Wellwater Conspiracy was an Americanrock band that formed inSeattle,Washington in 1993. The band was created by members of thegrunge-era side projectHater. Wellwater Conspiracy featuredSoundgarden drummerMatt Cameron and ex-Monster Magnet guitaristJohn McBain. The band originally featured Soundgarden bassistBen Shepherd, who left the band in 1998. Various other artists have contributed to the band's albums, notablyQueens of the Stone Age front manJosh Homme,Pearl Jam singerEddie Vedder, and Soundgarden guitaristKim Thayil.

Wellwater Conspiracy was formed in 1993 byMatt Cameron,Ben Shepherd, andJohn McBain. All three were also members of the bandHater at the time.^[1] Wellwater Conspiracy's first recording sessions took place in the basement of Cameron's house.^[2] The band released three singles in the mid-1990s.^[3] The group released its debut album,Declaration of Conformity, on June 17, 1997 through Third Gear Records to general critical acclaim. Matt Diehl ofRolling Stone said, "Declaration of Conformity suggests that these Soundgarden expats have left the Seattle sound behind for trippypsychedelia that recalls such '60s freak icons asSyd Barrett and13th Floor Elevators."^[4]

Shortly after the release of the band's debut album, Shepherd left the band, and Cameron was chosen to replaceJack Irons as thedrummer for therock groupPearl Jam.^[1] However, Cameron and McBain were intent on keeping the band going as a permanent side project, and with Cameron taking over lead vocal duties, the band released three more Wellwater Conspiracy albums following its debut album. The band's second album,Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives, was released on February 9, 1999 throughTime Bomb Recordings. Greg Prato ofAllMusic said Wellwater Conspiracy "offer another intriguing collection of 60's-tinged ditties."^[5]

On May 22, 2001, Wellwater Conspiracy released its third album,The Scroll and Its Combinations, throughTVT Records.Chris Handyside ofRolling Stone said that "amid all the fuzz and minor chord bombast is an edgy,hard-rock post-millenial [sic] tension."^[6] On September 9, 2003, the band released the self-titledWellwater Conspiracy throughMegaforce Records.David Fricke ofRolling Stone said Wellwater Conspiracy "upgrade the fragrant eccentricity of vintage U.K. flower power—spaced riffing, spiked-afternoon-tea lyrics—with modern muscle."^[7]

The band's music featured apsychedelicgarage rock sound. The band often performed with other musicians, many of whom were friends of the band. Notable appearances included keyboardist Glenn Slater of folk rock groupThe Walkabouts, guitaristKim Thayil ofSoundgarden, vocalistEddie Vedder ofPearl Jam, and vocalist/guitaristJosh Homme ofQueens of the Stone Age andKyuss.

• Matt Cameron – Vocals, Drums (1993–2004)
• John McBain – Guitar
• Ben Shepherd – Vocals (1993–1998)

• List of alternative rock artists

• Official website
• Wellwater Conspiracy atAllMusic

• Alternative rock groups from Washington (state)
• Musical groups from Seattle
• American rock music duos
• Megaforce Records artists
• Time Bomb Recordings artists
• TVT Records artists
• Musical groups established in 1993
• Musical groups disestablished in 2004
• 1993 establishments in Washington (state)
• 2004 disestablishments in Washington (state)

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