Lost Morphine demos surface as band's legacy endures
Previously unreleased recordings from alt-rock group Morphine, fronted by Mark Sandman, are emerging nearly three decades after their creation.
At a glance
- Morphine recorded material for DreamWorks Records in 1998 that is being released nearly 30 years later
- The band was known for blending sophisticated storytelling with slide bass and saxophone
- Sandman reportedly felt pressure to please the label rather than follow their own creative vision
Morphine, the alternative rock band led by Mark Sandman, recorded material for DreamWorks Records in the late 1990s that is only now being released. The group, known for their distinctive sound combining sophisticated storytelling, slide bass and saxophone, had achieved critical acclaim and unexpected commercial success with their uncompromising approach to music.
Bandmate Dana Colley recalled that Sandman experienced creative uncertainty while working on the album for the major label, marking a departure from the band's previous independent approach. The newly surfaced demos represent work from a pivotal moment in the band's history.
Why it matters
Morphine represented an alternative to grunge excess in 1990s rock music, and the emergence of these recordings provides new insight into a significant period of the band's career.
Original reporting
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