After Soundgarden wrapped up their near year-long tour in support of Badmotorfinger in 1992, the bandmembers took some time off. Just before sessions for their classic Superunknown began, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron decided to record some songs for fun with local Seattle friends, under the name Hater. Included in this ad hoc band were ex-Monster Magnet guitarist John McBain, singer Brian Wood (brother of the late-Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood), and Devilhead bassist John Waterman. Those expecting a Soundgarden-esque hard rock album were caught off guard by Hater's penchant for garage rock and classic rock sounds, as evidenced by a rocking cover of Cat Stevens' "Mona Bone Jakon," as well as the originals "Who Do I Kill?," "Lion and Lamb," "Down Undershoe," "Tot Finder," and "Sad McBain." Although the band released just this one recording, McBain, Shepherd, and Cameron would re-group a few years later under the different moniker Wellwater Conspiracy, releasing the exceptional Declaration of Conformity in 1997. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Matt Cameron (Drums), Matt Cameron (Vocals), Matt Cameron (Photography), Chris Hanzsek (Digital Editing), Gary King (Mixing), John McBain (Guitar), Ben Shepherd (Guitar), Ben Shepherd (Vocals), Glenn Slater (Mellotron), John Waterman (Bass), Brian Wood (Vocals), Brian Wood (?), Hater (Producer), Hater (Main Performer), Stuart Hallerman (Engineer), Dave Collins (Mastering), Fran Hapke (Photography), Greg Keplinger (Drums)
In 1993, Soundgarden members Ben Shepherd and Matt Cameron formed a side-project band, which they called Hater. They were joined by former Monster Magnet guitarist John McBain.[1] The band's music featured a psychedelicgarage rock sound, taking influence from The Stooges. Shepherd sang vocals and played guitar in Hater, in addition to writing several songs on the band's first release, Hater, which was released on September 21, 1993 through A&M Records. Allmusic said, "Those expecting a Soundgarden-esque hard rock album were caught off guard by Hater's penchant for garage rock and classic rock sounds."[2]
The band contributed a song for the 1995 compilation album, Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML, called "Convicted". The musicians for the track were Shepherd, McBain, bassist Alan Davis, and Cameron. This same lineup recorded a second Hater album in 1995 following Soundgarden's Superunknown tour. The album, however, would be delayed.
During the lengthy hiatus, Shepherd found time to complete the tracks for Hater's second album between his collaborations with Wellwater Conspiracy (another side project with Cameron and McBain), the Mark Lanegan Band, and several other artists. In 1997, after Hater broke up, McBain participated in the first Desert Sessions, a musical project lead by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme. Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998 and would go on to become the band's permanent drummer. Cameron and McBain kept Wellwater Conspiracy going as a permanent side project.
Hater's second album, called The 2nd, would finally see release on April 26, 2005. It was released through Burn Burn Burn. Allmusic said that the album is "quite comparable to the group's first release" in that it contains "loose n' fun garage rockers."[3] In 2005, Shepherd recruited bassist Andrew Church (Broadcast Oblivion, Droo Church), guitarist Bubba Dupree (Void), and drummer Andy Duvall (Zen Guerrilla) to support The 2nd with a tour following the release of the album. On September 30, 2008, Shepherd and Cameron reunited to perform a Hater show at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, Washington.[4]
