The grunge scene of the early ‘90s produced many bands, but not all of them lasted. One of these short-lived supergroups was Mad Season, a band formed by members of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Screaming Trees, and a well-known blues bassist from Chicago. The band released a gold-certified album, but fell apart before it could reach its full potential.
How Mad Season Began
Mad Season started in 1994 when Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready met John Baker Saunders in rehab. Both struggled with addiction and bonded over their love of the blues. McCready wanted to start a new project. He invited Barrett Martin from Screaming Trees and later Layne Staley from Alice in Chains to join.
The band was just for fun at first. They even played their early shows under the name ‘The Gacy Bunch,’ a mix of serial killer John Wayne Gacy and the TV show ‘The Brady Bunch.’ But they soon realized their music had potential, and the name changed to Mad Season. It’s a term referring to the time of year when hallucinogenic mushrooms grow.
Why the Band Fell Apart
Mad Season recorded their first and only album, ‘Above,’ in just 10 days at Seattle’s Bad Animals Studio. The album was released in March 1995 and featured a mix of grunge, blues, jazz, and psychedelic rock. The lead single, ‘River of Deceit,’ became a hit and helped the album go gold.
Layne Staley took on a bigger role in songwriting than he had in Alice in Chains. McCready felt free to experiment outside of Pearl Jam’s sound. Their music reflected themes of addiction, personal struggles, and introspection.
Despite the success of ‘Above,’ the band only played six live shows. Here are the main reasons Mad Season was doomed to fail.
1. Conflicting Schedules
All four members were still committed to their original bands. McCready had to return to Pearl Jam, Martin had to continue with Screaming Trees, and Staley was still involved with Alice in Chains. This made it hard for Mad Season to move forward as a full-time band.
2. Substance Abuse Issues
Mad Season was meant to be a ‘recovery’ band as McCready, Saunders, and Staley were all struggling with addiction. Some members stayed sober, but Layne Staley’s drug use worsened, and made it impossible for the band to continue.
3. Failed Second Album
The band planned to record a second album in 1997, and they considered naming it ‘Disinformation.’ However, Staley was too unhealthy to return to the studio, and the project stalled. Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) was invited to step in, but nothing came of it.
4. The Deaths of Key Members
The band’s future ended for good in 1999 when John Baker Saunders died from a heroin overdose. Three years later, Layne Staley also died from a heroin and cocaine overdose. With half the band gone, there was no way for Mad Season to continue.
The Legacy of Mad Season
In 2012, McCready and Martin reunited for a Mad Season tribute project, and in 2013, a box set of ‘Above’ was released with unreleased material. As both Staley and Saunders were gone, the band now remains unfinished business.
Mad Season was a band with great potential, but addiction, scheduling conflicts, and tragedy prevented it from lasting.
