Green River (band): Difference between revisions
→History: All three same high school |
→History: ce |
||
Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
==History== |
==History== |
||
In its first practice sessions in early 1984, Green River's members were vocalist [[Mark Arm]], guitarist [[Steve Turner (guitarist)|Steve Turner]], drummer [[Alex Vincent (drummer)|Alex Vincent]] (also known as Alex Shumway) and bassist [[Jeff Ament]]. Prior to joining Green River, |
In its first practice sessions in early 1984, Green River's members were vocalist [[Mark Arm]], guitarist [[Steve Turner (guitarist)|Steve Turner]], drummer [[Alex Vincent (drummer)|Alex Vincent]] (also known as Alex Shumway) and bassist [[Jeff Ament]]. Prior to joining Green River, they had played for a variety of rock, punk, and hardcore groups, often with overlapping lineups. Arm and Turner had played together in Mr. Epp and the Calculations and the [[Limp Richerds]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Cameron |first=Keith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3OTcBAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA44&dq=%22Green+River%22+%22Ament%22+%22Deranged+Diction%22&hl=en |title=Mudhoney: The Sound and the Fury from Seattle |date=2014-03-21 |publisher=Voyageur Press |isbn=978-0-7603-4661-7 |pages=22, 33-35 |language=en}}</ref> Determined to start a new band together, they first recruited Vincent, whom Turner had briefly played with in [[Spluii Numa]], as drummer, and then set about convincing Ament to join.<ref name=":0" /> He and Turner worked at the same Seattle coffeeshop, and Arm had befriended him after a DJ set by Ament at Metropolis, a local club.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Yarm |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z-44p7V2TrUC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA50&dq=%22Green+River%22+%22Ament%22+%22Deranged+Diction%22&hl=en |title=Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge |date=2012-03-13 |publisher=Crown |isbn=978-0-307-46444-6 |pages=49-51 |language=en}}</ref> Ament had a low opinion of Mr. Epp, but agreed to join the new band due to Turner's persistence and Ament's frustration with Deranged Diction, his band at the time.<ref name=":0" /> The first Green River rehearsal was at the Turner home on Mercer Island.<ref name=":0" /> [[Stone Gossard]], a high school friend of Turner and Vincent, joined as a second guitarist shortly thereafter.<ref name=":1" /> |
||
They called the band Green River, taking their name from the [[Gary Ridgway|Green River Killer]], a serial killer who was infamous in Washington state.<ref name="Huey" /> |
They called the band Green River, taking their name from the [[Gary Ridgway|Green River Killer]], a serial killer who was infamous in Washington state.<ref name="Huey" /> |
Revision as of 07:17, 12 January 2023
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Green River | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1984–1988, 2008–2009 (two-off reunions: 1993, 2018) |
Labels | Homestead, Sub Pop |
Past members | Jeff Ament Mark Arm Steve Turner Alex Vincent Stone Gossard Bruce Fairweather |
Green River was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984. Although the band had very little commercial impact outside their native Seattle, Green River were pioneers of the grunge music genre. The grunge style was featured both in Green River's own music and the music its members would create in future bands, including Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog and Pearl Jam. Green River reunited for several live shows in 2008 and 2009.
History
In its first practice sessions in early 1984, Green River's members were vocalist Mark Arm, guitarist Steve Turner, drummer Alex Vincent (also known as Alex Shumway) and bassist Jeff Ament. Prior to joining Green River, they had played for a variety of rock, punk, and hardcore groups, often with overlapping lineups. Arm and Turner had played together in Mr. Epp and the Calculations and the Limp Richerds.[4] Determined to start a new band together, they first recruited Vincent, whom Turner had briefly played with in Spluii Numa, as drummer, and then set about convincing Ament to join.[4] He and Turner worked at the same Seattle coffeeshop, and Arm had befriended him after a DJ set by Ament at Metropolis, a local club.[5] Ament had a low opinion of Mr. Epp, but agreed to join the new band due to Turner's persistence and Ament's frustration with Deranged Diction, his band at the time.[4] The first Green River rehearsal was at the Turner home on Mercer Island.[4] Stone Gossard, a high school friend of Turner and Vincent, joined as a second guitarist shortly thereafter.[5]
They called the band Green River, taking their name from the Green River Killer, a serial killer who was infamous in Washington state.[1]
On June 23, 1984, Green River recorded their first demos at Reciprocal Recording. They were released on vinyl in 2016. By late 1984, the band was playing shows in and around Seattle. The band began production in December 1984 on its first record, Come on Down.[6] By the time the band finished the record in mid-1985, Turner had left the group, citing his distaste with the rest of the band's heavy metal leanings.[1] He was replaced by former Deranged Diction guitarist Bruce Fairweather.
In late 1985, the band embarked on its first nationwide tour to promote Come on Down. Release of the record was delayed, however, thus negating the purpose of the tour. From all accounts the experience was less than positive, though it helped cement alliances with other emerging American indie rock bands. Among them was Sonic Youth, who later quoted the song "Come on Down" on its own composition "Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)". After the tour, Come on Down was finally released by the New York-based Homestead Records. The record was released to little fanfare, and did not sell well. However it is often considered the first record to be released by a "grunge" band, as it predated both the Melvins debut EP and the Deep Six compilation album.
In 1986, the band continued to play in and around the Pacific Northwest to steadily larger crowds (especially in the band's hometown of Seattle). Early in the year, the now legendary Deep Six compilation album was released on the local C/Z Records label. Alongside two Green River songs, the compilation features the music of fellow Washington bands Malfunkshun, Melvins, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, and The U-Men. Kathleen C. Fennessy of AllMusic stated that the compilation "documents a formative period in Northwest rock history".[7]
In June 1986, the band began production on its second EP, Dry as a Bone, with local producer Jack Endino. Green River chose to record Dry as a Bone for Bruce Pavitt's new label, Sub Pop. However, Pavitt couldn't afford to release it until the following year, and, as had happened with Come on Down, the record was delayed. In the meantime the band issued the one-off "Together We'll Never" single on the local Tasque Force Records label. Dry as a Bone was finally released through Sub Pop in July 1987, a full year after it was recorded. It was the new label's first non-compilation release. Dry as a Bone was promoted by Sub Pop as "ultra-loose GRUNGE that destroyed the morals of a generation".[8] Steve Huey of AllMusic called it Green River's "strongest individual release...perfecting their sleazy, raucous fusion of '70s hard rock and post-hardcore punk".[9]
Almost immediately following the release of Dry as a Bone, the group re-entered the studio to begin production on its first full-length album, Rehab Doll. Band in-fighting, though, took center stage over the music. A stylistic division developed between Ament and Gossard on one side, and Arm on the other.[8] Ament and Gossard wanted to pursue a major-label deal, while Arm wanted to remain independent, viewing the duo as being too careerist.[1] The in-fighting came to a head following an October 1987 show in Los Angeles, California. Apparently, without informing the group, Ament had filled the show's guest list with major label representatives, instead of the band's friends; nonetheless only two of the representatives appeared.[1] On October 31, 1987, Ament, Gossard and Fairweather stated their desire to quit the band. Although the band members agreed to complete production of Rehab Doll during the next three months, Green River had by late October 1987 ceased as a band. Rehab Doll was released in June 1988. Ned Raggett of AllMusic called it "a record that sounded caught somewhere between grunge mania and metal/corp rock folly".[10]
Reunions
A Green River reunion occurred on November 30, 1993 during a Pearl Jam concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. Participating in the reunion were Arm, Turner, Gossard, Ament and Chuck Treece, who filled in on drums for Vincent, who at that time was living in Japan. The band performed the songs "Swallow My Pride" and "Ain't Nothing to Do" before leaving the stage. Green River reunited for four shows in 2008. The line-up for the shows included Ament, Arm, Turner, Vincent, Gossard, and Fairweather. The first show was a warm-up show on July 10, 2008 at the Sunset Tavern in Seattle. The band next played on July 13, 2008 at Marymoor Park near Seattle to honor Sub Pop's 20th anniversary.[11] Green River played another live show on November 28, 2008 at Dante's in Portland, Oregon. Afterward, the band played on November 29, 2008 at the Showbox in Seattle to celebrate the Supersuckers' 20th anniversary.[12] Green River played on May 22, 2009 and May 23, 2009 at the Showbox in Seattle to celebrate the Melvins' 25th anniversary.[13][14] On August 10, 2018 at Safeco Field, Mark Arm and Steve Turner joined Pearl Jam for two songs creating another Green River reunion.
Post-Green River
After the break-up, Arm and Turner began rehearsing together. They recruited bassist Matt Lukin (formerly of Melvins) and drummer Dan Peters (of Bundle of Hiss and Feast) to form Mudhoney in January 1988. Mudhoney quickly gained popularity in the Seattle scene, with debut releases "Touch Me I'm Sick" and Superfuzz Bigmuff receiving positive reviews in the music press. Since releasing its debut album in 1989, Mudhoney has recorded a further nine albums and continues to tour.
Following the demise of Green River in late 1987, Gossard, Ament and Fairweather formed the short-lived covers band Lords of the Wasteland with Malfunkshun frontman Andrew Wood. By early 1988 the Lords of the Wasteland had become Mother Love Bone. Mother Love Bone quickly rose to popularity in the Seattle scene, and were about to release its debut album in 1990, when Wood fatally overdosed on heroin. That same year, Ament and Gossard (along with Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Mike McCready, and a guest appearance by Eddie Vedder) recorded the Andrew Wood tribute album Temple of the Dog (amidst the formation of the band Pearl Jam), which went on to achieve international mainstream success. After Temple of the Dog, Gossard and Ament founded Pearl Jam along with Mike McCready of Shadow, Eddie Vedder of Bad Radio, and Dave Krusen. Pearl Jam gained fame with the debut album Ten and is still active today. Pearl Jam has released eleven studio albums in total and continues to tour.
Fairweather joined Gossard and Ament as a member of Mother Love Bone. Following the band's demise, he replaced Tommy Simpson on bass in the psychedelic rock band Love Battery in 1992. He played on two of the band's albums and many of its tours before leaving that band as well and dropping off the radar. In 2006, he resurfaced in The Press Corps, with Garret Shavlik (The Fluid) and Dan Peters (Mudhoney). Vincent, Green River's drummer, moved to Japan after the break-up and did not return to the United States for many years. He now plays in his own band, Ex's With Benefits (with vocalist Dmitra Smith – a high school classmate of Gossard, Turner and Vincent's).
Legacy
Green River made very little commercial impact outside Seattle, but what the band lacked in commercial success it made up for in influence. In general, Green River is widely regarded as being one of the pioneers of the grunge music genre. With its sludgy mix of hard rock, punk and metal, heavily influenced by The Stooges, Black Sabbath and Aerosmith,[15] coupled with Arm's twisted lyrics and vocal delivery, Green River greatly influenced both its peers and bands that followed them. Even without the fact that some of its members would later go on to form some of the biggest bands of the Northwest music scene, Green River is still remembered for its musical foresight and innovation, years ahead of the rise of grunge.
Band members
- Mark Arm – vocals (1984–1988, 1993, 2008–09)
- Steve Turner – guitar, backing vocals (1984–1985, 1993, 2008–2009)
- Alex Vincent – drums, percussion (1984–1988, 2008–09)
- Jeff Ament – bass, backing vocals (1984–1988, 1993, 2008–09)
- Stone Gossard – guitar, backing vocals (1984–1988, 1993, 2008–09)
- Bruce Fairweather – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1988, 2008–2009)
- Chuck Treece – drums (1993)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Album details |
---|---|
1988 | Rehab Doll |
Live albums
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2019 | Live at the Tropicana
|
Demo albums
Year | Album details |
---|---|
2016 | 1984 Demos
|
Compilations
Year | Album details |
---|---|
1990 | Dry as a Bone/Rehab Doll
|
Extended plays
Year | Album details |
---|---|
1985 | Come On Down |
1987 | Dry As a Bone
|
Singles
Year | Single | Album |
---|---|---|
1986 | "Together We'll Never"/"Ain't Nothing to Do"
|
Non-album single |
Other appearances
Year | Song | Title | Label |
---|---|---|---|
1986 |
"10,000 Things" |
Deep Six | C/Z |
1988 |
"Searchin' (Good Things Come)" |
Motor City Madness | Glitterhouse |
"Hangin' Tree" |
Sub Pop 200 | Sub Pop | |
1989 |
"Bazaar" |
Another Pyrrhic Victory: The Only Compilation of Dead Seattle God Bands | C/Z |
1990 |
"Ain't Nothing to Do" |
Endangered Species | Glitterhouse |
1996 |
"Swallow My Pride" (1987 demo) |
Hype!: The Motion Picture Soundtrack | Sub Pop |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Huey, Steve. "Green River | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved June 13, 2005.
- ^ a b "MudHoney biography". Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Mother Love Bone | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Cameron, Keith (March 21, 2014). Mudhoney: The Sound and the Fury from Seattle. Voyageur Press. pp. 22, 33–35. ISBN 978-0-7603-4661-7.
- ^ a b Yarm, Mark (March 13, 2012). Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge. Crown. pp. 49–51. ISBN 978-0-307-46444-6.
- ^ Torreano, Bradley. "allmusic ((( Come on Down > Review )))". AllMusic. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
- ^ Fennessy, Kathleen C. "Deep Six". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Azerrad, Michael. Our Band Could Be Your Life. Little, Brown and Company, 2001. ISBN 0-316-78753-1
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Dry as a Bone". AllMusic.
- ^ Ned Raggett. "Rehab Doll". AllMusic.
- ^ "Cult rock band Green River to reunite for show". Reuters. October 2, 2007.
- ^ Hay, Travis. "REVIEW: Supersuckers, Green River & Zeke @ Showbox at the Market"[permanent dead link]. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. December 1, 2008.
- ^ "Showbox Presents Melvins with Green River" Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. showboxonline.com.
- ^ "Showbox Presents Melvins with Green River" Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. showboxonline.com.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Mark Arm". AllMusic. Retrieved on June 13, 2005.
External links
- Alternative rock groups from Washington (state)
- Grunge musical groups
- C/Z Records artists
- Homestead Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1984
- Musical groups disestablished in 1988
- Musical groups reestablished in 2008
- Musical groups disestablished in 2009
- Musical groups from Seattle
- 1984 establishments in Washington (state)
- Sub Pop artists