Mad Season

The Profile

Mad Season was a Seattle supergroup formed in 1994 by Layne Staley, Mike McCready, Barrett Martin, and John Baker Saunders. They released one studio album, Above (1995), noted for its blend of grunge, blues, and psychedelia, with Mark Lanegan guesting on two tracks.

Formed in Seattle in 1994; early live shows under the name The Gacy Bunch. Above was released March 14, 1995 on Columbia Records. Mark Lanegan contributed vocals to “I’m Above” and “Long Gone Day.” The band’s key lineup: Layne Staley (vocals), Mike McCready (guitar), Barrett Martin (drums), John Baker Saunders (bass). Notable live document: Live at the Moore (1995). Subsequent activity included appearances and performances in 2012–2015.

Six reviews revisit Mad Season’s solitary studio statement, Above (1995), highlighting its blues-drenched grunge, Staley’s stark lyrics, and McCready’s spacious guitar work. Mark Lanegan’s guest vocals on I’m Above and Long Gone Day emerge as key moments. Live at the Moore is praised as a crucial document. The mood: elegiac, intense, and deeply personal.