Mark Pickerel

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Mark Pickerel

| image = Mark Pickerel 02 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Pickerel performing with Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands in Seattle, 2008.

| background = solo_singer

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|3|12}}

| birth_place =

| origin = Ellensburg, Washington, U.S.

| instrument = Drums, vocals, guitar

| genre = Grunge, alternative rock

| occupation = Musician, songwriter

| years_active = 1985–present

| label = SST, K, Homestead, Sub Pop, Epic, Thick, Up, Bloodshot

| associated_acts = Screaming Trees, Truly, The Dark Fantastic

| website = {{URL|markpickerel.com}}

}}

Mark Pickerel (born March 12, 1968) is an American musician best known as the original drummer for the alternative rock band Screaming Trees.{{Cite web|title=Mark Pickerel: He's got the goods {{!}} What's Up! Magazine|url=https://whatsup-magazine.com/2015/09/mark-pickerel-and-his-praying-hands-hes-got-the-goods/|access-date=July 4, 2020|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=The Rise And Fall Of Screaming Trees, Through The Eyes Of Gary Lee Conner|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-rise-and-fall-of-screaming-trees-through-the-eyes-of-gary-lee-conner/|access-date=July 4, 2020|website=Kerrang!}} He is also an active session musician and has released several solo albums as a singer/guitarist.{{Cite web|title=Mark Pickerel Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-pickerel-mn0000830202/biography|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}}

Biography

Originally from Ellensburg, Washington, Pickerel was a high school acquaintance of Van Conner and Gary Lee Conner, and the three formed the band Explosive Generation with Pickerel on drums and vocals. Several years after graduation, the trio formed Screaming Trees with singer Mark Lanegan in 1985 (by this time Pickerel no longer performed lead vocals).{{Cite web|title=Screaming Trees Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/screaming-trees-mn0000312353/biography|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}} The band soon moved to Seattle to join that city's burgeoning grunge scene.{{Cite web|last=Wilding|first=Philip|date=June 20, 2016|title=Screaming Trees: Grunge's Nearly Men|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/screaming-trees-grunge-s-nearly-men|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=loudersound|language=en}} During this period, Pickerel participated in recording sessions with several bands in the Seattle scene; some of these later appeared on Lanegan's solo album The Winding Sheet{{Citation|title=The Winding Sheet – Mark Lanegan {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-winding-sheet-mw0000309671|language=en|access-date=November 24, 2021}} and on the Nirvana rarities compilation With the Lights Out.{{Cite web|title=The Jury: the story of the Cobain/Lanegan collaboration that could have been {{!}} Northwest Passage|url=http://www.revolutioncomeandgone.com/articles/10/the-jury.php|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=www.revolutioncomeandgone.com}}

Pickerel played on five studio albums with Screaming Trees, but quit the band in 1991 just before they began recording their breakthrough album Sweet Oblivion. He was replaced by Barrett Martin. Pickerel then formed the band Truly with former Soundgarden bassist Hiro Yamamoto and singer/guitarist Robert Roth.{{Cite web|last=Everley|first=Dave|date=September 6, 2021|title=10 obscure but brilliant grunge bands who should've been huge|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/10-obscure-but-brilliant-grunge-bands-who-shouldve-been-huge|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=loudersound|language=en}} Truly released two studio albums before splitting in 1997.{{Cite web|title=Truly Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/truly-mn0000018367/biography|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}}

Pickerel next switched to guitar and vocals and formed the band The Dark Fantastic in 1997; this band released two albums before splitting in 2001.{{Cite web|title=The Dark Fantastic Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-dark-fantastic-mn0000139798/biography|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}} During this period he was also an active session musician, appearing on records by Lanegan, Neko Case, Steve Fisk, Jim Carroll, and Pigeonhed. In 2004 Pickerel formed a singer-songwriter project called Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands. The 2006 album Snake in the Radio under this name received positive reviews for its eclectic mix of indie rock and Americana elements.{{Cite web|last=Keresman|first=Mark|title=Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/mark-pickerel-and-his-praying-hands/Content?oid=2480865|website=Riverfront Times}}{{Cite web|date=May 11, 2006|title=Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands: Snake in the Radio|url=https://www.popmatters.com/mark_pickerel_and_his_praying_hands_snake_in_the_radio-2495678030.html|website=PopMatters}} The latest album by Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands, Rebel in the Rearview, was released in 2021.{{Cite web|title=Rebel in the Rearview, by Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands|url=https://markpickerelandhisprayinghands.bandcamp.com/album/rebel-in-the-rearview|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands|language=en}}

Pickerel has also owned and operated various record shops, and currently runs RoadTrip Records in Ellensburg.{{Cite web|last=Muir|first=Pat|title=Owner of Doug's Records on a musical mission|url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/owner-of-dougs-records-on-a-musical-mission/article_90a1c07c-9735-11e5-bd25-ab2cd74e6122.html|access-date=November 24, 2021|website=Yakima Herald-Republic|language=en}}