“I could either drown, or pull off my skin and swim to shore. Now, I can grow a beautiful shell for all to see” This lyric hits me right in the heart every time. RIP Layne, Mark and Baker😔🖤
Layne Staley (AiC), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Baker Saunders (The Walkabouts), and Barrett Martin and Mark Lanegan (both from Screaming Trees). Those were the only members and they released one album. Over the years, other musicians may sit in on a song during live "reunions" (really a memorial for their passed friends), but the actual band was only Layne, Mike, Baker, Barrett, and Mark.
Y'all conflating Temple of the Dog and Mad Season. Cornell has nothing to do with Mad Season. It was a callab between some Seattle area musicians that were trying to recover from their addictions. The main vocalists were Layne and Mark Lannigan.
This wasn't a side-project it was super group that Mike McCready in the drummer from screaming trees started cuz they met and rehab in Minnesota they started the group and they were trying to figure out who they wanted to get as lead singer they agreed to get Lane as the lead singer to help him stay focused on something else besides his addiction
I have played shows High on Heroin and I have played shows Drug Sick. Neither are fun. I have seen other bands do the same thing. Aug 9th will be my 23 year clean. This band was to try and help Layne stay clean. One of the other members was from Pearl Jam and her just got clean. He tried to help Layne. Layne just never wanted help. I understand that so much. Depression is a daily fight. If you have never been REALLY Depressed you are lucky. It will keep you down. I relate to Alice in Chains so much. I have been where Layne is. I just chose to get help. I made the choice. People cant make it for you. Will miss Layne forever.
Long gone day is another great Mad Season song. It features vocals by both Layne and Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees. But to experience Layne at his most powerful then please check out Alice in Chains “Love, hate, love” live at the Moore
"Wake Up" as the next? :D Mad Season was a collab born in rehab. edit - or "Above", I get the gist from the album that for a time it was an effort to get straight.
I used to listen to this album almost every night to fall asleep. Which is weird cause one song is actually called "Wake Up", love to see y'all react to it. ☮
I feel like anyone who says this is instantly my people. I used to do the same and still do sometimes. This is the best album ever. At least top ten for me.
Mad Season released only 1 album. Layne was still with AIC. The band struggled because of schedule conflicts & several members' drug addictions. The song you were singing is called Mad World by Tears for Fears, but the best version is sung by Gary Jules.
This was one of the songs that got me through the bad stuff going on at home when I was in middle and high school. I can still close my eyes and it just feels like floating on a flowing current of wonderful music that keeps you from drowning.
I couldn't agree more live at the Moore is a timeless classic I love it all but I especially love the stuff with Mark lanegan he never gets the credit he so greatly deserves
@@nickday1627 lifeless dead-ray mind, river of deceit, wake up, I don't know anything, and on and on, and of course, long gone day which I think Lanegan wrote, hey bro, great minds think alike, have a great day bud....
Tears for Fears did “Mad World” was also covered by Gary Jules All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere Their tears are filling up their glasses No expression, no expression Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow No tomorrow, no tomorrow And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you 'cause I find it hard to take When people run in circles it's a very, very Mad world Mad world Mad world Mad world
This album is one of the rare few that you have to listen from start to finish to truly appreciate what it all means. That it’s all an addict’s struggle within the vicious cycle of addiction. The other bands were Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees that lent members to the band
I never struggled with drug addiction but I have struggled with depression most of my life. This song is so beautiful and it always gets me in the feels.
This was during a clean period. The other band members met in rehab and brought Layne in the group hoping being around clean people would help. It helped for a little while but did not last. When I hear Layne sing like this I just wish I could have hugged him to let him know he wasn’t alone. But as someone who knows many addicts I know how they push people away, and they have to save themselves. Very grateful for the music he gave us. Ps Chris Cornell was never part of the band and neither were any member of Guns N Roses.
The entire album is a vibe. You can feel Layne's soul searching. Some other amazing singer/songwriters who have since passed on are Andrew Wood of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, Shawn Smith of Satchel and Brad, and Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon. I highly recommend checking out every single band I just named.
Mad Season only did 1album. It came out before AIC’s last album with Layne. Duff wasn’t a part of this band. Mike McCready (lead guitarist of Pearl Jam) ,drummer of Screaming Trees (Seattle band) ,bass player was a guy Mike met in rehab( he died of an OD), and the lead singer of Screaming Trees sang on some of the songs.
Speaking of current Alice in Chains, some of their new stuff is straight FIRE! "Phantom Limb," "Last of My Kind," "The One You Know," "Black Gives Way to Blue" (feat. Elton John on the piano), "Check My Brain," "Stone," "All Secrets Known," "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here," and so many more from their last three albums. And y'all should react to "Seasons" by Chris Cornell. What a song.
The meaning of Mad Season: River of Deceit as sung by Layne Staley. Start off by saying this is about Layne’s drug habits particularly with Heroin! Think about it: The river(blood flow in your veins) takes down the Deceit (Heroin). If you read the lyrics now with this in mind and counter the fact this eventually led to Layne’s death is poetic. He KNEW he had a problem and was conveying that to the listener. My pain is self chosen. Pull off my skin and swim to shore…Heroin addicts pick at their skin. Shore represents being off the drug…now I can grow a beautiful shell (New Skin) for ALL TO SEE. Listen again with this in mind.
When I heard this song on the radio for the first time, I immediately knew that it was Layne Stanley but that it was obviously not AIC. Hence, I discovered Mad Season, and soon purchased Above. Layne did the album art as well (rest his soul, indeed) which was based on a photo of him and his girlfriend. The song River of Deceit was also inspired the book, The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. I happened upon the book a couple years ago and had no idea that was the case, then it clicked. It was a ‘4th wall’ breaking moment for me
This is easily one of my all time favorite albums. Every track is really powerful or at least so I thought when I first heard it, and still do. You really can't go wrong with any song off of this album. If anyone wasn't a Layne fan before listening to this album, how could you not be after? Above, Jar of Flies, and Dirt are my favorite albums Layne was involved in. Two of those of course being AIC, but Above def one of my favorite albums I've EVER heard... period.
The band was a side project they decided to do as friends as a way to help each other quit heorin. It had mixed results and about half the band eventually O.D.'d, though some managed to remain clean thanks to this project, like Pearl Jam's Mike McCready. None of Mad Season's members quit their main bands, it was just something they did on the side. GNR's Duff is from Seattle. He wasn't anti-Grunge, he was just going through the worst of his alcoholism when he got into an argument with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic backstage at the 1993 (I think) MTV Video Music Awards becasue Axl himself, being the asshole and diva he's always been, had argued earlier with Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love and drunken Duff was being protective of his friend. I actually saw a video a couple of years ago of Duff and Kirst performing together in some political event in Seattle with Duff singing and playing acoustic guitar and Krist playing according and before they start the song Duff jokingly asks Krist what he thinks about going from almost getting into a drunken fistfight at the MTV VMA's to playing together in support of their endorsed candidate 20 years later and they both laugh about it. Novoselic himself was admittedly pretty drunk and you can still find the video of their performance at the VMA's here on RU-vid., and see how at the end of the song Dave Grohl starts to say hi to Axl into his mic in a really obnoxious tone of voice and Novoselic himself throws his bass in the air but fails to catch it and nails himself in the head pretty hard and almost knocks himself out, and then Cobain gives him a kick in the butt as he's scrambling to go offstage on his hands and knees because Cobain thought he was goofing around and didn't see when the bass slammed into Novoselic's head. Good times. BTW, during the 2016 Temple of the Dog reunion mini-tour, they did perform this song, sung by Chris Cornell, in memory of Layne Staley, who was another friend they lost to heroin just like MotherLoveBone's Andy Wood. A handful of months later, Chris Cornell himself was gone.
Fun fact: this album was basically created in less than a week. Mike came to layne on a weekday and asked if he wanted to be their front man for a show that weekend. They got together the night before to play together for the first time, then played the show the next day. They wrote seperately, came together once to practice, and then went out and played a show. Mad Season is nothing shy of impressive and mystifying.
Mad Season was an Amazing Band formed by musicians struggling with Addiction. Some met in Rehab. The Album dropped in 1995 and I bought it immediately. I too was struggling with addiction and the destruction of my family. My children's father is Native American and he stole them and took them to his Reservation. I never saw my children again until 2018. Nearly 25 years. This album is the Soundtrack for what was going on with me in 1995. I'd sit on the floor, smoking crack and drinking. I'd listen to this over and over. I attempted to kill myself with Alcohol and drugs, Dangerous Criminal behavior and not giving a Frick, until 2000. I was court ordered to treatment, a 90 Day inpatient program and I did outpatient treatment for another 6 months and did Sober living until a Man who I didn't know walked into my room at 5am. I went ballistic and left shortly after. I got involved with NA / AA, found a Sponsor and a great group of Women as my friends and support. I Made it Out Alive. I just celebrated 23 years clean and sober. Now, get this; I am helping to raise my 2 Grandsons. What a Gift that is. I of course reunited with my Children and even moved to where they live to help with the Grandchildren and to be a Family. Little did I know what I was walking into. Both My Children are ADDICTS! Both of them have done awful things to me and I no longer speak to either one. Both of them lost custody of their children so Gramma has stepped in to help raise my 2 Grandsons. My Granddaughter Penelope is now with her Father but moved out of State. I have been with both my Grandsons since they were little little so they wouldn't go to Daycare. It's full circle but, I survived and now I am able to at least be a Gramma. My Motherhood was stolen from me but, not my Grandmother Time. To this Day, this Album holds a very special place in my heart. Sorry for the long post. Listening with you caused all the memories flooding back. What a crazy time.
Now that you just got introduced to Mad Season I highly recommend Mad Season - Wake Up, Artificial Red, Long Gone Day, I’m Above. Just listen to the whole album.
This is an iceberg You have only scraped Pure super group And you haven't even added in mark land again from the screaming trees This album was the most raw lane had ever been So many deep cuts You all should watch their DVD mad season live at the More They do a killer cover of a John Lennon song don't wanna be a soldier no more
Chris Cornell was in "Temple of the Dog", "I'm going hungry with Eddie vedder. Mad season had a bunch of famous instrumentalists and when Layne Staley passed away, Chris Cornell sang this song in mourning for Layne, as Eddie Vedder sang "Black" as a tribute to Chris Cornell after his passing . So very very sad to lose such talented people. They live on today and are missed every day ❤❤ love u guys SOOOO MUCH!!! Laura from Boston
Mad Season was a side project from 1994 and 1995. Layne Staley felt as though he was on a spiritual mission through his music. Not a rock mission, a spiritual mission. Staley also wrote (River of Deceit) the song partially about his drug addiction, which would eventually lead to his death on April 5, 2002. Staley was 34.
In every tragedy there is a moment where you get a glimpse of what could have been if the subject were capable of escape. And it's so beautiful and it hurts so much because you already know how the story ends. As someone who only got to learn about Layne's story after he was gone, this song is that moment.
I never knew that the super group Temple of the Dog Velvet Revolver Soundgarden Alice in Chains Mad Season did a cover of Mad World by Tears for Fears.
Over in the UK during the magic mushroom season people would be so high that people called them ( Mad) that's how they got the name. And Chris Cornell did fill in for Layne Staley after he died!
The song you're thinking of (All around me are familiar faces) is "Mad World" by Tears For Fears. It has been covered quite a bit since the original was released in 1983
Chris cornell was not in mad season, neither was duff. Temple of the dog was a mashup of Pearl & soundgarden. Mad season had layne as singer & mark lanegan (screaming trees) However mike mccready from Pearl Jam was also a member.
This song has made me cry for years now. It’s very difficult for me to listen to for my own personal reasons, but it’s nice seeing y’all boys finally come around to it. Excellent video. Yo Hollywood, if you love Sade that much y’all gotta hear Deftones cover her song No Ordinary Love. And if y’all ever get back to doing more AIC, please listen to the song Brother.
Can tell ya what I know about that whole period. Sometime in 1995, Alice In Chains temporarily broke up. This stemmed from when Layne showed up at an AIC practice high. Which angered the band, particularly the drummer, who threw down his sticks and said he never wanted to play with him again. So Alice splintered for the moment. Meanwhile, guitarist Mike McCready of Pearl Jam had met bassist John Baker Saunders in a rehab stint. While in there they decided to work together when they got out. With Layne detached from AIC, they hit him up and began putting together their ‘95 album, the only studio release of theirs. Layne was unfortunately starting to really sink lower into his addiction by that point. He had begun wearing fingerless gloves, not for style but to hide track marks, since his other veins were tapped out. Mad Season (their name taken from a time of year in England when people hunt around a lot for “magic” mushrooms) did play one great live show at The Moore in Seattle. After which, AIC reconciled and recorded their eponymous 1995 album. Sadly, bassist Baker fatally overdosed on heroin in 1999, after his girlfriend flew back to her home country in Europe. And of course Layne did pass away from his addiction in the end, on April 5th, 2002, alone in his home in the U district of Seattle. All in all some truly unfortunate things came to pass, but incredible music got written and recorded, which all of us still have today.
This is an amazing video, can you guys PLEASE react to down in a hole, Heaven Beside You, and Brother unplugged live Layne Stanley is an amazing vocalist and Jerry Cantrell is too. Their bond was so strong and them together on stage is magical.
Layne also did vocals for another very short lived super group called Class of ‘99. They covered Another Brick in the Wall for the movie The Faculty. It consisted of Layne, Tom Morello, and a member of Jane’s Addiction and a member of Porno for Pyros.
This song is definitely insightful. Another powerful song from this album is called "Wake up", a song about their heroin addictions. Really sad song. Also, the name Mad Season refers to the time of year that psychedelic mushrooms bloom, a slang term if u will. Listening to Layne singing "Wake up young man, its time to wake up", and knowing he eventually loses to the demons, its truly haunting...
It was a side project of Layne with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and also Mark Lanegan and Barrett Martin of The Screaming Trees. Duff McKagan was friend with many guys in the grunge community because he's from Seattle. Mad Season made only one album that came out in 1995.
Just for some clarification, Soundgarden, AiC, and Screaming Trees along with Pearl Jam were all friends and used to hang out at Ann Wilson's house after gigs in Seattle. Chris Cornell wasn't in Mad Season, he was in Temple of the Dog with Eddie Vedder. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this was produced before Alice in Chains did their Unplugged concert. This song is kind of about Layne's downward spiral of his addiction. We lost a unique voice when we lost him. River of Deceit is in reference to the Greek River Styx that separates the living from the dead.
They only did just one album. Chris Cornell sang vocals on a tribute Concert years ago. The Original lineup was Layne Staley of AIC Mike McCready of Pearl Jam Bassist John Baker Saunders Barrett Martin on drums from Screaming Trees. as well as Mark Lanegan lead singer of Screaming Trees.
Mad season has members of Pearl Jam, Layne of course, Drummer from Screaming Trees., this was a super group. This was Layne when he was fresh outta recovery.
When you mentioned Chris Cornell and Duff and Mad Season, Chris and Duff and Mike McCready and Barrett Martin did a Mad Season tribute after Layne Staley died, Mike McCready that played lead guitar in Mad Season put the tribute together and Chris sang a few songs. I hope I made sense. Beautiful but heartbreaking the song. 😊💓🤘✌️
🖤💜🖤 About time!!! So glad y'all made it to Mad Season! Would LOOOOVE to see y'all react to the GOAT, Wake Up. My fave was always the one that got the radio play back then, I Don't Know Anything. Keep on rockin, buds! Hopefully one day we'll reach Alone by Layne & Eddie! 😁
Oh......and hey guys.....let's not take a year to get through this album. Push for a couple months. You will be glad to experience it now rather than stretch it out.
Loving seeing you guys react to this. Mad Season is the shit, very underrated and under-played. This song is what tied me to them. Shout out Sade! RIP Layne 😔
I had to look up some of the stuff you guys said at the beginning, I wasn't sure but Chris Cornell actually did sing with Layne in a song called Right Turn, I haven't heard it yet but I can imagine it is epic
Love it guys! As many said, a couple of them met in rehab and thought this would help keep them all sober. Unfortunately, it didn’t work 😢 but they left us some great music. Artificial red is one of my favorites, wake up is good, long gone day, they are bluesy and just fabulous.
Great reaction guys 🤟 i know that one of is last recorded song if not is last was for the movie the Faculty in 1998 with Tom Morello class of 99 another Brick on the wall during that Time is substance abuse was realy bad he kept to himself so no one would see how bad IT was he was Found dead on april 5 2002 he had OD 2 Weeks earlier
Thank you so much for finally doing Mad Season. Haunting, beautiful melancholy. Depression has a beautiful voice that many don’t hear and try not to see. Layne was such a tortured soul and he told us as much. You can feel every fiber of this weave around you and wrap you in his pain. Try “Wake Up”… 😢😢
Mad season referes to the time when psychedelic mushrooms bloom. Originally they were known as "The Gacy bunch" a combination of john wayne gacy and the brady bunch. They played one or two shows under that name before changing it to mad season. Mad season is the supergroup that sets the bar for super groups. Above is a perfect album, begining to end.
I think you guys might have been combining Mad Season & Temple of the Dog in your minds. Mad Season was Layne Staley, Mike McCready, and 2 guys from the Screaming Trees. Chris Cornell was never a part of this project. Mark Lanagan did sing for MS for a reunion show once Layne had passed away, but I don't think there were any other members.
Not sure if anyone mentioned it but the prophet he sings of is Kahlil Gibran. The lyric "My pain is self chosen comes from his writings. "And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain. And he said: Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief." "Much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility: For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears."
Y'all gotta do Wake Up and Long Gone Day from that Mad Season album, and if you want Layne and Chris together (along with Mark Arm from Mudhoney), that's the AIC song Right Turn off the Sap EP
