John Baker Saunders

Lore & Background

John Baker Saunders was a central figure in the formation of Mad Season, a side project featuring Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam). The group released one studio album, which became a defining document of the mid-90s Seattle sound. Saunders contributed as the bassist to this collaborative effort alongside his peers from other prominent bands. Tragically, the band's trajectory was cut short due to Staley's deteriorating health and the 1999 death of Saunders himself. Following his passing, Mad Season attempted a reunion with Mark Lanegan on lead vocals under the new name 'Disinformation,' but this project never materialized.

In Their Own Story

In the mid-1990s, John Baker Saunders joined forces with Layne Staley, Mike McCready, and Barrett Martin to create Mad Season. The group recorded a single studio album together, capturing a unique blend of their respective bands' styles. The collaboration was brief but significant within the Seattle alternative rock scene. However, internal struggles and health issues began to take a toll. Bassist John Baker Saunders passed away in 1999, an event cited as a key reason Mad Season could not continue in its original form. Years later, in 2013, the surviving members released a deluxe version of their debut album, which included three songs from attempted 'Disinformation' sessions featuring new vocals by Mark Lanegan.

Reader's Guide

John Baker Saunders is best understood through his role as the bassist for Mad Season. His musical tenure with the group was marked by the release of one studio album before his death in 1999. Fans interested in his work should look to the 2013 deluxe reissue of the Mad Season debut, which preserves the only recorded output of this specific lineup before Saunders' death.

Did You Know?

• John Baker Saunders died in 1999, which prevented Mad Season from continuing as a band.
• Mad Season released only one studio album before the group dissolved due to Layne Staley's health and Saunders' death.
• In 2013, Mad Season released a deluxe version of their debut including three unreleased tracks from 'Disinformation' sessions featuring Mark Lanegan.
• Saunders played bass in Mad Season alongside Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), Layne Staley (Alice in Chains), and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam).
• The band attempted to reform as 'Disinformation' with Lanegan on vocals after Saunders' death, but the project never got off the ground.