Great F*&%ing interview. These guy's are REAL. Hard to find now of days. Layne was inspirational and his lyrics have touched me beyond my subconscious mind. Good for them to keep moving on. Many blessings for them!
So true, Mary! Like they said in one of the earlier parts of this interview, they knew they couldn't pull a single punch on Black Gives Way To Blue and they don't pull a single punch in this interview. I mean going back and watching their old interviews with Layne, they experienced that beautiful soul on a daily basis and did innumerable interviews alongside him and to not have him there in this one is not only hard for the viewers but it has to be a kick in the gut for both of these guys. But the fact that they still find the strength to get out onstage and play for them, their fans, AND for Layne just shows the sort of spiritual and artistic fortitude these cats have! When I die, I DEFINITELY want Alice in Chains, Second Coming's "It's Coming After," and maybe even some Mad Season played at my service.
They need to release the Live Moore Shows in '91 or '93. That Bleed the Freak track is excellent in terms of both camera,& audio production,...Shame we can't see the whole thing.
Sad to say that I never had the chance to AIC w/ layne in concert...but i can honestly say that AIC got me through a lot of shit during my childhood...till this very day I am and will always be a die hard AIC fan and follower...I did see AIC at SDSU Valley View along with Deftones and Mastadon...great concert guys!!!!....
It`s 2018 and you guys still are kings,Of course we all mis Laynes time with you guys and with us as fans but with tradgedy there is light and from that light great things can happen.Just glad you guys realized that you needed to move forward with life and not woddle in sadness.
I agree that there is no one particular time that is harder than another. You struggle to get A, and when you've got that you're hopefully working on B, thinking about C, and you take a breath to appreciate/ french kiss A on the lips in thanks, and enjoy that moment, but you're still working on B. Oh, and C- and thoughts are forming in regards to how to manage all of these things... if that makes any damned sense at all? It's just life~ it keeps progressing, good and bad~
They get kind of vague when asked about Get Born again /Died. I never understood why they recorded two songs out of nowhere. Why not do at least an e.p. if not an album? I've heard it was supposed to be an album but Layne refused to sing Jerry's lyrics. Who knows?
There was tension and they weren’t getting along. Layne also wasn’t sounding good because of His addiction and he was too flakey and not showing up to rehearsals and writing sessions etc. which he failed to do for their self titled album as well, the band just recorded separately from layne which he came in after they were done and recorded vocals by himself. Jerry didn’t like working that way and also insisted on using some of his lyrics and vocal ideas for songs which layne refused to do. Also Dave jarden their longtime producer was also strung out on heroin and not functioning. Jerry and Sean also had drug issues so it was just a mess.
I love ALICE IN CHAINS ......as I listin to this interview....I think...what if a Group of Military men from any WAR were to sit in front of some interviewer and talk about battles and Men lost.....and how getting back to the battle front was a part of what they do......for yeah Alice lost one guy that Sang....Think how many tight fighting men lost Lots of Red , White and Blue Roosters......yea being in a band is Hard Work.....but being in a WAR IS HELL...and finding out your junkie Singer died from his drug of choice....may not be easy....watching your buddy DIE with a bullet thru any part of the body as he / she is Right Next to you and you have to watch the blood explode from there body and the life force leave them as more rounds of incoming resend upon you and more bodies pile up....and a barbaric enemy depends on you taking hostages to be tortured.......brings you to today thinking of them in captivity like Animals by barbaric Animals like Oct. 7th.....as ignorant animals do criminal acts in favor of the barbaric animal / subhumans and big media plays alone as sick fake news parties on with propaganda and listing to Taylor Swift Songs.
Nice idea but it wont happen I think bio stuff is out- too much hurt- nancy would never let that happen- I am writing my own book to honor them based on fan appreciation- never been done that I know of and the band will be floored!!!!!
He tried many times to the point of frustration. An addict can only help themselves. They can't be helped if they don't want to be. People tell you you're killing yourself, you need to stop etc but it's an out of control feeling to be an addict. Nobody can save you but you
Layne had tried rehab 13 times, but he could never completely give it up. He tried quitting cold turkey on one of the last attempts at rehab, but that didn't work either. Mad Season is made up of Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and 2 other guys from the Screaming Trees 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 and around sober musicians 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. Other musicians tried to spark a creative flair in Layne to see if they could help him, and he'd light up for the time it took to do the project and then shut down again.
Layne got more help than most addicts ever get. And it still didn’t work. What do you expect, for them to put him in jail? He wanted to get high and was a grown man with resources. You can’t stop him.
I really like how Jerry is so raw, to the point and has no filter or shame. Just says it as it is.
"it can be a shitty day where something cool happens"
THAT is a great quote, and I will remember it when my day sucks.
Most down to earth guys I've ever seen. Ton of respect for them and their story.
Alice in Chains have changed the way I look at music. My deepest respects...
Great F*&%ing interview. These guy's are REAL. Hard to find now of days. Layne was inspirational and his lyrics have touched me beyond my subconscious mind.
Good for them to keep moving on. Many blessings for them!
So true, Mary! Like they said in one of the earlier parts of this interview, they knew they couldn't pull a single punch on Black Gives Way To Blue and they don't pull a single punch in this interview. I mean going back and watching their old interviews with Layne, they experienced that beautiful soul on a daily basis and did innumerable interviews alongside him and to not have him there in this one is not only hard for the viewers but it has to be a kick in the gut for both of these guys. But the fact that they still find the strength to get out onstage and play for them, their fans, AND for Layne just shows the sort of spiritual and artistic fortitude these cats have! When I die, I DEFINITELY want Alice in Chains, Second Coming's "It's Coming After," and maybe even some Mad Season played at my service.
One of the great rock interviews... this is as real as you can get...
They need to release the Live Moore Shows in '91 or '93. That Bleed the Freak track is excellent in terms of both camera,& audio production,...Shame we can't see the whole thing.
Sad to say that I never had the chance to AIC w/ layne in concert...but i can honestly say that AIC got me through a lot of shit during my childhood...till this very day I am and will always be a die hard AIC fan and follower...I did see AIC at SDSU Valley View along with Deftones and Mastadon...great concert guys!!!!....
Very good interview. Thanks for posting. 11 years on, and all. It's still good to see.
I feel like the interviewer is asking questions that are too analytical and Jerry is probably thinking "Wtf"
great interview, thanks for sharing!
Great interview!
I hope They make a Chains Bio movie. True to what happened. And Cantrell Over seeing the soundtrack.
R.I.P Layne...we miss you brother....
Jerry. Sean, Mike and Layne are amazing. Soo much talent, each one. ❤
Thanks for posting this, awesome interview! I love Alice In Chains.
RIP Layne Staley.
These guys are the musicians I want to be.
It`s 2018 and you guys still are kings,Of course we all mis Laynes time with you guys and with us as fans but with tradgedy there is light and from that light great things can happen.Just glad you guys realized that you needed to move forward with life and not woddle in sadness.
You can live in the past, dream of the future or do something today that keeps both in perspective.
I agree that there is no one particular time that is harder than another. You struggle to get A, and when you've got that you're hopefully working on B, thinking about C, and you take a breath to appreciate/ french kiss A on the lips in thanks, and enjoy that moment, but you're still working on B. Oh, and C- and thoughts are forming in regards to how to manage all of these things... if that makes any damned sense at all? It's just life~ it keeps progressing, good and bad~
They get kind of vague when asked about Get Born again /Died. I never understood why they recorded two songs out of nowhere. Why not do at least an e.p. if not an album? I've heard it was supposed to be an album but Layne refused to sing Jerry's lyrics. Who knows?
There was tension and they weren’t getting along. Layne also wasn’t sounding good because of His addiction and he was too flakey and not showing up to rehearsals and writing sessions etc. which he failed to do for their self titled album as well, the band just recorded separately from layne which he came in after they were done and recorded vocals by himself. Jerry didn’t like working that way and also insisted on using some of his lyrics and vocal ideas for songs which layne refused to do. Also Dave jarden their longtime producer was also strung out on heroin and not functioning. Jerry and Sean also had drug issues so it was just a mess.
i can relate
He Kell, how so? Have you been in a similar situation?
Hmmmmm no...Layne didn't let anyone inside yet Jerry wants to sit there and say he went to play music with him? bullshit
I really doubt you knew Layne so stfu
yep
kick ass
I love ALICE IN CHAINS ......as I listin to this interview....I think...what if a Group of Military men from any WAR were to sit in front of some interviewer and talk about battles and Men lost.....and how getting back to the battle front was a part of what they do......for yeah Alice lost one guy that Sang....Think how many tight fighting men lost Lots of Red , White and Blue Roosters......yea being in a band is Hard Work.....but being in a WAR IS HELL...and finding out your junkie Singer died from his drug of choice....may not be easy....watching your buddy DIE with a bullet thru any part of the body as he / she is Right Next to you and you have to watch the blood explode from there body and the life force leave them as more rounds of incoming resend upon you and more bodies pile up....and a barbaric enemy depends on you taking hostages to be tortured.......brings you to today thinking of them in captivity like Animals by barbaric Animals like Oct. 7th.....as ignorant animals do criminal acts in favor of the barbaric animal / subhumans and big media plays alone as sick fake news parties on with propaganda and listing to Taylor Swift Songs.
Nice idea but it wont happen I think bio stuff is out- too much hurt- nancy would never let that happen- I am writing my own book to honor them based on fan appreciation- never been done that I know of and the band will be floored!!!!!
Wow so jerry says he went to layne's house yet never tried to help him?? 😒
He tried many times to the point of frustration. An addict can only help themselves. They can't be helped if they don't want to be. People tell you you're killing yourself, you need to stop etc but it's an out of control feeling to be an addict. Nobody can save you but you
Layne had tried rehab 13 times, but he could never completely give it up. He tried quitting cold turkey on one of the last attempts at rehab, but that didn't work either. Mad Season is made up of Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and 2 other guys from the Screaming Trees 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 and around sober musicians 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.
Other musicians tried to spark a creative flair in Layne to see if they could help him, and he'd light up for the time it took to do the project and then shut down again.
Why would you assume something like that? Jerry, Sean, and many others did everything in their power to help Layne.
Layne got more help than most addicts ever get. And it still didn’t work. What do you expect, for them to put him in jail? He wanted to get high and was a grown man with resources. You can’t stop him.