Spotlight Grunge Part One : MOTHER LOVE BONE

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Today's spotlight centers on the band Mother Love Bone and particularly their vocalist Andrew Wood . Our story begins in Columbus, Mississippi on January 8. 1966 when Andrew Patrick Wood the youngest of three brothers was born. At an early age Andrew was influenced by Queen, Aerosmith, KISS and Marc Bolan. After moving to Washington at age 14, Wood formed his first band, Malfunkshun with his brother Kevin.

 

Malfunkshun recorded a handful of songs and were very popular on the local scene but remained unsigned and were even told by Sub Pop records that they weren't "grunge enough." The band disbanded in 1988. After that Andrew formed a cover band called Lords of the Wasteland, taking their name from the KISS song God Of Thunder. The core of that group was Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Bruce Fairweather of Green River. They soon changed their moniker to Mother Love Bone. In November of 1988 the group was signed to Polygram Records and recorded a debut EP called Shine. It was well received and created quite a buzz about the band and the next year they re-entered the studio to record their first album Apple. The record was slated to be released in March of 1990. However days before the release Wood was found comatose by his girlfriend and rushed to the hospital where he died on March 19, due to a heroin overdose. He was 24 years old. Polgyram would go on to release both Shine/Apple as a compilation simply titled Mother Love Bone.

 

His legacy and influence was quickly revealed as his former roommate Chris Cornell of Soundgarden joined together with Gossard, Ament , Mile McCready and newcomer Eddie Veddar , recording a tribute album called Temple Of The Dog.

https://youtu.be/5QaPVSbWd9M

Wood's influence and memory would emerge in other's musicians's craft as Alice In Chain's memorialized him in their song "Would?", Candlebox with "Left Behind" and Faster Pussycat with "Mr. Lovedog". Mother Love Bone was featured in the 90s movie Singles as well.

https://youtu.be/_KaX4aFXj8E