If you were coming of age in the 90s and fell in love with the grunge genre, there is no doubt you know Layne Staley as the co-writer and lead vocalist of Alice In Chains, one of the major bands in this genre.
Known for his haunting, ethereal voice and as an extremely talented singer, with a very distinctive voice, and performance style, Layne was quite easy to fall in love with both vocally and through his kind, loving, and grateful spirit.
My husband saw Alice In Chains at The Agora Music Hall in Cleveland, OH in the mid 90s. He lucked out and was invited to hang with the band after the show. My husband said Layne was a very kind, chill person, unlike Jerry Cantrell who had an ego problem (maybe it was just that night — we will never know) and was not very happy to be sitting around with Alice In Chains fans.
Layne Staley was born on August 22, 1967 in Kirkland, Washington. He was named Layne Rutherford Staley, but went by Layne Thomas Staley, when he changed his middle name in his teens because he hated Rutherford so much, and also as Layne Elmer. He is most famous as a singer/songwriter, but also played guitar and drums. He was such a well versed musician. He was an active musician from 1984 - 1998. He not only sang with Alice In Chains, but with several other bands, most notably the supergroup Mad Season.
The song “Man In the Box” from AIC debut album “Facelift” garnered critical acclaim for his unique vocal style.
However, Layne’s battle with heroin addiction was getting worse during the bands time in the spotlight. He did enter rehab many times in order to attempt to kick his vice and get help with his depression.
He started working on a side project with many members of other Seattle grunge band members including Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, and John Baker Saunders of The Walkabouts. This group came to be known as the supergroup Mad Season. This collaboration came about when AIC was on hiatus.
During AIC hiatus, rumors of Layne’s heroin abuse came to the forefront in both fan and media communities. This was due in part of his deteriorating physical condition. But on April 6,1996, AIC came together to to do MTV: Unplugged In New York which is one of my personal favorite AIC albums. This was their first concert in two-and-a-half years!
Afterwards, Layne was out of the spotlight and never performed again. Along with his heroin addiction, he also suffered from extreme depression. Unfortunately, on April 5, 2002, Layne overdosed on a combination of heroin and cocaine, know as a speedball, at the young age of 34.
In 2006, Layne was ranked at number 27 on “Hit Paraders” list of “Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists” and then in 2012 he was ranked at number 42 on the “Complex” magazine list of "The 50 Best Lead Singers of All Time.“ Seattle officially declared August 22, 2019 as "Layne Staley Day".
At age 9, he wrote in one of his Dr. Seuss books that the wanted to be a singer and that he did. He became one of the most iconic singers not only in the grunge scene, but in music in general.
Layne’s parents divorced when he was just 7 years old and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Jim Elmer, which is where this name change happene. Layne took his step father’s last name during his high school years and was known as Layne Elmer for some time.
Layne was raised as a Christian Scientist, but in his adult life, he questioned the religion and was quoted as saying “I have a fascination with how brainwashed people get with religion and how they'll give up their money, their time and their whole life for a cause that they're sure is right, but I'm sure is wrong. I think there's a lot of people who are scared of life and living and they want to make sure they get to Heaven or whatever. I try to stay away from it as much as I can. I was raised in the church until I was 16 and I've disagreed with their beliefs as long as I can remember, so when I had the choice I chose not to believe in anything apart from myself." In 1999 Layne said the song “Get Born Again” was about religious hypocrisy.
Layne was heavily influenced by Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Some of the other bands who helped shape his musical prowess were bands such as The Stooges, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister, and Van Halen. Prince and David Bowie were two of his ultimate idols.
At age 12, Layne began playing drums and played with several glam bands into his teens. But by then he had his visions set on being a singer. By 1984, he had joined a band, with several high school classmates, as a singer. This band was called Sleze. In 1985, Layne and his bandmates made a cameo appearance in a low budget Seattle Public Access Chanel movie. In 1986 Steze changed their name to Alice N’ Chains, dressed in drag, and played speed metal covering bands such as Slayer and Armored Saints.
In 1987 Layne met future bandmate, Jerry Cantrell, at a party while working at Music Bank rehearsal studios in Seattle. Just a few months prior Jerry had seen Layne’s band, Alice N’ Chains play at the Tacoma Little Theatre and was quite impressed with Layne’s voice. Jerry was homeless at the time and Layne invited him to live with him at the Music Bank. The two quickly became extremely close as they lived for over a year in the dilapidated rehearsal space.
Alice N’ Chains disbanded and Layne joined a funk band. The band needed a guitar player, so Layne asked Jerry to come on board as a sideman. Jerry agreed to Layne’s invitation but there was a catch. Jerry wanted Layne to join his band, which did not have a name at the time, but included drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Michael Starr. The band members started auditioning horrible lead singers in order to throw hints at Layne, which made him quite upset. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when they auditioned a male stripper in front of Layne, which made him decide to join the band. Jerry is quoted as saying "I knew that voice was the guy I wanted to be playing with. It sounded like it came out of a 350-pound biker rather than skinny little Layne. I considered his voice to be my voice."
Eventually, the funk project broke up and Layne joined Jerry’s band full time. The bank had several name some of them being “Fuck” and “Diamond Lie” before Layne asked permission from his previous band to use the name Alice N‘ Chains, but changed to to Alice In Chains.
Randy Hauser, a local promoter, saw Alice In Chains at a local concert and offered to pay for a demo for the group. Unfortunately, only one day before the demo recording was to take place, the police raided the studio. It was the biggest marijuana raid in the history of the state. The demo was eventually recorded in 1988 and was named ”The Treehouse Tapes” and eventually found its way into the hands of the music managers Kelly Curtis and Susan Silver, who coincidentally were the managers of Soundgarden.
Based on “The Treehouse Tapes” Kelly and Susan passed the demo on to the Columbia Records A&R representative, Nick Tezro, who then set Alice In Chains up with a meeting from the label owner, Don Ienner. He loved what he heard and signed Alice In Chains to Columbia Records in 1989. One other demo was recorded at this time over three months, and is called “Sweet Alice.”
Alice In Chain’s debut album “Facelift” was released on August 21,1990 and really shaped the band’s distinctive style. The second single off this album was “Man In a Box” which was written by Layne and became a massive success! “Facelift” has since been certified double platinum by the RIAA for sales of two million copies in the United States.
The “Facelift” tour lasted two years before releasing the acoustic EP “Sap” in early 1992. The band made a cameo appearance in Cameron Crowe’s movie “Singles” (which incidentally Is a killer movie set in the 90s during the grunge era and I highly recommend seeing it if you haven’t because you’ve been living under a proverbial rock 😉) and AIC performed “It Ain’t Like That” and “Would?”
The bands second album “Dirt” was released in September of 1992. Along with being critically acclaimed, this was the best AIC album. It featured songs such as “Them Bones,” “Down In a Hole,” “Rooster,” “Angry Chair,” and “Would?” The album debuted on Billboar’s Top 200 at number 6 and became certified quadruple platinum. Layne even designed the sun logo on the album insert. While in Brazil on the “Dirt” tour, Layne saved the life of bassist Michale Starr when he overdosed.
At the beginning, Jerry wrote most of the lyrics to their songs, but it wasn’t long until Layne started contributing to the song lyrics and became not only the lead singer, but also a co-writer along with Jerry. Layne received credit for the lyrics in half of the entire AIC repertoire. In addition, Layne also wrote the music to “Angry Chair,” “Hate to Feel,” and “Head Creeps” along with melodies to other songs. He was quite a talented musician! Layne’s lyrics are largely viewed as being about his personal demons and troubles, including drug abuse and depression. Layne also played guitar on “Angry Chair“ and “Hate to Feel.” Jerry wrote about “Angry Chair” in the liner notes of the 1999 Music Bank box set saying “Such a brilliant song. I'm very proud of Layne for writing it. When I've stepped up vocally in the past he's been so supportive, and here was a fine example of him stepping up with the guitar and writing a masterpiece.”
The band’s second EP “Jar of Flies” (which is my favorite AIC album) in 1994. It debuted at number one, making it the first Alice in Chains release—and the first-ever EP—to do so. Unfortunately, due to Layne’s deteriorating condition, the band decided not to do a “Jar of Flies” tour.
Following the release of this album, Layne entered a rehabilitation center to try and clean up. This was not his first time in rehab. This is when AIC went on hiatus and Layne became a member of the supergroup Mad Season. The band worked on their music for several months and on October 12,1994, under the name The Gacy Bunch they performed at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle. In only a few weeks, the band changed their name to Mad Season. They released their album “Above” in March of 1995. Their first single “River of Deceit” only became a modest success on alternative radio, but I personally think this song deserves more credit than it got. The melody is beautiful, the musicians are phenomenal, and Layne’s voice takes my breath away every time I hear it. Plus the lyrics are clearly very personal to Layne’s life at the time.
Layne’s heroin abuse took a turn for the worse during the time AIC was on hiatus, and he started to deteriorate. But in 1995, AIC regrouped to record their self titled album, which also goes by the name “Tripod” and was released in November 1995. The album debuted at the top of the US charts and has since been certified double platinum. All the lyrics except for the songs “Heaven Beside You,” “Grind,” and “Over Now” were all written by Layne. This was his biggest lyrical contribution to the band’s library. Along with this album, the band released a home video called “The Nona Tapes.” Sadly, the band lapsed again and failed to meet tour dates in support of the album.
When speaking of the disappointment of not being able to meet their tour commitments, Jerry shed some insight into the band’s turmoil in dealing with Layne’s addiction and is quoted as saying, “Very frustrating, but we stuck it out. We rode the good times together, and we stuck together through the hard times. We never stabbed each other in the back and spilled our guts and did that kind of bullshit that you see happen a lot."
Layne was quoted saying “Drugs worked for me for years and now they're turning against me, now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I didn't want my fans to think that heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen.” in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine in February 1996.
One of Layne’s last shows was on the MTV: Unplugged In New York album on April 10, 1996, and it truly was an amazing performance and, as I stated earlier, one of my favorite AIC albums. This performance came after a two-and-a-half year gap in their album writing and touring. Layne’s final performance with AIC was in Kansas City, Missouri on July 3, 1996 while touring with Kiss.
On April 19, 2002, Layne’s personal accountant contacted his former manager Susan Silver, and told her that no money had been withdrawn from Layne’s account in two weeks. Susan contacted Layne’s mother, who had also not heard from Layne in approximately two weeks, and his mother called 911. His mother and stepfather went with the police to Layne’s home. It was reported that the 6 foot singer only weighed 86 pounds when his body was discovered. He was skin and bones. His body had to be identified by dental records from the medical examiner.
The autopsy and toxicology reports revealed that he has died from a “speedball” which is a combination or heroin and cocaine. When his body was found, it was determined that he had actually died two weeks prior on April 5, 2002 which was incidentally the same day Kurt Cobain (from Nirvana) had died 8 years prior. His death was classified as “accidental.”
Layne’s AIC band mates released the following statement, “It's good to be with friends and family as we struggle to deal with this immense loss … and try to celebrate this immense life. We are looking for all the usual things: comfort, purpose, answers, something to hold on to, a way to let him go in peace. Mostly, we are feeling heartbroken over the death of our beautiful friend. He was a sweet man with a keen sense of humor and a deep sense of humanity. He was an amazing musician, an inspiration, and a comfort to so many. He made great music and gifted it to the world. We are proud to have known him, to be his friend, and to create music with him. For the past decade, Layne struggled greatly—we can only hope that he has at last found some peace. We love you, Layne. Dearly. And we will miss you … endlessly.”
In 2010, bassist Michael Starr, while on the TV show “Celebrity Rehab,” stated he was the last person to see Layne alive and had spent time with him the day before he died as Michael’s birthday was on April 4. Michael said Layne was very sick, but would not call 911. The two argued briefly and the visit ended with Michael storming out. Michael said that Layne called him after he left and said something to the effect of “Not like this, don't leave like this." Since Layne died the next day on April 5, Michael expressed great remorse of not staying with him and calling 911. Michael said that Layne threatened to end their friendship if he did call 911 and Michael said if he had not been high on benzodiazepines, he would never had walked out the door leaving Layne alone.
Michael apologized to Layne’s mother while on “Celebrity Rehab” and his mother said she did not blame Michael or hold any anger towards him for not staying with him. She said Layne would have forgiven Michael as well and said “Hey, I did this. Not you.” Starr still blamed himself for the death of his friend, though. Layne’s mother said he had tried rehab 13 times over the years. Sadly, Michael Starr was found dead on March 8, 2011 due to a prescription drug overdose.
On April 29, 2002, an informal memorial was held for Layne where 100s of his fans and bandmates including Jerry Cantrell, Michael Starr, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney were all in attendance as well as Chris Cornell, the lead singer for Soundgarden. Layne was cremated and a private service was held for him on April 28, 2002.
Jerry Cantrell released a solo album called “Degredation Trip” two months after Layne’s death and Jerry dedicated it to the memory of his close friend and bandmate. Not long after Layne’s death, his mother began receiving donations on Layne’s behalf which she used to start the Layne Staley Memorial Fund with Seattle’s Therapeutic Health Service Clinic to help other heroin addicts and their families in the Seattle music community.
The remaining members of Alice In Chains decided to remain inactive for years after Layne’s death. They refused to play together out of respect for him. In 2005, Jerry, Mike Inez, and Sean reunited and played a concert for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami with several vocalist filling in for Layne. This concert had such a positive response that the band brought on vocalist William DuVull, who was a member of Jerry’s solo project, to sing Layne’s vocals for their reunion shows. The band had a 5 minute intermission to play a video tribute to Layne in between the bands sets. William DuVall has since become a full time member of AIC singing Layne’s parts and they have released 3 full length albums.
Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins was quoted as saying that Layne “had an amazing voice that had such a beautiful, sad, haunting quality about it. He was different because his heaviness was in that voice.” The Smashing Pumpkins song “Bleeding the Orchid” from their 2007 album Zeitgeist was indirectly inspired by Layne’s death.
The band Cold also released a song in 2003 called “The Day Seattle Died” which was a tribute to both Layne Staley as well as Kurt Cobain. The group Stained did a song called “Layne” in memory of him on their album 14 Shades of Grey. In addition, in 2004, Black Label Society also did a song called “Layne” on their album Hangover Music Vol. VI. Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam, wrote a eulogy song for Layne titled 4/20/02, which was the day Eddie had received the news of Layne’s passing. This song was released as a hidden track on their 2003 rarities and B-Sides album Lost Dogs. Eddie Vedder also paied tribute to Layne at his August 22, 2016 show which would have been Layne’s 49th birthday. He dedicated the song “Man of the Hour” to his friend.
Jerry Cantrell said that Layne gave him the confidence to sing. He’s quoted as saying “Layne was really responsible for giving me the confidence to become more of a singer. He'd say, 'You wrote this song, this means something to you, sing it.' He kicked my ass out of the nest. Over the years I continued to grow, and Layne started to play guitar, and we inspired each other.”
Since 2002 several local businesses, including the Crocodile Cafe, have hosted a Layne Staley Memorial Concert benefiting the Layne Staley Memorial Fund.
Layne was also the inspiration to Metalica‘a album Death Magnetic. The song “Rebel of Babylon” was written and recorded in tribute to Layne.
In 2009 AIC released their first album, Black Gives Way to Blue, in 14 years with William DuVull singing Layne’s part as well as playing rhythm guitar. The title track is a tribute to Layne and Jerry invited Elton John to play piano on the final song on the album “Black Gives Way to Blue.” The song was both written and sung by Jerry as a goodbye to Layne. The first concert Layne saw was Elton John and he was simply amazed by him. I can’t imagine how heart-wrenching that song must have been to write, let alone to sing in front of a crowd with Elton John on piano. It is all so tragic. Layne’s bandmates all left words of tributes to him in the liner notes of this album. Hank Williams III released his album Attention Deficit Domination and dedicated it to Layne. The video for AIC 2013 single “Voices” shows a picture of Layne next to a picture of Kurt Cobain at the 2:20 mark.
Since AIC has reunited, Jerry has dedicated the song “Nutshell” to Layne. And since 2011, when Michael Starr died, Jerry has dedicated this song to the memories of both Layne and Michael.
AIC released a video on August 22, 2017, which would have been Layne’s 50th birthday, paying tribute to him with appearances by Jerry Cantrell, Ann Wilson, Mike McCready and Barrett Martin.
Wiiliam DuVull said he was thinking about Layne, Chris Cornell, the late singer of Soundgarden who committed suicide on May 18, 2017, as well as his grandmother when he wrote the song “Never Fade“ that is on the AIC album Rainier Fog. The album’s title track is also a tribute to both Layne and Michael Starr.
The members of AIC have become quite frustrated and upset for people remembering Layne more as a heroin addict than a talented musician and as a beautiful person. They are also aggravated with the Grammy’s ignoring Layne in the memorial of artists who had died during the year. He was something truly special and should have been recognized for his contributions to music at the 2002 Grammy awards.
On a more positive note, on April 22, 2019, which would have been Layne’s 52nd birthday, Jenny Durkin, Seattle’s mayor, made that day officially Layne Staley Day in the city to pay tribute to Layne’s many contributions to the music world.
There have been several books written about Layne Staley, but the biography “Alice In Chains: The Untold Story” was released in 2015 by journalist David de Sola. The books focuses on Layne with interviews from his friends and family. The members of AIC did not participate in any interviews for this book.
Staley appeared on all Alice in Chains releases from “We Die Young“ up to the song “Died” later taking part in reissues and compilations containing material from his time in the band.
Layne StaLey was such an amazing musician with a kind soul who just simply could not keep his mental health and addiction demons away. Unfortunately, this situation has been repeating from way before Layne was born and still continues to current day. Sadly drugs, mental disorders, and music seem to all conjoin and take so many talented musicians away at such young ages.
I found a comment on www.layne-Staley.com that said “I believe that Layne was sent to us from heaven as a spokesperson for the sufferers...” and I completely agree. He’s someone who was going through personal turmoil in a very public way. But so many people going through their own mental health disorders and addiction issues could really relate to him because he never really acted like he was famous and was so down to earth. Layne was truly a very special singer, song writer, musician and person. His music really helped me through so many of my troubles be it mental and emotional disorders to regular everyday problems. He was so beautiful inside and out. I only wish he could have gotten the help and the personal strength he needed to get his demons in check. There will never be another Layne Staley but luckily he left us with so much amazing music and videos that he will never be forgotten. I don’t believe Alice In Chains is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (I could be wrong... I’ll look it up) but they most definitely deserve a spot among the other amazing musicians ans bands who have been inducted.
Even if you are not involved in music performance like Layne and so many other musicians who died much too early, and if you are suffering from addiction or mental health disorders, I urge you to reach out to your family, friends, and rehabilitation and counseling centers. Your life is worth living. ♥️
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