The original lineup was led by gruffly mournful singer Mark Lanegan, steely drummer Barrett Martin and the beefy Conner brothers--churning guitar marauder Gary Lee and stoic Van on bass. They were one of the most influential, uncharacteristic and underappreciated bands to spawn from the post-Nirvana explosion of major label alternative rock signings--except mainstream America barely noticed. Matching equal amounts of melody and power, darkness and restraint, they briefly hit paydirt with the neo-classic "Nearly Lost You", and the equally misunderstood "Alice Said" and "Butterfly," both of which brought hypnosis and sophistication to a disputable, contented and sometimes self-imploding band wavering on the edge of the arena rock stardom that barely escaped them.