by Mike McCready
(First appeared in The Rocket magazine, 1/27/99)
When I
first met John Baker Saunders, he had a bumper sticker
on his
car that read, "What we have here is a failure to give a shit!"
While
completely hilarious, it was also an insight into a dark,
intelligent
and irreverent mind.
Baker was
an amazing bass player, rooted deep in the blues. We
struck
up a friendship that would last five years. The two of us,
along
with Barrett Martin, Layne Staley and Mark Lanegan,
created
Mad Season, a collection of five different influences
coming
together for a common cause: music.
Baker gave
me the confidence to start songwriting, something I
had not
experienced before. He also taught me the blues,
encouraging
me to explore this aspect of music, something I had
not previously
experienced.
He could
lead a dark side of music with intense feeling, but within
that,
a positive musical experience would bloom. I have fond
memories
of playing with him at the Crocodile Cafe, RKCNDY
and the
Moore Theatre. The local support we received blew all of
our minds.
He was very proud of Above (Epic, 1995), the record
we created,
and of those concerts, and would tell us so again and
again.
After Mad
Season broke up, Baker went on to jam with Skerik,
Matt Chamberlain
and other local musicians whenever he could.
He just
loved to play. He later went on to play with the
Walkabouts,
a band he told me he was very honored to be a part
of. Getting
to tour with them in Europe was one of Baker's
greatest
experiences.
Baker was
a true blues player, who lived it and played it with all
his heart.
He would probably laugh at me for saying that, but I
don't
care. I'll just miss him and what he brought to all of us that
appreciated
his music and personality. Goodbye, my friend...stay
free...your
friend, Mike McCready.
Mike McCready plays guitar for Pearl Jam.
©
1999 Mike McCready