Mark Arm

Although other Seattle rock bands received heaps more press coverage and racked up larger record sales than Mudhoney during the early '90s, the group is considered to be one of the most important and influential to hail from the area -- as their garage rock sound was copied numerous times over, as well as the snotty vocals of their singer, Mark Arm. Born Mark McLaughlin, and hailing from just outside Seattle, WA, he eventually renamed himself Mark Arm and became a major fan of such punk outfits as the Dickies and Flipper, as well as such new wavers as Devo. Naturally, Arm began attending regional shows, including a local performance by T.S.O.L. in 1982, at which he met both future bandmate/Mudhoney guitarist Steve Turner and future Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil. The same year, Arm formed his first serious band, Mr. Epp and the Calculations, which apart from a compilation appearance and a 7" EP (Of Course I'm Happy, Why?) failed to issue a full-length, and broke up by early 1984. During the last few months of the band's existence, Turner had been a member, and after their split decided to stick with his old pal Arm, first appearing together in the short-lived group Limp Richards, before forming Green River. Also including future Mother Love Bone/Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard (guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass), Green River (along with Soundgarden) are often credited as creating what would eventually become known as the "grunge" sound, as they mixed the proto-punk of the Stooges along with the metallic sludge of Black Sabbath and the arena rock of Aerosmith. But despite accolades, the band lasted for a total of three EPs, 1985's Come On Down, 1986's Dry as a Bone, and 1988's Rehab Doll, before splitting up. Afterward, Arm teamed up once more with Turner (who had left...