Grunge icon Mark Lanegan has died, aged 57.
The news was confirmed with a post on his official Twitter account page. It read: “Our beloved friend Mark Lanegan passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland.
“A beloved singer, songwriter, author and musician he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley. No other information is available at this time.
“We ask Please respect the family privacy.”
Our beloved friend Mark Lanegan passed away this morning at his home in Killarney, Ireland. A beloved singer, songwriter, author and musician he was 57 and is survived by his wife Shelley. No other information is available at this time. We ask Please respect the family privacy
— mark lanegan (@marklanegan) February 22, 2022
The grunge icon was the frontman with The Screaming Trees and was also known for his work in Queens of the Stone Age, The Gutter Twins and for his many numerous collaborations.
One of his most recent was with the Manic Street Preachers on their last album, ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament.’ Lanegan had kept in contact with the Manics following their joint support slot with Oasis on their chaotic 1996 US tour.
Speaking to NME last year, the Manics’ James Dean Bradfield fondly remembered The Screaming Trees for their “bitter edge”, adding that “there was as much tension within their band as they were turning out unto the world. I like it when you see a band and it’s as if they’re almost falling apart on stage. We’ve been that band sometimes too.”
Speaking about his work with Lanegan on their last album, Bradfield and drummer Sean Moore said they brought Lanegan in as “the only name in mind” for work on their song ‘Blank Diary Entry’.
“I’ve met him a fair few times and have a little bit of a connection,” Bradfield said last year. “I’m five-foot-six and he’s nearly nine-foot tall. It looks a bit like R2D2 and Chewbacca when we walk side by side.”
Tributes for Lanegan have begun to pour in on social media.
Anton Newcombe wrote: “I am in absolute shock, a very beautiful soul has left this world. I love you brother…my deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Tim Burgess added: “Oh no. Terrible news that Mark Lanegan has left us. Safe travels man – you’ll be missed.”
You can see some of the many tributes to Lanegan below.
I am in absolute shock, a very beautiful soul has left this world. I love you brother… my deepest condolences to his family and friends
pic.twitter.com/imr84fXdqH
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) February 22, 2022
Mark Lanegan rest easy mate. A real singer.
— Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) February 22, 2022
Oh no. Terrible news that Mark Lanegan has left us. Safe travels man – you’ll be missed
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) February 22, 2022
Mark Lanegan was a supremely gifted performer, songwriter, artist and author, and we are devastated to hear he has passed away. He will be deeply missed. His art will endure and only grow in stature. This is a colossal loss and our thoughts are with his family at this time. https://t.co/maXVCzcjBb pic.twitter.com/GpsRAubRoY
— White Rabbit Books (@WhiteRabbitBks) February 22, 2022
Hellish news. Such a great raw rich voice. RIP Mr Lanegan… https://t.co/ZFuio4NL1l
— Ian Rankin (@Beathhigh) February 22, 2022
RIP Lanegan. A voice from another world
— Daniel Avery (@danielmarkavery) February 22, 2022
Incredibly shattered hearing the news that one of the truly great singers and songwriters, Mark Lanegan, has just passed. What a voice. Speechless. pic.twitter.com/sdL1xZ3o0r
— Light In The Attic (@lightintheattic) February 22, 2022
Mark Lanegan is my favorite singer. Dark and unabashedly fucked up, and his voice and words reflected it wholeheartedly—exactly as he intended. I am so grateful for his entire body of work, music and books alike. Sending hugs and support to all who loved him today.
— Cat Jones (@catjonessoda) February 22, 2022
Mark Lanegan RIP 'We are totally devastated to hear that our dear friend Mark Lanegan has died at the age of 57.' https://t.co/ZCtN2STTaq
— john robb (@johnrobb77) February 22, 2022
This is tragic: Mark Lanegan has died at the age of 57 https://t.co/53vNp5zYKw In addition to his music, his recent book 'Sing Backwards and Weep' was incredibly impressive.
— Dave Haslam (@Mr_Dave_Haslam) February 22, 2022
The world has truly lost one of its poignant and poetic voices. It was an honour to work with Mark on his last two memoirs that stand out as some of the best rock literature of the past two decades. A true musical and lyrical maverick who will be missed. #marklanegan https://t.co/VvVbcQCG2w
— Kasimiira Kontio (@kkasimiira) February 22, 2022
Horrible news. https://t.co/7lobO5fdQW
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) February 22, 2022
Back in December, Lanegan released his memoir Devil In A Coma.
Publisher Lee Brackstone said of the book: “Devil In A Coma is the latest work by a master of many forms, who has once again made art out of suffering and the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Unsparing – of both himself and the world we now find ourselves in – and grotesquely compelling, this book could not be more visceral and intense if it were written in blood.”
According to a press release, Lanegan went completely deaf after contracting coronavirus and, later, suffered cracked ribs and breathing problems. After being rushed to hospital, he spent months in bed, “slipping in and out of a coma”.
The musician was also unable to walk for months, and said he was forced to confront his own mortality and address the way he’d lived his life up until that point.
This is a breaking news story – more to follow
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