River of Deceit is a song by the rock band Mad Season, released in March 27, 1995 as the first single from the band’s only studio album, Above (1995). The song reached number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and is the band’s most well known song. The music for River of Deceit came out of rehearsals that the group had before vocalist Layne Staley joined the band. Much of River of Deceit, lyrically, was inspired by the 1923 book The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, which Staley read during the making of the album. Drummer Barrett Martin said, : (Layne Staley felt as though he was on a spiritual mission through his music. Not a rock mission, a spiritual mission.) Staley also wrote the song partially about his drug addiction which would eventually lead to his death in 2002. The single for River of Deceit was released to radio across North America, Europe, and the world. River of Deceit became the most successful song from Above on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It would go on to become the band’s most well known song as it received substantial radio play throughout the 1990s. Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia and Austria. In Canada, the song reached the top 70 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and later it charted on the Canadian Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number eight.
Tracklist:
CD (Australia and Austria) and Cassette (Australia)
- River of Deceit
- November Hotel (live) Recorded live on November 20, 1994 at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle, Washington, United States.
Promotional CD (US)
- River of Deceit
The music video for River of Deceit was directed by Josh Taft. The black and white video features the band performing the song amid scenes of people engaged in various activities. It is the only music video the band released. The video can be found at the end of the concert video, Live at the Moore.
Mad Season
Barrett Martin: drums, percussion, double bass, cello, marimba, vibraphone
Mike McCready: rhythm, lead and acoustic guitars
John Baker Saunders: bass guitar
Layne Staley: vocals, rhythm guitar
Layne Staley (August 22, 1967 – April 5, 2002)
John Baker Saunders (September 23, 1954 – January 15, 1999).
