Mad Season
Artist profile

Mad Season

Mad Season formed in 1994 with Layne Staley from Alice in Chains on vocals, Mike McCready from Pearl Jam on guitar, Barrett Martin from Screaming Trees on...

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Editor's note

Mad Season, the one-album Seattle supergroup

A 1995 side project with Layne Staley and Mike McCready that left a heavy, bluesy album called 'Above.'

If you're going to listen to one thing, make it 'River of Deceit.' For something with a different feel, 'Long Gone Day' shows the band stretching out into more spacious, brooding territory.

They only made one studio album, but 'Above' is a document of a specific moment when Seattle's biggest players stepped outside their main bands. 'River of Deceit' is the track most people know, with Staley's worn-out voice floating over McCready's clean guitar lines. It's heavier and more atmospheric than a lot of the straightforward grunge coming out at the time.

The band formed in 1994 with members from Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, and the Walkabouts. They recorded and released 'Above' in 1995, and that was it for studio work, it was always a side project, and they never made a second album.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 19
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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14 lyric pages live 6 photos available Editor's note live Video on page
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Background notes

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Mad Season formed in 1994 with Layne Staley from Alice in Chains on vocals, Mike McCready from Pearl Jam on guitar, Barrett Martin from Screaming Trees on drums, and John Baker Saunders from Walkabouts on bass. They released just one studio album, 'Above,' in 1995. The single 'River of Deceit' became their most recognizable track, with Staley's raw delivery over McCready's melodic guitar work.

Their sound pulled from grunge, blues, and psychedelic rock, creating something heavier and more atmospheric than straightforward Seattle rock. Songs like 'Long Gone Day' and 'Slip Away' showed the band's range, moving between brooding intensity and more spacious arrangements.

Staley's struggles with addiction were part of the band's story, though they never recorded another album after 'Above.' The project was always something of a side venture for members of more established bands, which might explain why it stayed a single-album footnote despite the quality of the work.

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Where should I start with Mad Season on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Lifeless Dead, All Alone, and Locomotive (feat. Mark Lanegan) so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Mad Season?

LyroVerse currently has 14 visible lyric pages for Mad Season.

Does Mad Season have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 6 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Mad Season?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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