None of my friends that got married named any of their kids Layne, in spite of my suggesting it numerous times, so I got a kitten and named him Layne. He's good people.
He loved cats he would have dug that. He kept wanting my cat Shang (a Siamese named for MLB's "Shangrila") but I said no bc he was on the road and expected to be for years (as the case when starting out) but he got a cat finally when he bought the condo in the U-District. He loved all animals even my snake Socrates.
The live at the Moore concert is the best grunge era live concert footage that exists. Such a great concert from AIC, and crazy performances by Layne. This and Love Hate Love. Mesmerizing.
If there was 1 show I would go see it’s this one, Pearl Jam opened for them and temple of the dog. That’s saying a lot w Zep at MSG skynyrd n stones in england, but... Layne Eddie n Chris all on same stage in 1 night, sick!!
It's kinda astonishing how ADVANCED they became as a band in such short time. Because honestly....I don't like the studio versions of Facelift songs. They all feel kinda....anemic. It's not just the production....it's also the performances. Dirt feels WAY more advanced by comparison. But so do the live performances _after_ Facelift was released. I almost wish they'd recorded Facelift 6 months later....it would have been a MUCH stronger record.
I do think that the production had the largest part to play in the anemic feel of Facelift's overall sound. The same problem existed for Soundgarden on Loudlove. The mixes for both albums basically neutered the sound.
He knew he saw us and herd us at concerts opiates r a hell of a thing they make u forget about ur probs and make u feel like ur walking on clouds the withdrawls make u feel like ur dieing and since not used to feeling pain its increased 10 fold. Its sad but once u start its very very hard to stop and it will haunt u till the day u die
Dude Layne kept that same intensity up the entire show!!! No fatigue bro..Only one Layne..Dont be selling the lie that anyone can train to do that...Its not happening..One of a kind...RIP LAYNE STAYLEY....
We all know that Layne had some serious pipes but it's Jerry and Layne's harmonies, with Cantrell's guitar tone, that separates AIC from most bands from that era. This entire Live at the Moore performance gives me goosebumps every time I listen to that show!! RIP Layne gone but Never forgotten
My favorite performer of one of my favorite bands ever! As Tom Morello said: he has the voice of an angry angel. Or like his mom said: Layne´s voice was razor blades wrapped in marshmallows...RIP Layne...
He’s playing cymbal rolls, and probably taking advantage of a quick moment to stand up and stretch the legs out while doing so, and also adds the ability to interact with the audience if desired at that point. Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and currently in like a million other groups (Sons of Apollo, Flying Colors, Metal Allegiance, Neal Morse Band, and others) is known for that.
Firstly, thanks for this review! As a professional drummer, Sean Kinney is under rated. He is standing up to get a cymbal "swell" sound. Could be done seated, but Sean is a tall man, and I believe this is part of how he performed. Coming from a straight down angle helps control the intensity as well. ANYWAY, Alice is one of my all time favs! Thank you for the review! Love seeing these!
rolling on cymbals is a concert percussion technique. its one of the "voices" available. more commonly done with mallets (tympani or marimba) but sticks will work too.
@@tempsitch5632 i agree, he doesn’t get talked about a lot. especially if you listen to songs from their self titled or love hate love or even damn that river his groove and steadyness is so well done. also the entire unplugged show he does so damn well.
One of my buddies was at this show. It also had Temple of the Dog as an opener, and an unknown band called Mookie Blaylock playing one of their first shows. That band decided to change their name, and decided on the name Pearl Jam. My buddy said he didn't like Pearl Jam for a long time because of that show. He said they did not sound good at all, and it soured them on him for a long time. He finally liked them later.
Frogs is my favorite AIC song, but vocally I adore I Stay Away. I want you to see Mad Seasons Long Gone Day live at Moore, can't get better than Layne and Lanegan together! They loved each other dearly. I see Lanegan live every time I get the chance, he's so good.
Loved this, Ken. Your reactions are so satisfying for the attention and engagement you bring to them, and of course your expertise, humor and vulnerability. Particularly fun to watch you watch Layne.
Chills every time I watch this. He was the flipping ULTIMATE rock GOD. Let’s not forget Sean Kinney’s drum mastery (he deserves way more credit/mention than what he gets and, of course Cantrell bringing it all together. You dont see Mike much in this video-but his talent was nothing to scoff at. Layne, though, geezus he left this earth way too soon.
To answer your question; The drummer is playing the high hat open when he's standing without dampening it with the pedal. it's kind of like playing the fast softer notes on a ride cymbal, but has a quieter yet more dynamic quality that suits that bridge. You're right about the weird post production reverb. Even a sound board recording wouldn't sound like that. Have you listened to the album version? It's incredible.
Thanks for reacting to my favorite Alice in Chains song Ken. Layne vocals in this concert are so powerful and amazing. I love your channel. More reactions to Grunge please.
I think it would be so cool for Ken to collaborate with one of these bands, to sing a heavy metal or rock song with his style of music would be amazing!
I'm in agreement. I think Chris often gets rated higher because he appeals to a broader audience. With Layne and specifically AIC you're in 2 camps absolutely love them or you hate them. There's really no in between. If you love AIC then Layne is your choice for best vocalist. There are people mature enough to not be AIC fans but still recognize Layne was the best most powerful singer of the era and possibly of all time. I appreciate those people.
When hitting cymbals you get different sounds depending on where you hit them. You get the loud splash or bang when you hit the edge. But when you hit closer to the middle you get a more muted tinging sound. A lot of drummers like to do a combo of both sometimes when you do a roll on the inner part of the cymbal followed by a immediate hit on the edge. It just as a mystifying effect to the music.
thank you! I appreciate your reaction without stopping the video 10+ times. I say to myself daily "I need more Layne Staley" ... I would love to see a reaction to I Stay Away
Hey, Ken! You should react to something like "Brother" from MTV Unplugged. I'd love to hear what you think of Layne AND Jerry's harmonies. That was some beautiful stuff. Legend(S)!✌🏻
According to guitarist, Jerry Cantrell said, "The song is us against the world, those people who put you down: “I put up with many years of you putting us down and watching us bleed, now I’d like to see you bleed some back." The first line - "my cup runneth over" - is a reference to the Book of Psalms. It means that he has more than he needs, he is doing great. The second line - "like blood from a stone" - means the exact opposite. Jerry is telling us in a sarcastic fashion that no, he’s not doing great. He’s also setting up the slew of religious metaphors to come in the song. The lines: "When the sin lies bolder / I'll pluck out thine eye". This is a Biblical reference to the passage of Mathew 18:9 which reads: "Also, if your eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter one-eyed into life than to be thrown with two eyes into the fiery Ge·henʹna". Although this seems to be a sincere expression of guilt, when taken into context Jerry seems to be sarcastically mocking society’s moral standards, in particular those set out in the Bible. The spoken whispered verse is: "All these things that you've done for me / Have left me so FUCKING TIRED / I'm not saying that you haven't done a lot of good / But if there's one thing you can do / You can BLEED FOR ME, BLEED FOR ME" Layne Staley ALWAYS sounded better live than studio version. He was one of the few singers who did sound better live. At the age of 34, Layne 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. Other musicians tried to spark a creative flair hoping if Layne was creative he wouldn't want the drugs, but it only worked for as long as it took to complete the project and he'd close down again. 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 was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. Layne had done so much for Jerry, giving him a place to live, money, clothes, food, guitars and gear, a band. Layne gave Jerry a life that could NOT fail unless Jerry let it happen. Layne stacked his own vocals. He wrote the lyrics for the 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 still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. 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. Not to mention 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. 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. 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). "Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley "My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley "When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley "I'm not into religion, but I have a good grasp on my spirituality. I just believe that I'm not the greatest power on this earth. I didn’t create myself, because I would have done a hell of a better job." ~ Layne Staley
@@td315 I didn't notice anything different than anything else Layne had sang at The Moore with AIC or Mad Season. That spoken whispered verse: "All these things that you've done for me / Have left me so FUCKING TIRED / I'm not saying that you haven't done a lot of good / But if there's one thing you can do / You can BLEED FOR ME, BLEED FOR ME" was maybe hard for him to understand, but that's all I noticed.
To answer the drum question: the reason why he’s hitting the cymbal on the opposite side is because that china cymbal is inverted and hanging downwards at an angle, hitting it on the opposite side will give more travel and let it ring out longer
Ken would love to see you react to Pearl Jam's 'Oceans' Unplugged for Eddie's falsetto, or them doing 'Release' live in Utrecht 1992 for his less grungey vocal skill.
In my opinion this version is Layne's greatest overall vocal performance. Yes, Love Hate Love does show his range. However, this not only shows his range, but also how he could go from one end of the scale to the other in an instant seamlessly. It's amazing how he made it seem so effortless.
Just standing for dramatic effect. The only thing that has an effect on the actual sound is the force behind the impact, and the distance from the center, or the "bell." It just looks good and adds some emphasis. Also mic placement has an effect on the sound. Edited to add that.
Can never go wrong with Alice In Chains, Jerry Cantrell is a god songwriter, such a good song. Layne’s vocals were at his peak at this time and you mix that with Jerry’s songwriting and you get magic.
Yes vocals are unbelievable unbelievable I don't know if people get it , this is lane at perfection , I could listen to this over and over😢still feel pain physically in my heart 💌don't know why ?
So much to say about Layne's vocals - I wish you went more into the techniques Layne uses, even demonstrate how to do some of them. You didn't say much here beyond 'he's so good' and 'he's using a gritty shout'!
Hi Ken great video! Might I suggest checking out Alice in Chains 1993 live in Tilburg “Rooster”, it is in my opinion a great show of Layne’s raw power! unfortunately the very few recordings that exist are from audience members and have somewhat poor quality. Overlooking that fact, a great listen and could potentially make a good reaction video!
He’s just standing to stretch mostly in the drums but he’s reaching towards the back of the cymbal to get a different sound It’s an effect but it’s also just the recording, I suggest you listen to the studio version of this song too, so you can hear what you miss
@Ken, I'm getting that too I think it has to do with the soundboard rooms issue. Because I've seen Layne n Alice in Chains live in a crappy place n he was even better than anything I've heard on records!!!🌹🙏😘😍😮 They were the second band to play n open for Ozzy Osbourne!! BEST concert EVER!!!💋🌹🎶🎤😉
Hey Ken, nice video! I am not a drummer, but i would assume that he just wanted a lighter and softer sound from his cymbals. The mics have a certain position and if you hit the cymbal p.e. behind the mic, you'll get a sound with less attack, but almost the same roomy and airy sound. :) but maybe i am totally wrong. :D
I had to take a break from the heartbreak of anxiously checking every day for a Rule of Nines (Studio Vocal one take) by Spiritbox or even Teacher Teacher by Jinjer (album video) because you miss so much in the live. Jinjer also has some vocal one take vids as well. Anyway the drummer is stretching as well as looking cool but he could hit the front of his cymbals to get the same effect but it looks cooler. He also does stand because he has his cymbals set really high so to not hit the edge with the sticks he kinda needs to stand. The middle part of the vocals was an extra reverb effect, even in the studio version.
The part in the middle that you couldn't quite make out the words changes slightly, but for the most part here it is "All the things you've done for me have left me so f***ing tired....ooooooo.... It's not that I'm saying you haven't done a lot of good things for me but if there's one thing you can do.... Bleed for me.... Bleed for me.
I love Layne but Jerry was always the secret weapon. He wrote many of the songs and vocally was the stabilizer. Standing up as a drummer and hitting the symbols let’s it ride more because you’re hitting the top more and not the rim.
It's kinda astonishing how ADVANCED they became as a band in such short time. Because honestly....I don't like the studio versions of Facelift songs. They all feel kinda....anemic. It's not just the production....it's also the performances. Dirt feels WAY more advanced by comparison. But so do the live performances _after_ Facelift was released. I almost wish they'd recorded Facelift 6 months later....it would have been a MUCH stronger record.
I mean i love Facelift as it is but i do realize they could've polished the songs more. I also noticed Layne's voice matured more after they released the album.
Maybe because BLEED THE FREAK was near the end of the setlist maybe? But no, Layne did NOT have a fatigue factor. In Rock in Rio 1993, January 22, 1993... Mike Starr's last concert with AIC... Layne's voice was harsher than usual, because the night before Mike Starr had passed out on him (after NOT telling him that he had done drugs with Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love BEFORE going to Layne) and Layne freaked out, dragged him into the shower and was slapping Starr silly and screaming at Starr until his came around... 11 minutes later. Layne was high as a kite during the last three or four dates on the last leg of the 92-93 Dirt Tour before they did a short spring tour and Lollapalooza 93. But none of it hindered his singing. When they got to Japan in 1993 for The Dirt tour, Layne strongly felt like he was more of a commodity than a person.... something he had mentioned during the 1991 Van Halen tour.
None of my friends that got married named any of their kids Layne, in spite of my suggesting it numerous times, so I got a kitten and named him Layne. He's good people.
He loved cats he would have dug that. He kept wanting my cat Shang (a Siamese named for MLB's "Shangrila") but I said no bc he was on the road and expected to be for years (as the case when starting out) but he got a cat finally when he bought the condo in the U-District. He loved all animals even my snake Socrates.
Lars from Metallica named one of his sons after Layne ~
You don't see kittens out here robbing liquor stores with a "Born 2 Lose" tattoo on their chest. Because kittens are descent people!
kool !
My friend named his daughter Layne Staley. First and middle names.
Layne had the most hauntingly beautiful voice..
The echoing in his voice is unbelievable. I've always loved this version.
It is said Layne's voice can still be heard haunting the halls of the Moore to this very day !
Well i need to go there then 😂@kevintunaley5079
Nope! No vocal fatigue! He does that same inflection at the very end of the song in the studio version. Just artistic liberty ☺️
He hit A#4 full chest voice with such strength, damn...
Yea, his vocal power was out of this world 🤟
Jerry was no slouch with his backing vocals as well.
Right? Jerry doesn’t get enough credit for making their Unplugged a f’ing masterpiece!
LITERALLY. Jerrys vocala are one of my favorite parts of the Bleed the Freak performances because he absolutely KILLS them
They harmonized perfect together.
For real, Jerry is so great he deserves more credit!
Jerry's voice was such an integral part of AIC sound.
The live at the Moore concert is the best grunge era live concert footage that exists. Such a great concert from AIC, and crazy performances by Layne. This and Love Hate Love. Mesmerizing.
You should check out the Love Hate Love version in the Live album
If there was 1 show I would go see it’s this one, Pearl Jam opened for them and temple of the dog.
That’s saying a lot w Zep at MSG skynyrd n stones in england, but...
Layne Eddie n Chris all on same stage in 1 night, sick!!
the Mad Season live at the Moore is also pretty incredible
It's kinda astonishing how ADVANCED they became as a band in such short time.
Because honestly....I don't like the studio versions of Facelift songs. They all feel kinda....anemic.
It's not just the production....it's also the performances. Dirt feels WAY more advanced by comparison. But so do the live performances _after_ Facelift was released. I almost wish they'd recorded Facelift 6 months later....it would have been a MUCH stronger record.
I do think that the production had the largest part to play in the anemic feel of Facelift's overall sound. The same problem existed for Soundgarden on Loudlove. The mixes for both albums basically neutered the sound.
"I'm not getting enough!" Is what I think everytime I listen to Layne. Which is everyday. Daily Staley...Grunge God.
Layne Staley. I wish you knew how much we love you.
He knew he saw us and herd us at concerts opiates r a hell of a thing they make u forget about ur probs and make u feel like ur walking on clouds the withdrawls make u feel like ur dieing and since not used to feeling pain its increased 10 fold. Its sad but once u start its very very hard to stop and it will haunt u till the day u die
He knew
@@korn5308 Do opiates make you forget how to write with real words, too?
@@broeheemed32 LOL
I wish he knew how extremely talented he was and how much he meant for the music industry and generations to come.
Dude Layne kept that same intensity up the entire show!!! No fatigue bro..Only one Layne..Dont be selling the lie that anyone can train to do that...Its not happening..One of a kind...RIP LAYNE STAYLEY....
We all know that Layne had some serious pipes but it's Jerry and Layne's harmonies, with Cantrell's guitar tone, that separates AIC from most bands from that era. This entire Live at the Moore performance gives me goosebumps every time I listen to that show!! RIP Layne gone but Never forgotten
Jerry isn't the fastest or most technical, but he's got so much soul and power. Easily one of my top 5 of all time
👌You nailed it!👌
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Totally agree. They were the best.
5:48, "Bleed for meeeAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" My favorite of the entire song.
The greatest rock and roll vocalist of all time. Thank you for sharing.
Don't forget that Jerry was singing harmony, which made them both sound better. They had some of the best harmonies.
Heard this song a million times and still get goosebumps. So. Damn. Good.
WOOHOO! More Alice in Chains!!
My favorite performer of one of my favorite bands ever! As Tom Morello said: he has the voice of an angry angel. Or like his mom said: Layne´s voice was razor blades wrapped in marshmallows...RIP Layne...
I want more of Layne everyday!! Greatest male vocalist to grace the planet! AIC is my most favorite Band of all time!!!
Agreed
He’s playing cymbal rolls, and probably taking advantage of a quick moment to stand up and stretch the legs out while doing so, and also adds the ability to interact with the audience if desired at that point. Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and currently in like a million other groups (Sons of Apollo, Flying Colors, Metal Allegiance, Neal Morse Band, and others) is known for that.
Firstly, thanks for this review! As a professional drummer, Sean Kinney is under rated. He is standing up to get a cymbal "swell" sound. Could be done seated, but Sean is a tall man, and I believe this is part of how he performed. Coming from a straight down angle helps control the intensity as well. ANYWAY, Alice is one of my all time favs! Thank you for the review! Love seeing these!
rolling on cymbals is a concert percussion technique. its one of the "voices" available. more commonly done with mallets (tympani or marimba) but sticks will work too.
I think he means doing a roll on the far side of the cymbal specifically
Sean Kinney is an extremely underrated drummer!
@@MissyM68 No, he isn't.
@@tempsitch5632 i agree, he doesn’t get talked about a lot. especially if you listen to songs from their self titled or love hate love or even damn that river his groove and steadyness is so well done. also the entire unplugged show he does so damn well.
@@tempsitch5632 yes, he is.
Literally said “ooh, fuck yeah” as soon as this popped up in my suggestions lol
Love this performance, not enough people react to it!
Our generation will never see another rock singer who has mastered his voice, his art like Layne
One in a Million
Forever my fav vocalist, emotional, powerful, original, and goosebump inducing.......also the ONLY person imo that sounds better live than in studio
Layne had the most amazing ,unique , hunting voice of all time forever my favourite person and singer ❤
If you do more Alice, please do Rain When I Die (Live England 1993). That was the peak
Layne literally smashes my soul was talking to my buddy about it today, I can't even understand how after all these years it still happens
One of my buddies was at this show. It also had Temple of the Dog as an opener, and an unknown band called Mookie Blaylock playing one of their first shows. That band decided to change their name, and decided on the name Pearl Jam. My buddy said he didn't like Pearl Jam for a long time because of that show. He said they did not sound good at all, and it soured them on him for a long time. He finally liked them later.
Dude, I was only 8 at this time but would give anything to go back and see that lineup live
If you want more, watch - Man In A Box, also live at Moore. You will be stunned by these high and gritty notes at chorus.
2:49
All of us who love him feel the same way.
3:29
For him it was. He consistently nailed his vocals on the first try in the studio every time.
Frogs is my favorite AIC song, but vocally I adore I Stay Away. I want you to see Mad Seasons Long Gone Day live at Moore, can't get better than Layne and Lanegan together! They loved each other dearly. I see Lanegan live every time I get the chance, he's so good.
frogs Unplugged is the best version
Their Sap album has some awesome tracks, with features from Anne Wilson and Chris Cornell!
"Right Turn" is awesome.
Am I right
what
@@SrbijaCG yes very underated
Got Me Wrong is beautiful
Yes! One of my favourite live from them! Must listen to it twice Ken!
And next should be "Down in a hole" from Mtv Unplugged, beautifull harmony.
Man, I wish I was at this concert ooohh my goodness I love Layne Staley and Alice in Chains ❤️🤘 what a performance!!
RIP Layne! You’re missed!
Loved this, Ken. Your reactions are so satisfying for the attention and engagement you bring to them, and of course your expertise, humor and vulnerability. Particularly fun to watch you watch Layne.
Goosebumps, just goosebumps! Starting at 4:47
“It needs to be louder”
“I just wanted more”
Welcome to being a metal head!!!!!
Chills every time I watch this. He was the flipping ULTIMATE rock GOD. Let’s not forget Sean Kinney’s drum mastery (he deserves way more credit/mention than what he gets and, of course Cantrell bringing it all together. You dont see Mike much in this video-but his talent was nothing to scoff at. Layne, though, geezus he left this earth way too soon.
Jerry needs his props on vocals
THE BEST!!!🌪🔥🌪
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Oh , you cant do BLEED THE FREAK without doing LOVE HATE LOVE LIVE AT THE MOORE , its incredible
ruclips.net/video/aiTQwARoxxQ/видео.html
He already did that reaction :)
To answer your question;
The drummer is playing the high hat open when he's standing without dampening it with the pedal. it's kind of like playing the fast softer notes on a ride cymbal, but has a quieter yet more dynamic quality that suits that bridge.
You're right about the weird post production reverb. Even a sound board recording wouldn't sound like that. Have you listened to the album version? It's incredible.
Thanks for reacting to my favorite Alice in Chains song Ken. Layne vocals in this concert are so powerful and amazing. I love your channel. More reactions to Grunge please.
Instant like, because AIC
Wish we had more too Ken..
Gives me goosebumps 🎉🎉❤❤
I think it would be so cool for Ken to collaborate with one of these bands, to sing a heavy metal or rock song with his style of music would be amazing!
To be there and listen to it live. Luckiest people on earth. And those at MTV unplugged
So, please. More Alice In Chains. Alice In Chains - Rooster (MTV UNPLUGGED) is one of the best perfomances of Layne Staley.
People say Chris Cornell had the best voice of the grunge era. I personally think it was and will always be Layne. Chris is a close second
I'm in agreement. I think Chris often gets rated higher because he appeals to a broader audience. With Layne and specifically AIC you're in 2 camps absolutely love them or you hate them. There's really no in between. If you love AIC then Layne is your choice for best vocalist. There are people mature enough to not be AIC fans but still recognize Layne was the best most powerful singer of the era and possibly of all time. I appreciate those people.
@@kibutsu I think Chris had a more diverse range, but Laynes voice is more unique.
Agreed
When hitting cymbals you get different sounds depending on where you hit them. You get the loud splash or bang when you hit the edge. But when you hit closer to the middle you get a more muted tinging sound.
A lot of drummers like to do a combo of both sometimes when you do a roll on the inner part of the cymbal followed by a immediate hit on the edge. It just as a mystifying effect to the music.
thank you! I appreciate your reaction without stopping the video 10+ times. I say to myself daily "I need more Layne Staley" ... I would love to see a reaction to I Stay Away
Hey, Ken! You should react to something like "Brother" from MTV Unplugged. I'd love to hear what you think of Layne AND Jerry's harmonies. That was some beautiful stuff. Legend(S)!✌🏻
According to guitarist, Jerry Cantrell said, "The song is us against the world, those people who put you down: “I put up with many years of you putting us down and watching us bleed, now I’d like to see you bleed some back."
The first line - "my cup runneth over" - is a reference to the Book of Psalms. It means that he has more than he needs, he is doing great.
The second line - "like blood from a stone" - means the exact opposite. Jerry is telling us in a sarcastic fashion that no, he’s not doing great. He’s also setting up the slew of religious metaphors to come in the song.
The lines: "When the sin lies bolder / I'll pluck out thine eye". This is a Biblical reference to the passage of Mathew 18:9 which reads: "Also, if your eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter one-eyed into life than to be thrown with two eyes into the fiery Ge·henʹna". Although this seems to be a sincere expression of guilt, when taken into context Jerry seems to be sarcastically mocking society’s moral standards, in particular those set out in the Bible.
The spoken whispered verse is: "All these things that you've done for me / Have left me so FUCKING TIRED / I'm not saying that you haven't done a lot of good / But if there's one thing you can do / You can BLEED FOR ME, BLEED FOR ME"
Layne Staley ALWAYS sounded better live than studio version. He was one of the few singers who did sound better live. At the age of 34, Layne 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.
Other musicians tried to spark a creative flair hoping if Layne was creative he wouldn't want the drugs, but it only worked for as long as it took to complete the project and he'd close down again. 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 was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. Layne had done so much for Jerry, giving him a place to live, money, clothes, food, guitars and gear, a band. Layne gave Jerry a life that could NOT fail unless Jerry let it happen. Layne stacked his own vocals. He wrote the lyrics for the 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 still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons.
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. Not to mention 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. 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.
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).
"Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley
"My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley
"When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley
"I'm not into religion, but I have a good grasp on my spirituality. I just believe that I'm not the greatest power on this earth. I didn’t create myself, because I would have done a hell of a better job." ~ Layne Staley
@@td315 I didn't notice anything different than anything else Layne had sang at The Moore with AIC or Mad Season.
That spoken whispered verse: "All these things that you've done for me / Have left me so FUCKING TIRED / I'm not saying that you haven't done a lot of good / But if there's one thing you can do / You can BLEED FOR ME, BLEED FOR ME" was maybe hard for him to understand, but that's all I noticed.
To answer the drum question: the reason why he’s hitting the cymbal on the opposite side is because that china cymbal is inverted and hanging downwards at an angle, hitting it on the opposite side will give more travel and let it ring out longer
A reverse crescendo on the that cymbal for visual effect...Amazing band !!
Hitting the cymbals further from the mics, giving a in the distance effect.
Ken would love to see you react to Pearl Jam's 'Oceans' Unplugged for Eddie's falsetto, or them doing 'Release' live in Utrecht 1992 for his less grungey vocal skill.
In my opinion this version is Layne's greatest overall vocal performance. Yes, Love Hate Love does show his range. However, this not only shows his range, but also how he could go from one end of the scale to the other in an instant seamlessly. It's amazing how he made it seem so effortless.
Layne sang like an angry angel
Just standing for dramatic effect. The only thing that has an effect on the actual sound is the force behind the impact, and the distance from the center, or the "bell." It just looks good and adds some emphasis. Also mic placement has an effect on the sound. Edited to add that.
RIP Layne ❤
Best time....Sad after. RIP Layne and Mike
Layne Staley ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I always click for Alice in Chains❤
Solid reaction! Thanks Ken!🤘
You cant handle the raw vocal! You're not ready!!! 🤣
React to alice in chains down in a hole unplugged next
HEY KEN...JERRY CANTRELL SAID THEY BLENDED ALL THE MICS INCLUDING THE ROOM AND OVERHEAD MICS...
When you said you need to turn it up, then you said it’s not loud enough, I felt that. 🤟
Hell yea one of my fav aic live vids
I used to have my phone number listed as Alice N. Chains,lol,safe to say I love some AIC-STILL
Can never go wrong with Alice In Chains, Jerry Cantrell is a god songwriter, such a good song. Layne’s vocals were at his peak at this time and you mix that with Jerry’s songwriting and you get magic.
Yes vocals are unbelievable unbelievable I don't know if people get it , this is lane at perfection , I could listen to this over and over😢still feel pain physically in my heart 💌don't know why ?
Listen to the album version, you’ll hear the effect put on his vocals.
So much to say about Layne's vocals - I wish you went more into the techniques Layne uses, even demonstrate how to do some of them. You didn't say much here beyond 'he's so good' and 'he's using a gritty shout'!
Layne and AIC ROCK! Need to do Rooster✌❤🤘Actually do one from the MTV unplugged session. The best one ever recorded, well Pearl Jam also.
Hi Ken great video! Might I suggest checking out Alice in Chains 1993 live in Tilburg “Rooster”, it is in my opinion a great show of Layne’s raw power! unfortunately the very few recordings that exist are from audience members and have somewhat poor quality. Overlooking that fact, a great listen and could potentially make a good reaction video!
He’s just standing to stretch mostly in the drums but he’s reaching towards the back of the cymbal to get a different sound
It’s an effect but it’s also just the recording, I suggest you listen to the studio version of this song too, so you can hear what you miss
I will definitely have a listen to the studio version - thanks for the comment
Layne warped time and space during the bridge. That is what you are hearing.
@Ken, I'm getting that too I think it has to do with the soundboard rooms issue. Because I've seen Layne n Alice in Chains live in a crappy place n he was even better than anything I've heard on records!!!🌹🙏😘😍😮
They were the second band to play n open for Ozzy Osbourne!! BEST concert EVER!!!💋🌹🎶🎤😉
You have to react to the whole live performance at the moore in 1990 now
YES!!
Got damn.. just watched his 96’ performance and he had no teeth. Almost brought tears to my eyes to see this man healthy(ish) and more..alive…
Layne 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Alice in Chains are sooo good! You should look at some of the Song from the MTV Unplugged, e.g. Down in a Hole :-)
WISH WE HAD MORE!!!!
Hey Ken, nice video!
I am not a drummer, but i would assume that he just wanted a lighter and softer sound from his cymbals. The mics have a certain position and if you hit the cymbal p.e. behind the mic, you'll get a sound with less attack, but almost the same roomy and airy sound. :) but maybe i am totally wrong. :D
If I could pick a favorite song, this might be it.
Please react to The Doors Live at the hollywood bowl-When The Music's Over
Need a reaction for Spiritbox Blessed Be, Rule of Nines and Constance.
You should do Alice in Chains rooster Tilbur Netherlands '93
Those are the raw vocals 😊 Yes, he would be tired this being the last song of their set.
I feel like Layne had the best voice in rock next to Bruce Dickinson (IMO)
Yea, I think Layne has the best voice in rock history, next to Freddie Mercury. Dickinson is awesome too.
There is definitely reverb added either in show by a sound guy or post production, during the middle part where he talks
Hi! You could react to Czesław Niemen - Dziwny jest ten świat. It's unusual, but that guys vocals are really insane :)
I'm not a drummer, but I would think tapping the symbol higher on the bell would give more of a ringing, resonant sound...maybe?
I had to take a break from the heartbreak of anxiously checking every day for a Rule of Nines (Studio Vocal one take) by Spiritbox or even Teacher Teacher by Jinjer (album video) because you miss so much in the live. Jinjer also has some vocal one take vids as well. Anyway the drummer is stretching as well as looking cool but he could hit the front of his cymbals to get the same effect but it looks cooler. He also does stand because he has his cymbals set really high so to not hit the edge with the sticks he kinda needs to stand. The middle part of the vocals was an extra reverb effect, even in the studio version.
The part in the middle that you couldn't quite make out the words changes slightly, but for the most part here it is
"All the things you've done for me have left me so f***ing tired....ooooooo....
It's not that I'm saying you haven't done a lot of good things for me but if there's one thing you can do.... Bleed for me.... Bleed for me.
I love Layne but Jerry was always the secret weapon. He wrote many of the songs and vocally was the stabilizer. Standing up as a drummer and hitting the symbols let’s it ride more because you’re hitting the top more and not the rim.
More Layne
It's kinda astonishing how ADVANCED they became as a band in such short time.
Because honestly....I don't like the studio versions of Facelift songs. They all feel kinda....anemic.
It's not just the production....it's also the performances. Dirt feels WAY more advanced by comparison. But so do the live performances _after_ Facelift was released. I almost wish they'd recorded Facelift 6 months later....it would have been a MUCH stronger record.
I mean i love Facelift as it is but i do realize they could've polished the songs more. I also noticed Layne's voice matured more after they released the album.
Did Layne have a fatigue factor? Lol. Honestly, I hold him to such a high fucking standard, I'm sure it must be true...at some point.
Maybe because BLEED THE FREAK was near the end of the setlist maybe? But no, Layne did NOT have a fatigue factor.
In Rock in Rio 1993, January 22, 1993... Mike Starr's last concert with AIC... Layne's voice was harsher than usual, because the night before Mike Starr had passed out on him (after NOT telling him that he had done drugs with Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love BEFORE going to Layne) and Layne freaked out, dragged him into the shower and was slapping Starr silly and screaming at Starr until his came around... 11 minutes later.
Layne was high as a kite during the last three or four dates on the last leg of the 92-93 Dirt Tour before they did a short spring tour and Lollapalooza 93. But none of it hindered his singing.
When they got to Japan in 1993 for The Dirt tour, Layne strongly felt like he was more of a commodity than a person.... something he had mentioned during the 1991 Van Halen tour.