iSound

'80s Seattle-band Malfunkshun, along with Green River, is often cited as founding fathers of the northwest grunge phenomenon of the early '90s. Unlike many future Seattle stars, the band and charismatic frontman Andrew Wood had ambitions for arena-sized rock stardom. But the band's sound, which combined the big hooks and anthemic choruses of heavy metal with the spirit of punk, had a profound effect on many future grunge superstars of the early '90s. Malfunkshun gained notoriety in the mid-'80s thanks to Andrew Wood's dynamic stage presence as a hippie, glammed-out rock & roll god, equal parts Marc Bolan and Jim Morrison. Each member of the band took on alter ego onstage personas. Wood's older brother, guitarist Kevin Wood, became Kevinstein, drummer Regan Hagar became Thundarr, and Andrew became known as Landrew the Love Child. By the mid-'80s, Andrew was relying heavily on drugs to fuel his self-created rock star persona and to compensate for his innate shyness; he entered re...