I give a shit and everyone that loves him gave a shit, including people who didn’t know him - they give a shit, too - we’ll always care - love you to the moon and back, Layne 💘
Damn if that's not the truth. Wow, it couldn't be described any better!! 💔 I love this video but it just makes me so sad seeing him so sick and close to death. What a legend!!
I've often thought the same thing with that. Even though it the song was released in 1994, and Layne died in 2002. I always thought he knew he was going to die, and soon.
@@jimmys511 the key to being a better singer? Sing more. I’m in my 50s and have played music my whole life. I’ve met and played with hundreds, if not thousands, of musicians in that time. Sure, some have a natural talent for their instrument. But I can assure you, none of them for good without practice. If you love to sing, sing for you. Compare yourself to no one. If Bob Dylan can sell a quintillion albums…. (Like, seriously. The man write amazing lyrics. But his voice? Bro…) your voice is good enough to sing whatever your heat desires. Sing your heart out loud, and to all the haters offer up a salute of your two middle fingers held high. 🤘🏼
As a 57 year old man, the Seattle Music Scene was my Camelot. These guys were like a gang of Dark Angels roaming the planet. Chris, Layne, Shannon, Mark, Mike, Andy, Kurt and so many others are greatly missed by many..... especially this 57 year old man.
Layne Staley, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Shannon Hoon, Andrew Wood, - all of my favorite singers from the grunge era....all gone. That's what I was listening to in high school... Rest in Peace - all of you. 😢
Shannon YES! He doesn't get enough flowers but he is one of my FAVORITE voices. I STILL listen to Blind Melon LOL. Such a good band and singer but was around way too short of a time.
This is a man who knew the addiction had taken over. There was no turning back. You can hear the angels in his voice. He was a special gift. I believe he agreed to do this just so he could let everything he was feeling at the time to be let out. Maybe a cry for help or just to accept his fate. Truly devastating especially to all the people who loved him ❤
He actually didn’t want to go on stage and would have backed out of doing this epic show at the last minute. Fortunately his sister was backstage with him and practically made him walk out onto the set, turning out to be what I consider his greatest performance ever.
Girrrrrl.....that is Layne Staley one of the best of the best and my favorite. There will never be another like him...he died of a Heroin overdose and was probably going through it during this. That is why he looks like that. But still sounded amazing till the end.
unfortunately, layne was high this entire set. at this point in his life he was so ashamed of his appearance due to his addiction, he tried to hide his teeth as much as possible due to the decay.
He also died the same day 8 years apart from Kurt cobain, and was found a week after he died.. the poor man is/was loved by so many fans but no one nearest to him had the thought to check in on him is the saddest part
Layne is in the same vocal category as Maynard, Cornell, and probably even Freddie Mercury. That's elite territory. The dude had some of the best pipes ever.
His name was Layne Staley, and he was one of the most distinctive, most talented singers and lyricists of his era. He became a drug addict due to his bought with depression, and most of his songs are haunting reminders of his cries for help that were simply ignored because they were within the lyrics he wrote and sang.
@@j.c.kingry9609 He lost his girlfriend to an overdose and Layne never recovered. That was the beginning of his many years spiral down that ultimately led to his death. RIP Legend.
Well put! AIC is favorite band. I’m sure the others knew, but I believe he was too far gone to listen. It’s a shame to lose a talented musician like Layne to a senseless addiction. It happens unfortunately, the pressure of success of such an amazing band probably didn’t help.
This beautiful, immensely talented, gentle young man died, alone and broken, not found for 2 weeks. It's so heartbreaking and tragic. People: don't take those around you for granted, they may not be here tomorrow.
I've listened to this song thousands of times and it never fails to make my stomach drop as soon as I hear the first chords. Layne was a tortured soul who couldn't see how much he was truly loved. My heart still breaks over his death and always will.
My heart breaks every time I hear this too. When Layne passed away, It was too much for my friend "Shaggy", he was a huge Alice in Chains fan and he took his own life shortly thereafter. With tears in my eyes, I write these words. RIP
This song hits so hard for me. This is the song I went to when I was very deep in my addiction. This song helped me change my life and get sober. Love it
I have not heard, before or since, and probably never will hear a voice as hauntingly beautiful and unique as Layne's. Not to mention his and Jerry's harmonies. One in a million singer, once in a lifetime band with not a single song that isnt honest and heartfelt. Its just tragic how a drug has the power to take it all away. R.I.P. Layne😢
This was a man who was basically singing at his own funeral.... Layne was an absolute beast with his voice. Little more than 22 years have gone by and the loss is still there. He'll always be missed and loved.
If you listen to the first verse Layne sings "and yet I fight and yet I fight this battle all alone (Heroin) No one to cry to, no place to call home. RIP Layne Staley! You are Greatly missed! 😢😢
Layne got introduced to heroin from Mike Starr the bassist, and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. He struggled with addiction which was pretty much what the entire album Dirt was about. His girlfriend overdosed and after he lost her he completely gave up on life. He spent the rest of the remaining years he was alive hold up in his apartment doing heroin and playing video games. He overdosed on his couch, and wasn't found for a long time after he passed. You can see old videos of Layne before heroin and he was bright and happy. Everyone loved him, he was an amazing man. Mike Starr the bassist died of an overdose as well. Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands and watching the unplugged concert is always heart breaking.
One of my all time favorite groups and singers. No one could sing like Layne. He had many battles and unfortunately lost but saved many lives. Thank you
Wait till she googles him and learns the story behind this performance and what happens after. It’s amazing that people can pick up how haunting his voice and lyrics are without knowing the story. You can just hear it and feel it.
This is one of my favorite songs . The unplugged version is the best version. The rawness and realness of emotions he was feeling comes out in this . I saw them in the 90s and he and Jerry’s harmonizing are one of a kind . RIP Layne 🙏🖤 I love your reaction ! The power of music 🙏
Layne was great at talking about his addiction in song. Just like you everyone feels his emotion through the song . One of the best to ever do it. Sad I never got to see him live.
He did not say; id be better dead. He said; if i cant be myself, id feel better dead. Completely different. He was sending a message of self pride. Not negativity. Love you all.
I was born/raised in Oregon in the 80's. Grew up with grunge as it originated from the Seattle area. Alice in Chain's songs pretty much give you that same feeling of living up there a lot of the time. Dark, depressing but beautiful at the same time. RIP Layne Staley.
I was 15 years old when he died. I cried too...he was my favorite musician. Fast forward 22 years later and I'm 3 years older than he ever lived to be. Endlessly heartbreaking.
Layne is the man...... I've been captivated by his voice since I was 15 years...... 🤗🤗🥰 I'm so happy more people are aware this beautiful soul...... 🤗❤️❤️
The guitar said friends dont let friends get haircuts. It was directed towards metallica who were in the audience. Layne was sooo dope sick, it's amazing that it turned out so well
@@persephonel2117I saw that on a UA-cam video and lost all respect for Metallica. One of the people in the audience actually threw a shoe at James Hetfield and people started booing. James finally apologized, but not until after Layne had died. It's sad because they all had their own addictions yet they made fun of Layne.
Sad to say Lane is no longer with us. I was fortunate enough to a Alice and Chain show at The Boathouse in the spring of 94 prior to Woodstock 25th anniversary. A beautiful voice that left his love one's and fans way to soon. RIP BROTHER
One of the saddest songs of all time, they were my favorite band growing up. His voice was so powerful, their music helped me though some dark times. Rest in power Layne 🙏
I've never struggled with addiction, but most of my childhood was spent alone, and it has carried over to my adult life. I've listened to this song 1,000 times, and it still wrecks me...especially "and yet I fight, yet I fight this battle all alone. No one to cry to, no place to call home." Thank you for reacting to this and recognizing the pain he was feeling.
Man was losing his battle with addiction, and unfortunately, 6 short years later (this show is from 1996), in 2002, he lost his battle… RIP Layne Staley (August 22, 1967 - April 5, 2002)
to all the people who say " wow 3 weeks and nobody checked on him"as an addict let me tell you if i dont want to be around anyone i wont be,ive lost many holidays and family functions,i feel guilty for what it has done to my family,i know they worry and i know if they could they would scoop me up and fix me,but they cant,no one can,i didnt know layne,but i know some of his pain,maybe thats why his voice and lyrics hit me the way they do,a beautiful song from a beautiful soul,Rest in power layne
Layne Staley , one of the best. Best genre of music ever, IMO, and we've lost many great artists along the way. Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Kurt Cobain to name a few.
OMG, grlfriend. They r so amazing and Laynes voice is stunning. Makes u feel deeply connected to his soul. R.I.P. Layne, such a great loss. Thanx sis, Take care, Peace
Great Reaction Sweety ❤ yeah he was really hurting around this time with his addiction it was like he was saying I'm Done period 😢 but his haunting mesmerizing lyrics will live on 4ever🔥
As sad as the song is it’s almost uplifting and makes you feel understood when you’re going through it … Rip layne and Mike Star. you made me feel alone no longer and have helped get me through some shit forever my favorite band ❤️
this song is so deep girl. he hits you with the facts cuz we all need it at the end of the day, we all can relate but no one knows what we going throught but ourselves 🖤
this makes me cry every time.. sad to see him falling so far, and today this is the normal in every city :( We needed to heed his warning, yet, here we are...
I love that you delve deeper into the meanings behind songs, especially as someone who has always felt more comfortable expressing myself through music
One of the greatest song writers and singers from the 90’s. Couldn’t get away from the heroin. Watch wake up live by mad season. Sad but a great song. Long live lane Staley.
Layne knew he was dying at this concert the Heroin had already won at this point. He even looks back at Jerry for confimation he's doing a good job and Jerry just smiles back at him. Its heartbreaking. I believe it was during their performance of would.
Don't forget it wasn't just herion it was crack to.....miss his voice and miss the original Alice hopefully Layne and Mike are playing in Heaven with all the others that the lord took to early
It's probably the best MTV performance ever. If you take everything into account. The history leading up to the show, and Layne himself was said he had to shoot up right before the show. Then, he walked out and hit the first song perfectly. Legend. The only reason they decided to check on him was due to the fact he hadn't taken any money from his account in the previous 2 weeks😢.
@@kshavon3098according to them he had lived like a recluse for years and wouldn't answer the door for them most of the time when they did go to his apartment. His former bass player, who later also died of an overdose, said he had been there the night before he died. He said he wanted to call an ambulance for him but Layne told him if he did he would never speak to him again. It's a very sad and tragic story; one that happens too often to countless people both famous and people unknown to anyone besides their friends and family.
They tried. He wouldn't let anyone help him. He locked himself in his home and spent his nights in the corner at a bar. His house was supposedly awful and trashed, with drug paraphernalia everywhere. He was found in the middle of all of it. So sad. @@kshavon3098
This gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. I got to see them on their first tour ever opening for Van Halen and then again at Lollapalooza 3 at their absolute peak. Layne's voice would rattle my bones and clutch my heart when hearing it live. RIP Layne, you are so missed.
Layne had a great voice was a fantastic performer. He was deep in his addiction at this point and just couldn't be saved. RIP, Layne. You'll never be forgotten.
"Love, Hate, Love" LIVE 💚🤙 "Friends don't let friends..." was Mike's way of poking fun at his friends in Metallica who showed up at the concert with similar haircuts.
I remember being in high school in the early '90s, going for a bike ride in the country trying to sing like Layne. My friend riding next to me heard me singing Rooster, & said I sounded a lot like him. But no one can match Layne's vocals.
"Friends don't let friends get friends haircuts." Is what's written on the guitar. It refers to their friends from Metallica who all got their hair cut for the Black Album.
One of my all-time fav songs. You really feel the pain he's conveying through his lyrics and voice. Layne clearly suffered from depression, and his heroin addiction only added fuel to the fire. Gone way too soon.
Great reaction video. I love this band and this live performance is amazing. It's really sad as Layne Staley was fighting his struggle with addiction, the lyrics were a cry for help.
Layne Staley is one of thr best vocalists ever, For putting Emotions in just a voice. Kurt Cobain's "where did you sleep last night" is another gem of a powerful song.
The be able to be that far into addition like Layne was, and to still sound like he did. Was truly something special. One of the legends of 80 90s rock. Unique voice that will never be duplicated.
RIP Layne, the absolute best to ever do it. Still makes me sad every time i see this unplugged performance. I aint crying, you're crying! I do not know what i continue to do this to myself but anytime i seen this performance on youtube i have to click it.
Layne was a highly sensitive empathic person , a tortured soul,. as myself i can tell you we only get so many of us in a decade & in a lifetime, and if you get to share yourself with the world on high ground esp. in a band playing music and showing your all i m sure has it's toll, he also battled addiction. and addiction also comes with others such as trauma, ptsd,adhd, depression, high functioning anxiety. He was very beautiful and locked himself away from others during the last bit of his life. I commend anyone with such love within famous or not its a very heavy burden to carry. much love and light to everyone, and those especially who know & have the struggle . blessed be.!
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was doing other drugs on top of Heroin). His liver was damaged from the years of drug use and he knew it. He was just high enough to do the show to deal with the withdrawal symptoms and so he didn't get dope sick. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to the path Layne had chosen for his life. That show was filmed in April 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a 6-year-long slow suicide. On Unplugged, Scott Olson was the second guitarist. He was there to boost the guitar sound on the stage. Layne was better Live than the studio version. LOVE HATE LOVE live at the Moore in December 1990 is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. Other rock bands should strive to have a live performance that perfect. Layne Staley's vocal range can run rings around any other grunge singer in my opinion. Layne could sing the phone book and never hit a wrong note. Even at the end of his life, with no teeth and a lisp, his voice, wit and humor were all still there. Layne's voice and vocal range were so powerful he did NOT need auto tune or pro-tools until he lost his teeth and had a lisp around 1998, and even then he still killed the vocals. (He started losing his teeth in 1995 due to grinding) Barrett Martin (who played with Layne in Mad Season) said that when he stood to the side of the stage, he could hear the sound of Layne's vocal resonance come out of Layne's body LOUDER than it did coming out of the speakers, Layne's voice was that powerful. I'm in the camp of No Layne/No Chains, because no matter which singer you put up there to sing those songs, it'll only be a cover. Layne had a unique voice you cannot replicate or replace. A lot of those songs were great because Layne pretty much wrung his entire soul out singing them, others were personal to Layne and to have someone else sing those, the songs lose their meaning because the new guy didn't go through the ordeals those songs are inspired by. William DuVall singing THEM BONES on the 2006 reunion tsunami gig.... William DOES NOT have the power in his voice that Layne had especially for that song. Maynard James Keenan could get remotely close to Layne's vocal range for that song (and many others). And Maynard would have the reverence for Layne's memory, he was friends with Layne, he KNEW Layne, had a history with Layne, and saw what Layne went through from Lollapalooza 93 until Layne became a recluse. Besides, Maynard already had 3 bands going on, why not join a fourth band? He had tried rehab 13 times, but he could never completely give it up. He tried quitting cold turkey on two of the last attempts at rehab, but neither one worked either. Mad Season is made up of Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, and John Baker Saunders and they all went through rehab. They all got together and dragged Layne out of his condo, got him excited about doing ABOVE album, thinking if he was creative he wouldn't want the drugs, and for the length of time it took to do that, Layne was excited about the project, but it didn't curb his drug habit. Layne wrote the lyrics to the songs he sang on the ABOVE album (minus the John Lennon cover song I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier) and he drew the cover art for the album. NUTSHELL was about how magazines like FOR EXAMPLE Rolling Stone only reported on Layne's addiction as if that were the only thing that defined the band as well as Layne's depression. Rolling Stone magazine has some unknown thing to do with the Hall of Fame, and after what Rolling Stone did to Layne and the band in the 1996 The Needle and the Damage Done article ("Oh no, it will be about the music" "Oh yeah, the band's picture will be on the cover" turns out it was only Layne on the cover and the article focused on Layne's addiction -- which Layne DID NOT want to happen -- and everything going wrong internally with the band.) that pissed off AIC management and the entire band to the point they threatened to kick the writer, Jon Weiderhorn's ass over it. I don't see Rolling Stone chomping at the bit to vote AIC into the Hall of Fame. Although if they do finally get in with William as the singer and NOT Layne. I'm going to be pissed. As far back as late 1992, Rolling Stone has personally had a bone to pick with Layne Staley, even though I can name a dozen bands who wrote about drugs in their lyrics that Rolling Stone never cared to target before or after Layne came along. Layne’s mentioned Rolling Stone hounding him in passing to Riki Rachtman during the New Orleans episode of Headbanger’s Ball in late 1992 when Layne and Mike Starr tour New Orleans and a Voodoo museum with Riki back then. There were other magazines and "reporters" BEFORE 1996 that hounded Layne over his drug addiction. Rolling Stone wasn't the only rag mag to do it. Spin Magazine and many other tabloid music mags only wanted to focus on Layne's addiction. It's why they stopped doing interviews for the longest time, and after the 1996 Rolling Stone interview, they closed ranks and as far as I know, while Layne was alive they never granted another interview. They DID do Rockline in 1998 (Layne called in while Jerry was promoting his Boggy Depot solo album) and 1999 (when the band was promoting Nothing Safe and the Music Bank box set). But for the most part, they closed ranks around each other. MTV (and the music industry) has more or less blackballed Layne (and yet, they laud over Kurt Cobain every April 5th, because Kurt was the "face of grunge", meanwhile Layne gets a "by the way"). The Grammys went so far as to invite Jerry, Mike, and Sean to the Grammy show in 2003 and then refused to put Layne's picture up in the memorial of the musicians who died in 2002. (Or they "forgot" to) which pissed Jerry, Mike, and Sean off and they walked out on the show. Even though the music industry would like to have written him out of history, Layne DID exist. He was on this earth for 34 years. In that time he wrote songs that gave a normal person insight into the mind and journey of an addict. The pain and depression he endured to write the most brutally honest lyrics a musician could write concerning his feelings on his own addiction, his depression, and the tumultuous relationship with his former fiancee Demri. The emotional and physical strength he had to perform those songs live when all he wanted to do was curl away and lose himself in the drug haze I can’t imagine what it was like for him. He was hounded by the press about his addiction. He was ridiculed for his addiction. The music industry blackballed him for his addiction. The Grammys forgot about him when he died. As far as MTV and music rag mags like Rolling Stone were concerned he’s just another addicted singer. They don’t want to acknowledge his contributions to music. Layne Staley WASN'T just some rock star junkie. HE DESERVED BETTER than what he received from the people around him who he thought mattered. He wrote about drugs, his addiction, what he was feeling and what he was going through with maturity and knowledge well beyond his years. He didn’t deserve to be turned into tabloid cannon fodder by the press. I remember a show in London on February 26, 1993 where a reporter who was based in London wrote about a concert they did in another part of Europe and got Mike Inez confused with Mike Starr. Layne got on the microphone between them finishing HATE TO FEEL and beginning ANGRY CHAIR and said, "I want to say um, I want to say hello to the guy who wrote the review on the show a few weeks back. You’re in London - an enemy. I want to introduce our bass player, MIKE INEZ, not Mike Starr, you fucking idiot! Fuck that prick! Fuck the press! We’re not playing for the fucking press, all right?” "Layne was just an incomparable talent. He was like a fucking myna bird. Any accent or sound or voice, he could just immediately repeat it. He just had a gift. And I’d like to think that I have a bit of a gift myself. One of the funniest descriptions I’ve ever heard, and I don’t know that it’s true, but it just sounds fucking great, was we sound like “the satanic Everly Brothers.” Together we were kind of a two-headed monster. It added a lot of depth to the material the way we worked together." -- Jerry Cantrell (Noisey, June 7, 2018) My Top 20 AIC songs... Love Hate Love (Live at the Moore, December 1990...Layne Staley in his prime and is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. All other rock bands should strive to have a live performance this perfect), Man in the Box (Live at Weedsport, NY 1991 - the Layne’s Pissed Version...though the original version may be better to react to, because Weedsport was during Clash of the Titans tour where Slayer fans were giving the band crap and Layne got pissed and changed the lyrics), Bleed the Freak (Live at the Moore, December 1990), It Ain’t Like That (if you need a video use Singles Pro Shot video), Queen of the Rodeo (Live in Dallas, TX 1990), Real Thing (Live ANYWHERE), Them Bones, God Smack (Live at Hollywood Rock, 1993), Grind, Again, No Excuses, Brush Away, Frogs, Sludge Factory (During MTV Unplugged 1996, Layne screwed up the 2nd verse like 8 times, though the show only included one of those times), What the Hell Have I, God Am, Got Me Wrong, Swing On This, Social Parasite, We Die Young
Layne was so special. I saw a video where they were saying the notes he was hitting in that live version of "love hate love" were notes that no other singer could hit. Something about the transition. I don't fully remember. But Layne is one of those musicians of time immemorial. The way he was treated is beyond reprehensible and I believe to be a black mark on their souls.
@@kshavon3098 you should give River of Deceit by Mad Season a listen. That was a project Layne did after Alice in Chains. The song is hauntingly beautiful enough but knowing what happened to him it makes it hit so much harder.
It’s Layne Staley. Very unfortunately we lost him in 2002 to a heroine overdose. In my opinion and many others, best singer of the 90’s. This was one of his last performances. Such a unique voice.
Check out Love Hate Love live at the Moore. That is the best live performance in history in my opinion. It showcases a different side of Layne when he was healthy the raw power he had was untouchable. You can literally feel the lyrics coming thru your headphones
One of the saddest stories in all of Rock music. Addiction is a terrible thing. I didn't go thru the comments so I don't know if anyone said this yet, but the rest of the band didn't actually know if he would come on stage to do the concert. This was MTV Unplugged, the biggest thing back then. His voice control is amazing. Love your videos.
He almost didn’t show up to this show his band almost went on without him but like 20 minutes before going on he showed up and went on to sing.. I’m glad he did
My favorite AIC song by far. Knowing his story before listening to it would most likely hit super hard. About six months after this show his girlfriend OD'd and it sent him deeper than he already was. Layne is the best singer this city has ever produced, ever. He was essentially in the 27 club but it took his body a few more years to figure that out. His soul was gone but his body held out.
The bass player (Mike Inez) wrote "friends don't let friends get haircuts" on his acoustic bass just before the show. He did it because their friends, Metallica, were at that show and saw them backstage before the performance. The guys in Metallica had always had long hair and had just cut their hair (each member) to give the band a new look. From what I understand, this show was the first appearance Metallica had made since they all cut their hair.
to add one nitpicky thing, he wrote "friends don't let friends get friend's haircuts" basically comparing their haircuts to the characters on the show Friends
It's crazy how often we miss the signs. You heard this one time an recognized the pain and the danger. Cheers to you for being able to hear what so many didn't.
Being that this was the first song, 10 minutes before Layne came on stage Layne was dope sick hurting. Layne was still rushing on heroin at the beginning of this song. Talk about being in the moment. I so wish I could go back in time, give Layne a big hug, and a huge stash of Suboxone.
Lol I love this woman hahahaha mad genuine with her reviews of layne
EVEN THO I THINK UA-camS IS GOING TO TAKE DOWN MY VID…I GOT TO 📌 UR COMMENT ♥️♥️
rip man.....so sad no one gave a shit.............
yeah good stuff,subscribed after 30s
@@Aaron-pp5dn THANK U♥️
I give a shit and everyone that loves him gave a shit, including people who didn’t know him - they give a shit, too - we’ll always care - love you to the moon and back, Layne 💘
someone commented on the original video and said “it’s like a man singing his own eulogy” and that shit hit like a brick it’s gut wrenching
Jesus Christ. The way that is the truth.
Damn if that's not the truth. Wow, it couldn't be described any better!! 💔 I love this video but it just makes me so sad seeing him so sick and close to death. What a legend!!
Agreed... gut wrenching and chilling. When someone mentions the band or Layne, I begin to tear eye.
He will always be my fave singer.
I've often thought the same thing with that. Even though it the song was released in 1994, and Layne died in 2002. I always thought he knew he was going to die, and soon.
I think that comment went something like-Ever see a man sing at his own funeral? This is the closest you’ll get.
Lane was one of the greatest voices in the history of rock. Such a tragedy…
Indeed 😢
Miss him very much.
He’s one of the greatest voices in the history of music
100% if I was able to sing I would want to sing like him
@@jimmys511 the key to being a better singer? Sing more. I’m in my 50s and have played music my whole life. I’ve met and played with hundreds, if not thousands, of musicians in that time. Sure, some have a natural talent for their instrument. But I can assure you, none of them for good without practice.
If you love to sing, sing for you. Compare yourself to no one. If Bob Dylan can sell a quintillion albums…. (Like, seriously. The man write amazing lyrics. But his voice? Bro…) your voice is good enough to sing whatever your heat desires.
Sing your heart out loud, and to all the haters offer up a salute of your two middle fingers held high.
🤘🏼
“My bad habits aren’t my title. My strengths and my talent are my title.” - Layne Staley 💙
Layne will forever be like the boy in your english class who never talks, but writes beautiful poetry and just grew his first little beard.
😭😭😭 this
As a 57 year old man, the Seattle Music Scene was my Camelot. These guys were like a gang of Dark Angels roaming the planet. Chris, Layne, Shannon, Mark, Mike, Andy, Kurt and so many others are greatly missed by many..... especially this 57 year old man.
57 ehh! College boy! J/K! You’re right! Mike Star still killed the base and is another tragic tale altogether. Hey, he outlived Cobain.
Hey man right there with ya.. I loved being over in Seattle during the late eighties and early nineties. Good times
Yessir I'm 61 and Grunge got me through alot of tuff times 👍🙏😢
This Era was pure gold. Music had so much emotion.
Hell Yeah. Shannon. fucking Hero. Giving us all hîgH 5iveş
ua-cam.com/video/vL18n5jyHJM/v-deo.html
"I don't know who he is but he look like he sad" = the most accurate description of Layne ever laid down
🙏🏾😘
Layne Staley, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Shannon Hoon, Andrew Wood, - all of my favorite singers from the grunge era....all gone. That's what I was listening to in high school... Rest in Peace - all of you. 😢
Same here 😢
We lost those who were our voice and can listen to again and remember them
Shannon YES! He doesn't get enough flowers but he is one of my FAVORITE voices. I STILL listen to Blind Melon LOL. Such a good band and singer but was around way too short of a time.
I'd trade Eddy for any one of them.
Yep my time too.....high school 1990 - 1994 , brisbane Australia..........great real genuine times
This is a man who knew the addiction had taken over. There was no turning back. You can hear the angels in his voice. He was a special gift. I believe he agreed to do this just so he could let everything he was feeling at the time to be let out. Maybe a cry for help or just to accept his fate. Truly devastating especially to all the people who loved him ❤
AGREE
He actually didn’t want to go on stage and would have backed out of doing this epic show at the last minute. Fortunately his sister was backstage with him and practically made him walk out onto the set, turning out to be what I consider his greatest performance ever.
Truly great artist.
When I watch his videos I feel sad. What a waste. Never got to see him in person.
Look up Demri Parrot. He was broken after her death...
@@jessicakempinski6546not to mention he got her hooked on heroin. The song Again, Would, and Died is about her.
Girrrrrl.....that is Layne Staley one of the best of the best and my favorite. There will never be another like him...he died of a Heroin overdose and was probably going through it during this. That is why he looks like that. But still sounded amazing till the end.
💔
Lane was high during the Unplugged sessions...thus the glasses, slurred lyrics....look it up!! RIP Layne.
unfortunately, layne was high this entire set. at this point in his life he was so ashamed of his appearance due to his addiction, he tried to hide his teeth as much as possible due to the decay.
He also died the same day 8 years apart from Kurt cobain, and was found a week after he died.. the poor man is/was loved by so many fans but no one nearest to him had the thought to check in on him is the saddest part
@@xxxwishlistxxx we wore gloves to hide the track marks on his hands in this set. Rip Layne.
Layne is in the same vocal category as Maynard, Cornell, and probably even Freddie Mercury. That's elite territory. The dude had some of the best pipes ever.
The same as Cornell uuuuuhhhhh.
Born in 73’ saw AIC live and it changed my life.
Maynard? Hmmm 🤔
Maynard? Really..lmfao.
100%
You know a song is a banger when it pulls an emotion out of you. Alice In Chains had many bangers.
Absofuckinlutely! AIC was epic. What a loss to the world when Layne passed away.
His name was Layne Staley, and he was one of the most distinctive, most talented singers and lyricists of his era. He became a drug addict due to his bought with depression, and most of his songs are haunting reminders of his cries for help that were simply ignored because they were within the lyrics he wrote and sang.
This comment sums it up. He was a happy man early on. Addiction over came him. Go watch their earlier years. Not the same guy
@@j.c.kingry9609 He lost his girlfriend to an overdose and Layne never recovered. That was the beginning of his many years spiral down that ultimately led to his death. RIP Legend.
Well put! AIC is favorite band.
I’m sure the others knew, but I believe he was too far gone to listen.
It’s a shame to lose a talented musician like Layne to a senseless addiction.
It happens unfortunately, the pressure of success of such an amazing band probably didn’t help.
This beautiful, immensely talented, gentle young man died, alone and broken, not found for 2 weeks. It's so heartbreaking and tragic. People: don't take those around you for granted, they may not be here tomorrow.
Hence the Candlebox song "Maybe" that was said to have been named "Andy". "Friends watch you crumble to the ground. They watch you suffer"
@@slowstang88 thanks got song in my head now lol
Life is short ..tell your people u live them any time u see them no one has the promise of tommorroq my ma use to say rip ma and layne..
I've listened to this song thousands of times and it never fails to make my stomach drop as soon as I hear the first chords. Layne was a tortured soul who couldn't see how much he was truly loved. My heart still breaks over his death and always will.
My heart breaks every time I hear this too. When Layne passed away, It was too much for my friend "Shaggy", he was a huge Alice in Chains fan and he took his own life shortly thereafter. With tears in my eyes, I write these words. RIP
@@billross7078rip shaggy. hes rocking up there w layne.
This song hits so hard for me. This is the song I went to when I was very deep in my addiction. This song helped me change my life and get sober. Love it
This entire set is sad as fuck and amazing
AGREE
My favorite of all time. Defined my 20's
One of my all time favorite albums….at the same time one of the hardest to listen to and watch
Well put.
Best acoustic album ever. Nirvana unplugged a very,very,very close second. Love Layne.
I have not heard, before or since, and probably never will hear a voice as hauntingly beautiful and unique as Layne's. Not to mention his and Jerry's harmonies. One in a million singer, once in a lifetime band with not a single song that isnt honest and heartfelt. Its just tragic how a drug has the power to take it all away. R.I.P. Layne😢
So true and beautifully said
One of my favorite articles written about his life said he had the voice of a fallen angel.
It was a perfect description.
You absolutely nailed it with that brilliant comment.
Sooo powerful this performance..tears..every time..BEST unplugged ever
DEFINITELY 💯
This was a man who was basically singing at his own funeral.... Layne was an absolute beast with his voice. Little more than 22 years have gone by and the loss is still there. He'll always be missed and loved.
I'm actually in tears right now. This song rips me apart every time. Gut wrenching. IDK why I do this to myself.
ITS OK, ITS A BEAUTIFUL SONG
Me too brother, me too
Pain is like cold water 🙏
It's our empathy and the dark within us, man....hits me EVERY SINGLE TIME as it was the first time. RIP Layne 😢
Agreed ..got damn 😞
How can you not be moved by this song and especially this version of it. Gives me chills every time he hits the opening note “we”
You pretty much nailed it. Beautiful performance from a man who knew he was on the exit ramp. It touches all of us.
🙏🏾😘
If you listen to the first verse Layne sings "and yet I fight and yet I fight this battle all alone (Heroin) No one to cry to, no place to call home. RIP Layne Staley! You are Greatly missed! 😢😢
SO HURTFUL BUT THE WORDS ARE POWERFUL
😭 tears flowing right now ❤
The song is actually about the down side of fame lol but ok.....
He was living what he and millions of have experienced yet only a few have been blessed to make it through.
Layne got introduced to heroin from Mike Starr the bassist, and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. He struggled with addiction which was pretty much what the entire album Dirt was about. His girlfriend overdosed and after he lost her he completely gave up on life. He spent the rest of the remaining years he was alive hold up in his apartment doing heroin and playing video games. He overdosed on his couch, and wasn't found for a long time after he passed.
You can see old videos of Layne before heroin and he was bright and happy. Everyone loved him, he was an amazing man. Mike Starr the bassist died of an overdose as well. Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands and watching the unplugged concert is always heart breaking.
💔
I had heard that he was introduced to heroin from his bio father. Trying to be accepted by him. Either story has the same awful ending. 😥
Well Said Sir
Very few performances make you feel so deeply in the soul…I remember this when it first aired and still nothing hits like this one. RIP brother
Layne was always my favourite singer of the grunge guys, him and Jerry made magic with those harmonies
One of my all time favorite groups and singers. No one could sing like Layne. He had many battles and unfortunately lost but saved many lives. Thank you
Wait till she googles him and learns the story behind this performance and what happens after. It’s amazing that people can pick up how haunting his voice and lyrics are without knowing the story. You can just hear it and feel it.
THEY TOLD ME💔
His addiction is all up in this song. Most beautiful sad song ever. He was telling us all along. R.I.P Layne 😢
This is one of my favorite songs . The unplugged version is the best version. The rawness and realness of emotions he was feeling comes out in this . I saw them in the 90s and he and Jerry’s harmonizing are one of a kind . RIP Layne 🙏🖤 I love your reaction ! The power of music 🙏
THX BABE
This version is the worst, he was a god amongst all!!! To hear him not be at his 100% is more heartbreaking, drugs r bad mmmmmkay
All the vibe you picked up was about as spot on as possible !
Yes it's so sad.
THANK U! WATCHING THE VIDEO MADE ME FELT SUM TYPE OF WAY
Ive read somewhere, someone described this performance as sounding like he was singing at his own funeral... and ive never recovered.
Layne was great at talking about his addiction in song. Just like you everyone feels his emotion through the song . One of the best to ever do it. Sad I never got to see him live.
As someone who battled opiate addiction for 14 years I feel every single note of this song. RIP Lane
He did not say; id be better dead. He said; if i cant be myself, id feel better dead. Completely different. He was sending a message of self pride. Not negativity.
Love you all.
It's the musical equivalency of "Give me liberty, or give me death."
I was born/raised in Oregon in the 80's. Grew up with grunge as it originated from the Seattle area. Alice in Chain's songs pretty much give you that same feeling of living up there a lot of the time. Dark, depressing but beautiful at the same time. RIP Layne Staley.
I was 15 years old when he died. I cried too...he was my favorite musician. Fast forward 22 years later and I'm 3 years older than he ever lived to be. Endlessly heartbreaking.
Layne is the man...... I've been captivated by his voice since I was 15 years...... 🤗🤗🥰
I'm so happy more people are aware this beautiful soul...... 🤗❤️❤️
The guitar said friends dont let friends get haircuts. It was directed towards metallica who were in the audience. Layne was sooo dope sick, it's amazing that it turned out so well
as Brando said it was for metallica in the audience@@tubafishy
Metallica had released their “load” album and had cut their hair. They were frowned upon for a bit because of that.
@tubafishy it's not about Friends lol. It's about Metallica.
@@ArticLight14Metallica also dissed Layne publicly during a show and made fun of his addiction.
@@persephonel2117I saw that on a UA-cam video and lost all respect for Metallica. One of the people in the audience actually threw a shoe at James Hetfield and people started booing. James finally apologized, but not until after Layne had died. It's sad because they all had their own addictions yet they made fun of Layne.
This song. ❤ Always a favorite. It's absolutely incredible. Just an amazing voice.
you are stunning candace 😍
For me, this is the most beautiful and heartbreaking song to have ever been written!! This version in particular.
Sad to say Lane is no longer with us. I was fortunate enough to a Alice and Chain show at The Boathouse in the spring of 94 prior to Woodstock 25th anniversary. A beautiful voice that left his love one's and fans way to soon. RIP BROTHER
Love your response/ reaction to this. Thank you for your empathy, authenticity and appreciation of this kind of music.
This is a one hell of a rabbit hole but definitely worth the journey
He was deep in addition...I've been listening to this song for years and years...I still cry....RIP Layne...You will never be replaced
So deep into addition that he got subtracted. 💔
One of the saddest songs of all time, they were my favorite band growing up. His voice was so powerful, their music helped me though some dark times. Rest in power Layne 🙏
Pain is a major part of all great music and this is no exception, Hands down the best recorded music ever! RIP Layne
I could watch this everyday... Layne ...man! This whole set hurts to the bone but I live it
I've never struggled with addiction, but most of my childhood was spent alone, and it has carried over to my adult life. I've listened to this song 1,000 times, and it still wrecks me...especially "and yet I fight, yet I fight this battle all alone. No one to cry to, no place to call home." Thank you for reacting to this and recognizing the pain he was feeling.
UR WELCOME ♥️♥️
Man was losing his battle with addiction, and unfortunately, 6 short years later (this show is from 1996), in 2002, he lost his battle…
RIP Layne Staley (August 22, 1967 - April 5, 2002)
YES RIP
to all the people who say " wow 3 weeks and nobody checked on him"as an addict let me tell you if i dont want to be around anyone i wont be,ive lost many holidays and family functions,i feel guilty for what it has done to my family,i know they worry and i know if they could they would scoop me up and fix me,but they cant,no one can,i didnt know layne,but i know some of his pain,maybe thats why his voice and lyrics hit me the way they do,a beautiful song from a beautiful soul,Rest in power layne
Layne Staley , one of the best. Best genre of music ever, IMO, and we've lost many great artists along the way. Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Kurt Cobain to name a few.
OMG, grlfriend. They r so amazing and Laynes voice is stunning. Makes u feel deeply connected to his soul. R.I.P. Layne, such a great loss. Thanx sis, Take care, Peace
♥️♥️
Great Reaction Sweety ❤ yeah he was really hurting around this time with his addiction it was like he was saying I'm Done period 😢 but his haunting mesmerizing lyrics will live on 4ever🔥
I COULD TELL HE WAS DEPRESSED BUT DAMN THATS SO SAD
As sad as the song is it’s almost uplifting and makes you feel understood when you’re going through it … Rip layne and Mike Star. you made me feel alone no longer and have helped get me through some shit forever my favorite band ❤️
this song is so deep girl. he hits you with the facts cuz we all need it at the end of the day, we all can relate but no one knows what we going throught but ourselves 🖤
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reaction. It’s a gift to share empathy with the world and your reaction to this song is pure empathy.
UR WELCOME BABE
this makes me cry every time.. sad to see him falling so far, and today this is the normal in every city :( We needed to heed his warning, yet, here we are...
Lane's musical style had such a massive impact on my life. A legend in my mind. Thanks for your video.
UR WELCOME
Let’s not underestimate how crisp the drums sound, how deep the acoustic bass sounds and the cleanliness of Jerry guitar.
YES♥️♥️
Sean Kinney is such a great drummer
And Jerry's harmonies...
@@christikirk7265no doubt!
Oh yes. The best MTV unplugged set of them all. Masterpiece
One Of The Greatest Voices of All Time!! This Song Brings Me To Tears Everytime I Hear It It Hits Home
I love that you delve deeper into the meanings behind songs, especially as someone who has always felt more comfortable expressing myself through music
THX BEAUTIFUL
One of the greatest song writers and singers from the 90’s. Couldn’t get away from the heroin. Watch wake up live by mad season. Sad but a great song. Long live lane Staley.
Layne knew he was dying at this concert the Heroin had already won at this point. He even looks back at Jerry for confimation he's doing a good job and Jerry just smiles back at him. Its heartbreaking. I believe it was during their performance of would.
Don't forget it wasn't just herion it was crack to.....miss his voice and miss the original Alice hopefully Layne and Mike are playing in Heaven with all the others that the lord took to early
It's probably the best MTV performance ever. If you take everything into account. The history leading up to the show, and Layne himself was said he had to shoot up right before the show. Then, he walked out and hit the first song perfectly. Legend. The only reason they decided to check on him was due to the fact he hadn't taken any money from his account in the previous 2 weeks😢.
OMG BUT IT TOOK THAT LONG?! DAMN WHERE WAS HIS FRIENDS AND FAM? 🤦🏾♀️
No he didn't hit it like he could of
@@kshavon3098according to them he had lived like a recluse for years and wouldn't answer the door for them most of the time when they did go to his apartment. His former bass player, who later also died of an overdose, said he had been there the night before he died. He said he wanted to call an ambulance for him but Layne told him if he did he would never speak to him again. It's a very sad and tragic story; one that happens too often to countless people both famous and people unknown to anyone besides their friends and family.
@@kshavon3098He was depressed and on drugs so it was normal for him to disappear. He started retreating from everyone around him.
They tried. He wouldn't let anyone help him. He locked himself in his home and spent his nights in the corner at a bar. His house was supposedly awful and trashed, with drug paraphernalia everywhere. He was found in the middle of all of it. So sad. @@kshavon3098
This gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. I got to see them on their first tour ever opening for Van Halen and then again at Lollapalooza 3 at their absolute peak. Layne's voice would rattle my bones and clutch my heart when hearing it live. RIP Layne, you are so missed.
Layne had a great voice was a fantastic performer. He was deep in his addiction at this point and just couldn't be saved. RIP, Layne. You'll never be forgotten.
"Love, Hate, Love" LIVE 💚🤙 "Friends don't let friends..." was Mike's way of poking fun at his friends in Metallica who showed up at the concert with similar haircuts.
I remember being in high school in the early '90s, going for a bike ride in the country trying to sing like Layne. My friend riding next to me heard me singing Rooster, & said I sounded a lot like him. But no one can match Layne's vocals.
"Friends don't let friends get friends haircuts." Is what's written on the guitar.
It refers to their friends from Metallica who all got their hair cut for the Black Album.
It was for Load. They still had long hair on the black album.
One of my all-time fav songs. You really feel the pain he's conveying through his lyrics and voice. Layne clearly suffered from depression, and his heroin addiction only added fuel to the fire. Gone way too soon.
Great reaction video. I love this band and this live performance is amazing. It's really sad as Layne Staley was fighting his struggle with addiction, the lyrics were a cry for help.
THANK U♥️
Layne Staley is one of thr best vocalists ever, For putting Emotions in just a voice. Kurt Cobain's "where did you sleep last night" is another gem of a powerful song.
OOUU I REACTED TO THAT THE OTHER NIGHT! IT SHOULD BE UPLOADED IN THE MORNING IF IT DONT GET BLOCKED
Alice in Chains is music for your soul. At times the music is dark, deep and somber but your moods change its tune. AIC is amazing
YES
Oh… this is really sad… Layne soul is broken…😕
Amazing artist! 🤘🏻
YES
The be able to be that far into addition like Layne was, and to still sound like he did. Was truly something special. One of the legends of 80 90s rock. Unique voice that will never be duplicated.
💯
RIP Layne, the absolute best to ever do it. Still makes me sad every time i see this unplugged performance. I aint crying, you're crying! I do not know what i continue to do this to myself but anytime i seen this performance on youtube i have to click it.
@00:55 His guitar says "Friends don't let friends get haircuts". Metallica was in attendance and had just cut off all their hair.
THX
You should have heard him in 1990 live😢 Layne was my Generation’s SUPERNOVA Seeing them in the 90’s was beyond amazing i know he’s at peace now👊🙏🏻
When I first heard this song I couldn't believe how amazing and emotional it was
YES ME TOO
Layne was a highly sensitive empathic person , a tortured soul,. as myself i can tell you we only get so many of us in a decade & in a lifetime, and if you get to share yourself with the world on high ground esp. in a band playing music and showing your all i m sure has it's toll, he also battled addiction. and addiction also comes with others such as trauma, ptsd,adhd, depression, high functioning anxiety. He was very beautiful and locked himself away from others during the last bit of his life. I commend anyone with such love within famous or not its a very heavy burden to carry. much love and light to everyone, and those especially who know & have the struggle . blessed be.!
You picked the Greatest Alice song, one of the , if not the best rock band of all time..... Kudos madam from the UK. Instant subscription 👍
HEY NEW BEST FRIEND ♥️♥️♥️THX BABE😘
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was doing other drugs on top of Heroin). His liver was damaged from the years of drug use and he knew it. He was just high enough to do the show to deal with the withdrawal symptoms and so he didn't get dope sick. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to the path Layne had chosen for his life. That show was filmed in April 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a 6-year-long slow suicide.
On Unplugged, Scott Olson was the second guitarist. He was there to boost the guitar sound on the stage.
Layne was better Live than the studio version. LOVE HATE LOVE live at the Moore in December 1990 is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. Other rock bands should strive to have a live performance that perfect.
Layne Staley's vocal range can run rings around any other grunge singer in my opinion. Layne could sing the phone book and never hit a wrong note. Even at the end of his life, with no teeth and a lisp, his voice, wit and humor were all still there. Layne's voice and vocal range were so powerful he did NOT need auto tune or pro-tools until he lost his teeth and had a lisp around 1998, and even then he still killed the vocals. (He started losing his teeth in 1995 due to grinding)
Barrett Martin (who played with Layne in Mad Season) said that when he stood to the side of the stage, he could hear the sound of Layne's vocal resonance come out of Layne's body LOUDER than it did coming out of the speakers, Layne's voice was that powerful.
I'm in the camp of No Layne/No Chains, because no matter which singer you put up there to sing those songs, it'll only be a cover. Layne had a unique voice you cannot replicate or replace. A lot of those songs were great because Layne pretty much wrung his entire soul out singing them, others were personal to Layne and to have someone else sing those, the songs lose their meaning because the new guy didn't go through the ordeals those songs are inspired by.
William DuVall singing THEM BONES on the 2006 reunion tsunami gig.... William DOES NOT have the power in his voice that Layne had especially for that song. Maynard James Keenan could get remotely close to Layne's vocal range for that song (and many others). And Maynard would have the reverence for Layne's memory, he was friends with Layne, he KNEW Layne, had a history with Layne, and saw what Layne went through from Lollapalooza 93 until Layne became a recluse. Besides, Maynard already had 3 bands going on, why not join a fourth band?
He had tried rehab 13 times, but he could never completely give it up. He tried quitting cold turkey on two of the last attempts at rehab, but neither one worked either. Mad Season is made up of Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, and John Baker Saunders and they all went through rehab. They all got together and dragged Layne out of his condo, got him excited about doing ABOVE album, thinking if he was creative he wouldn't want the drugs, and for the length of time it took to do that, Layne was excited about the project, but it didn't curb his drug habit. Layne wrote the lyrics to the songs he sang on the ABOVE album (minus the John Lennon cover song I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier) and he drew the cover art for the album.
NUTSHELL was about how magazines like FOR EXAMPLE Rolling Stone only reported on Layne's addiction as if that were the only thing that defined the band as well as Layne's depression.
Rolling Stone magazine has some unknown thing to do with the Hall of Fame, and after what Rolling Stone did to Layne and the band in the 1996 The Needle and the Damage Done article ("Oh no, it will be about the music" "Oh yeah, the band's picture will be on the cover" turns out it was only Layne on the cover and the article focused on Layne's addiction -- which Layne DID NOT want to happen -- and everything going wrong internally with the band.) that pissed off AIC management and the entire band to the point they threatened to kick the writer, Jon Weiderhorn's ass over it. I don't see Rolling Stone chomping at the bit to vote AIC into the Hall of Fame. Although if they do finally get in with William as the singer and NOT Layne. I'm going to be pissed.
As far back as late 1992, Rolling Stone has personally had a bone to pick with Layne Staley, even though I can name a dozen bands who wrote about drugs in their lyrics that Rolling Stone never cared to target before or after Layne came along. Layne’s mentioned Rolling Stone hounding him in passing to Riki Rachtman during the New Orleans episode of Headbanger’s Ball in late 1992 when Layne and Mike Starr tour New Orleans and a Voodoo museum with Riki back then.
There were other magazines and "reporters" BEFORE 1996 that hounded Layne over his drug addiction. Rolling Stone wasn't the only rag mag to do it. Spin Magazine and many other tabloid music mags only wanted to focus on Layne's addiction. It's why they stopped doing interviews for the longest time, and after the 1996 Rolling Stone interview, they closed ranks and as far as I know, while Layne was alive they never granted another interview. They DID do Rockline in 1998 (Layne called in while Jerry was promoting his Boggy Depot solo album) and 1999 (when the band was promoting Nothing Safe and the Music Bank box set). But for the most part, they closed ranks around each other.
MTV (and the music industry) has more or less blackballed Layne (and yet, they laud over Kurt Cobain every April 5th, because Kurt was the "face of grunge", meanwhile Layne gets a "by the way"). The Grammys went so far as to invite Jerry, Mike, and Sean to the Grammy show in 2003 and then refused to put Layne's picture up in the memorial of the musicians who died in 2002. (Or they "forgot" to) which pissed Jerry, Mike, and Sean off and they walked out on the show.
Even though the music industry would like to have written him out of history, Layne DID exist. He was on this earth for 34 years. In that time he wrote songs that gave a normal person insight into the mind and journey of an addict. The pain and depression he endured to write the most brutally honest lyrics a musician could write concerning his feelings on his own addiction, his depression, and the tumultuous relationship with his former fiancee Demri. The emotional and physical strength he had to perform those songs live when all he wanted to do was curl away and lose himself in the drug haze I can’t imagine what it was like for him. He was hounded by the press about his addiction. He was ridiculed for his addiction. The music industry blackballed him for his addiction. The Grammys forgot about him when he died. As far as MTV and music rag mags like Rolling Stone were concerned he’s just another addicted singer. They don’t want to acknowledge his contributions to music.
Layne Staley WASN'T just some rock star junkie. HE DESERVED BETTER than what he received from the people around him who he thought mattered. He wrote about drugs, his addiction, what he was feeling and what he was going through with maturity and knowledge well beyond his years. He didn’t deserve to be turned into tabloid cannon fodder by the press.
I remember a show in London on February 26, 1993 where a reporter who was based in London wrote about a concert they did in another part of Europe and got Mike Inez confused with Mike Starr. Layne got on the microphone between them finishing HATE TO FEEL and beginning ANGRY CHAIR and said, "I want to say um, I want to say hello to the guy who wrote the review on the show a few weeks back. You’re in London - an enemy. I want to introduce our bass player, MIKE INEZ, not Mike Starr, you fucking idiot! Fuck that prick! Fuck the press! We’re not playing for the fucking press, all right?”
"Layne was just an incomparable talent. He was like a fucking myna bird. Any accent or sound or voice, he could just immediately repeat it. He just had a gift. And I’d like to think that I have a bit of a gift myself. One of the funniest descriptions I’ve ever heard, and I don’t know that it’s true, but it just sounds fucking great, was we sound like “the satanic Everly Brothers.” Together we were kind of a two-headed monster. It added a lot of depth to the material the way we worked together." -- Jerry Cantrell (Noisey, June 7, 2018)
My Top 20 AIC songs... Love Hate Love (Live at the Moore, December 1990...Layne Staley in his prime and is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. All other rock bands should strive to have a live performance this perfect), Man in the Box (Live at Weedsport, NY 1991 - the Layne’s Pissed Version...though the original version may be better to react to, because Weedsport was during Clash of the Titans tour where Slayer fans were giving the band crap and Layne got pissed and changed the lyrics), Bleed the Freak (Live at the Moore, December 1990), It Ain’t Like That (if you need a video use Singles Pro Shot video), Queen of the Rodeo (Live in Dallas, TX 1990), Real Thing (Live ANYWHERE), Them Bones, God Smack (Live at Hollywood Rock, 1993), Grind, Again, No Excuses, Brush Away, Frogs, Sludge Factory (During MTV Unplugged 1996, Layne screwed up the 2nd verse like 8 times, though the show only included one of those times), What the Hell Have I, God Am, Got Me Wrong, Swing On This, Social Parasite, We Die Young
THANK U! U GAVE ME ALL THE INFO
Layne was so special. I saw a video where they were saying the notes he was hitting in that live version of "love hate love" were notes that no other singer could hit. Something about the transition. I don't fully remember. But Layne is one of those musicians of time immemorial. The way he was treated is beyond reprehensible and I believe to be a black mark on their souls.
@@bradprice8040 OMG I REACTED TO THAT SONG YESTERDAY AND I WAS BEYOND AMAZED
@@kshavon3098 you should give River of Deceit by Mad Season a listen. That was a project Layne did after Alice in Chains. The song is hauntingly beautiful enough but knowing what happened to him it makes it hit so much harder.
RIP Layne. We miss you💔
A man who couldn't save himself unfortunately
This is the most genuine reaction to this song I’ve ever seen. RIP Layne Staley. He’s still missed to this day. 🙏🏻
It a beautiful song and Laynes voice is one of the best. Watching how it touched you really reopened the song for me. Thank you for the video!
UR WELCOME ♥️
It’s Layne Staley. Very unfortunately we lost him in 2002 to a heroine overdose. In my opinion and many others, best singer of the 90’s. This was one of his last performances. Such a unique voice.
Check out Love Hate Love live at the Moore. That is the best live performance in history in my opinion. It showcases a different side of Layne when he was healthy the raw power he had was untouchable. You can literally feel the lyrics coming thru your headphones
I DID AN REACTION TO THAT ONE ABOUT A WEEK AGO. LET ME KNO WAT U THINK
One of the greatest singers rock & roll history
Yep my number one for sure. His opening vocals on this one “we” gives me chills every time. Such a strong opening.
One of the saddest stories in all of Rock music. Addiction is a terrible thing. I didn't go thru the comments so I don't know if anyone said this yet, but the rest of the band didn't actually know if he would come on stage to do the concert. This was MTV Unplugged, the biggest thing back then. His voice control is amazing. Love your videos.
YES IT IS💔AND THANK U SO MUCH
He almost didn’t show up to this show his band almost went on without him but like 20 minutes before going on he showed up and went on to sing.. I’m glad he did
My favorite AIC song by far. Knowing his story before listening to it would most likely hit super hard. About six months after this show his girlfriend OD'd and it sent him deeper than he already was. Layne is the best singer this city has ever produced, ever. He was essentially in the 27 club but it took his body a few more years to figure that out. His soul was gone but his body held out.
You could feel Laynes pain through his singing. A true artist.
YES
You could in almost all his music alot of singers in the 90" had delt with depression and drugs didn't help made it worse
@@kshavon3098 spot on beautiful
The bass player (Mike Inez) wrote "friends don't let friends get haircuts" on his acoustic bass just before the show. He did it because their friends, Metallica, were at that show and saw them backstage before the performance. The guys in Metallica had always had long hair and had just cut their hair (each member) to give the band a new look. From what I understand, this show was the first appearance Metallica had made since they all cut their hair.
THX BABE
So, since they were supposedly friends of Metallica, why did they let them cut their hair? Lol
to add one nitpicky thing, he wrote "friends don't let friends get friend's haircuts" basically comparing their haircuts to the characters on the show Friends
Ive been listening to this song for 30 years and it still makes me tear up. R.I.P brother....
It's crazy how often we miss the signs. You heard this one time an recognized the pain and the danger. Cheers to you for being able to hear what so many didn't.
THANK U SO MUCH😘
Being that this was the first song, 10 minutes before Layne came on stage Layne was dope sick hurting. Layne was still rushing on heroin at the beginning of this song. Talk about being in the moment. I so wish I could go back in time, give Layne a big hug, and a huge stash of Suboxone.
💯♥️