard solo as well.
# 3 – Shadow of the Season
The opening track on The Screaming Trees’ acclaimed sixth album Sweet Oblivion. “Shadow of the Season” was written by Mark Lanegan and Gary Lee Conners. “Shadow of the Season” introduced The Screaming Trees’ tight yet raw new psychedelic grunge-based sound. In “Shadow of the Season” the guitar playing is heavier and Lanegan’s vocals have improved significantly since the 1980s.
“Shadow of the Season” has a much heavier hard rock sound than their earlier work as well as a slight country influence. “Shadow of the Season” was well produced by a major label, showcasing Screaming Trees’ considerable talent at the height of their career.
# 2 – Dollar Bill
Released on Screaming Trees’ sixth album 1992’s Sweet Oblivion. “Dollar Bill” is a grunge song with elements of folk and country music in it as well. “Dollar Bill” highlights Lanegan’s considerable vocal talents.“Dollar Bill” uses the loud/quiet format typical of grunge music.
The lead guitar in “Dollar Bill” has a psychedelic rock style to it. “Dollar Bill” is one of The Screaming Trees’ most commercially successful songs. “Dollar Bill” reached number forty on the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts, number twenty eight on the U.S. Alternative Songs Chart and number fifty two on the UK single charts. “Dollar Bill” was written by Mark Lanegan and Van Conner.
# 1 – Nearly Lost You
Also from 1992’s Sweet Oblivion
. “Nearly Lost You” features Lanegan’s emotional vocals and sincere lyrics over grungy garage rock inspired rhythm guitar riffs. The lead guitar on “Nearly Lost You” has a psychedelic feel to it that set The Screaming Trees apart from their grunge contemporaries. “Nearly Lost You” was written by Lanegan and the Conner brothers. “Nearly Lost You” helped The Screaming Trees gain wider mainstream recognition due to its popularity.
“Nearly Lost You” hit number twelve on the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts, number five on the U.S. Alternative Songs chart and fifty on the U.K. Singles chart. “Nearly Lost You” and Sweet Oblivion cemented The Screaming Trees’ position as a major grunge band.
Updated June 12, 2023
Top 10 Screaming Trees Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
