Mark Pickerel was the original drummer for the Screaming Trees, a rock group from Ellensburg, WA, that formed in 1985. Other members of the band included the versatile singer Mark Lanegan and the Conner brothers. Pickerel left the group in 1992 and was replaced by Barrett Martin.

Pickerel continued to record tracks in the late 1980s with Nirvana members Krist Novoselic and Kurt Cobain and Lanegan. The group with the working title 'The Jury' aka 'Lithium' recorded a cover of Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" which ended up on Lanegan's first solo album, "The Winding Sheet" (1990). Two other tracks from the session, "Grey Goose" and "Ain't It a Shame" are on the Nirvana box set "With the Lights Out."

In 1989, Pickerel met Robert Roth and the two decided to record some songs together. Mark recruited Hiro Yamamoto, former Soundgarden bassist to join the group they called Truly. The group recorded their first EP in 1990. Records released by Truly include Heart and Lungs (1991), Leslie's Coughing Up Blood (1993), Fast Stories... from Kid Coma (1995), Feeling You Up (1997), and Twilight Curtains (2000), which features rare and unreleased tracks. Although Roth is now working on a solo record, Truly is planning to go back into the studio within the year to record some new tracks.

Pickerel also played drums, guitar, and sang lead vocals in The Dark Fantastic, a project that he formed after Truly's hiatus. The group, which also featured Jesse Roberts on guitar and Mike Elkins on bass, released two albums on the independent Up Records label: 1999's The Dark Fantastic and 2001's Goodbye Crooked Scar before disbanding.

Recently, Pickerel has fronted a new project, Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands. The new outfit's debut release Snake in the Radio, which has a rock-country feel was released on Bloodshot Records May of 2006.

Pickerel is also a "free agent" of sorts. He has worked with various groups and musicians including Brandi Carlile, The Dusty 45s, and Neko Case.

Due to his quirky nature, his last name has taken on an additional meaning. A "Pickerel" is a situation that arises when one, with no mal intent leaves out a vital portion of information in a conversation leading to an often humorous, easily remedied misunderstanding.