Andrew Wood (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrew Wood
Wood (front) with Mother Love Bone in 1989
Background information
Birth name	Andrew Patrick Wood
Also known as	Andy Wood Landrew the Love Child "Man of Golden Words"
Born	(1966-01-08)January 8, 1966 Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	March 19, 1990(1990-03-19) (aged 24) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, grunge, glam rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, piano
Years active	1980–1990

Andrew Patrick Wood (born January 8, 1966 – died March 19, 1990) was an American musician. He was best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone. Andrew Wood was a very creative and energetic performer. He helped shape the sound of the grunge music scene in Seattle.

In 1980, when he was just 14, Wood started the band Malfunkshun with his older brother Kevin Wood. Later, he joined with members of another band, Green River, to form Mother Love Bone in 1988. This band became very popular. Sadly, Andrew Wood passed away in 1990 at the age of 24.

Early Life

Andrew Wood was born on January 8, 1966, in Columbus, Mississippi. He grew up in Bainbridge Island, Washington. He was the youngest of three children. His parents loved music and encouraged Andrew and his brothers to learn instruments.

Andrew became a big fan of famous bands like Elton John, Queen, Aerosmith, and Kiss. These artists inspired his own unique style.

Music Career

Malfunkshun: Early Days

Wood (right) with Malfunkshun in a 1980s promo photo

In 1980, Andrew Wood formed the band Malfunkshun with his brother Kevin. Soon after, drummer Regan Hagar joined them. The band started playing shows in Seattle. Each member had a special stage name. Andrew was known as Landrew the Love Child.

Malfunkshun was different from many other bands in Seattle. They were influenced by glam rock, which is known for its flashy style. Andrew Wood's look and singing were inspired by famous singers like Freddie Mercury and Marc Bolan.

In 1986, Malfunkshun recorded some demo songs. Two of these songs, "With Yo' Heart (Not Yo' Hands)" and "Stars-n-You," were put on a special album called Deep Six. The band played concerts, opening for groups like Soundgarden. However, Malfunkshun broke up in 1988. Even though they never released a full album while Andrew was alive, Malfunkshun is seen as one of the first bands to create the grunge sound.

Mother Love Bone: A New Band

After Malfunkshun ended, Andrew Wood started playing music with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament. They were from the band Green River, which had also broken up. Soon, former Green River guitarist Bruce Fairweather joined them. Then, drummer Greg Gilmore completed the lineup, and they formed Mother Love Bone in 1988.

The band quickly signed a record deal with PolyGram. In 1989, they released a six-song album called Shine. This album helped create excitement about the music scene in Seattle. Mother Love Bone then went on tour. They also started recording their first full album, Apple.

In 1990, the band was still playing shows and waiting for their new album to be released. Sadly, Andrew Wood passed away just weeks before Apple came out.

His Lasting Impact

Andrew Wood's death was a big loss for the music world. Many musicians were inspired by him and created music in his memory.

His friend Chris Cornell, from the band Soundgarden, wrote two songs as a tribute to Andrew. Chris then teamed up with Andrew's former bandmates, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament. They formed a special band called Temple of the Dog in 1990. They released an album called Temple of the Dog in 1991 to honor Andrew.

Another Seattle band, Alice in Chains, dedicated their first album, Facelift, to Andrew. Their song "Would?" was also written about him. Jerry Cantrell from Alice in Chains said that Andrew was a "hilarious guy, full of life."

In 1992, Mother Love Bone's albums Shine and Apple were re-released together. A song called "Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns" was also included on the soundtrack for the movie Singles. Other bands like Faster Pussycat, War Babies, and Candlebox also wrote songs in tribute to Andrew.

Andrew's former bandmate, Stone Gossard, later put together some of Malfunkshun's old recordings. He released them as an album called Return to Olympus in 1995. In 2005, a documentary film called Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story was made about Andrew's life and music. The film was released on DVD in 2011, along with his music.

In 2011, an album called Melodies & Dreams was released. It featured unreleased songs and demos by Andrew. This included a song he recorded with Chris Cornell called "Island of Summer." Andrew Wood was also featured in the 2011 documentary Pearl Jam Twenty, which tells the story of the band Pearl Jam. His friends talked about him in the film, and home videos of Andrew were shown.

Music Releases

Other appearances

Videos

See also

In Spanish: Andrew Wood para niños