Mark Lanegan - Sing Backwards and Weep BOOK REVIEW & TALK with Roberto Bentivegna

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Roberto Bentivegna, professional screenwriter
and friend of Mark Lanegan talk/Mark stories:
16:01
Mark Lanegan Links:
Mark Lanegan on Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain:
• Mark Lanegan with Anth...
Terrific Interview by Joseph Arthur:
• MARK LANEGAN: Come To ...
Mark Lanegan on WTF with Marc Maron:
• Video
The Roskilde Incident
• Screaming Trees - 1992...
Jools Holland Performance
• Screaming Trees - Halo...
Kurt Cobain and Mark Lanegan Leadbelly cover,
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?"
• Mark Lanegan and Kurt ...
My current favorite Mark Lanegan track:
• Mark Lanegan - Carnival
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[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Big thanks to Ridge for sending me this wallet and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/BETTERTHANFOOD

[@gerald9442]

I was at the Paradiso Amsterdam Trees show in november 96 following that dreadful night you refer to. After reading this book it all made more sense. Following the awesome supportact Eels, Mark took the stage and he scared me. He looked like a slightly warmed up corpse. Until he opened his mouth. Til this day my favorite evening of music ever. I've never missed a Lanegan-album or tour in the Netherlands since. Thanks for the interview too.

[@Trixiethegoldenwitch]

I had no idea Lanegan wrote a book, or that you knew about him but I'm very happy that someone has something to say about what I consider a lost hero. Thank you--and to Roberto for the great stories!

[@veru6907]

I haven't watched the video yet, so that may have been covered there, but Mark wrote more than one book Here's a list of other books by him: Devil in a Coma I Am the Wolf: Lyrics and Writings Plague Poems Leaving California Sleevenotes

[@flub1865]

good to know Ygg is cool enough to enjoy Mark Lannegan

[@cweissable]

I forgot to mention that I cried at the end of the book. I think it would have been an honor to know him.

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Thank you for the input, i feel even more excited to read this book now-- and I am the type that cannot put something down when i am enjoying it so i have a feeling ill finish the book very quickly and be left wanting more as well!

[@bloodnchocolate]

Thank you for honoring the person and the artist that was Mark Lanegan with this thoughtful review. I read this book in Maui in mid-2021. No amount of sunshine or coconuts could remove the shadows it left in my heart. An impossibly intense life that lasted an almost unbelievable 57 years. We're lucky to have had him for as long as we did!

[@thunderation]

Thanks for spreading the good word of Mark.

[@cweissable]

I just read this book in two days. I can't believe that anyone could survive what he did. I love Mark, that voice! Many times my heart broke for him while reading this book. His struggles were self induced for the most part yet I just wanted give him a hug and not let go. What an amazing story.

[@martasantos2182]

The audiobook is narrated by Mark himself and it is absolutely addictive to listen to him telling it! I finished it in two days and will definitely listen to it again. I had no idea of the depth of his story on the two occasions I was lucky enough to work with him. It just makes me appreciate him even more. God bless his soul wherever he is.

[@amyeklund7412]

I literally listen every day.to dark Mark..❣️

[@dubbatrubba1759]

I loved Mark Lanegan’s voice because it reminded me of old Black Blues singers/musicians from the early 1900’s that my Dad with his massive record collection use to play all the time in our house. “Whisky..” and “Black Pudding” are my two favorite albums by Lanegan.

[@hangingon]

Him and Layne are understood by those that like Soul music. They get it.

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

​@@hangingonyes, their work ón the Mad Season album, Above, is probably my favorite of all time.. *Though i also just love hearing Mark narrate his amazing stories, and my goodness is he funny too!

[@palodine1]

This was a great review of the book and a revelatory interview. I never met Mark but played in bands with people who worked with him, and they all loved and admired him.

[@JasonBonnerMusic]

Very cool. New subscriber. I got notified because of the subject matter. I became correspondence friends with Mark before he left California - until he got sick and the correspondence was much less. It's great to see someone talk about their friendship with him - especially someone not in the music business. Roberto's description resonates with mine - though we never met in person. I absolutely agree with Lanegan being regarded up there with the artists mentioned. He was way more s Townes to me than a Staley. Thanks so much for the video and thanks to Roberto for sharing his friendship. It certainly affected me more than i expected. Best.

[@jfdblues]

I listened to the audio book and it felt like I was listening to a friend talk to me. I am a musician and have struggled with addiction for most of my life, so hearing his struggles with addiction are very familiar to me. I really appreciated the insight into the music industry, and his unique place in it. Love his music, especially his solo stuff, and definitely share his taste in music

[@josephbenson4444]

This book gave me something I would have never imagined. I have a new admiration for Courtney Love. Had she not reached out to Mark we may not have any of his books or music after that time. Queens of the Stone Age would be a lot different. Nice channel here.

[@hangingon]

This is the first book I ever listened to narration done by Lanegan himself. Mark didn't seem to leave much out of his boom. He was extremely open about his battle with addiction & the Hell that comes with it.

[@PoofNwoof]

It’s incredible story . I am absolutely surprised that he had so much stress and sorrow in his life . I discovered Mark trough Layne Staley and Mad Season . I bought his another book calls Devil in Coma . It’s really sad that all those incredible talent slowly disappearing one by one .

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Same here, found Mark because of my love for Layne, and Mad Season, which to me could have been one of the most amazing bands of all time, well they were, they just got cut short because of the insurmountable losses from heroin.. Im going to order this latest book this week, and I am really excited to read it or listen to it through Mark's voice...

[@wickster2121]

same here...1.75 years ago about 1 week after he passed :( so sad he's gone.

[@Singstufftilyourdead]

Roberto should adapt the book into a film!

[@foofkanon]

One of the best bits in the book for me were mark's snobby goth neighbours who saw Nick cave at his flat.

[@MaryMerrified]

This was incredible, thank you.

[@lliameasterbrook6634]

Thanks deeply for this, man. Lanegan was one of a kind.

[@SleepingTiger-vlog]

This was great content. After I read this book I tweeted to Mark that my favorite part of the book was when he found a cigarette in his hair. (Well the woman he was trying to bum one from informed him it was there.) I was a little afraid he would take my comment the wrong way but it really did hit my dark humor funny bone just perfectly. Maybe because I related to this type of scenario. Anyway, he tweeted back, "Mine too. I really needed a cigarette." My one and only interaction with Mark Lanegan. What an amazing artist he was. One Hundred Days is my favorite song of his.

[@shaneharrington3655]

One of the best books I’ve read in a while…

[@BigSmiley0TV]

Great interview. Thanks for talking about the man, he was a fantastic artist, and such an inspiration, even just for his work ethic on constant determination to producing art that helps to motivate me to be more productive, let alone being there to give me gas when I'm painting, or working, when i hit play on any number of his amazing albums. I so miss waiting to hear where he was gonna go next creatively, and kick myself for not really paying attention to him 30 years ago considering i didn't even know it was him doing guest vocals on a mike watt album i had or being one of the singers on the queens of the stone age album i was jamming (since stupidly i just thought homme was changing his singing voice and microphones to sound different), but glad i fully dove in near 10 yearsago and still find new songs here and there by him

[@mcblakemore3423]

New subscriber -- this review popped up on my feed on the same day that I ordered Mark's book, Devil in a Coma. I don't think that I could handle Sing Backwards, having just read Patty Schemel's book Hit So Hard -- which as you might know follows almost the same trajectory of Mark's life, including drug abuse, homelessness and death of many friends like Cobain. I couldn't even keep this book on my shelf because it gives me shivers just looking at it. Your description of Mark's experience is thorough and chilling as well.

[@MrToddling]

Lots of good stuff in here guys- Very accurate statement of “A massive tragedy”

[@alecredfearn6525]

Fantastic book. I'm now rereading via the Lanegan-narrated audio version. Hearing these harrowing and hilarious stories via Lanegans rich, gravelly, baritone deadpan adds a whole other layer to the equation. Nice review.

[@drumattic503]

"He is our modern day Dante". Interesting that you say this. I know Rolling Stone said the band name came from a guitar pedal, but I always hoped the band was named after the suicide trees Dante encountered in the 7th level of hell. What do you think? :) Excellent review and such a great bonus to have Roberto Bentivegna share his experiences.

[@jabolko]

I love your intros... I always look forward what clip will you use :))

[@VinylSpotlight77]

Much respect to his music and him as a person. The younger generation should not romanticize the drugs and i hope they understand. Its harder to stay sober 💯

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Well, although i read a lot, its almost always technical, engine related stuff. THIS is going to be the first book i will be reading in a very long time! Most of my knowledge of Mark is because of his connection to Layne Staley, singer of both Alice in Chains and Mad Season together with Mark Lanigan. The more I've heard of Mark's voice and stories, and obviously truly loving his duets with Layne with Mad Season, the more i liked hearing from him.. Thank you for such a really great, enjoyable interview! 🙏❤️🎸

[@ChillingWithMel22]

This was an excellent book. I’m so happy I was able to see them at Lollapalooza 1996. They also had Josh Homme playing guitar with them on the stage. I’ll never forget it.

[@JoeDiLillo]

Your best video yet!

[@azaraelhyzer3874]

Thank you Clifford for highlighting a genius like mark lenegan. ❤

[@bobhopper609]

Thank you for opening up my world in new ways!

[@bobsbigboy_]

you live til you die - Mark Lanegan in In the Fade by Queens of the Stone Age

[@theofficialnemeroff5096]

Wow! Love this review! If you enjoyed this book, you should definitely read Scar Tissue, Acid for Children and the Storyteller. All of these memoirs are amazing!

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

**gotta say, its bugging the shit out of me with people ripping on anyone else that happened to be from Seattle.. I'm not sure if its because of ignorance or just not having enough musical knowledge/background, but my goodness, Layne Staley is without a doubt one of the most gifted, and powerful singers I have ever heard, period.. its very strange to read the "ripping" of him in the comments.. Anyway, thank you again to both gentlemen.

[@SidLaw500]

Excellent chat and review.

[@raphaha1273]

Ooh, I'm looking foreward to the Mingus Beneath the underdog review

[@Aurla-R2-D2]

Thank you so much for this! 💜

[@billyparham630]

great content and great interview too, man. just ordered this and beneath the underdog on book depository. almost threw in kitchen confidential to make things complete but had to cut it to save money. thank you for the recommendations!

[@s22130]

Thank you so much for this!

[@meltedfro]

I've wanted to check this book out for a while now,you did an awesome review as always!! I'm sure you already know her if your a lanegan fan you should check out PJ harvey she's amazing!

[@christophergiglio7912]

Love your reviews cliff! I recently read a book you may be interested after looking into Story Of The Eye. I can’t wait to read it! But the book I fell upon is called Story of O by Pauline Re’age. It’s a sadistic love story. I was both fascinated and repulsed by it. Check it out if you haven’t read it. It is actually a true story I believe.

[@zoloa6993]

Excelente! Saludos desde Argentina

[@Rach90]

Thank you for this!

[@hekateflora]

your talk goes well with drinking songs matt elliott background

[@jennyb.9811]

He had to sing through heavy layers of injury after injury, weighing him down like wet blankets. So he was heard. I understand his connection with Johnny Cash.

[@DibsEquipped]

The part about Jeff Goldblum hahahaha

[@grantwallace1882]

Lanegan was a fantastic singer.

[@keithpearson9350]

wow.... thank you.

[@liamgallagherrr]

This thing was heavy..listened to all 11 hours in a short amount of time..just not a single polish or buffing on his story he let it all hang out in the most descriptive yet non glorifying way. Just absolutely flat and true for better or worse..OFTEN times worse

[@thundercheeks1989]

Hey, Cliff. I know you like Tosches (at least I think I remember you talking about one of his novels), have you read Me and the Devil?

[@Thiagoo662]

Cliff, I'd love it if you read The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage. Or any of his other works

[@Captain1nsaneo]

>looks at run length Ah, this is going to be different.

[@carolinaroveroni8101]

Hello Cliff, since we know you love Clarice Lispector and Hilda Hilst I recommend to you another brazilian writer: Lygia Fagundes Telles.

[@maximilianmusti4133]

You should narrate books and put them on audible

[@pjr5913]

i missed you better than the food .

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

Please Kill Me is the greatest punk rock book ever.

[@Austria88586]

Bring Me the Head of Jerry Garcia

[@makichas]

wow. definitely better than food.

[@johnboylan3832]

I thought the book started off well, but by the end it was just a drug story after drug story. I am aware that this was his life in the 90s, but it was pretty boring to listen to.

[@aw2584]

Thats the best way to describe heroin addiction (from a recovering addict). It's the best way I've ever seen it described, rather. It is 24/7 horror and a full time job with 0 holidays and constant overtime. No matter how many times you fuck people over and score, the next day you're at the start line again. Not even getting high but "getting well". Over and over and over and over again. I'm 30 years old and spent 10 years on opiates. That was my life. Wasted time

[@themojocorpse1290]

Great book my favourite artist of the past 20 years, huge loss . Dark mark tells it as it is. Left us a wonderful catalog of beautiful music for that we should be truly thankful 🫡

[@MrMarkLambrecht]

A friend pushed me to buy and read this book. It's not a book, it's a 300 page diatribe about one subject, and one subject only -- how a failed rock star spent every moment of every day buying and using drugs, to wit, heroin. I think he used drugs to cover up the fact that he really was a non talent.

[@meltedfro]

You know what's great about this is....it's your opinion! No one gives a shit!! Hooray!

[@damotheman4196]

Heroin would just destroy it if there was only a bit there, makes you lazy. If he had "no-talent" drink and drug abuser how you reckon he made it onto so many peoples shelves and lives.. Whilst barely keeping the show on the road there.. So many people relate to stuff like this. "day follows night, night follows day.. Steals like a stranger then she slips away.. Goodbye, goodbye to beauty."