Mark Arm

Mark Arm(bornMark Thomas McLaughlin;February 21, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the vocalist for thegrungebandMudhoney.His former group,Green River,was one of the first grunge bands, along withMalfunkshun,Soundgarden,Skin Yard,theU-Men,and others. He is also the manager of theSub Popwarehouseand previously worked atFantagraphics Books.

Mark Arm
Mark Arm in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Mark Thomas McLaughlin
Born	(1962-02-21)February 21, 1962 Vandenberg Air Force Base,California,U.S.
Genres	Grunge alternative rock garage punk hardcore punk heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, Warehouse manager
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Sub Pop,Reprise,C/Z,Homestead,Tasque Force
Spouse	Emily Rieman
Website	mudhoney.net

Early life

Arm was born February 21, 1962, atVandenberg Air Force BaseinCalifornia,and was raised inKirkland, Washington.As a child, he was a member ofBoy Scouts of America.He graduated fromBellevue Christian High SchoolinBellevue, Washington.

In 1985, Arm earned an English degree with an emphasis in creative writing from theUniversity of Washington.

Early career

Arm first entered theSeattlerock scene in 1980, when he formed a band while still in high school, called "Mr. Epp and the Calculations" with singer Jo Smitty, and Peter Wick, who wrote and recorded their first song, "The Pigeon in the Fountain bed," which caused local radio DJ Stephen Rabow to declare them, "The worst band in the world." The band played its first show in 1981, opening for the band Student Nurse. In 1982 they released a 7-inch EP entitled "Mohawk Man", produced by Johnny Rubato (of Rubato Records, a local used record shop for more than 30 years). The next year they added a second guitarist,Steve Turner,and released acassettedescribed on the lyric sheet as a "combination of art andhardcore."The cassette featured one side of live recordings and aflip-sideof studio recordings and experimental sounds; a sonic amalgamy described in a 1984 issue ofRevenge Against Boredom'zine(produced by notableskateboardinghistorian Jocko Weyland), as "45 or so minutes of Pillow Fights, Jokes, some songs, preachers' garbled talking. And you get to find out what you get if you give up your personality."

Mr. Epp and the Calculations also played withTen Minute Warningandthe Dead Kennedysat the Eagles Auditorium in April. The band came to an end the following year.

Mark Arm of Green River at their reunion concert in 2008 in Seattle.

After Mr. Epp and the Calculations ended, Mark Arm and Steve Turner (who had become close friends) joined the bandLimp Richerdsfor a few weeks. Afterward, Arm and Turner took on futurePearl JammembersJeff AmentandStone Gossard,as well asAlex Vincent,to form the bandGreen River.Green River released two EPs and a full length album before disbanding. Steve Turner left the band to finish college, and Arm was forced to find a new band again. After Turner returned from schooling, they resumed their Green River side project, The Thrown Ups.

Mudhoney

Arm and Turner took on drummerDan Peters,and bassistMatt Lukin,formerly ofMelvins.The new band renamed themselves Mudhoney. In 1988,Sub Popreleased Mudhoney's first single, "Touch Me I'm Sick".After extensive touring and an EP album, Mudhoney releasedtheir self-titled full length debutin 1989. Their next album,Every Good Boy Deserves Fudgecame out soon after, just before the explosion of grunge spearheaded byNirvana's seminalNevermind.At the time, Sub Pop, their record label, was "on the verge of bankruptcy, having trouble paying its flagship band, severely delaying the release of the album to July 1991."In 1992, they signed to a major record label,Repriseand releasedPiece of Cake.The album did not sell well, due to a combination of the band's uncompromising sound and an oversaturation of the genre; according to Stephen Turner, the album references "how easily things had come to them...the songs were kinda half-baked... and Mark wasn't at his best."

Although they never achieved the fame of some of their contemporaries, Arm and Mudhoney have made significant contributions to grunge music. Mudhoney is one of the few grunge bands that continue to release albums; in 2002 they releasedSince We've Become Translucent,Under a Billion Sunsin 2005,The Lucky Onesfollowed in May 2008,Vanishing Pointcame in April 2013,Digital Garbagecame out in September 2018 and, most recently,Plastic Eternityin 2023. All of these releases have been on theSub Poprecord label.

Solo and side projects

Arm released "The Freewheelin' Mark Arm", a solo single in 1990.

He was a singer and guitarist for the groupBloodlossand singer for the SeattlesupergroupThe Monkeywrench.Monkeywrench members include Arm, Turner, Tim Kerr (Lord Hi Fixers,Big Boys,Poison 13), Tom Price (Gas Huffer) and Martin Bland (Bloodloss). He has also made guest appearances on several albums, most notably onAlice in Chains' 1992 EPSap.

In 1998, he made an appearance on the motion picture soundtrack for the filmVelvet GoldminewithRon Asheton,Mike Watt,Thurston Moore,andSteve Shelleyunder the nameWylde Ratttz.

In 1999, he recorded the vocals for the song "I Need Somebody", a cover of the song byThe Stooges,featured onNebula's first album,To the Center.

In 2000, Arm, Turner, Peters,Scott McCaughey,Tom Price and Bill Henderson recorded the album "The New Original Sonic Sound" under the band name The New Strychnines. they recorded a compilation of 16 songs by the legendary mid-1960's Seattle garage bandThe Sonics.The album was released by Book Records.

In 2004, he toured withMC5,standing in for the lateRob Tyneron vocals.

In 2013, he contributed vocals on a cover version ofThe Scientists' "Set It on Fire" for theMelvins' albumEverybody Loves Sausages.

Personal life

Mark Arm lives in Seattle with his wife Emily Rieman and their little dogs.

Further reading

• Michael Azerrad,Our Band Could Be Your Life,(USA: Little Brown, 2001,ISBN0-316-06379-7) has a chapter on Mudhoney.

External links

• Mark Arm interview on theskinny.co.uk (February 2006)
• Long 2008 interview with the Washington Post's Express