Down In The Dark: The Mark Lanegan Story (2023 Grunge Documentary) 

"Sing Backwards and Weep' by Mark Lanegan is a very easy read. What a ride.

Its a miracle that Lanegan made it to 57, all things considered.

Mark, Layne, Chris, Andy, Scott, Kurt, Mike, and the many others that have passed (which are too many to list).... these guys were like Dark Angels roaming the planet. This time period of music in my life was my Camelot so to speak. As a 56 year old man.... the Seattle Music Scene defined my generation, their music meant the world to so many, including myself. Why? Because we could identify with it. Music isn't all about fun and happiness, clearly there was another side to it with these bands.... and those who could identify with it.. sadness, depression, despair, addiction and dependency. Yet, through it all, these guys supported one anothers careers, encouraged one another, and helped one another. Unfortunately for most, they couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.... yet, unknowingly, through their music and personal struggles, they helped so many others, including myself.... and still do to this day. With each and every one of these artists that have passed over the years, for whatever reasons, I feel as though I have lost a family member or close friend. When the night feels like another sunrise will never come, I ALWAYS have my fallen brothers music to see me through to another sunrise, and because of that, I will FOREVER be grateful. I only wish I could've done the same for so many of them when they were lost in their own minds. I will continue to carry the Seattle Music Scene Torch until my dying days..... and I will let it shine brightly, because it's the very least I can do to pay respects to those who saved my life numerous times. These Dark Angels I refer too...... especially Layne and Chris.... put the good word in for me at the gates, and save me a seat at the big table between the two of you..... YOU ALL ARE GREATLY MISSED BY MANY..... but especially by this 56 year old man.

I heard about his passing while sitting in my car during my lunch break at work. Tears just rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably. I hadn’t cried in more than 15-20 years and quickly realized it was time to get back to work. I looked in my review mirror and said to myself “get it together man,you have to pull yourself together right now” I think about that 5-10 minutes often. I didn’t personally know mark. But I have spent my whole life in western Washington and the screaming trees were a big part of my teenage years. His voice gave comfort to many of us. He will be there when we need him through his music and books. But he well be missed. Damn.

I spent time with Lanegan on the DUST tour. Salt was the band I was supporting at the time as a stage hand. He was friendly despite his demons. He was & is an angel,

Thank you all for watching live with me. hope you enjoyed

My father named both my sister and I after Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell. I never knew why until a few years ago. I've been hooked ever since. Hearing about his death this year broke me. His life was incredible. Too soon for a man like him. Rest In Peace.

There should be a movie made about this mans life. Lanegan's memoir "sing backwards and weep" would be a great book to base it on.

I've been waiting on a documentary on Mark Lanegan for a very long time now. Thanks for doing this! His memoir "Sing Backwards and Weep" is easily one of the best Rock memoirs out there. I highly recommend getting the Audible book version to hear Mark's own voice narrate the book. I've relistened to it over 15 times in it's entirety and I'll relisten to it many more times throughout my life. It's just an incredible book.

Layne and marks voices together make me cry. So much emotion.

These guys weren’t usually the type to judge others and when one was down and out the other stuck around and tried to help. I know many people who do not have any problems with addiction that won’t lift a finger to help someone, never mind an addict. I am not trying to be negative, but these guys were usually there to try to help each other, until the person they are trying to help doesn’t want it anymore. Sometimes even though you know where you’re headed it is easier to just let go, but yet you fight, and you fight it all alone. The drugs especially iv opioids, bring out the worst sometimes, but even battling those demons, they tried to stick together and help each other in times of need. It is sad to lose such a great era of singers (and band mates). Layne, Mike, Mark, Chris, Kurt, and many more and they were all human beings like all of us, yet we’re so very talented and gifted ones. They say the truly artistic are the most susceptible to destruction. What is really tragic is to finally gain sobriety after so many years of cheating death and have a wife and a home and catch CV19. My heart goes out to Mark’s family and there really isn’t anyone left to lose. Eddie Vedder did his thing, and gives back to humanity which is nice. But the true Grunge era is gone. Tragic, and depressing. Thank you for this great short documentary of his life. The song “Nutshell” at the end, its words, are exactly where most of their lives roamed to. Ironically sad.

I just finished the audiobook version of his biography "Sing Backwards & Weep", which I highly recommend. He lead the most interesting life & it's REALLY something to hear all of his mind blowing stories told by the man himself in his inimitable, iconic voice...

You did him justice with this one.

i’ve read sing backwards and weep 3 times and it’s one of my favorite books of all time from one of my favorite musicians. so happy to you see you made this. hell yeah.

I see a good amount of mark in myself which makes me smile. The fact that he’s okay being alone, a lot of ppl know him but they float in an out, struggles to find the right love, he barely makes his ends meet, and struggles on and off again with his inner demons, yet really just wants to make music. Kinda just went w the flow of life, and that’s pretty cool

27:01 truer words have never been spoken. I see myself in that same way. If someone were to ever ask me what happened in my life that made me so sad, I wouldn’t know where to begin RIP MARK LANEGAN

A brilliant, irreplaceable artist. I discovered Mark's music later on but I'm caught up now. He's replaced all others in terms of whose music I go to most frequently. RIP, my friend.

I'm an immense Lanegan fan, have been since I was a teen. The unremitting darkness of his story, and how it colored his music, is part of the allure of it -- but there's something about his voice and his lyrics that were always contemplative, yearning, and assuring. Like a tiny point of light on the black horizon, something to walk toward until you find your way. Losing him this year was extremely rough. I'm taking solace in "Churchbells, Ghosts", "Pill Hill Serenade", and "Sworn and Broken" to get me through some things right now. The world needed Mark. It's a shame that, for so long, he couldn't tell.

Mark was a good dude I spoke to him before he passed so sorry and unexpected what a loss.

Such a magical and tragic era, and scene. All these beautiful and creative artists giving so much. I’m 55 and loved Screaming Trees. I saw them in Deep Elul at Trees ironically. What a talent. RIP Mark.

Wow!!! I can't help but feel such a deep dark sadness for many of the Grunge greats... it truly goes to show money absolutely does not bring happiness and imo brings a deeper sorrow to them. They hide behind their riches with the same deep depression they started with. Layne's story makes me feel the same. 😪 This was very well written and I truly appreciate you putting it on RU-vid for us! Thank you... RIP Mark, Layne and Kurt ❤️

Wonderful documentary dude, loved the rest too. Proper grunge fan. Always been a massive fan of both Screaming Trees and Alice in Chains. Mad Season was just magical to hear both Layne and Mark duet. I don't think people realise how truly underrated Screaming Trees nor Mark's solo career were. It sadly took Mark's death for people to kind of do a rediscovery if you will. I always felt the last two ST albums were just as good as the best albums of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, AIC and Soundgarden. I particularly enjoyed the last four of their work, unique. It is a shame that Andy, Kurt, Layne, Mike, Scott, Chris and now Mark are no longer with us, they all had this angelic aura about them. May their music live on.

Marks voice is magical and theres nothing like it. his raspy dirty undertone is amazing. Such a fascinating man to listen to. hes been through so much shit. Rest In Power beautiful soul!

I didn't know anything about Mark before watching this incredible video. I really liked it. I just got sober from opioid myself about 6 months ago so listening to this story was really relatable and eye opening. Great stuff, man.

You did an excellent job with this sir. I never knew his whole story and this was fascinating. Thank you for being respectful about it.

These kind of videos hit hard. I was a drug addicted musician. Can’t believe I got to that point. 7 years clean now with a wife and kid and business owner. I’m so grateful

Man how ironic to see Layne singing I nearly lost you while Mark was in the hospital.

RIP Mark! What’s weird is that all of them were unique in their own style. Layne, Mark, Kurt, Chris etc..

So grateful to have grown up in the 90s with these bands as my life's soundtrack. Saw Nirvana November @ the Armory 6 months before Kurt passed, STP @ the Mann, but never the Trees or Alice in Chains (my absolute favorite band of all time). RIP - Mark Lanegan 🙏

Enjoyed this. Having had my own struggle with pointed instruments and the side effects of it all. Long live us all.

Its wild how he was in the middle of all those bands and musicians. I knew him and Kurt were close but not with all the others. His life story is pretty wild.

Excellent video, my man - I greatly enjoyed. Thank you for the work you put into it.

It’s so sad that he had gone through all that but survived, only to still die fairly young, even if he was a lot older than Kurt or Layne were.

As a die hard grunge fan. I can say, well done. This pulled on my heart strings man. Thanks for this.

I'm really excited for this one! Hard to believe it's almost been a year since he passed away. RIP Dark Mark ♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤

The only positive I can find about his story is that him, Kurt, and Layne are all together again. What a sad ending for such a brilliant talent.

Your documentary could be touched up a bit, but it's pretty good, man. Thank you for doing the weeks/months of work it took to make it as good as it is. Most importantly, thanks for sharing Mark Lanegan. I love Mark's music, and I love his story as well. He was a true original from rock's last stand on the world stage. Screaming Trees had quite a bit of "roll" as well, something missing from quite a bit of rock since way back in the day.

Thanks for investing your time, effort and love in this project Matt. I lived in Wallingford and worked in the U District during the late 80's and early 90's so I saw some of the street level events described in your film, especially the cycle of addiction some of my friends caught up in. I shared a house with a couple touring musicians and worked with folks who struggled with heroin addiction so I feel so fortunate to have escaped without my own personal dark encounter. Watching your film is like looking in a mirror at an alternate life which I avoided only by chance or circumstance. Reflecting on the lives and talent lost to addiction I'm even more convinced that we need universal healthcare so that people suffering from the disease can get the care and treatment they need, hopefully to someday break those chains and live life more fully. You've done some tangible good with this film Matt. Good on you, sir.

This was fantastic, thank you for putting this together.

This was so informative and put together so well! I was impatiently waiting for the premiere!

Thanks for doing this video, I really enjoyed it. Mark was a great talent, he'll always be missed. RIP

RIP Van Connor... If you aren't familiar with his other band Solomon Grundy, in which he writes, sings lead & plays guitar, I highly recommend you seek out their lone album

His book, Sing Backwards and Weep, is a harrowing, brilliant piece of writing.

Had he taken up Kurt’s offer to sing at the unplugged concert and worked with David O’Russell he would be more well known. I knew a bit about his struggles but his memoir was very dark. He didn’t shy away from what he did but I’ve also read what close friends thought of him and they were always in a positive light. Other books about Seattle did include the Screaming Trees and their dynamics were interesting. Lanegan did seem like a bruiser on sight with those massive fists but he was also very introspective and a voracious reader. Somewhat a walking contradiction. In some ways he seemed more like a Lost Generation figure, a literary type who would fight at the drop of a hat like Hemingway or Norman Maclean. He had a hard life but I’m glad he had some peace near the end. His music sure made me happy.

This was excellent, thank you for doing this.

Bro, this was an exceptionally incredible documentary you gave us!!

You put out some really good documentaries brother got mad love for you.

I have listened to the audio version of this at least 2 dozen times. I go to bed at night and listen... Isn't it amazing how he had such an amazing memory? To be a full blown junkie for that many years and that long ago... super impressive. He should have been an author his entire career... what a delightful vocab this man had. I know a lot of intelligent musicians that speak very well, like Chris Robinson.... Mark seems to be the best I have seen. Poor guy needed his mothers love. I could have as well. I like how Bobby Scarfo (post below mine) explains how important the scene was to me... so just read his comment next. Rest in peace... all of you that have left us.

just got his audiobook biography for my birthday in January. And I was still pondering it fresh when he passed away. He definitely will be missed.

That was a fantastic doc cheers….what an epic goosebumps inducing way to end it too…that was beautiful

Great outline of his book! It’s cool that you are getting his story out further.

Brought to tears with Mark singing Nutshell. Awesome Documentary!

Thank you for creating this. I just found it. Mark is...thank you for making this and posting it. You did a wonderful job.

Thanks so much for this man. Was looking for a video on Mark and this was excellent.

His story is truly tragic. Thank you for doing something to bring recognition to this amazing artist.

He made some of my favorite music by anyone. Each record is so strong. Prolific. RiP Mark

great job w the doc. That was a tear jerker, and very informative. Thanks for posting. Hope to see more of your work. You should have steady work as a documentarian if you don't already

This is great. Awesome job. RIP Mark. I read his autobiography. Very good. I respect the way you kept that out. The Airport ride.

Woah. Not only did I learn of all the connections he had with the bands I love, this ended with a pedal steel player that I thought was just playing some fitting sounds, only to turn into absolute chills for me when Mark started singing. ADDING Layne's tracks...chills even more. That was amazing and thank you.

This was fantastic. Thanks for making.

thank you very much! some things we did not know.

So cool to get to see all these different pics of Mark

Great job on this piece! It was hauntingly beautiful and extremely sad.❤

❤Mark , one of the greatest vocalists ever. A very nostalgic documentary for an amazing yet tragic time in music history. I was and still am, a Grunge kid. RIP Mark and all those incredible talented musicians we have lost X

That’s cool you included info about Kristen Pfaff. She used to live in my building in Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. She was a very cool girl. Gone far too soon. R.I.P.

Found your channel yesterday bro and I’ve watched and learned a lot already. You make it easy to watch and enjoy. Thanks

Thank you for making this

Dude. You nailed this. Thank you!

Thank you. This was accurately and tastefully done. I was a heroin addict in Seattle in the Early 90s and that is just the way it went down!

My gosh I have never heard of Mark Lonegan nor the band The Screaming Trees. Just listening to his music and his voice on this documentary draws me in and I have such feeling in his words. ❤

Excellent job on these docs.

Thanks for this ×

Lanegan was such a hidden treasure, and I think he probably liked it that way. I suspect had he been more famous he would have died much sooner. I was always surprised he wasn't more well known though.

Long Gone Day might be the best song on that album filled with awesome songs

Just stumbled upon this. Wow. Really enjoyed it. ❤

Good work, really enjoyed it.

Excellent work, my friend. He was my favourite artist. Seen him play live over 20 years. A true legend.

Great video. Ive read sing backwards and weep 3 times in the past 6 months. T.y.

Another amazing documentary. Mark Lanegan will forever remain the greatest musician from the Seattle scene of the 90s

This was amazing, great job telling a dark story

Wow, another awesome documentary ..Good job.

That was awesome. Thank you

As somebody who toured and did drugs with my favorite musicians this shit hits me so hard. I used to party with jonny craig when we toured together and I felt like mark must’ve felt. I’m cooking shots for this amazing vocalist whom I admire and I’m the lowest I’ve ever been. I did and sold drugs to people who are mad famous to this day. Drugs have taken so much from me and I’m grateful every day I’m not shooting dope.

Great video man. Now I gotta listen to him read the book. His voice was so amazing. He will be missed.

What an ending, wow! I didnt want that video to end

Great job !

Excellent documentary....thank you. 💗

Great documentry thanks

And there is his work with the Gutter Twins, with Isobel Campbell, Mark Morton, Soulsavers, Twilight Singers and a lot more. In my mind he is on the same shelf with Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Tom Waits. Cure for soul.

Keep up the good work!! you have the best detailed story..as if I am listening from story tale. The best!!

I'm just grateful not only for his music but just to say hello to him before a QOTSA show. I was walking down an ally behind The Newport Music Hall in Columbus Ohio in 2002. I look up and sitting on a fire escape was Lanegan. Told him how much I dug his stuff. I didn't want to fan boy out so I left it at that. Glad I did. R.I.P. Brother

Thank you brother this is amazing I love that him and layne were always like best friends as sad as it is to see mark gone at least he and layne blessed us all with thee best music music ever made and now they reunite in gods tavern🤘👌🤘long live the 90s and grunge music 🤘💯🤘

His music told his story, that is why its so pure and so great. RIP Mark, you are missed.

Very well done! Thankyou

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

that was an excellent doc guy, very well done 🙂

Finalllllllllllly credit where it's due. Being from Miami and seeing my favorite band the screaming trees and playing their music for a very long time and even sharing their music with my kids. I'm finally content to see this master piece story on one of my favorite all time singers. ❤ beautifully done. My tattoo is 2*22*22 >in dedication to his final day to be alive and pay homage and respect to my legendary singer whom I loved and relate. May he r.i.p I've missed him so much and continue to listen to his music til this day.... thank you so much

Really great work here f0cking solid

i am 54yers old from israel mark Lanegan was here five times over the years playing in a rock club under the radar i saw the last three. he made me feel proud every time. proud of the way he got old not stopping making his music not selling not buying i miss him

Great documentary, very moving. RIP Mark Lanegan