Screaming Trees were an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period. Although widely associated with grunge, the band's sound incorporated hard rock and psychedelic elements. The band released seven studio albums, five EPs, and three compilations.
Screaming Trees is known as one of the pioneers of grunge along with the Melvins, Mudhoney, U-Men, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, Green River, and Malfunkshun. Screaming Trees rose to fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with bands such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden and was one of the most successful underground music acts of the 1990s. The band achieved one top ten single on the Modern Rock Tracks charts. Screaming Trees were plagued by extended inactivity due to their problems with making a follow up to Dust. This led to their official breakup in 2000.
Uncle Anesthesia is the Screaming Trees' fifth studio album and first full-length album on Epic Records. It was released on January 29, 1991. It includes two of the four tracks from the band's previous Epic release, Something About Today EP (1990). The album, recorded throughout June 1990, was the last to feature drumming by original member Mark Pickerel, who left on amicable terms in 1991 to work in a variety of projects. He was replaced by Barrett Martin.
Uncle Anesthesia was produced by heavy metal specialist Terry Date and Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Despite the major label backing, the album failed to expand the Trees' audience. "Bed of Roses" was released as a single and became a minor hit on the Modern Rock charts.