The band went on a semi-permanent hiatus in 1996 due to the band members' conflicting schedules and Staley's problems with substance abuse. Attempts were made in the late 1990s to revive the group without Staley, and material for a follow-up release to Above had been worked on; however, the band dissolved following the death of bassist John Baker Saunders in 1999 from a drug overdose. Staley also died of a drug overdose three years later. Martin and McCready have since made two short partial reunions, one in 2012 and one from 2014 to 2015. A special edition box set containing a remastered edition of Above and various unreleased material was released in March 2013.
During the production of 1994's Vitalogy, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready went into drug and alcohol rehab at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota, where he met bassist John Baker Saunders.[5] In 1994, when the two returned to Seattle, Washington, they formed a side band with drummer Barrett Martin. McCready played in such bands as Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog, Martin with Skin Yard and the Screaming Trees and Saunders with blues talents such as Little Pat Rushing, Hubert Sumlin, Sammy Fender, and The Lamont Cranston Band.[6] Immediately the trio set up rehearsal time together and wrote the music for two songs that would later become Mad Season's "Wake Up" and "River of Deceit", both of which would later appear on the band's album Above. McCready then brought in friend and Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley to round out the line-up. McCready had hoped that being around sober musicians would push Staley to get himself sober.
Despite not having a single song completely prepared (only beginnings of songs, according to Martin) and not even having a name for the band, McCready scheduled an unannounced show at the Crocodile Cafe on October 12, 1994, which turned out to be a big success. The song "Artificial Red", which was also to appear on the album, actually came together during the show itself. Two more gigs were scheduled (November 6 & 20, 1994) at the same venue, with the band calling itself The Gacy Bunch, after both the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy of Chicago and the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch. On January 8, 1995, the band made an appearance on Pearl Jam's Self-Pollution satellite radio broadcast, a four-and-a-half-hour-long pirate broadcast out of Seattle which was available to any radio stations that wanted to carry it, performing "Lifeless Dead" and "I Don't Know Anything".
After gaining more popularity, the band recorded its only album and changed its name to Mad Season, which is an English term for the time of the year when psilocybin mushrooms are in full bloom, and a term which McCready related to "the seasons of drinking and drug abuse." The album, Above, which was recorded in Seattle, Washington at Bad Animals Studio (co-owned by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart) and co-produced by the band and Pearl Jam sound engineer Brett Eliason, featured ten songs. It also included guest vocals and additional lyrics by Screaming Trees frontman and solo artist Mark Lanegan. McCready said, "We did all the Mad Season music in about seven days. It took Layne just a few more days to finish his vocals, which was intense since we only rehearsed twice and did four shows." The album was released on March 14, 1995 through Columbia Records to critical and commercial success. Over the course of 1995, Above scaled the Billboard 200, eventually peaking at No. 24 and spawning two singles: "River of Deceit" (#2 Mainstream Rock Tracks, No. 9 Modern Rock Tracks) and "I Don't Know Anything" (#20 Mainstream Rock Tracks). Above was certified gold on June 14, 1995.
McCready described the songs on the album as "some jazzy stuff, some blues, some arena rock." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic said that the album "sounds like a cross between Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam, taking the ponderous seriousness of Alice and PJ's '90s update of winding '70s guitar rock." Staley's lyrics dealt with his personal troubles, with Martin saying, "Layne Staley felt as though he was on a spiritual mission through his music." During the lyric writing process, Staley was reading the book The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, which was a strong influence on the lyrics and the overall tone of the album. "I Don't Know Anything" is a heavier, blues-influenced track, while "Long Gone Day" takes considerable jazz influence, combining the use of samba-style bass, xylophone, and saxophone.
Staley is credited for writing all the lyrics on the original release within the liner notes of the 2013 deluxe issue. As was the case with much of his work with Alice in Chains, Staley's lyrics dealt with his struggle against addiction as well as other personal troubles. Lyrically, much of "River of Deceit" was inspired by Khalil Gibran's The Prophet. Vocalist Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees contributes guest vocals on "I'm Above" and "Long Gone Day"; he is also credited for co-writing the music to those tracks along with McCready and Martin. Lanegan also wrote the lyrics for the three bonus tracks on Disc 1 of the deluxe issue - "Locomotive", "Black Book of Fear", and "Slip Away". R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is credited for co-writing the music to "Black Book of Fear" along with McCready, Martin, Saunders, and Lanegan.
Black Book Of Fear
Mad Season Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far above the ground
You're too close to hear
That thundering sound
Neglected
Behind castle wall
It's your high-wire walk
Rainin'
God give up the rain
The way it comes down
Is a God damn shame
Fadin'
Fading to blue
Is distance time
Is cold as the moon
This is the room where crime scene stays,
The burning black book of fear tore out a page,
This is a house where a crime scene's staged
One of these days we'll be walking in the sun
Some simple day that has not yet begun
And one of the visions the Devil got away
And one of these dreams the dead didn't stay
This is a house where crime scene's staged
The burning black book of fear tore out a page
This is a room where crime scene's staged
Raining
God give up the rain
The way it comes down
Is a God-damn shame
Fading
Fading to blue
Is distance time
Is cold as the moon
This is a room where crime scene stays
The burning book of fear tore out a page
This is a house where a crime scene's staged
Neglected, behind castle wall
It's your high-wire walk, it's your kingdom to fall
Raining, God give up the rain
The way it comes down, is a God-damn shame,
The lyrics of Mad Season's song Black Book of Fear are a reflection of a world in chaos, where things are neglected and disconnected, and the consequences of our actions lead to crime and fear. The opening lines paint a picture of someone who is disconnected and far away from the ground. Although they are too close to hear the thundering sound, they can’t grasp what is happening around them. This feeling of detachment is a common theme in the song and may symbolize the feeling of isolation and loneliness that many people experience in today's society.
The second verse describes a castle wall that acts as a barrier between the person and the rest of the world. It's their high-wire walk, their kingdom to fall, suggesting that they have built up walls around themselves that may cause them to crash and burn. The imagery of rain is used throughout the song, symbolizing the challenges and difficulties in life that we all face. Rainin' highlights the need for change and God giving up the rain signifies how humanity must take responsibility for their actions.
The chorus talks about a room where a crime scene stays and a house where a crime scene is staged, both descriptions of the dark, corrupted world that the song describes. One of these days, we will be walking in the sun, is the hope for the future and the possibility of a better life. The last line of the song is a reflection of the cold and dark atmosphere that is present throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Disconnected
Feeling isolated and out of touch with reality.
Far above the ground
Being in a heightened state of mind, disconnected from the world below.
You're too close to hear
Being so absorbed in one's own thoughts that they can't hear the warning signs around them.
That thundering sound
The chaos and danger that is approaching, but not being able to recognize it.
Neglected
Feeling abandoned and alone.
Behind castle wall
Retreating behind mental barriers to protect oneself - even if it does more harm than good.
It's your high-wire walk
Taking a big risk with everything on the line.
It's your kingdom to fall
Holding onto something that is inevitably going to crumble and fall apart.
Rainin'
A metaphor for the troubles and hardships that keep raining down relentlessly.
God give up the rain
Asking for a reprieve from all the difficulties and challenges.
The way it comes down
The overwhelming nature of these troubles.
Is a God damn shame
Not understanding why everything has to be so difficult and painful.
Fadin'
Slowly slipping away.
Fading to blue
Gradually losing all color, vibrancy and energy.
Is distance time
The passing of time that only accentuates feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Is cold as the moon
The chill and emptiness that can accompany feelings of despair.
This is the room where crime scene stays
The mental space where trauma and tragedy still linger.
The burning black book of fear tore out a page
The event or experience that has caused intense emotional pain can never be erased or forgotten.
This is a house where a crime scene's staged
Feeling like one's own mind is a place of constant danger or trauma.
One of these days we'll be walking in the sun
Holding onto the hope that there will be brighter days ahead.
Some simple day that has not yet begun
Anticipating the possibility of redemption that has not yet arrived.
And one of the visions the Devil got away
One of the things that still haunts and torments, even when it's gone.
And one of these dreams the dead didn't stay
The past that cannot be fully let go of.
Raining
The repetition of this verse is to emphasize the relentlessness of the struggles.
God give up the rain
Still hoping for relief from the constant onslaught.
This is a room where crime scene stays
A space that has been tainted by tragedy or pain.
The burning book of fear tore out a page
A traumatic event that has left an indelible mark.
This is a house where crime scene's staged
A mind or space consumed by trauma and pain, where fears and insecurities fester.
Neglected, behind castle wall
The self-imposed isolation and distance from the world around.
It's your high-wire walk, it's your kingdom to fall
Continuing to hold onto something that is inevitably going to end in failure or pain.
Raining, God give up the rain
Asking for an end to the constant struggles and difficulties.
The way it comes down, is a God-damn shame
Feeling like the difficulties and challenges are unjust and unnecessary.
Fading, Fading to blue
Slowly losing one's grip on reality and sinking deeper into despair.
Is distance time, Is cold as the moon
The feelings of isolation and disconnection are amplified by the passage of time and the frigidness of emotions.
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.