Screaming Trees

The Profile

Screaming Trees were an American rock band from Ellensburg, Washington, formed by Mark Lanegan, Gary Lee Conner, Van Conner and Mark Pickerel. Blending grunge with neo‑psychedelia and garage rock, they released a string of acclaimed albums, peaking in visibility with Sweet Oblivion and the single Nearly Lost You. The group disbanded in 2000.

Formed in Ellensburg, Washington; core lineup: Mark Lanegan (vocals), Gary Lee Conner (guitar), Van Conner (bass), Mark Pickerel (drums; later Barrett Martin); key labels: SST Records, Epic Records; notable releases include Even If and Especially When (1987), Invisible Lantern (1988), Buzz Factory (1989), Uncle Anesthesia (1991), Sweet Oblivion (1992), Dust (1996); Nearly Lost You featured on the Singles soundtrack; active 1984–2000.

The reviews chart Screaming Trees from raw SST beginnings to polished major-label heights. Early records fuse garage-punk urgency with lysergic haze, spotlighting Lanegan’s baritone. Buzz Factory gets hailed as their most mature SST statement; Uncle Anesthesia tightens the sound with Chris Cornell’s hand. Sweet Oblivion opens the door to the wider public, while Dust blends raga, folk and hard rock with emotive pull. Throughout, key cuts like Nearly Lost You, Dollar Bill and All I Know dominate the discussion.