I Am the Wolf: Lyrics and Writings

Description

With a voice that Pitchfork has called "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather," former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age vocalist Mark Lanegan draws frequent comparisons to wounded masters of doom like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen. But Lanegan's talents aren't limited to his vocal skills. His lyrics are on par with the best of them, exploring with Blakeian insight the stark and scorched emotional terrain that exists somewhere beyond sadness, addiction, trauma, and spiritual longing. Now, for the first time ever, the reclusive singer presents a comprehensive look at his lyrics, the stories behind them, and the making of his albums as well as photos, insights, and ephemera from a long career in rock 'n' roll, I AM THE WOLF gives fans a rare and candid glimpse into the inner workings of a living-and singular-rock legend.

Mark Lanegan first hit the scene as the front man for Screaming Trees, the Ellensburg, Washington, band that quickly became associated with the Seattle grunge scene. Between 1986 and 1996 the band released seven studio albums. Lanegan released his first solo album, The Winding Sheet, in 1990 and has released several more since. He is also known for his work with Queens of the Stone Age. Lanegan lives in Los Angeles.

I Am the Wolf will give Mark Lanegan fans a first-ever glimpse into the brilliant mind behind Mark's lyrics; chapters written with the smart economy of wordage we are used to from him in song, but with a humor and candor that many will see here for perhaps the first time. As a fan of great scribes such as Cormac, Ernest H., and Gay Talese, this book will go to the top shelf of my home library.--Duff McKagan, Guns N' Roses, author of It's So Easy and How to Be a Man A fascinating journey through the works of one of music's great wordsmiths--Peter Hook, Joy Division and New Order, author of Substance and Unknown Pleasures An artistic vision as pure as his voice.--Greg Dulli, The Afghan Whigs, The Twilight Singers, The Gutter Twins I have heard many great vocalists. Mark Lanegan is a great singer. His words and songs have traveled with me. And carried me.--Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode Mark is deep as a well. His words carry the weight of cities, nights, and oceans.--Henry Rollins, Rollins Band, Black Flag, author of Get in the Van Mark Lanegan--primitive, brutal, and apocalyptic. What's not to love?--Nick Cave, author of The Sick Bag Song and The Death of Bunny Munro Mark Lanegan's body of work is one of the most significant, impressive, and criminally underappreciated accomplishments in the history of modern songwriting. His darkly beautiful lyrics are thrilling to hear and thrilling to read. The lyrics are interspersed by sharply drawn and at times morbidly funny prose accounts of the context and circumstances surrounding the writing, tantalizing peeks at a long, hard road. Buy the records. Listen to the music. Read this book.--Anthony Bourdain, author of Appetites and Kitchen Confidential The pages echo with the resonant hum of a life teetering on the edge of the abyss.--Tom Hansen, author of American Junkie This book, which features chapters of lyrics introduced by a page or two of fragmented but enthralling autobiographical commentary, is a resonant peek behind the dark curtain.--Salon.com, ?The 30 must-read music books of Fall 2017?