My Latest Earworm

Morphine was an American alternative rock band from Cambridge, Massachusetts, that pioneered a style they dubbed “low rock.” Fusing elements of blues, jazz, and rock, the band crafted a dark, moody, and stripped‑down sound defined by its unconventional instrumentation—a two‑string slide bass (handled by frontman Mark Sandman), Dana Colley’s soulful baritone saxophone, and a driving drum kit. Formed in 1989 with drummer Jerome Deupree (later replaced by Billy Conway), their minimalistic setup and deep, resonant vocals set them apart from traditional rock trios, leaving a lasting influence on alternative music.

At the core of Morphine’s sonic identity was Sandman’s innovative approach to the bass. He transformed a standard four‑string instrument by removing the upper strings, leaving only the two lowest strings, and used a slide to extract a uniquely deep, resonant tone.

This stripped‑down method wasn’t just a musical choice—it was a reflection of a life marked by hardship. Before his musical breakthrough, Sandman worked as a taxi driver and endured a violent robbery during which he was stabbed while behind the wheel. The pain of that experience, compounded by the devastating loss of his two brothers, seeped into his songwriting and performance, imbuing his music with a melancholic yet defiant edge.

In a life defined by both creative brilliance and personal tragedy, Sandman channeled his struggles into a distinctive sound that resonated with fans worldwide—until his sudden, fatal heart attack during an onstage performance in Italy (1999) ended his journey.