Sing Backwards and Weep, Mark Lanegan's no-holds-barred, untidy but unforgettable recollection of his years in the burgeoning Seattle grunge scene, opens as he is about to be arrested. In Lanegan's pocket are bags of dope and coke. On the curb beside him, two acquaintances are already in handcuffs.
Suddenly: "The cop narrowed his eyes, took a hard look at me, then said, 'Didn't you used to be a singer?' " Indeed--and one autograph later, the motley crew gets off without penalty.
Such breaks have long "blessed" Lanegan, whose life in music has been punctuated by battles with addiction that he has managed to survive. A longtime songwriter, he achieved renown both on his own and with Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age. His debut memoir covers the mid-1980s to early 2000s, while he was making music with Screaming Trees and beginning his solo career alongside bands like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
On tour and at home, Lanegan's tempestuous relationships and battles with addiction form consistent barriers to his success. His recounting is warts (plus fiberglass slivers embedded in intimate places) and all, and what could read as name-dropping actually doesn't, given his longtime proximity to rock stars: Kurt Cobain, for instance, was a fan of Lanegan and eventually a close friend.
While some stories can feel braggadocious or score-settling, they're almost always still engrossing. Lanegan is a consummate lead singer: talented, engaging, brash and center stage in every moment. Fans will eat it up. --Katie Weed, freelance writer and reviewer