Mark Lanegan’s Bubblegum 20th anniversary box set to be released

The late Mark Lanegan’s 2004 album Bubblegum is getting a deluxe 20th anniversary reissue, nearly two years after the legendary grunge icon died at his home in Killarney.

Titled Bubblegum XX, the release is set to come out on August 23 and includes 12 previously unreleased songs, a double LP edition of the album, and a 4XLP/2XC/Digital release with 40 mastered tracks.

It contains a 64-pages collection of essays by Lanegan’s Queens of the Stone Age bandmates Josh Homme and Troy Van Leeuwen, as well as Greg Dulli and Duff McKagan. Studio notes and previously unseen photos by Steve Gullick are included.

It also features an expanded edition of Lanegan’s 2003 EP Here Comes That Weird Chill, billed as Here Comes That Weird Chill (Methamphetamine Blues, Extras & Oddities).

The song ‘Union Tombstone’ was originally supposed to include a collaboration with Beck, although he was unable to contribute at the time due to the recording of his own album. Beck added vocals and harmonica to finally complete the track this year.

We appreciate your kind & loving words over the last 2 years.

There is lots of news to share with you very soon🖤 pic.twitter.com/YrkZodQNTo

— mark lanegan (@marklanegan) July 8, 2024

Other special releases include a series of tracks that Lanegan recorded with Van Leeuwen in various hotel rooms. “So these hotel demo sessions were basically forgotten,” Van Leeuwen said. When I heard the news of Mark’s passing, these memories started rushing back to me. I searched through my archive of drives and somehow magically was able to open up these sessions.

“These ideas couldn’t be more fresh out of the tap. The original rough mixes are a real time capsule that stands up to the 20 years that have passed. It’s a true gift from Mark to those of us who love him and his unvarnished expression of beauty. With every listen, I am humbled and honoured to share his gift with you.”

The announcement follows a tweet teasing an upcoming posthumous release posted a couple days ago, which read: “there is lots of news to share with you very soon,” alongside pictures of Abbey Road studios’ front door and a hoard of mixing consoles.

Born in Washington State, Lanegan rose to prominence as the lead singer of the alt-rock band Screaming Trees, a heavy hitter in Seattle's emerging grunge scene in the early ‘90s. He later joined Queens of the Stone Age and The Gutter Twins, and released a series of solo albums.

For more information about Bubblegum XX, and to pre-order the record, click here.