Guitarist Jerry Cantrell wrote ROOSTER about his father's experiences in Vietnam and when Jerry saw his dad in the audience at one of their shows when AIC opened for Iggy Pop, and Jerry asked Layne (and the guys) to play ROOSTER and they did. It was the first time Jerry's dad heard Jerry's music and knew that his son understood him through that song. It brought Jerry and his dad closer together. And Layne had a vital part in that reunion. (Meanwhile Layne's own biological father was an opportunist). Jerry's dad was nicknamed Rooster when he was a kid and his hairstyle resembled that of a rooster comb. Although, maybe he used rooster as a call sign during his military career. But he didn't earn the nickname in the military, he had the nickname back when he was a kid. Jerry Cantrell, Sr had multiple tours in Vietnam and like most Vietnam vets, he didn't talk about it. The most he ever said about it was at the beginning of the official video for ROOSTER which he agreed to be a part of after hearing the song. Like all kids who hate their parents, Jerry Cantrell was no different. He was staying in a small guest room in Chris Cornell's house (Cornell was married to AIC manager Susan Silver) and the guest room had a tiny window. He was staying there and thought about what his dad may have experienced and wrote the lyrics. They demoed ROOSTER and WOULD? when they spent two days working on the acoustic songs for the SAP EP. The songs on SAP and those two songs were demoed using the money Cameron Crowe gave them for recording WOULD? for the SINGLES movie. Layne sang the hell out of WOULD? and ROOSTER. The harmony in the beginning and end on the album is Ann Wilson of Heart, but Layne does the harmonies on the official video and live versions perfectly. 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. He was just high enough to do the show so he didn't get dope sick and chase away withdrawal symptoms. 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 taken with 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 six-year-long slow suicide. With Unplugged... Sean Kinney (drummer) and Mike Inez (bass player) argued with Jerry about whether Layne could even pull off the high notes in some of the songs in his condition, which is why Jerry gave them that “I told you so” smirk after Layne hit that long, high note in DOWN IN A HOLE. He did the same thing again when Layne hit a high note in ROOSTER. Layne was one of the few singers who was always better live than studio version. The fact that Sean and Mike didn’t have any confidence that Layne could do the show and Jerry being the only one that knew deep in his heart that Layne could do it because Layne had done so many things against the odds over the years no matter how high he was at the time. When Jerry needed him to be there where it counted, Layne always pulled through. Knowing how he sang ROOSTER in Tilburg, The Netherlands, in 1993 when his “yeahs” and screams were so loud and high I’m surprised the rafters didn’t come crashing down around him and then watch him sing the same song so low-key on Unplugged knowing he could do to the song what he did in Tilburg is heartbreaking. Knowing he initially sang the hell out of WOULD? on the official video and album and seeing the end of WOULD? on Unplugged . . . and knowing how deep into his addiction he had gotten by that point is heartbreaking. The entire show was a success because Layne DID have a powerful performance despite his condition. He proved to his cynical bandmates that he could still sing the high notes and he pulled it all off beautifully while the same four guys (Metallica) who had mocked him for his addiction sidelining Alice In Chains from ever doing extended tours back in 1994 sat in the front row. The mistakes he made screwing up SLUDGE FACTORY (and I think he screwed up GOT ME WRONG once or twice, but Toby Wright didn’t keep that in editing) were endearing, at least to me. They didn’t take away from the performance, it added something to the performance that, had it been removed after everyone had seen it, wouldn’t have made the show what it was. That line "they spit on me in my homeland." TV News anchor Walter Kronkite basically told the American public that we lost the war and between that and the college kids (who went to college to escape being drafted into the military) would protest the soldiers coming home. They would do protest rallies at the airports and protest the returning soldiers by spitting at them, throwing urine and other stuff on them. An uncle of mine drove a supply truck in Vietnam (to this day he won't talk about his experience). A family friend of ours said that he and his buddies came home, saw the protesters at the airport, and re-enlisted because it was safer in Vietnam than in the US with the protesters. At least in Vietnam, they knew who the enemy was. I'm NOT saying Vietnam was anything the US should have ever been in. I'm just relating stories of people I know who served there. Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12-year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne kept his humor and wit even to the end of his life. Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He stacked his own vocals with melodies and harmonies underneath. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and found out Sean Kinney was dating original bass player Mike Starr's sister. He wrote the lyrics for the original songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. At the age of 34, he looked more like an 80 year old man. He knew he screwed up, between the drugs and his own depression and then his former fiancee dying, Layne just couldn't find a way to dig himself out of his own mess and at the end with his teeth problems and organs failing on him, he gave up trying. He lost sight of who his true friends were and who was using him. He was never going to give up the drugs. Instead, he tried to attain the same high he felt the first time he did drugs and could never achieve it. Layne encouraged Jerry to sing more, after all, they were Jerry's lyrics he should sing them. Vice-versa, Jerry encouraged Layne to play the guitar which is how you get Layne playing guitar on HATE TO FEEL and ANGRY CHAIR as well as I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING on the Mad Season above album. Jerry encouraged him on the guitar and was proud that Layne grew as a guitarist. Though, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine taught Layne more chords than ANGRY CHAIR and HATE TO FEEL. The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team. Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period. Layne had done so much for Jerry, giving him a place to live, money, clothes, food, guitars and gear, a band. But getting a front-row seat to watch what had happened to Layne over the years, Jerry had to watch his best friend deteriorate in a span of 12 years (1990-2002), and Jerry couldn't do anything about it. Jerry had talked himself blue in the face but Layne didn't want help. Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway." "My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018) “Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).
Susan was our booking agent for the NW and we stayed at their house 20 feet from the Sound. Their parrot s food brought rodents and I got bit by fleas sleeping in the living room. We got signed before AIC to Columbia/CBS. Our AnR guy gave me their demo with Queen of the Rodeo as a joke since we were from Texas. That was 88’, 89’ and the music world changed beneath our feet.
I don’t care for most of their songs but I love this one. I think what he is singing about resonates with me because my Uncle served on the front line of the Vietnam war and talked about how hated they were when they came home. The verse that says “They spit on me in my homeland “ is the truth and it’s sad! I know some deeply disturbing things that happened while he served & what he had to do and to be treated that way when he had been drafted into war just pisses me off even more! Anyway, I got off on a tangent there but I really love this song!
Okay so I heard, that jerry's dad only saw his son play this song once, in a pretty small venue/bar. And as you said, he NEVER would talk about the war with jerry. And jerry wrote it going by the small things he knew and what he researched and what he could imagine. Jerry's dad listened to the song at the back of the bar. And the best thing for jerry and Layne and the band, was seeing "Rooster" in the back shadows with his cowboy hat raising his arms and his beer like HELL YES son you NAILED it. Can you imagine??
Came across this fact on I think a Gibson channel interview with jerry cantrell….and the only word that could properly describe that moment for both would probably be a “catharsis”…father finally understood that son had immortalised the rooster, and son got the approval from the horses mouth…
This song is so meaningful to me because I knew many young men who died in Vietnam. Cousins, neighbors, all who were drafted. Then that line "they spit on me in my homeland" is a very true statement. The war was so unpopular but the majority of soldiers didn't sign up to go over there in the first place and then people treated them like s**t if they were lucky enough to make it home. I was young but old enough to know what was going on. The boys I know that came home clearly had issues that were not being treated...the whole situation of how they were treated when they came home and how they didn't get the medical treatment that they need was shameful and unacceptable. Suicide was and still is a big problem with returning military personnel. Whether you agree with these wars we have been involved in or not WE OWE THEM imo and more needs to be done for them. Ok, I have said my piece, on with the song. The vocals on this song puts you right in the shoes of the Rooster in combat. So, so sad we lost Layne. He was one of a kind. I absolutely love his voice in this song and then Jerry joining him during the chorus is just absolute perfection. They never have to do anything crazy because of the vocals in my opinion. Just set it up around him and he will take care of the rest. But that set up is perfection as well. Can't say enough good things about this song. Absolutely love it.
I will see them for the first time on the 21st! Even though i am so sad i didn't know about them when Layne was alive, William is doing a fantastic job and im super excited! and i love me some Jerry!!
Agreed. I’ve seen them twice with William now and they are still great. Their last three albums are really good and unfortunately slept on because people won’t give them a chance.
That slow build-up is just a killer tease, but you can still hear the power of the song in Layne's vocals even before he cranks it up. And then when that guitar comes thumping in. POW!!!
The nonverbal vocals were meant to replicate air raid sirens of combat not a "rooster". Listen to air raid sirens from that era and you'll instantly hear the connection.
You guys have listened to most of the best known AIC songs, other than Would? Would? is one of the songs that Cantrell sang on, with Layne coming in on the choruses, which is a cool dynamic. Would? was written about Jerry's friend Andrew Wood, who was the lead singer of Mother Love Bone. Mother Love Bone was huge in the local Seattle scene, but Wood died after ODing on heroin before Grunge became the phenomenon that made so many local bands famous. Would? was his tribute to his late friend, and also reflected some ambivalence about those who took a judgemental stance in regards to Wood's drug problems. Of course the same demons haunted Layne.
After Wood died they didn’t release the Love Bone record. They changed the band name to Moogy Blalock but the label didn’t like it so they came up with Pearl Jam. Star Dog Champion baby!
I’m 64, and was first to play this band on N Tex radio. I am the ultimate YES fan, because of how I feel listening to them. Same with AIC. They make me feel something. You feel the pain. Cantrell is one of the greatest writers out there still. Do some of his solo stuff. Saw him at HOB earlier this year. Seeing AIC, down front, Friday night. Excitement! Seeing Hanson tonight. They, too, are incredible. Love y’all!! ☮️❤️
I saw Alice in Chains and Ozzy in Knoxville Tn, back in Oct,1992 and what a show it was guys. They both rocked in concert, Dirt was a great album for sure
And by the way guys, Layne made an album as a side project called Mad Season, the band was made of Layne on vocals, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on guitar, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees on drums and John Baker Saunders of the Walkabouts on bass. Great record, they made a video for the song River Of Deceit, there's also good songs like Wake Up, Long Gone Day, I Don't Know Anything. Check this one out.
I never was into Grunge. But have been open and did like Man in the Box and a few others after listening. But it was good that you said what the song was about at the beginning, The tone is legit the right style for the lyrics. Vietnam Vets were treated so bad when they came home and the men who fought probably kept a lot inside. This captures that mood. That is why I probably won't listen to this often. But I did like elements of the song itself too. At 10:33 when the solo comes in with the Wah - that was cool! At 11:25 - 11:30 there was a little late Beatles influence. It really is a shame for Lane S and Mike S... Both were too young. Lane puts all he has into this!
It is so cool to see y'all react to AIC. Y'all dig it and feel it as though you were born late and should have been there. It's like reliving mine and my friends reactions to it at the time. (Late teens, early 20's,) How blown away we were. Our analysis was not quite as polished, though. 😎🤘I love what you said about the ghostly-ness of the intro. Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley delivered the most haunting harmonies throughout this whole album. Perfectly and wickedly in sync. The depth of the darkness can be felt and it does bring the fire. This whole album is worth a listen from start to finish. Never gets old, even 30 years later.
I love Alice in Chains, Layne ruled with the grunge voice. Many people didnt like grunge in my opinion because the music was dark, they sang about real life and real issues compared to the party rock of the 80's.
That’s exactly it, but like grunge more now, than back then. My generation blamed grunge for ending the 80’s rock bands, but really the record companies destroyed it, and rock music had to go in a different direction anyway. Their was too many bands that sounded the same, and the music became gimmicky, and bubblegum pop rock. The record companies just wanted hit songs, and bands that looked good to attract women followers.
Great song guys. Layne an Jerry just blended so well when they made music, damn shame it ended so badly for Layne, what a huge lose to the music world also. RIP Layne, rest in peace now brother
I never seen this band in concert loopafter their first album, so not Dirt, only Facelift. But I seen them live twice for their first album and met them all at an album signing a couple hours before the first time before a Clash of the Titans concert (Alice, then Anthrax, then Slayer, then Megadeth [no shit, same concert, Google it if you think I'm shittin'] June '91 Columbus, Ohio). I will always cherish those memories. Lane told me "I like the way the way you think" after I told him (while he was signing my cassette insert) I thought Anthrax should be opening for them. I AM flexing lol
They have 10 albums including the MTV Unplugged album. Albums with Layne are - Facelift -SAP (ep record) - Dirt - Jar Of Flies (ep record) - Alice In Chains - MTV Unplugged With Duvall - Black Gives Way To Blue - The Devil Put The Dinosaurs Here - Rainier Fog
sadly, not until just now did I realize that in the final chorus when he's saying they come to snuff the rooster that he was talking about his own government. All these years, I'm sorry Jerry and Layne, and all veterans this impacted. Amazing song
I think you missed the most significant lyric in the song, "They spit on me in my homeland" reflects the disrespect VN vets got from Americans when they got home. Many actually got spit on.
Love the visit back to AIC. A favorite song of theirs I don't think you've done is from the Singles soundtrack, It Ain't Like That. Is there a better grunge riff? That vid brings me back to concert clubbing in the 90s. ua-cam.com/video/csAWMMzgzzI/v-deo.html Beyond the Mighty 4 - AIC, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana - The Posies were an incredible Seattle band who signed with a major label but got lost in the sauce. Imagine if Lennon/McCartney grew up in Seattle... they'd sorta sound like The Posies. "Dream all Day" was probably their biggest hit. ua-cam.com/video/lM1U78RLChY/v-deo.html
Hi guys. If you love grunge bands like AIC and exceptional singers like Layne, you would love Mother Love Bone. They were heading for the top, unique sound from hard rock to glam rock, awesome vocals etc but their singer and close friend of Chris Cornel died age 24. Future Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard (guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass) were founders of this Seattle-based band.
Hey there gentlemen 🥰 So when are you going to check out more of Mr. Smooth Al Stewart? Check out the songs Midnight Rocks, Soho Needless To Say, Broadway Hotel, Midas Shadow and Roads to Moscow. I love you Al Stewart!
I think you guys should react to the Live MTV performance of The Rooster by Alice In Chains." Btw, this band has a new album with I think a new lead singer. Check it out!!!
Love this reaction, GREAT band and song choice!!👊Now, since you brought it up and because I like your vibes, I'd like to offer you boys a little fun fact... you said you believe Layne Staley and Scott Wieland's voices were perfect for Grunge. 🤔Umm, while I agree that both of their voices are AMAZING... Scott Wieland/Stone Temple Pilots were NOT Grunge. STP were an epic "Alternative" rock band in the 90's but.... absolutely NOT part of the Grunge music scene. Let me explain briefly... The term Grunge is 100% SPECIFIC to the sound and style that came out of Seattle, Washington by a bunch of like-minded musical souls during the late 80's thru early 90's underground club and bar scene. Out of great respect for Grunge and the souls that created it in general... SEATTLE is where the sound, the vocal style and the term originated.💯💯💯 Scott Wieland himself stated many times that he and Stone Temple Pilots were NOT a Grunge band as they never lived in Seattle and were never a part of the underground scene where the sound and style was created. Just thought you might like to know some of this. Love your reactions!!❤ Edit: the big 4 bands of Grunge were 1.) NIRVANA 2.) SOUNDGARDEN 3.) PEARL JAM 4.) ALICE IN CHAINS. Peace and light...💞
i remember asking my friend guitarist, why they call the band alice in chains, he said alice in wonderlands ,haw stupid.l.o.l. btw hey stoopid by alice cooper, is a good one you gonna like. keep rocking,.😂🤘
Definitely of the belief that there is no bad Alice in Chains song. Listen to as many as you can. The more with Layne the better. Believe anyone recommending Love, Hate, Love at The Moore. Rotten Apple if you want bonus points from the AIC diehards but everyone should be familiar with No Excuses, Down in a Hole, and I Stay Away imo. Get Born Again is criminally underrated as well, no one reacts to it. Good song for Halloween 🎃
Please guys, react to Liliac, Enter Sandman, your going to love these young group of brother an sisters and man, they rock guys. Shout out from the 606 in Monticello, Ky.
AIC forever, Jerry Cantrell is one of the best songwriters to ever live, his solo album degradation trip vol1&2 is also a masterpiece. Y’all should check out their “the devil put dinosaurs here” shit is awesome. All their music in general is high quality tho
Layne Staley was and is still my favorite singer of all-time. Damn i miss the guy even today after 20 years after his death.
Guitarist Jerry Cantrell wrote ROOSTER about his father's experiences in Vietnam and when Jerry saw his dad in the audience at one of their shows when AIC opened for Iggy Pop, and Jerry asked Layne (and the guys) to play ROOSTER and they did. It was the first time Jerry's dad heard Jerry's music and knew that his son understood him through that song. It brought Jerry and his dad closer together. And Layne had a vital part in that reunion. (Meanwhile Layne's own biological father was an opportunist).
Jerry's dad was nicknamed Rooster when he was a kid and his hairstyle resembled that of a rooster comb. Although, maybe he used rooster as a call sign during his military career. But he didn't earn the nickname in the military, he had the nickname back when he was a kid.
Jerry Cantrell, Sr had multiple tours in Vietnam and like most Vietnam vets, he didn't talk about it. The most he ever said about it was at the beginning of the official video for ROOSTER which he agreed to be a part of after hearing the song. Like all kids who hate their parents, Jerry Cantrell was no different. He was staying in a small guest room in Chris Cornell's house (Cornell was married to AIC manager Susan Silver) and the guest room had a tiny window. He was staying there and thought about what his dad may have experienced and wrote the lyrics.
They demoed ROOSTER and WOULD? when they spent two days working on the acoustic songs for the SAP EP. The songs on SAP and those two songs were demoed using the money Cameron Crowe gave them for recording WOULD? for the SINGLES movie. Layne sang the hell out of WOULD? and ROOSTER.
The harmony in the beginning and end on the album is Ann Wilson of Heart, but Layne does the harmonies on the official video and live versions perfectly.
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. He was just high enough to do the show so he didn't get dope sick and chase away withdrawal symptoms. 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 taken with 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 six-year-long slow suicide.
With Unplugged... Sean Kinney (drummer) and Mike Inez (bass player) argued with Jerry about whether Layne could even pull off the high notes in some of the songs in his condition, which is why Jerry gave them that “I told you so” smirk after Layne hit that long, high note in DOWN IN A HOLE. He did the same thing again when Layne hit a high note in ROOSTER.
Layne was one of the few singers who was always better live than studio version. The fact that Sean and Mike didn’t have any confidence that Layne could do the show and Jerry being the only one that knew deep in his heart that Layne could do it because Layne had done so many things against the odds over the years no matter how high he was at the time. When Jerry needed him to be there where it counted, Layne always pulled through.
Knowing how he sang ROOSTER in Tilburg, The Netherlands, in 1993 when his “yeahs” and screams were so loud and high I’m surprised the rafters didn’t come crashing down around him and then watch him sing the same song so low-key on Unplugged knowing he could do to the song what he did in Tilburg is heartbreaking. Knowing he initially sang the hell out of WOULD? on the official video and album and seeing the end of WOULD? on Unplugged . . . and knowing how deep into his addiction he had gotten by that point is heartbreaking.
The entire show was a success because Layne DID have a powerful performance despite his condition. He proved to his cynical bandmates that he could still sing the high notes and he pulled it all off beautifully while the same four guys (Metallica) who had mocked him for his addiction sidelining Alice In Chains from ever doing extended tours back in 1994 sat in the front row. The mistakes he made screwing up SLUDGE FACTORY (and I think he screwed up GOT ME WRONG once or twice, but Toby Wright didn’t keep that in editing) were endearing, at least to me. They didn’t take away from the performance, it added something to the performance that, had it been removed after everyone had seen it, wouldn’t have made the show what it was.
That line "they spit on me in my homeland." TV News anchor Walter Kronkite basically told the American public that we lost the war and between that and the college kids (who went to college to escape being drafted into the military) would protest the soldiers coming home. They would do protest rallies at the airports and protest the returning soldiers by spitting at them, throwing urine and other stuff on them. An uncle of mine drove a supply truck in Vietnam (to this day he won't talk about his experience). A family friend of ours said that he and his buddies came home, saw the protesters at the airport, and re-enlisted because it was safer in Vietnam than in the US with the protesters. At least in Vietnam, they knew who the enemy was. I'm NOT saying Vietnam was anything the US should have ever been in. I'm just relating stories of people I know who served there.
Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12-year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne kept his humor and wit even to the end of his life.
Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He stacked his own vocals with melodies and harmonies underneath. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and found out Sean Kinney was dating original bass player Mike Starr's sister. He wrote the lyrics for the original songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. At the age of 34, he looked more like an 80 year old man. He knew he screwed up, between the drugs and his own depression and then his former fiancee dying, Layne just couldn't find a way to dig himself out of his own mess and at the end with his teeth problems and organs failing on him, he gave up trying. He lost sight of who his true friends were and who was using him. He was never going to give up the drugs. Instead, he tried to attain the same high he felt the first time he did drugs and could never achieve it.
Layne encouraged Jerry to sing more, after all, they were Jerry's lyrics he should sing them. Vice-versa, Jerry encouraged Layne to play the guitar which is how you get Layne playing guitar on HATE TO FEEL and ANGRY CHAIR as well as I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING on the Mad Season above album. Jerry encouraged him on the guitar and was proud that Layne grew as a guitarist. Though, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine taught Layne more chords than ANGRY CHAIR and HATE TO FEEL.
The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team.
Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period.
Layne had done so much for Jerry, giving him a place to live, money, clothes, food, guitars and gear, a band. But getting a front-row seat to watch what had happened to Layne over the years, Jerry had to watch his best friend deteriorate in a span of 12 years (1990-2002), and Jerry couldn't do anything about it. Jerry had talked himself blue in the face but Layne didn't want help. Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway."
"My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018)
“Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).
Susan was our booking agent for the NW and we stayed at their house 20 feet from the Sound. Their parrot s food brought rodents and I got bit by fleas sleeping in the living room. We got signed before AIC to Columbia/CBS. Our AnR guy gave me their demo with Queen of the Rodeo as a joke since we were from Texas. That was 88’, 89’ and the music world changed beneath our feet.
I don’t care for most of their songs but I love this one. I think what he is singing about resonates with me because my Uncle served on the front line of the Vietnam war and talked about how hated they were when they came home. The verse that says “They spit on me in my homeland “ is the truth and it’s sad! I know some deeply disturbing things that happened while he served & what he had to do and to be treated that way when he had been drafted into war just pisses me off even more! Anyway, I got off on a tangent there but I really love this song!
Okay so I heard, that jerry's dad only saw his son play this song once, in a pretty small venue/bar. And as you said, he NEVER would talk about the war with jerry. And jerry wrote it going by the small things he knew and what he researched and what he could imagine. Jerry's dad listened to the song at the back of the bar. And the best thing for jerry and Layne and the band, was seeing "Rooster" in the back shadows with his cowboy hat raising his arms and his beer like HELL YES son you NAILED it. Can you imagine??
No, I can’t imagine how much that must have resonated with Jerry…..What an homage.
Came across this fact on I think a Gibson channel interview with jerry cantrell….and the only word that could properly describe that moment for both would probably be a “catharsis”…father finally understood that son had immortalised the rooster, and son got the approval from the horses mouth…
These gd Chicken hawks, like Dick Cheney, getting us into these 'wars' for money is what disgusts me.
@@Mikey_Sea and his daughter starting the next civil war as we speak.
This song is so meaningful to me because I knew many young men who died in Vietnam. Cousins, neighbors, all who were drafted. Then that line "they spit on me in my homeland" is a very true statement. The war was so unpopular but the majority of soldiers didn't sign up to go over there in the first place and then people treated them like s**t if they were lucky enough to make it home. I was young but old enough to know what was going on. The boys I know that came home clearly had issues that were not being treated...the whole situation of how they were treated when they came home and how they didn't get the medical treatment that they need was shameful and unacceptable. Suicide was and still is a big problem with returning military personnel. Whether you agree with these wars we have been involved in or not WE OWE THEM imo and more needs to be done for them. Ok, I have said my piece, on with the song. The vocals on this song puts you right in the shoes of the Rooster in combat. So, so sad we lost Layne. He was one of a kind. I absolutely love his voice in this song and then Jerry joining him during the chorus is just absolute perfection. They never have to do anything crazy because of the vocals in my opinion. Just set it up around him and he will take care of the rest. But that set up is perfection as well. Can't say enough good things about this song. Absolutely love it.
AIC- Live At The Moore. It’ll transport you to another dimension
Jerry Cantrell is a national treasure as a songwriter. New Alice In Chains is excellent as well. RIP Layne, but they're still killing it.
I will see them for the first time on the 21st! Even though i am so sad i didn't know about them when Layne was alive, William is doing a fantastic job and im super excited! and i love me some Jerry!!
@@jailee4266 Have an awesome time at the show! You going to love it for sure.
@@guitearist thank you! Im so excited i cant hardly stand it! lol
@@jailee4266 I also didn't get to see them with Layne, but they were still phenomenal 👏
Agreed. I’ve seen them twice with William now and they are still great. Their last three albums are really good and unfortunately slept on because people won’t give them a chance.
That slow build-up is just a killer tease, but you can still hear the power of the song in Layne's vocals even before he cranks it up. And then when that guitar comes thumping in. POW!!!
I saw them in Albuquerque a few years ago and he brought out "Rooster" his dad on stage. You could see how proud they were of one another
Guys...you haven't done "Would?". No, no, no, no...amazing song...all instruments and vocals...from start to finish.
The nonverbal vocals were meant to replicate air raid sirens of combat not a "rooster". Listen to air raid sirens from that era and you'll instantly hear the connection.
You guys have listened to most of the best known AIC songs, other than Would? Would? is one of the songs that Cantrell sang on, with Layne coming in on the choruses, which is a cool dynamic. Would? was written about Jerry's friend Andrew Wood, who was the lead singer of Mother Love Bone. Mother Love Bone was huge in the local Seattle scene, but Wood died after ODing on heroin before Grunge became the phenomenon that made so many local bands famous. Would? was his tribute to his late friend, and also reflected some ambivalence about those who took a judgemental stance in regards to Wood's drug problems. Of course the same demons haunted Layne.
After Wood died they didn’t release the Love Bone record. They changed the band name to Moogy Blalock but the label didn’t like it so they came up with Pearl Jam. Star Dog Champion baby!
I’m 64, and was first to play this band on N Tex radio. I am the ultimate YES fan, because of how I feel listening to them. Same with AIC. They make me feel something. You feel the pain. Cantrell is one of the greatest writers out there still. Do some of his solo stuff. Saw him at HOB earlier this year. Seeing AIC, down front, Friday night. Excitement! Seeing Hanson tonight. They, too, are incredible. Love y’all!! ☮️❤️
Down in a hole- would?- rain when I die- junkhead🔥🔥🔥
Rain When I Die is my favorite Chains tune. 🤘
If I had to pick two voices that were perfect for grunge. My picks would be Layne and Chris Cornell
I don’t think you can limit those two to just grunge. They’re a couple of the best rock vocalists ever
Exactly and I couldn't agree more. Layne was gone way to soon. Chris we were lucky to have as long as we did and still gone to soon
My dad was a Vietnam Vet and ARMY GREEN was indeed no safe bet! RIP DAD ❤
Love Hate Love, Live from the Moore. You won’t be disappointed. Laynes vocal performance is phenomenal
I saw Alice in Chains and Ozzy in Knoxville Tn, back in Oct,1992 and what a show it was guys. They both rocked in concert, Dirt was a great album for sure
Thank you for giving Scott Weiland recognition! He’s my favorite!
The acoustic version is fire as well. The entire "MTV Unplugged" performance is fire
Best version my humble opinion
And by the way guys, Layne made an album as a side project called Mad Season, the band was made of Layne on vocals, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on guitar, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees on drums and John Baker Saunders of the Walkabouts on bass. Great record, they made a video for the song River Of Deceit, there's also good songs like Wake Up, Long Gone Day, I Don't Know Anything. Check this one out.
I never was into Grunge. But have been open and did like Man in the Box and a few others after listening. But it was good that you said what the song was about at the beginning, The tone is legit the right style for the lyrics. Vietnam Vets were treated so bad when they came home and the men who fought probably kept a lot inside. This captures that mood. That is why I probably won't listen to this often. But I did like elements of the song itself too. At 10:33 when the solo comes in with the Wah - that was cool! At 11:25 - 11:30 there was a little late Beatles influence. It really is a shame for Lane S and Mike S... Both were too young. Lane puts all he has into this!
Jerry’s Dad’s red hair is why he was called Rooster.
This album Dirt turns 30 years old September 29th.
All time greatest album and band
RIP Layne... You are the GOAT... Brother from another mother! 🕺🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It is so cool to see y'all react to AIC. Y'all dig it and feel it as though you were born late and should have been there. It's like reliving mine and my friends reactions to it at the time. (Late teens, early 20's,) How blown away we were. Our analysis was not quite as polished, though. 😎🤘I love what you said about the ghostly-ness of the intro. Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley delivered the most haunting harmonies throughout this whole album. Perfectly and wickedly in sync. The depth of the darkness can be felt and it does bring the fire. This whole album is worth a listen from start to finish. Never gets old, even 30 years later.
I love Alice in Chains, Layne ruled with the grunge voice. Many people didnt like grunge in my opinion because the music was dark, they sang about real life and real issues compared to the party rock of the 80's.
That’s exactly it, but like grunge more now, than back then. My generation blamed grunge for ending the 80’s rock bands, but really the record companies destroyed it, and rock music had to go in a different direction anyway. Their was too many bands that sounded the same, and the music became gimmicky, and bubblegum pop rock. The record companies just wanted hit songs, and bands that looked good to attract women followers.
Great song guys. Layne an Jerry just blended so well when they made music, damn shame it ended so badly for Layne, what a huge lose to the music world also. RIP Layne, rest in peace now brother
One of a kind song.
The broad spectrum of A I C.
Thanks, 502.
I never seen this band in concert loopafter their first album, so not Dirt, only Facelift. But I seen them live twice for their first album and met them all at an album signing a couple hours before the first time before a Clash of the Titans concert (Alice, then Anthrax, then Slayer, then Megadeth [no shit, same concert, Google it if you think I'm shittin'] June '91 Columbus, Ohio). I will always cherish those memories. Lane told me "I like the way the way you think" after I told him (while he was signing my cassette insert) I thought Anthrax should be opening for them. I AM flexing lol
Lane Stanley one the best voices of Rock and heavy! RIP brother
Wife Speaking..A song that spoke to our generation..
NO DOUBT..AMAZING!!!
They have 10 albums including the MTV Unplugged album.
Albums with Layne are
- Facelift
-SAP (ep record)
- Dirt
- Jar Of Flies (ep record)
- Alice In Chains
- MTV Unplugged
With Duvall
- Black Gives Way To Blue
- The Devil Put The Dinosaurs Here
- Rainier Fog
The whole dirt album is such an honest and real piece of music
My favorite grunge singers are Layne Staley and Eddie Vedder 😊💓🤘✌️
I was born in Louisville KY! 502! Subscribed!!
It starts off so quietly......but you know that it is going to KICK with that bass in there...
sadly, not until just now did I realize that in the final chorus when he's saying they come to snuff the rooster that he was talking about his own government. All these years, I'm sorry Jerry and Layne, and all veterans this impacted. Amazing song
I love everything about this track, it's one of the absolute great songs of the era.
you guys are awesome you deserve way more subscribers! Keep up the great reactions guys! 🤘
YES! You got to this iconic song eventually 🤩Love your review, spot on 🙌 Next up Love Hate Love live at the Moore, AIC best performance ever 😎
Just awesome. Don't forget Sound Garden
y'all should react to the live version of - love, hate, love - live at the moore
I've always loved Alice in Chains! This song and Man in the Box are two of my favorites. Great review!
I think you missed the most significant lyric in the song, "They spit on me in my homeland" reflects the disrespect VN vets got from Americans when they got home. Many actually got spit on.
Love the visit back to AIC. A favorite song of theirs I don't think you've done is from the Singles soundtrack, It Ain't Like That. Is there a better grunge riff? That vid brings me back to concert clubbing in the 90s. ua-cam.com/video/csAWMMzgzzI/v-deo.html
Beyond the Mighty 4 - AIC, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana - The Posies were an incredible Seattle band who signed with a major label but got lost in the sauce. Imagine if Lennon/McCartney grew up in Seattle... they'd sorta sound like The Posies. "Dream all Day" was probably their biggest hit. ua-cam.com/video/lM1U78RLChY/v-deo.html
This song is the slow burn of phosphorus going through metal.
Hi guys. If you love grunge bands like AIC and exceptional singers like Layne, you would love Mother Love Bone. They were heading for the top, unique sound from hard rock to glam rock, awesome vocals etc but their singer and close friend of Chris Cornel died age 24. Future Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard (guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass) were founders of this Seattle-based band.
Head Bob in unison. So underrated.
The official video is one of a kind
Check out “would” from the same album.
🙏 ❤ 🌹 Layne & Mike 🌹 ❤ 🙏
The challenge is to find one song on Dirt that doesn’t blow you away
Hey there gentlemen 🥰 So when are you going to check out more of Mr. Smooth Al Stewart? Check out the songs Midnight Rocks, Soho Needless To Say, Broadway Hotel, Midas Shadow and Roads to Moscow. I love you Al Stewart!
AL IN CHAINS
@@MRPERFECT_79 I love Alice In Chains too! Beautiful music.
Ryan Upchurch does a cover version of this song and it’s great!! Gives me goosebumps!!!
I think you guys should react to the Live MTV performance of The Rooster by Alice In Chains." Btw, this band has a new album with I think a new lead singer. Check it out!!!
Love this reaction, GREAT band and song choice!!👊Now, since you brought it up and because I like your vibes, I'd like to offer you boys a little fun fact... you said you believe Layne Staley and Scott Wieland's voices were perfect for Grunge. 🤔Umm, while I agree that both of their voices are AMAZING... Scott Wieland/Stone Temple Pilots were NOT Grunge. STP were an epic "Alternative" rock band in the 90's but.... absolutely NOT part of the Grunge music scene. Let me explain briefly...
The term Grunge is 100% SPECIFIC to the sound and style that came out of Seattle, Washington by a bunch of like-minded musical souls during the late 80's thru early 90's underground club and bar scene. Out of great respect for Grunge and the souls that created it in general... SEATTLE is where the sound, the vocal style and the term originated.💯💯💯
Scott Wieland himself stated many times that he and Stone Temple Pilots were NOT a Grunge band as they never lived in Seattle and were never a part of the underground scene where the sound and style was created. Just thought you might like to know some of this. Love your reactions!!❤
Edit: the big 4 bands of Grunge were 1.) NIRVANA 2.) SOUNDGARDEN 3.) PEARL JAM 4.) ALICE IN CHAINS. Peace and light...💞
The song ends with you only wanting more!
This song is a out fighting in the Vietnam War.
i remember asking my friend guitarist, why they call the band alice in chains, he said alice in wonderlands ,haw stupid.l.o.l. btw hey stoopid by alice cooper, is a good one you gonna like. keep rocking,.😂🤘
Gotta pick Chris Cornell too! He had such a great voice!
You guys have to listen to down in a hole off the same album. Cantrell is on 🔥 with his guitar.🤘😎🤘
Suggest you react to, Starz - It’s a Riot, one of the best guitar intros ever! Still get goose bumps over 45yrs later!
Must react to Jonh Prine Sam Stone live. Follows this Vietnam service theme. RIP John. He was a Vietnam veteran.
Definitely of the belief that there is no bad Alice in Chains song. Listen to as many as you can. The more with Layne the better. Believe anyone recommending Love, Hate, Love at The Moore. Rotten Apple if you want bonus points from the AIC diehards but everyone should be familiar with No Excuses, Down in a Hole, and I Stay Away imo. Get Born Again is criminally underrated as well, no one reacts to it. Good song for Halloween 🎃
If y'all ever revisit AIC I suggest Live At The Moore - Love Hate Love. MTV Unplugged session - Would, Down In A Hole, No Excuses.
Yeah yeah absolutely have to react to Ryan Uphurch's cover of this song
You guys should watch the mtv unplugged version it’s fire 🔥 I love there live performances
Hey, Could you plz react to Mornin’, The Theme from Moonlighting and Just to be Loved by Al Jarreau? This guy is AMAZING
Please guys, react to Liliac, Enter Sandman, your going to love these young group of brother an sisters and man, they rock guys. Shout out from the 606 in Monticello, Ky.
You guys should’ve posted the official video. You would’ve all cried.
You guys should check out Mad Season- Long gone day!! Live!!
You forgot about Chris Cornell in the voice category it's got to be included
I don’t see Chris as grunge and neither did he. Grunge era, yes. But not a grunge band
Hey Guys more metallica reaction 🇩🇰
🤘🤘🤘
Y'all need to check out Ryan Upchurch doing the cover this song. It's awesome, he sounds alot like Layne !!!!
Nirvana? Grunge? Anyone?
Should have reacted to the official video it paints the picture much better
Please for the love of God react to the song the wolf by whiskey Myers
I just agree I believe it's lame and Chris Cornell just saying love you guys
WAR IS HELL.....*
Like your channel but you’ve got to bust into the Rolling Stones catalog. Start with just about anything off the Let It Bleed” album.
Stone temple pilots aren't grunge at all.
Always considered STP alternative rock
I loathe all Grunge. I call it Miserable Rock. But I do like Pearl Jam and STP.
Sorry about your taste
AIC forever, Jerry Cantrell is one of the best songwriters to ever live, his solo album degradation trip vol1&2 is also a masterpiece. Y’all should check out their “the devil put dinosaurs here” shit is awesome. All their music in general is high quality tho