Andrew Wood

Most Seattle rock bands of the late '80s (Soundgarden, Nirvana, Mudhoney, etc.) were considered a reaction against the then-prevailing glam metal scene that had MTV and radio in the palm of its hand. But there was at least one Emerald City band that could've fit into the mainstream, combining the area's trademark Sabbath-meets-Stooges garage rock with glam's pretty-boy looks and anthemic choruses -- Mother Love Bone. And although the group included five members, the undisputed leader and focal point was flamboyant and charismatic singer Andrew Wood. Born on January 8, 1966, in Columbus, MI, Andrew Patrick Wood was raised in Bainbridge Island, WA, discovering rock music via the likes of such theatrical '70s arena rockers as Elton John, Queen, Aerosmith, and Kiss. At the age of 14, Wood joined his first serious band, Malfunkshun, often performing dolled-up in makeup and outrageous clothes, under the persona Landrew the Love Child. The group lasted for much of the '80s, but never released an album (although a few of their tracks were included on C/Z's Deep Six compilation). By 1988, Wood left Malfunkshun and began jamming with two former members of Green River -- guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament. Originally called Lords of the Wasteland (taken from a line in the Kiss song "God of Thunder"), the new outfit would soon be re-christened Mother Love Bone. Like Malfunkshun, Mother Love Bone would include elements of glam rock, but the stripped-down sound of Gossard and Ament's former band would also be included in the mix. Drummer Greg Gilmore and second guitarist Bruce Fairweather were also welcomed aboard, as Mother Love Bone quickly built up a loyal local following. Polygram signed the band in 1989, issuing the six-track EP Shine later in the year (on the...