Well, for Layne, it was a concoction of drugs, especially when he died. He took a Speedball and then followed it up with another syringe of Heroin. And that my friend, would kill an elephant.
Their unplugged is one of the saddest and most haunting performances you'll see there wasn't anything left of Layne by this point you can see the emptiness in his eyes its heartbreaking he still sounded wonderful
If you read the most recent Alice in chains biography book (released in 2014 or so, can't recall the name) it was stated that Layne injected a small dose of heroin to avoid withdrawls (but not enough to get high) before going on stage.
@@alexandruv He was fucked up man, that's why he kept messing up the lyrics. They didn't show them all when they released the Unplugged video, but he fucked up on Sludge Factory like 5-10 times and the had to keep restarting. He's wearing gloves in this to hide the track marks on his hands and you can tell by his eyes when he took his sunglasses off that he was fucked up.
Erica Jerry is underrated as a guitar player, he’s just underrated in general these days, he is one of the best songwriters ever, the amount of amazing songs and lyrics he wrote for AiC is just crazy. Dude is a fuckin legend, great guitar player, great singer, and especially a great overall songwriter, dude is the whole package
@@puppetmaster8551 Im sorry but he´s not underrated, maybe hes not know now so much, but anyone who know a little of this kind a music Know who Cantrell is
@@veromorales7517 I mean he’s kind of underrated when a lot of people credit Layne for music he did. He never got the credit he deserved for being the primary songwriter of the band. People who are very familiar with AiC and know what they’re talking about know Jerry is one of the best but as far as general audience goes he was always underrated and that’s exactly why his solo stuff was never huge even tho it was fantastic.
He wasn't high out of his mind he was just REALLY strung out however he wasn't stone cold sober he just did enough H to do the show without having withdrawals if he was high out of his mind he wouldn't be able to sing the words much less hit the notes like he did throughout the show. Howard Stern got that bs rumor started cuz he said on his radio show right after Layne died that during this show they had to help him sit up in the chair cuz he was falling out and shit but that's obviously not true!
As an ex junky lemme tell you it definitely does not hinder singing if you are conscious enough to do it. If anything it helps. It relaxes your vocal chords, lungs, whole body. Layne was the best tho.
Not high out of his mind.. he was way beyond getting high like that. Heroin use becomes maintenance. You just do it to feel normal and not get dope sick. He's made that clear before.
@@charreed8727 You can definitely still get high lol. I was a junky for 6 years. It just takes more but lucky for him he had money and could get the best.
It's hard to watch because Layne was there for his parts, other than that, he wasn't there due to his obvious troubles. It was the end of the line for someone truly talented and couldn't overcome addiction
Yes! P would love it! Layne kills it & the harmonies cut straight through your soul. He'd love all the detail, too... I have so many fave AIC songs & this is one of them. Dirt is a masterpiece! ❤️🤘🏻
This song was off my fave, their Tripod LP, so I have a lot of thoughts on it. It was the last album Layne would sing on, and it is a portrait of a broken man and a broken band. But make no mistake, it is darkly brilliant. Frogs is sadly about his addiction of course. Almost every song Layne wrote was. But, his Lyrics on Tripod were different. On Dirt you hear a man who is fighting desperately to gain control of himself over his demons. Tripod delivers to us a man in resignation, someone not as much fighting as wading in guilt and frustration. Each track seems to have at least seven vocal parts singing at once. Staley’s voice, though amazing as always, does not possess the raw and gritty power he displayed on past AIC efforts. But that’s not the vocal style Tripod calls for. Instead, Staley delivers contorted, yet beautiful layers upon layers of piercing harmonies. It’s a vocal style I’ve yet to encounter in anything else. It's a dark, hopeless piece, and Staley's mournful intonation of "Why's it have to be this way?" during the chorus has to be one of the most depressing sounds I've ever heard. Songs like “Frogs” are great reminders of why Alice in Chains is a cut above the rest. They are masters at turning pain into beauty. And they are able to do so without sounding whiny, overly dramatic or outright disturbing for the sake of being disturbing.
What's really crazy is just how well the song "All Secrets Known," From Black Gives Way to Blue feels like it actually should have closed the Tripod albums. Hope, a new beginning Time, time to start living Just like just before we died There's no going back to the dreams we started from Hurt, falling through fingers Trust, trust in the feeling There's something left inside There's no going back to the dreams we started from All secrets known Calm, old wounds are healing Strong, truth is worth saving I want to feel alive There's no going back to the dreams we started from All secrets known It's like Jerry had still not left that place and was still stuck there, like he was waiting for Layne to get better and finally had to say goodbye.
There is no other band, no other singer, no other lyrics that gets to the grittiest darkest place of Pain Like Layne Staley in Alice In Chains. For those of us that have touched that darkness - thank God we got out of it and thank God there are artists who convey it so purely
@@officialcauseandeffectdogt8905 Jerry’s lyrics were just as a dark and gritty as Layne’s, alot Of People credit Layne for a lot of Jerry AIC lyrics and his solo record Deg trip is pretty much as dark as any AIC stuff. As a band tho nobody really compares to AIC when it comes to writing dark gritty emotional and relatable lyrics
The best way I describe it is that, it sounds like his soul is shriveling up and coming out of his mouth why he is singing out the pain.. I’ve always LOVED this song, but even more now than ever after battling addiction, I feel his pain empathetically.. he was, and still is, one of the best singers ever! I can smile, laugh, cry and or get the chills when I close my eyes and LISTEN.. definitely feel the pain
@@24SparrowJack actually jerry was credited with writing 1 more songs while layne was there. But get born was by layne. And died was primarily by layne. So its was literally 50/50.
All this music for this time period was so pure and organic. it was rock but sounded like nothing that had come before. it was a very experimental time for music in general. so many great original songs came out and with Alice in chains the music itself told a story with the changes from dark to light. We need this creativity today.
@ 6:35 when you say "I don't know if he's going through some shit right now" Understatement man..... At the time of this recording Layne Staley was really sick with Heroine addiction....this was basically the last appearance on any public stage. Just look at how ghostly pale and skinny he is....he barely moves around. For years after this until his death he holed up in an apartment in Seattle and became a recluse and spiraled into severe unstoppable addiction....not even coming out to see his own band mates when they would knock on his door, knowing that he was inside. So Sad....but also....appropriate because you can see the depth and anguish Layne carried....he just had to fade away. He had a profound sadness deep inside that he distilled with this amazing voice and talent to sing. It was reported that when his body was found he had lost all his teeth and even had gangrene set in on his body. I'm not sure if that's true but....I have heard that. R.I.P.
Layne always made you feel as if he was sepaking, directly, to you. He was. absolutely, present in all of his performances. ...he pulled you in, laid out what he was feeling IN THAT MOMENT, and handed it to you (even if it was total shit). THAT was his power.
This song means a lot to me. Both during my addiction issues and after them this song is powerful to me. "Rapid brown, avoid clear blue" means "I don't even want to see the blue in my eyes, drug me up" basically.. This song's about loneliness, a shitty dad and addiction and people who only call you up to get high. I wish I didn't know what it's like but glad it's all over.. RIP Layne
Layne Staley put so much of his soul into his singing....it literally makes me pause every single time I hear him. It's like he pulls out his bloody beating heart and holds it up to you.... Dark, and beautiful....so raw, so real. Nobody does what Layne did, No Body.
I think it was The duel of Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley their pictures were just little bit different but they were so good together it was awesome. But I agree he was always in dark place you could never get him out of it think I saw a documentary about 10 years ago about how bad he was. I still think Chris Cornell's voice is the best voice to ever come out of that era.
sadly duvall is only chorus, he is a great musician but no for alice in chains. recognize is only jerry cantrell project without layne no alice in chains.
@@danielcabrera3707 so not true. He writes and sings and it is surely AiC. Having seen them with Layne and with William they are both primo performances....
Really?? Maybe if you dig nasally bubblegum pop voices... Duvall couldn't sound dark or emotionally vested in a song if his life depended on it... Wet have jerry pumping out this dark heady music and still kicking Ass the your heart a voice that sounds like sesame streets BIG BIRD OR BURT TRYING TO COMTRINUTE WITHOUT ANY PAIN OR EMOTION IN HIS VOICE AT ALL..... SORRY BUBBLEGUM BILLY IS "One OF THESE THINGS THAT just DOEST BELONG THERE!! if your my age you will make the connection of sesame streets and the things that DOESNT belong"!!! ( can you guess which one its doing this own thing? Now its time to play along"..and the only old AIC song that I appreciate duvals vocal TALENT is WHALE & WASP!!!!
Temple of The Dog - Say Hello to Heaven Soundgarden - Fell on Black Days Soundgarden - Outshined Alice in Chains - Over Now Nirvana - About a Girl (unplugged) Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World (unplugged) Easy to go down the Seattle Four rabbit hole. yeeeeeeeeah buddy!
Lanes other band MAD SEASON - LONG GONE DAY. That song has everything, it’s the most experimental song Lane ever did. I know you a fan of the small details and that song is all about details. LONG GONE DAY LONG GONE DAY
It's my favorite Mad Season song PERIOD Also the way he wrote it with Matt was a brilliant decision. If you don't know what I mean then look up Matt Lannegan telling the story of how they wrote it. Keep reacting!
The reason his stage presence was matching the songs to a tee was because Layne was dying right here from severe drug addiction. He weighed probably 100 pounds, was missing teeth, and hadn't done a concert in years due to his heroin and crack addiction. This is basically as dark as it gets for a person. When Layne died, he had bcome a total recluse and was rarely seen by anyone including his bandmates. I honestly can't think of a sadder death, but, Cornell and Cobain come mighty close.
There’s something very unsettling yet very satisfying when seeing and hearing this performance! I haven’t seen it in a while!! The same chills, as the first time I saw it, when it first aired!! AIC is such a unique band!! One Of The Greatest bands of all time!! Layne was a genius! His voice is haunting!
"Right Turn" vocals by Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and Jerry Cantrell..... then slide over to the band Temple Of The Dog with Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell..... only one album.... you won't be disappointed. Great channel Cuz.
Got me wrong was my favorite. But that whole concert was great. Not a bad song from unplugged. (Scratch that the killer is me song was terrible) should if been i stay away or i cant remember
..Absolutely..Agree.. ..Historic..Epic..Like nutshell much very much.. I have to go with down in a hole.. As my favorite..nutshell would be next..man in a box..then rooster..
Hey man i appreciate your 'Honest Evaluation' on music that you may have not been raised into.. Thanks, and i seen them in concert before he passed but like you i just 'Felt' it would never be the same and haven't went to another yet..
Much respect to you for reacting to this. This song has been stuck in my head for about three years now, and it's not leaving any time soon. Love your videos.
Honestly every song they played during this MTV Unplugged show is worthy of a reaction. Such a good set from start to finish. If you decide to react to more songs from this set you should definitely check out “Over Now” and “Got Me Wrong”. Personal favorites of mine from this show.
It's called "Frogs" because where they were staying while recording the album there were frogs croaking outside at night every night. So loud. 🤘 on the album version you can hear frogs croaking....
He put Seattle on the map along with others of course. Unfortunately the local media turned on him when he died( the local mag the Stranger for one) and just called him a piece of shit. That was just an elitist few though. The fans didnt do that.
I was blessed to have seen Layne in Alice back in the early 90's and have seen them with William, Without Layne that beautiful darkness isn't protruding through the performance,...because you could never replace a dying mans view of his own life battles.
I've gotten to the point that when I listen to AiC, I always go unplugged. I listen to a lot of music but, with AiC, I actively seek out anything like this I can find. I can honestly say that this may be the only band that I'd rather hear live or unplugged than any studio version they did. It's just so good.
Go to the concert... its helping Jerry alot. Jerry is just as important as Layne was. He writes 50% of the lyrics and 90% of the music. The atmosphere.. the riffs... the tension... there's no AiC without either one of em. The instrumental is still there... People should also give DuVall a break.. he is not Layne.. I agree but its better to release music than doing nothing. And they have a decent chemistry as well. So yeah.. support the band. Especially support Jerry... without him we wouldnt have had Facelift, AiC and not least... Dirt... best grunge album out there.
He was strung out during this, he just lost the love of his life(demri) a week or so before this show. Plus they hadn't played in awhile, an they all new this was probably the end. Due to Laynes habit this band couldn't tour. Pure Raw Talent- such a shame
This was in april 1996 she didnt die till October 1996. But he was struggling with heroin. His last concert was in july 1996 due to his not being able to finish a concert without walking off to get high. Then October 1996 Demri died and he never came back.
Alice in Chains was my favorite band wayyyy back in the early 90’s. Still love them today with their new singer, but no one can ever really replace Layne.
I think I love you 🤣 haven't seen a reaction to this song before. My fav band one of my fav songs .. would love to see a reaction to god am, died, sludge factory, shame in you ... any of those ;)
Preston, man I really appreciate that you continue to make these videos for us. I want you to take a second and really feel what I'm saying. I appreciate you using your time to listen to music that means so much to so many, and sharing that new experience with all of us. It's a gift. I love you for it, bro. Keep the faith. Peace.
With the Unplugged show, he was deep in the heroin addiction, so much so that he knew his liver was shot to hell, but he hadn't isolated himself completely yet. If you listen to Jerry Cantrell talk about Layne, all he saw when he looked over at Layne during the Unplugged show was that his best friend was dying (due to the liver damage) and there was nothing he could do. Layne was such a ghost of himself during the Unplugged show. The whole Unplugged show is heartbreaking to watch.
Go see AiC live. William Duvall does a good job. It's not Layne but he does his own thing and it works. Watch them play Rooster at Guitar Center with William.
If it hasn't already been said, this is one of their final shows. You're absolutely right about him going through shit at this point. This was Layne at a really fragile state, deep in the throes of depression and heroin addiction. Unplugged was their first appearance in a few years because of Layne's health and nobody knew what to expect. It was - and still is - shocking to see how frail he was at this point. And that crazy powerful voice sounds like it's clawing its way up out of him. You would really dig the entire show. It's a legendary unplugged and pretty moving to watch.
Another great review. Dude a couple of things: I felt the same way about not wanting to see Alice in Chains without Layne but I went anyway just to be in the presence of the music and it was a powerful experience. To hear these songs performed live was an amazing experience and William Duvall really does a great job channeling the power and raw emotion of each songs content. Next time they come around you should go. The second thing is how awesome in this Unplugged version of Frogs the drummer Sean Kinney did. He didn't overplay it or overpower it and a lesser drummer easily could have. Thank you for reviewing these songs man. By doing this you are helping keep this amazing music alive for current and future generations. My vote for your next review of Alice in Chains is a song called Sunshine. Not a well known song but one of the best examples of how good these dudes were. It was from before the dark times took hold of dear Layne. Peace.
I used to listen to this album all the time when I had a drug problem. Haven't really listened to it since I got clean in 2015. Still my all time band. Nutshell was my favorite song.
I think that’s what it was really like for Layne. I too decided not to spend the $ to see Alice here in Seattle a couple years ago. I never got to see them with Layne and I didn’t feel like it would have the same vibe I’d be looking for.
I think down in a hole unplugged is Layne Stanley's swan song. Dude strung out on heroin, 110lbs, he knows he's a dead man. He signs the song about himself. Man, it's very deep to watch when u know how close to death he is. His voice is of angels in that song.
Hey man, been watching your channel for about a year now. Thanks for the effort, man , I look for new videos daily and you're always entertaining and interesting. Keep the faaaaaaaaaith! . . .
Yes finally Aic. Thank you Preston!! Made the right call not going. Layne is what made Alice in chains so great. The new singer isn’t even anywhere close to matching Layne. Without Laynes vocals it just isn’t the same. So go back and enjoy all the greatest Layne blessed us without before his death. Check out Man in the box Again Got me wrong unplugged Aint like that Put you down We die young What the hell have i Thats just a few to keep this going. So happy your back with the great rock content. 👍🏻
Alice In Chains unplugged is top 10 best live performances IMO. For an electric grunge band to play with the same “clean” sound as a studio version is impressive.
I feel the same man....I´d love to go to AIC concert but it wouldn´t be the same. They still play amazing music, but Layne was like the soul or heart.... To me there are 2 bands - with Layne and after Layne
I will say this. They aren't the same without Layne. I saw them a couple of months ago and they were biblical. It's almost like the biggest tribute. You feel layne with you but at the same time, they're a fucking good band post Layne. I cried the first time I ever saw them because you feel the loss with them but you're willing them to break through and they really do. Please see them again if you have the chance ❤️
Layne was really into his heroin addiction and this was their 1st performance in years at that time. The whole Unplugged show is awesome. I have the DVD and never get tired of watching it.
Layne was battling heroin addiction until it took his life in 2002, I could always tell how down, and how rough shape he was in for this show. Not sure if you new this, but Layne only had one lung, yes I said that. He had to have one of his lungs removed when he was an infant, due to health complications. William Duvall is a Hell of a frontman for Alice In Chains, if you get the chance again, don't hold back man, go see them, you won't be disappointed, trust me. Great Video man. Later.
One of the stage guys said he had shot up just enough to where he wasnt nodding out but was able to sing... This was towards the end and I think last performance with AIC.
Dude I can't believe you did frogs... Friggin nice choice
True that.
Froggin nice choice
Hell yeah.. we got to get him to do Brother if he hasn't already.
Hell yeah.. we got to get him to do Brother if he hasn't already.
@@serfillustrated4018 Truth. Beautiful harmonies on Brother.
RIP Layne, heroin swallowed up an entire generation of musicians.
Continues to do so too sadly.
Grunge musicians couldn't function without the smack
@@mezykin thats deep
Think of all the talented people we never got to even hear because of addiction...it's not just the ones who made it who addiction destroyed.
Well, for Layne, it was a concoction of drugs, especially when he died. He took a Speedball and then followed it up with another syringe of Heroin. And that my friend, would kill an elephant.
Billie ellish: I make dark and relateable songs
Layne Stayley: hold my beer
I really hope she doesn't get into hard drugs. No one should have to suffer like Layne did. RIP, Layne
Hold my Heroin*
Fuck Billie ellish she just acts depressed for attention her songs sound like shit
hold my needle* XD
@Harley Violet 570 Heroin*
Their unplugged is one of the saddest and most haunting performances you'll see there wasn't anything left of Layne by this point you can see the emptiness in his eyes its heartbreaking he still sounded wonderful
His eyes were empty because he was high
@@whitedeion598 no shit
He wasn't high. He was withdrawing hard. He had just gotten out of rehab.
If you read the most recent Alice in chains biography book (released in 2014 or so, can't recall the name) it was stated that Layne injected a small dose of heroin to avoid withdrawls (but not enough to get high) before going on stage.
@@alexandruv He was fucked up man, that's why he kept messing up the lyrics. They didn't show them all when they released the Unplugged video, but he fucked up on Sludge Factory like 5-10 times and the had to keep restarting. He's wearing gloves in this to hide the track marks on his hands and you can tell by his eyes when he took his sunglasses off that he was fucked up.
Jerry Cantrell seems like such an underrated guitar player, AIC unpluged in it's entirety is amazing!
Jerry is incredible
Erica Jerry is underrated as a guitar player, he’s just underrated in general these days, he is one of the best songwriters ever, the amount of amazing songs and lyrics he wrote for AiC is just crazy. Dude is a fuckin legend, great guitar player, great singer, and especially a great overall songwriter, dude is the whole package
@@puppetmaster8551 Im sorry but he´s not underrated, maybe hes not know now so much, but anyone who know a little of this kind a music Know who Cantrell is
@@veromorales7517 I mean he’s kind of underrated when a lot of people credit Layne for music he did. He never got the credit he deserved for being the primary songwriter of the band. People who are very familiar with AiC and know what they’re talking about know Jerry is one of the best but as far as general audience goes he was always underrated and that’s exactly why his solo stuff was never huge even tho it was fantastic.
agree
Back when mtv still actually played music on music tv
And before Beavis and Butthead turned into Teen Mom
And when there were real musicians.
And when Beavis & Butthead was on the aire....
Back when people actually sang and played instruments. Now we live in an era of fake music and fake news.
The sad thing now is who the fuck under 50 would you even get for unplugged?
even high out of his mind, layne had vocal control. talent is talent ladies and gentlemen.
Amen to that !!
He wasn't high out of his mind he was just REALLY strung out however he wasn't stone cold sober he just did enough H to do the show without having withdrawals if he was high out of his mind he wouldn't be able to sing the words much less hit the notes like he did throughout the show. Howard Stern got that bs rumor started cuz he said on his radio show right after Layne died that during this show they had to help him sit up in the chair cuz he was falling out and shit but that's obviously not true!
As an ex junky lemme tell you it definitely does not hinder singing if you are conscious enough to do it. If anything it helps. It relaxes your vocal chords, lungs, whole body. Layne was the best tho.
Not high out of his mind.. he was way beyond getting high like that. Heroin use becomes maintenance. You just do it to feel normal and not get dope sick. He's made that clear before.
@@charreed8727 You can definitely still get high lol. I was a junky for 6 years. It just takes more but lucky for him he had money and could get the best.
It's hard to watch because Layne was there for his parts, other than that, he wasn't there due to his obvious troubles. It was the end of the line for someone truly talented and couldn't overcome addiction
If anything he was feeling it even more at this point.
Damone Serlo - That’s arguably why this performance is so hauntingly beautiful.
Addiction destroys some beautiful souls. At least he had enuff time on this Earth to make an impact and leave a legacy. R.I.P.
His very soul was in this performance.
I LOVE Alice In Chains. They hold a lot of nostalgia for me....from when I was very young. And God, his voice is so beautiful.
Me too! I moved to Seattle in 91 and it all exploded!!!!!
Alice In Chains- Rain When I Die
Yes! P would love it! Layne kills it & the harmonies cut straight through your soul. He'd love all the detail, too... I have so many fave AIC songs & this is one of them.
Dirt is a masterpiece! ❤️🤘🏻
Fuck yeah man
They opened w that song when i saw them in KC, MO. It was raining a little. Fn Perfect!
Marshall Jameson Seeing AIC with Layne would’ve been a dream come true for me & it breaks my heart I can’t.
Your experience sounds AMAZING...
Just reading that song title and hearing Layne's voice in my head sent chills down my spine.
This song was off my fave, their Tripod LP, so I have a lot of thoughts on it. It was the last album Layne would sing on, and it is a portrait of a broken man and a broken band. But make no mistake, it is darkly brilliant. Frogs is sadly about his addiction of course. Almost every song Layne wrote was. But, his Lyrics on Tripod were different. On Dirt you hear a man who is fighting desperately to gain control of himself over his demons. Tripod delivers to us a man in resignation, someone not as much fighting as wading in guilt and frustration. Each track seems to have at least seven vocal parts singing at once. Staley’s voice, though amazing as always, does not possess the raw and gritty power he displayed on past AIC efforts. But that’s not the vocal style Tripod calls for. Instead, Staley delivers contorted, yet beautiful layers upon layers of piercing harmonies. It’s a vocal style I’ve yet to encounter in anything else. It's a dark, hopeless piece, and Staley's mournful intonation of "Why's it have to be this way?" during the chorus has to be one of the most depressing sounds I've ever heard. Songs like “Frogs” are great reminders of why Alice in Chains is a cut above the rest. They are masters at turning pain into beauty. And they are able to do so without sounding whiny, overly dramatic or outright disturbing for the sake of being disturbing.
What's really crazy is just how well the song "All Secrets Known," From Black Gives Way to Blue feels like it actually should have closed the Tripod albums.
Hope, a new beginning
Time, time to start living
Just like just before we died
There's no going back to the dreams we started from
Hurt, falling through fingers
Trust, trust in the feeling
There's something left inside
There's no going back to the dreams we started from
All secrets known
Calm, old wounds are healing
Strong, truth is worth saving
I want to feel alive
There's no going back to the dreams we started from
All secrets known
It's like Jerry had still not left that place and was still stuck there, like he was waiting for Layne to get better and finally had to say goodbye.
Thank you for putting that out as well as you did... Do you write professionally?
There is no other band, no other singer, no other lyrics that gets to the grittiest darkest place of Pain Like Layne Staley in Alice In Chains.
For those of us that have touched that darkness - thank God we got out of it and thank God there are artists who convey it so purely
@@officialcauseandeffectdogt8905 check out Layne's other project Mad Season if you haven't...you truly won't regret it trust me lol
@@officialcauseandeffectdogt8905 Jerry’s lyrics were just as a dark and gritty as Layne’s, alot Of People credit Layne for a lot of Jerry AIC lyrics and his solo record Deg trip is pretty much as dark as any AIC stuff. As a band tho nobody really compares to AIC when it comes to writing dark gritty emotional and relatable lyrics
-"It Ain't Like That"
-"Rain When I Die"
The best way I describe it is that, it sounds like his soul is shriveling up and coming out of his mouth why he is singing out the pain.. I’ve always LOVED this song, but even more now than ever after battling addiction, I feel his pain empathetically.. he was, and still is, one of the best singers ever! I can smile, laugh, cry and or get the chills when I close my eyes and LISTEN.. definitely feel the pain
I feel deeply every word layne sings... His lyrics and music saved my life literally
Same here brotha
technically jerry's he wrote the majority of them
@@24SparrowJack actually jerry was credited with writing 1 more songs while layne was there. But get born was by layne. And died was primarily by layne. So its was literally 50/50.
There is a chart that proves that on line. I have seen it many times
All this music for this time period was so pure and organic. it was rock but sounded like nothing that had come before. it was a very experimental time for music in general. so many great original songs came out and with Alice in chains the music itself told a story with the changes from dark to light. We need this creativity today.
@ 6:35 when you say "I don't know if he's going through some shit right now"
Understatement man.....
At the time of this recording Layne Staley was really sick with Heroine addiction....this was basically the last appearance on any public stage. Just look at how ghostly pale and skinny he is....he barely moves around.
For years after this until his death he holed up in an apartment in Seattle and became a recluse and spiraled into severe unstoppable addiction....not even coming out to see his own band mates when they would knock on his door, knowing that he was inside.
So Sad....but also....appropriate because you can see the depth and anguish Layne carried....he just had to fade away.
He had a profound sadness deep inside that he distilled with this amazing voice and talent to sing.
It was reported that when his body was found he had lost all his teeth and even had gangrene set in on his body.
I'm not sure if that's true but....I have heard that.
R.I.P.
Sad. Layne had already lost his teeth when this was filmed.
@@LeeB41 He sounds like he is missing some teeth, but unless he is wearing dentures, he at least has bottom teeth in this
6'2 and 98lbs and green. So fucking sad!
@@shannonallen2993 I didnt know he was that tall. Damn. I just read when found he was 86 pounds and had been dead for 2 weeks. So sad.
@@petethepirate730 extremely sad.
Best Unplugged ever listened to the album hundreds of times.
Their unplugged performance is one of the greatest rock performance of our time, outstanding
Layne always made you feel as if he was sepaking, directly, to you. He was. absolutely, present in all of his performances. ...he pulled you in, laid out what he was feeling IN THAT MOMENT, and handed it to you (even if it was total shit).
THAT was his power.
This song means a lot to me. Both during my addiction issues and after them this song is powerful to me.
"Rapid brown, avoid clear blue" means "I don't even want to see the blue in my eyes, drug me up" basically..
This song's about loneliness, a shitty dad and addiction and people who only call you up to get high.
I wish I didn't know what it's like but glad it's all over.. RIP Layne
More Alice in Chains reactions been too long
Layne Staley put so much of his soul into his singing....it literally makes me pause every single time I hear him.
It's like he pulls out his bloody beating heart and holds it up to you....
Dark, and beautiful....so raw, so real.
Nobody does what Layne did,
No Body.
Nobody will ever be as good as Layne...but the new lead singer honors him well
I think it was The duel of Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley their pictures were just little bit different but they were so good together it was awesome. But I agree he was always in dark place you could never get him out of it think I saw a documentary about 10 years ago about how bad he was. I still think Chris Cornell's voice is the best voice to ever come out of that era.
sadly duvall is only chorus, he is a great musician but no for alice in chains. recognize is only jerry cantrell project without layne no alice in chains.
@@danielcabrera3707 so not true. He writes and sings and it is surely AiC. Having seen them with Layne and with William they are both primo performances....
Jerry can still sing pretty good too
Really?? Maybe if you dig nasally bubblegum pop voices... Duvall couldn't sound dark or emotionally vested in a song if his life depended on it... Wet have jerry pumping out this dark heady music and still kicking Ass the your heart a voice that sounds like sesame streets BIG BIRD OR BURT TRYING TO COMTRINUTE WITHOUT ANY PAIN OR EMOTION IN HIS VOICE AT ALL..... SORRY BUBBLEGUM BILLY IS "One OF THESE THINGS THAT just DOEST BELONG THERE!! if your my age you will make the connection of sesame streets and the things that DOESNT belong"!!! ( can you guess which one its doing this own thing? Now its time to play along"..and the only old AIC song that I appreciate duvals vocal TALENT is WHALE & WASP!!!!
Mad Season -Wake Up!!!....Laynes Other band
Hey man try Layne’s other band Mad season and listen to the song WAKE UP!!! Promise it’s a banger!!!!
River of Deceit
Lifeless Dead
Great song, I just picked up the CD recently.
Love wake up. You wanna feel his pain of addiction. listen to WAKE UP.
You can't go wrong with ANY Mad Season tune. PRESTON...just check out Mad Season.
Mad Season - Wake Up (Live at the Moore, Seattle, 1995). It's right up your alley!
Holy shit! My favourite Chains song. This never gets enough love!
Preston, react to Alice in Chains - Junkhead live at Singles release party.
HELL YES. I remember watching that live when it aired. Still my favorite performance & set list. 🔥
Mike had to be high asf. He was whipping his hair around so hard, that I thought his head was gonna come off.
Yessir
Ok I will
Oh fuck yeah man...
Temple of The Dog - Say Hello to Heaven
Soundgarden - Fell on Black Days
Soundgarden - Outshined
Alice in Chains - Over Now
Nirvana - About a Girl (unplugged)
Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World (unplugged)
Easy to go down the Seattle Four rabbit hole.
yeeeeeeeeah buddy!
I love going back in time listening to this band. They were just so unique in the way they sounded.
Alice In Chains- Bleed the Freak
BMC 1982 Definitely. My favorite AIC song. I suggest this one: ruclips.net/video/-xQQzi0IdLY/видео.html
I asked for this months ago many times man. I hope he does it someday.
B.T.F. live at the Moore 👍
I just watched this like five minutes ago, his voice was truly amazing. 💖
jenna icenhower nothing beats Nutshell from unplugged
The shit fer sure!
Jenna, he is the best singer of Grunge
Lanes other band MAD SEASON - LONG GONE DAY. That song has everything, it’s the most experimental song Lane ever did. I know you a fan of the small details and that song is all about details.
LONG GONE DAY
LONG GONE DAY
It's my favorite Mad Season song PERIOD
Also the way he wrote it with Matt was a brilliant decision.
If you don't know what I mean then look up Matt Lannegan telling the story of how they wrote it. Keep reacting!
If it gets him reacting to MARK LANEGAN next then yes!
Sorry to all, I knew his name was Mark just a brain fart on my end. As for how to sell the last name (1 or 2) N's I wasn't sure about.
@@michaelmason6210 Dude, i forget A-list hollywood actors names these days. Memory is getting shockingly bad.
layne
You chose a very dark and depressing song...I love it!
The reason his stage presence was matching the songs to a tee was because Layne was dying right here from severe drug addiction. He weighed probably 100 pounds, was missing teeth, and hadn't done a concert in years due to his heroin and crack addiction. This is basically as dark as it gets for a person. When Layne died, he had bcome a total recluse and was rarely seen by anyone including his bandmates. I honestly can't think of a sadder death, but, Cornell and Cobain come mighty close.
This is my favorite AiC song. Such angst lol. Loved playing this on my acoustic back in the day at parties out in the woods.
Frogs is one of my #1 AIC songs but there are so many of those.
Good choice dude. Mine personally is rotten apple but frogs is up there.
There’s something very unsettling yet very satisfying when seeing and hearing this performance! I haven’t seen it in a while!! The same chills, as the first time I saw it, when it first aired!! AIC is such a unique band!! One Of The Greatest bands of all time!! Layne was a genius! His voice is haunting!
"Right Turn" vocals by Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and Jerry Cantrell..... then slide over to the band Temple Of The Dog with Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell..... only one album.... you won't be disappointed. Great channel Cuz.
Mark Arm too, in Roght turn ;)
Ya on that note island of summer.. chris cornell and Andrew wood. ..a rare super special song
That whole performance is amazing!
Nutshell is my fave 🖤
Mandy_714 sameee
Got me wrong was my favorite. But that whole concert was great. Not a bad song from unplugged. (Scratch that the killer is me song was terrible) should if been i stay away or i cant remember
..Absolutely..Agree..
..Historic..Epic..Like nutshell much very much.. I have to go with down in a hole.. As my favorite..nutshell would be next..man in a box..then rooster..
Haunting is a great adjective for the sound of this song
Reaches into your chest and grabs your heart. RIP Layne ❤️❤️
Hey man i appreciate your 'Honest Evaluation' on music that you may have not been raised into.. Thanks, and i seen them in concert before he passed but like you i just 'Felt' it would never be the same and haven't went to another yet..
Stone Temple Pilots- Dead and Bloated live at the House of Blues 2000
That was a f'in great show! Weiland at his best. Miss that guy just as much a I miss Layne & Chris. 😢
this would be a good one, react to it!
Much respect to you for reacting to this. This song has been stuck in my head for about three years now, and it's not leaving any time soon. Love your videos.
Honestly every song they played during this MTV Unplugged show is worthy of a reaction. Such a good set from start to finish. If you decide to react to more songs from this set you should definitely check out “Over Now” and “Got Me Wrong”. Personal favorites of mine from this show.
It's called "Frogs" because where they were staying while recording the album there were frogs croaking outside at night every night. So loud. 🤘 on the album version you can hear frogs croaking....
They also added them to piss off producers who were bitching at them constantly about getting the album done sooner
Dude I LOVE watching your sincere reactions! AiC is my ALL TIME FAV! R.I.P. Layne Staley, and Mike Starr! What a GREAT BAND!
You can never be wrong about Layne! He was as cool as they come. 😎👍👍
Yeah Boiii 👍🏻
He put Seattle on the map along with others of course. Unfortunately the local media turned on him when he died( the local mag the Stranger for one) and just called him a piece of shit. That was just an elitist few though. The fans didnt do that.
Preston,
You like the darkness of this tune?
Check out Sludge Factory also by AIC.
lambjack1 love sludge factory. Same dark vibe and funny because Layne messes up. But its cool to see him talk and interact. Such a cool guy.
Yes Sludge Factory 100%
I was blessed to have seen Layne in Alice back in the early 90's and have seen them with William, Without Layne that beautiful darkness isn't protruding through the performance,...because you could never replace a dying mans view of his own life battles.
Awesome! Love your love of Alice In Chains.
Oh man, nobody reacts to this one! One of my favorites. Beautifully, tragic.
I've gotten to the point that when I listen to AiC, I always go unplugged. I listen to a lot of music but, with AiC, I actively seek out anything like this I can find. I can honestly say that this may be the only band that I'd rather hear live or unplugged than any studio version they did. It's just so good.
10/10
Hey boy! Thanks a lot for this video. Now I know I am not the only one who feels so deep this amazing song. You are totally right.
The chorus is my favorite part. So much emotion in it and through out
*Fact: "friends dont let friends get bad haircuts" is a kick to lars and metallica*
I love how you show respect to what you're listening to , thank's bro
Frogs... YES! I agree.. as high as he was he still maintained control of his amazing voice!!!!
Great reaction! Amazing how much you feel the songs you react to! Keep them comming!
Go to the concert... its helping Jerry alot. Jerry is just as important as Layne was. He writes 50% of the lyrics and 90% of the music. The atmosphere.. the riffs... the tension... there's no AiC without either one of em. The instrumental is still there... People should also give DuVall a break.. he is not Layne.. I agree but its better to release music than doing nothing. And they have a decent chemistry as well. So yeah.. support the band. Especially support Jerry... without him we wouldnt have had Facelift, AiC and not least... Dirt... best grunge album out there.
hey man, the fact you said you didnt want to see them without him. your a fan. nothing but respect. take care
He was strung out during this, he just lost the love of his life(demri) a week or so before this show. Plus they hadn't played in awhile, an they all new this was probably the end. Due to Laynes habit this band couldn't tour. Pure Raw Talent- such a shame
This was in april 1996 she didnt die till October 1996. But he was struggling with heroin. His last concert was in july 1996 due to his not being able to finish a concert without walking off to get high. Then October 1996 Demri died and he never came back.
Yea she died after but during this he was putting her thru heart surgeries and rehab and footing the bill.
Alice in Chains was my favorite band wayyyy back in the early 90’s. Still love them today with their new singer, but no one can ever really replace Layne.
This Whole unplugged album is a masterpiece by them. Next to Eric Clapton's mtv unplugged album.
Thank you for this! No one ever does this one..and it remains one of my favorite!
One of my favorite songs foresure.often overlooked.vocals are impeccable
I think I love you 🤣 haven't seen a reaction to this song before. My fav band one of my fav songs .. would love to see a reaction to god am, died, sludge factory, shame in you ... any of those ;)
Preston, man I really appreciate that you continue to make these videos for us. I want you to take a second and really feel what I'm saying.
I appreciate you using your time to listen to music that means so much to so many, and sharing that new experience with all of us. It's a gift. I love you for it, bro.
Keep the faith. Peace.
With the Unplugged show, he was deep in the heroin addiction, so much so that he knew his liver was shot to hell, but he hadn't isolated himself completely yet. If you listen to Jerry Cantrell talk about Layne, all he saw when he looked over at Layne during the Unplugged show was that his best friend was dying (due to the liver damage) and there was nothing he could do. Layne was such a ghost of himself during the Unplugged show. The whole Unplugged show is heartbreaking to watch.
great song choice man keep up the good work
This performance was shot back in April 1996 and I remember watching it on MTV I was blown away by there performance
I'm so glad u reacted to this song and video. Very heartbreaking to see Layne at this point in his life.
One of my favorite songs. Beautiful and pure reaction KTF❤
RIP Layne...say hallo to my beloved brother on the other side...
Go see AiC live. William Duvall does a good job. It's not Layne but he does his own thing and it works. Watch them play Rooster at Guitar Center with William.
Its certain people that feel this song your reaction made my heart full
you should do Alice In Chains, Man In The Box or Angry Chair. those are 2 iv'e been waiting on Preston.
If it hasn't already been said, this is one of their final shows. You're absolutely right about him going through shit at this point. This was Layne at a really fragile state, deep in the throes of depression and heroin addiction. Unplugged was their first appearance in a few years because of Layne's health and nobody knew what to expect. It was - and still is - shocking to see how frail he was at this point. And that crazy powerful voice sounds like it's clawing its way up out of him.
You would really dig the entire show. It's a legendary unplugged and pretty moving to watch.
I forgot how much I love damn song.
He was so dopesick and could still have such vocal power and control ❤ RIP sweet Lane 🙏
Another great review. Dude a couple of things: I felt the same way about not wanting to see Alice in Chains without Layne but I went anyway just to be in the presence of the music and it was a powerful experience. To hear these songs performed live was an amazing experience and William Duvall really does a great job channeling the power and raw emotion of each songs content. Next time they come around you should go. The second thing is how awesome in this Unplugged version of Frogs the drummer Sean Kinney did. He didn't overplay it or overpower it and a lesser drummer easily could have. Thank you for reviewing these songs man. By doing this you are helping keep this amazing music alive for current and future generations. My vote for your next review of Alice in Chains is a song called Sunshine. Not a well known song but one of the best examples of how good these dudes were. It was from before the dark times took hold of dear Layne. Peace.
I used to listen to this album all the time when I had a drug problem. Haven't really listened to it since I got clean in 2015. Still my all time band. Nutshell was my favorite song.
Every time I see King KTF. It's an instant Thumbs Up!!
Love your channel bro.. Great selection of songs.. Keep rockin.
I think that’s what it was really like for Layne. I too decided not to spend the $ to see Alice here in Seattle a couple years ago. I never got to see them with Layne and I didn’t feel like it would have the same vibe I’d be looking for.
I think down in a hole unplugged is Layne Stanley's swan song. Dude strung out on heroin, 110lbs, he knows he's a dead man. He signs the song about himself. Man, it's very deep to watch when u know how close to death he is. His voice is of angels in that song.
Hey man, been watching your channel for about a year now. Thanks for the effort, man , I look for new videos daily and you're always entertaining and interesting. Keep the faaaaaaaaaith! . . .
Yes finally Aic. Thank you Preston!! Made the right call not going. Layne is what made Alice in chains so great. The new singer isn’t even anywhere close to matching Layne. Without Laynes vocals it just isn’t the same. So go back and enjoy all the greatest Layne blessed us without before his death.
Check out
Man in the box
Again
Got me wrong unplugged
Aint like that
Put you down
We die young
What the hell have i
Thats just a few to keep this going. So happy your back with the great rock content. 👍🏻
Love your reactions. True appreciation.
Alice In Chains unplugged is top 10 best live performances IMO. For an electric grunge band to play with the same “clean” sound as a studio version is impressive.
I feel the same man....I´d love to go to AIC concert but it wouldn´t be the same. They still play amazing music, but Layne was like the soul or heart.... To me there are 2 bands - with Layne and after Layne
I will say this. They aren't the same without Layne. I saw them a couple of months ago and they were biblical. It's almost like the biggest tribute. You feel layne with you but at the same time, they're a fucking good band post Layne. I cried the first time I ever saw them because you feel the loss with them but you're willing them to break through and they really do. Please see them again if you have the chance ❤️
React to Heaven Beside You by Alice in Chains.
Gives me the chills every time.
One of my favorite alice in chains songs... Actually its just one of my favorite songs of all time, by any band
"Brother" - acoustic by Alice in Chains
Layne was really into his heroin addiction and this was their 1st performance in years at that time. The whole Unplugged show is awesome. I have the DVD and never get tired of watching it.
Layne was battling heroin addiction until it took his life in 2002, I could always tell how down, and how rough shape he was in for this show. Not sure if you new this, but Layne only had one lung, yes I said that. He had to have one of his lungs removed when he was an infant, due to health complications. William Duvall is a Hell of a frontman for Alice In Chains, if you get the chance again, don't hold back man, go see them, you won't be disappointed, trust me. Great Video man. Later.
RIP to one of the greatest!
Layne Staley will always be my favorite singer this song makes me shiver makes me feel things I have never felt before.
One of the stage guys said he had shot up just enough to where he wasnt nodding out but was able to sing... This was towards the end and I think last performance with AIC.