Alice in Chains: The Tragic Death of Bassist Mike Starr, Last Person To See Layne Staley Alive
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- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2021
- Alice in Chains Bassist Mike Starr's Career and Death
Days of the New Video • Days of the New :The S...
Alice in Chains Glam Years: • Alice in Chains: Their...
Alice in Chains Facelift Video: • Alice in Chains: The M...
Alice in Chains SAP Video • Alice in Chains: The M...
Alice in Chains Jar of Flies • Alice in Chains: the M...
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#laynestaley #mikestarr #aliceinchains
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
Alice in Chains story is one of tragedy marked by drugs and death. Half of the band’s original lineup would be lost to drug addiction and while a lot of hte focus is put on late frontman Layne Staley, today we’re going to take a look at the life and career of bassist Mike Starr.
Born in Hawaii in 1966, bassist Mike Starr was the eldest of two having a sister who was three years younger. His parents would split at a young age and Mike would move to Florida with his father. At the age of 9 his father would relocate to seattle and take his son Around the age of 11 or 12 Starr got a job at ihop as a dishwasher and used the money he saved to buy his first bass guitar and started his first band called Cyprus whose name he took from the bible. Starr would end up playing with drummer Sean Kinney in the band.. Starr’s early influences would be Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix with a childhood friend of Starr named Jim Hacker revealing to author David De Sola how the future alice in chains bass player was single minded with his focus in life being becoming a rockstar like Van Halen. In fact his high school yearbook would have starr saying he was going to tour with van halen when he got older and it was a dream that would come true. We’ll talk about that tour later on in this video.
Starr would admit that by the age of 12 or 13 he already was growing facial hair and had a mustache and would spend a fair bit of time in Atlantic City with his father. Starr’s mustache made bartenders think he was 18 and so he was allowed to buy drinks.
In high school around 1982 starr would play in a band named S.A.T.O taking it’s name from an Ozzy Osbourne song with one flyer promoting the band saying “Don’t Say No SATO” The band was reasaonbly successful around Seattle playing shows at the Seattle Arena and Moore Theater and was even featured on a compilation album called Northwest Metalfest. But by 1984 Starr would end up meeting guitarist Jerry cantrell and play in a band called Gyspy Rose, which was a precursor to Alice in Chains. I wanna let you guys know i’ve done a whole video on Alice in Chains glam metal days. The link is below in the description box. Prior to the classic lineup of Alice in Chains forming 1987 guitarist Jerry cantrell played some demos he was working on for drummer Sean Kinney. Also in the room at the same time was Kinney’s girlfriend a women named Melinda. Jerry would mention to Sean that he knew a bass player named Mike Starr to which Kinney replied “that’s weird because this is his sister and pointed at Melinda” and told Cantrell he had played with Mike in a handful of bands since his early teen years. Starr for his part had already met Layne a few years prior telling author Mark yarm how they met “i guess i met layne a couple of years ago, but I don’t remember it”. I was so high i couldn’t dress myself.so i wore my bathrobe with underwear on and my sunglasses and cowboy boots on my honda motorcycle on my way to the beach. Layne would recall that meeting telling an interviewer “when i met mike starr he was on a honda motorcycle in his bathrobe and sunglasses. I said to myself right there. That’s the kind of guy i want to be in a band with ”
Prior to managing Alice in Chains Susan Silver would hear a cassette from the band see them live as well as hang out with them. Silver loved the band but noticed the person they had appointed as their manager was dealing illicit substances and could not be trusted and could possibly land them in jail. The band would concur and ditch their manager and sign with Susan Silver, as well as Pearl jam manager Kelly Kurtis and Ken Deans. Deans would reveal in the book Everybody Loves our Town how Mike Starr posed the biggest headache to the band’s future recalling “Overall the guys were terrific human beings. The biggest problem by far was Mike St
Sources:
Alice in Chains The Untold Story, Book David De Sola
Grunge Is Dead, Book, Greg Prato
Everybody Loves Our Town, Book, Mark Yarm 
Видеоклипы
Here's the video on Facelift ruclips.net/video/ShifZejOW_I/видео.html
Here's the video on Alice in Chains Glam Years ruclips.net/video/OiHxQuveUds/видео.html
Here's the video on Alice in Chains SAP ruclips.net/video/jWLsGm4bR9o/видео.html
Here's the video on Jar of Flies ruclips.net/video/BjU0uOP0sig/видео.html
Susan Silver snakie snake
Video was sad but tastefully done. Thank you for posting. RIP Mike and Lane
Get away from satanism these music stars are satanist FACTS .... JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH WAY AN THE LIFE
@Three what do you mean by that ??
@@thetamoramay7331 lol
I was Mikes bass tech for years up till Facelift was released.... And yeah, he was a crazy great friend ! I'm glad I got out of that lifestyle. Jeff Hubbard
That's fuckin badass dude
You lived that era with the band bro 🤙🏼 awesome
Glad you're still alive! I've lost over 50 friends to addiction and suicide. It all sucks.
Probably saved your life.
Wow 😯
I met Mike at a Red Lion motel at a vending machine. He asked me if I had ever heard of Alice in chains. I said yes and he told me he was the bassist. I said you're Mike Inez? He said no Mike Starr the original bass. He had gained some weight didn't quite look the same but he came to our room and smoked a blunt with us. Told us stories and we asked him questions. We asked if he ever met Pantera. He said" I was on the god home video blraaghhh!" We were like oh shit this is Mike star we had seen that video a dozen times. Hung out with us for a couple hours then left. He died 6 month are so after that. Hearing his story from his mouth was a real privilege. He was incredibly nice to us. RIP Mike.
Wooooow! Now that is fucking bad ass!
Dude had a huge heart, with a huge hole.
You were very lucky to get some time with him.
Where is Red Lion?
How did the conversation lead to him bringing up he was in Alice in Chains?
I remember watching that rehab show when Starr poured his heart out to Layne's mom..... the guilt, the regret, the pain was so heavy. It was hard to watch, I felt so bad for him. It just showed how tortured he was from Layne's death and how it ended. He never got over it.
Hope they found that peace with our Savior. From experience, the only source that can heal and bring love, light, forgiveness and comprehension. Seeing remorse and understanding of one’s wrongs and actions that’s caused others hurt is the first step and evidence to being on the road to redemption. We’ve all fallen and some of the worst transgressors never touched substances or rather wasn’t on them nor the reason for cutting ppl down with their tongues and actions; some of the worst hypocrites of all. At least some have reasons (not excuses) while others never face their shortcomings and embarrassing Shane they’ve brought to their families and showing their arses to the world. Have an uncle like that 🤢🤮, it’s ok for him to drink and the coward he is pick on a child or woman but a person who’s legitimately sick that needs medication, “they’re pill heads.” He and his ex destroyed their son by using him as the escape goat and hurting him and neglect and was a lying thief like his older sister before age ten. Yeah but “drugs” caused all his issues. It’s sickening how ppl blame everything on drugs and take no responsibility or accountability. Yes, they’re terrible. Especially meth, etc, don’t uphold that at all. And these enablers hollering it’s a disease, well yeah the brain gets required but the majority of those ppl who do bad things on stuff, did bad things before ever touching it. Just excuses and doesn’t help anything. Some are just bad ppl, some are good ppl with dealing with issues and pain and they’re are folks that never took from anyone or did wrong to feed that dependency or addiction. It all depends upon the person,circumstances and not all fit into one basket. Definitely a difference between a junkie whose given up everything by choice and one who has a medical dependency but holding it together and fighting tooth and nail. So much stigma and polarizing of either or instead addressing the grey area and whole truth. This society has did away with wrongs, accountability, responsibility but blames everything under the sun and moon for their own poor choices and lack of self discipline and will power. On a very dangerous download spiral while evil accepts and cheerleads ppl to their graves. Hoping more ppl are waking up to the warfare we are under.
but at the same time we were watching him become part of a legend bigger than life...he was the last to see Layne. Amazing. Imagine sitting on that couch with them that day, listening to Layne talk about seeing Demri's ghost...Legendary, even mythological, stuff.
I watched that show, also... Absolutely heartwrenching... And I couldn't believe it when he died, also.
I watched that show also I remember him saying that layne was asking him don’t leave him mike was guilt ridden over that never got over it
Amen Bro...I saw the same thing!
Now every time AIC plays Nutshell live, Jerry says “this is for Layne and Mike” before starting the song
He said it was for dimebag and vinny paul too
Great song
he wouldve kept starr if he'd truly cared about him...
Why did he leave out Lassie?
@@joejones9520 Give me a break man, you weren't there and it sounds like you don't understand just how selfish and unreliable someone caught in the throes of addiction can become. At the point Starr was fired, there was no guarantee AIC was going to make it.... yes they had a few big hits but at the end of the day when someone's behavior and bad habits get in the way of the band functioning properly (recording/touring/promoting/etc. etc.) it's on the leader of the band to make things right. Layne was able to avoid getting fired only because he was indispensable to the band and its sound. Unfortunately for Mike Starr, he was expendable and the band was better off finding a reliable replacement that would commit to the band.
Watching Mike on Celebrity Rehab and how broken up he was about Layne and all the mistakes he made in his life was really difficult to watch.
Was just gonna type that until I seen you posted it.
Yeah no one ever told the boy Rock and roll is a vicious GAME .R.I.P.
Yes I remember him distinctly on Dr Drew. He broke my 💜
Very difficult... 😓
Be people. Be, not were.
/-->
"My pain is self-chosen" - River of Deceit. Layne's vocals on this get me every time. RIP.
Same
Lyrical content was extremely prophetic as well. The whole album is incredible, easily in my top 5. McCready and Saunders had just cleaned up we’re hoping to rub off on Layne, but alas, it wasn’t to be
Greatest Rock n Roll album EVER made.
"Above."
Yupe. I’ve been saying this.
He was the most brutally honest lyricist of his time
Whats crazy nobody ever talks about Mike.. He was a legendary bass player. He had that funky bass like cliff and that technical playing like most only dream of. Definitely deserves way more respect. Top 10..maybe top 5 of all time. RESPECT💯🎶🎸
Yeah man he was REALLY good without being a try-hard.
Amen
No doubt.......I mean Inez is very very good, but Starr was freaking great, the bass lines on the Facelift album were just over the top good.
That's just how it is man. A lot of times if you ain't the front man, you ain't Frontline news. It's sad, but it's just a fact of the life.
It's sad that he's so overshadowed by Layne's death. He was just as important to their sound
AIC is one of my favorite bands of all time. Their discography is impeccable. Unplugged is a hugely underrated masterpiece.
I agree about Unplugged. That DVD is on rotation in my house. I've watched it at least 100x's.
It was never AIC when Layne died. They should've changed
their band name
@@djdimapasoc7988
Completely agree.
Especially 'Nutshell'!
@@djdimapasoc7988 I HIGHLY agree!!
When I saw AIC a couple years back during the end part of Nutshell Will and Mike Inez stepped back from where they were standing and all the lights went off but two spotlights were shined on the empty spaces at the mic, and where Mike was standing to honor Layne and Mike Starr. It brought tears to my eyes.
That’s one of my favorite songs very very moving..
I went to Jr High and High School with Mike Starr. He was always a really nice guy and close to his Sister who is also a beautiful human being. A life that ended way too soon.
Highline? My daughter went to Highline. Amanda Miller.
Mike & his Dad John lived across the street from us & we became friends. Really nice guy.
Ever see him in the cafeteria?
My daughters went to Highline H. S. too. Mike lived across the street from my Mom. He was a really great friend. It makes me so very sad.
When layne says “not like this” that broke me. It’s not Mike’s fault either he got pushed away and it’s just very unfortunate
dont worry, theydve pushed Layne away too if they couldve but they knew, Susan Silver even said, that he WAS AIC...
He was on benzos at the time. He never forgave himself.
@@joejones9520 they did push him away.
@@spookshow6999 how? Layne was recording and making music with other people which Cantrell even said made him kind of jealous, like Layne was cheating on him. That doesnt sound like him pushing Layne away; sounds like he knew Layne was invaluable to the band. Then even when Layne was a recluse they begged and enticed him to come and record some songs Jerry wrote. Layne added lyrics and did his trademark layered vocal tracks, then disappeared back into his condo until he finally died..he himself chose to ignore the band and rest of the world.
Pretty much. Layne calling the crow a raven by bitching to Mike about Mike taking benzos and how he needed to get off of them?! If I were Mike I would’ve gotten super fuckin pissed, too!
Theres a Nardwar video with Nirvana where he asks Kurt about the Hollywood Rock Festival show to which Kurt replied "I dont remember any of that show. I was up all night shooting coke with the guys from Alice in Chains." It was a very memorable Nirvana performance an by fsr considered their worst by critics. They hadnt been in the same state in 6 months and hadnt played together in 9. Kurt was in pajamas and out of rhythym the whole set. Forgetting words...not sure if same night or just same tour but Flea played the trumpet on Smells Like Teen Spirit, they all switched instruments while kurt sang and drummed Terry Jack's Seasons in the Sun and then they did an encore in dresses. Kurt was in a blackout for the majority from the xanax they sell over the counter in S America he took to come down from the coke binge and he could barely play. This was the last time they ever appeared as a 3 piece. Pat Smear eould join the band before they toured for in utero and after recording it which they had begun to do on this tour. Those recordings make up much of the boxset from 04.
On an episode of Sobdr House or Celeb Rehab, Star says that night was the first time he shot up and that kurt did it for him. Lemmy from Motorheads wife said that Kurt called their house that night asking Lemmy, then sober, if he knew where they could score dope in Brazil. He said "no" and hung up. That was the first and last time kurt ever called him. They also talked about Lemmys wedding.
Mike Star was on Methadone. Be and his father went to a clinic everyday where theyd buy xanax and coke to shoot all day before going on celebrity rehab. He ultimately got off methadone but died from an alcohol and xanax combination overdose after months of abstinence. Drugs really suck. Celebrity rehab did exlote peoplr but it also took alot of the romance out of drug addiction. Its one thing to "burn out" like Kurt but to "fade away" as Mike Star did os not nearly as glamorous... like shooting coke all night in Brazil sounds fun and is glamorous...sitting in a broken down minivan on your front lawn and shooting a tiny bag of coke and then also splitting a xanax bar with your dad is not so glamorous and only sounds fun if youre an addict... 60 lbs heavier 20 years older 1 million dollars poorer w/ nothing to show but track marks and stories from when before the band kicked you out...and thatx a happy ending for a drug addict. Dudes dead. Theres no coming back from that. Just cuz it didnt kill you yesterday doesnt mean youre promised tomorrow. Dude toured the world shooting drugs and in the end a rx xanax and a rum and coke killed him. Sux.
One of my ex-employees was Mike's best friend. He gave me an early demo on CD that Mike gave him. It's pretty amazing hearing some of their hits in early form and a little punk influence. My employee had an addiction as well and couldn't quit even after Mike's death. Mike's dad was a big influence on the drug use. I'd hear stories about the binges they all would go on as if it was glamorous. My employees story ended much like Mike's. He knew better but just couldn't stop. RIP
So sad 😞
What's up with parents getting high with their kids? I've heard it a lot lately. My parents were too much into God to do drugs with us!🤣
@@marycallozzo463 i know, its beyond gross
Mikes father also said that Demri introduced Layne to heroin. Which I believe.
Unless you’ve gone through opiod withdrawal, you have no idea how truly impossible it feels. Once you move from tabs\percs to oxys, it feels impossible. Once you move from oxys to smoking heroine, it feels more impossible. Once you move from smoking it, to shooting it, it’s game over! Don’t ever touch opioids if you want a happy life, even if your doctor prescribes them, don’t f***ing touch them! ANY pain is more bearable than the pain these drugs will cause you and the ones you love
That band manged to become so epic and mind blowing even though having one of the craziest, disrupted paths in the industry.. legends
and in all interviews the whole band is just like a bunch of spicolli's but then they start playing and goddam, they crossed into an ethereal region of extremely complex music and virtuoso singing, playing and songwriting that I never get used to...
One of the craziest, disrupted paths? For Seattle bands, Mother Love Bone, what we now know as Pearl Jam, had disruption. Fate is real. So many musicians deal with this crap. It's unfortunate.
Epic grunge legends!!! 💜💜
@@joejones9520 wtf is a spicolli?? 🤣😛
So you never heard of lynyrd skynyrd?
Maaaaan. I definitely remember all of that. Alice In Chains remains one of the saddest stories in Rock history.
@Christopher Bingham Great points. I definitely agree. I wasn’t comparing it to anyone or band. Just saying it’s still pretty darn sad.
@Christopher Bingham I've never heard of the Lost Prophets. What crimes did the singer commit?
@@mariolopez3728 grape
@@mariolopez3728too much to discuss on RUclips comments. pedophelia, violating babies, rape, etc
It’s amazing how Layne never got in trouble with the law and avoided having a pic taken of him for the last 6 years of his life.
It’s really sad if u think about it.
I vaguely remember people digging up a police report of Layne being pulled over sometime during the last 6 years of his life when he was a recluse. I think he had to appear in court over something trivial - not that it matters, but it's a small glimpse into what he mightve been up to around that time
He was a recluse. He stayed in doors and got high all day everyday… i mean for the most part. Easy to avoid problems with the law when you have dealers drop off your shit and you just sit around ur house f’ed up all day and all night.
@@inutero10 that's what happened.
It was a pic of him, at a record studio, in that lapse of time, I think🤔
The only person who should feel guilty about Layne's death is Layne. I don't mean that in a mean spirited sense, rather nobody is to blame for his choices. Even if those choices were induced and facilitated by addiction. RIP Layne and Mike.
Seeing Mike on Celebrity rehab, he seemed like a very self absorbed man. He didn't seem to understand talent is just one thing you need in music. Everything else needed,
he seemed to lack. He should have just bought a little house and lived off whatever he had. He became the rock star he always wanted. it didn't last and almost never does. RIP Mike
@@toddlavigne6441 agree 💯
Agreed, Layne was pretty open about his addiction and that it was nothing to be proud of, his lyrics are pretty straight forward on the matter as well
Yea I agree. People need to also realize the pain and anguish these artists have caused their loved ones. It’s sad and very disappointing all around.
I get so sad thinking about Mike and Layne, mainly Layne, he locked himself in his apartment and got high for 6 years until it killed him.
Relegalise, regulate, tax and educate.
It will help remove the stigma so people get help quicker.
@@GazB85 Legalizing drugs helps no one and it doesn't remove any stigma. People are judgmental a-holes regardless of laws.
He wasn't burning the candle at both ends. He threw it in the fire.
@@GazB85 there’s certain drugs that would be ok under regulation. Heroin isn’t one of them. That shit destroys yourself and everyone around you.
@@harrycollins3248 Ending the War on (Some) Drugs helps no one?
You can kiss some of your liberties good bye because of that BS 'war'.
Keeping them illegal just leads to more violence and corruption. American's and a few other nations (Soviet Union, Finland, parts of Canada etc) tried alcohol prohibition and it failed, badly!
How modern day idiots don't see the comparison and blatant hypocrisy I do not know.
Harm reduction has proven time and time again to be the better option for the health of society and individuals.
Regulated markets doesn't mean you let people buy whatever they want and as much as they want.
You don't need to fear relegalisation.
Opium, morphine and Heroin were state regulated and users/addicts were licensed in French Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.) and the Dutch West Indies (Indonesia).
Opioid users were on average 45 year old women and were actually dying from old age, not overdoses and new user's were not replace them enough, because it was illegal for the licensed user's to buy a lot (Worries about smuggling.) and also supplying non-user's, potentially facing fines and imprisonment.
Taxes from them could pay for rehab and anti-addiction programmes.
Less people would overdose as they'd be able to purchase their drug of choice in pharmaceutical grade and know their dosage and tolerance.
Governments wouldn't waste as much money on policing, prisons and the military.
Repub's say they want smaller government and individual's to take responsibility for their destiny.
Mike was my cell mate in 2007 and looked me in the eye and said " I wish I had never tried Heroin even once because it's the most wonderful feeling that you could imagine... but addictive ".
I never touched that sht precisely for that reason. Seen a ton of raw AF documentaries and it's always the same result. Greatest feeling on earth,burn all your bridges fk'ng those closest to you over,lose everything,end up destroyed or dead. Some pull through,sadly Mike isn't among the one's who have. Seemed like a really genuine guy with a big heart and a heavy addiction. RIP.
Crazy bro! I did time with him at RJC in Kent back in 2003, I was the intake trustee and he came in and was going through withdrawals. The officer staff kept ignoring his requests for methodone. He was on second balcony and when his cell mate had a visit the door opened and he jumped off top tier. Busted his head and was taken to hospital, I’ll never forget it
I’m in recovery, and he wasn’t lying.
@@tap22 same here RJC hooked Mike on methadone there.
I've heard that exact same thing from more than one person . I've known two long time addicts, one 7 yrs the other 12 yrs, both successfully stopped, but both said, if they didn't have to stop, they wouldn't have...that's unsettling...
Facelift was such a huge inspiration when it came out in '91! As a bassist I really studied Starr's groove with the drums. RIP Layne & Mike.
Summer of 1990.
Ministerordarkness i did the same
@@jacktorrance2633 nobody had even heard of them till Man In The Box blew up in’91. Here’s Johnny!!!🪓
@@ministerofdarkness You're correct, it took a while to get the record noticed. Doesn't change the fact it came out close to an entire year before the song and album became popular.
Damn right was my 10th grade year and it started out with facelift 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
"I was so high I couldn't get dressed.... So drove my motorcycle to the beach in my bathrobe and undies.."
Amazing Mike lasted as long as he did.
Only in AIC would anyone get away with that haha
He was too high to dress himself, but was perfectly capable of driving a motorcycle. Wow!
I read an article in a major rock magazine after the fact that featured Alice In Chains around the time of the release of "Dirt". It seemed to revel in their use of alcohol and marijuana, but hinted at the band members used harder substances. I remember it turning me off, even as a teenager. I just thought of all the young people that might go down the wrong road because they thought it was cool.
@@whoami7721 Apparently some brewery now uses Layne's artwork for Mad Season to sell beer. Nothing tragic about that. The responses I get for pointing out the hipocracy of using any dead drug addict's work to sell more drugs is usually, "come on man. It's just beer!"
Because just beer hasn't killed thousands..
@@WarlikePeace Great point,alcohol has killed a lot of people.
That album DIRT will always be one of the greatest albums ever just awesome!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I actually like Facelift better but they are both great.
I actually like the three legged dog most, it’s all just taste
Mike used to hang with my buddy Clint Settles in LA right before he passed away. They used to party like mad with other friends from NA meetings. Clint also passed away in 2018 of an H overdose. Rip.
Man, Jar of Flies was my favorite CD in my early high school days. I loved AIC. When Unplugged came out, I was actually shocked they were still a band. Such a sad story. Layne Staley was the greatest vocalist of the 90’s rock scene
still put on JoF every Fall, when the weather starts getting chilly, days get shorter and the leaves are turning. I gotta be careful though about depression- I used to be getting ready for the winter snowboarding season here in the Pac NW, now...I'm old and not doing that anymore. It's very depressing. I miss the 90's. Amazing I'm still alive... 😞
The 4 track album Sap is great too. Aic is the real creators of grunge
Jar of Flies is just the best. In 2011 when I got my car it had a cassette player and I would go to goodwill and get tapes of bands I had always wanted to get into. I must have listened to my Jar of Flies cassette at least a hundred times. Best EP of all time.
I watched him on Sober House and it was tough to watch him try to make it day to day.
“I know Heidi Fleiss. I know Heidi Fleiss, Tom.”
@@LampwicksCigar omg the way that infuriated Tom! And Mike just kept repeating it calmly.
I always love hearing more about AiC.
I got Mike Starr's Ampeg SVT II from the Facelift, and Dirt sessions. He is the reason I picked up bass as a kid.
WOW HOW MUCH DID THAT RUN YOU?
@@chrisluehr3256 Could have bought a used car at the time. Lol
@@jbass7024 WOW THATS SO COOL MAN
@@chrisluehr3256 Yeah it is!
So cool! Was it one of the heads that were sold through BassNorthwest?
Thanks for doing a video on Mike. Too many people think that Mike Inez has always been there. Curly haired guys named Mike so they get confused. Mike Starr was obviously a troubled guy but an incredible talent that deserves far more credit.
Yeah! Many bands replace a member with a clone. "Found one named Mike!"
Like Opeth's thing for Martin. Last I checked they'd had 3 guys named Martin (Mendez, on bass, and Lopez and Axenrot on drums.)
Same here! A great musician taken way 2 soon 4 the wrong way! Rip
I had the opportunity to share a holding cell at the King county jail in Seattle with Mike Star. It was pretty cool, just him and I, he was getting booked for probation violations for dirty UA , I was booked for Driving with suspended license. We choped it up for about 15 minutes then they moved one of us. Best holding cell story out of my many trips to jail before I cleaned my act up....
When i hear King County, i think Bob Koepell and Ted Bundy! lol! Must be an east coast thing.
😲 🙀 wowwwww
Mike Starr had legendary bass riffs, he was my favorite bass player.The Dirt lp is Metal perfection.
The opening bass riff on Rain When I Die. Dude.
@@rawheadrex1972 Hell yeah!
I went to Jr. high with Mike and used to hang with him, 1986 & 87. He was sweet🙏♥️
there's a badass vid of starr in the 2000's being begged to get on stage with a band at a club and play bass on man in the box, he spur of the moment totally nailed it. AIC broke the magic when they fired Starr...never ever fire a founding member.
Steel Panther
The Stones didn't do too bad after firing Brian.
Try telling that to Black Flag or Napalm Death.
Yeah, Jar of Flies definitely lacked "magic"... what a flop!
@@AndE667 i hope that's sarcasm
I met him just a couple of days before he died. He did w guest spot for man in the box at a steel panther show. The guy was really nice. Sad story man.
Michael Starr onstage with another Michael Starr... how cool is that?
His pops was a real great influence on Moke seeing how they got arrested after getting off a plane when other passengers seen his dad shooting him up.
Passenger's saw his dad injecting himself or saw him injecting his son?
Where’d you read that?
@@Thatguy55595 he didn't.
@@mattyb567567 it’s on his Wikipedia actually I should’ve known lol
@@Thatguy55595 Does it have a citation too a news article? I know in the past a lot of rumors made it into laynes wiki page because anyone can edit tbose.
I got to meet his sister a few years back. Still have my Mike Star forever foundation t-shirt I got that night. It has some how become my favorite t-shirt.
I am LE where Mike use to live. I had many contacts with him and we would always talk AiC if he was in trouble or not. I remember him driving around a beat up of Mazda RX-7 with his Gold Records stuffed in the back. We always got along, he always harbored guilt about Layne's death being the last person to see him alive. I was honored to be asked to provide security to AiC during his funeral.
Geeeezzz, smh bittersweet I'm sure but you're lucky you met him
I kinda knew him in hs. he was funny and outgoing and looked strong and healthy. him and his dad came in the dealership I worked at in about 92 or 93 in n sea. he was a wreck. we talked a bit about people from school and such. the poor guy was cooked. they bought a $30,000 car from us though. claimed Mike was getting paid by Sony to test audio equipment. I wouldn't let him drive it and it was clear to me it was for dad. it was sad, I really liked aic and to see a young guy so burnt up like that.
Yess
Both them boys so sad man the rockers back in the day only went balls to the wall
I adore Alice in Chains and always will. Their music lives on🖤
Glad you made a vid on Mike, he’s in my top 3 bass players and theirs definitely not enough information out there on him because he is stupidly overlooked. Keep up the good work
I knew Mike. he was such a friendly and sweet guy to meet and hang with, always very cool with people and fans. my former band opened up for AIC in 1990, I remember asking him in 1990 how
AIC came up with that sound they had, he told me about the Drop D tunings that Jerry experimented with and that Soundgarden was a big influence. I also hung out with Mike in San Antonio backstage during the day in San Antonio on the Clash of the Titans tour, Mike was the only guy in AIC hanging out during the day, he told me they were all sleeping at the Hotel still. But Mike was out there talking with folks and just enjoying the tour it seemed. I was in the Air Force at the time and had 2 other AF Cadets with me in San Antonio, all of us in full dress uniform and Mike remembered me from the NY shows my band had played with him and AIC, he brought us all on the bus in our uniforms, it must have looked pretty interesting to on lookers. Mike was excited to show me his new bass, I think it was a Spectre bass, he was so enthusiastic about it and we both took turns playing it. He has busy style of playing I noticed back then. He told me his Uncle or Cousin was in the Army and he respected Military guys a lot and it made me feel good since I was still in boot camp in San Antonio and just on a day pass. I did get back into the music scene in Los Angeles years later and met up wtih Mike at the Rainbow bar with my friend Nigel Mogg from the Quireboys, we all hung out for awhile and he took off in his little convertable car that the re-hab show had gotten him. We joked with thim that is was a chicks car, he laughed and said it was a gift from the show, I got his cell number that night, still in my phone, he was going to come by my recording studio I had at the time in LA and track some bass, but 2 weeks later I heard the news of his death. Very sad, I always had a good feeling about Mike Starr, he always stood out in my mind and still does. God bless you Mike, I hope and pray you are with the Lord and have found the love you always seeked to find. Mike had a sweet soul, a very genuine and giving nature. God bless.
Awwww wow, that is amazing. You're really lucky.
He's peaceful now and the void he could never fill is filled ☁️ ✝️
A day pass while in Basic? What!?!
Such a sweet story
Mike Star was an absolutely beautiful man!
If anyone was born with a rockstar look, it was Mike Starr... he def had the look.
I didn't know much about Mike until that rehab show. My wife watches that kind of stuff. I saw him on there and started watching with her. He seemed like a really nice guy. But drugs will make you do things that you never imagined you would do. If it wasn't for the stigma of addiction, we would still have some of the greats with us.
I remember going to the US like 10 years ago on vacation (I’m from Brazil) and I had just become an Alice in Chains fan quite recently, so I knew quite a bunch of stuff related to the band at that time.
I remember one night in the hotel room before going to sleep I was going through some TV channels and I spotted Mike right away in a show that was on, and it was Celebrity Rehab (or whatever it was called). All I remember is that he didn’t look so bad and I thought “ok, this guy is gonna get over this and recover, hopefully we’ll even see him play in some band, maybe even an AIC appearance of some sort”, and I thought it was so interesting to see a huge international musician that I admired being portrayed in that situation, it felt so real, I don’t know how to explain.
I couldn’t be more wrong, as we know he’d pass away shortly after that; this one hit me hard because I grew up hearing of rockstars that used to die because of drug abuse and all that stuff but I thought this was a thing of the past, probably me being a naive teenager at the time. I genuinely thought Mike was safe and would get his life back on track, and everytime I remember him I just feel kinda torn inside; AIC is easily my favorite band of all time and watching Mike die like that was a shock at the time for me.
Was in treatment in LA with this dude for 3 weeks. Thought he was a sincere person.
I find it weird to hear how he thought he was a rockstar. .. I met Mike before a show they opened up for ozzy and he said he hated being in front of that many people. Not stagefright, but he gazed out into the crowd that was forming as if he hated it.. He spent ten min with me and never asked for drugs or anything for a backstage pass. I'm a nobody he took time to talk to. A few months later he was out of AIC.
Jerry was jealous of him that's why.
Addiction takes so much from people and leaves nothing but sadness and regret in its wake. Layne never got over Demri's overdose death and Mike never got over Layne's. Sadness and regret all around.
By far the best band out of Seattle, by far!!
Your opinion mate no far about it!!
@@injailoutsoon1998 My opinions on anything are by far are always right, by far!!
I think you meant nirvania, they’re farly the bestest
@@heroicsquirrel3195 just making sure you got my reply cause my 1st may not have been sent cause of language. No I meant AIC, I meant what I said!! Just because you think Nirvana is the best doesn't mean I have to have the same opinion as you!! It's my opinion not yours! Your comment is incredibly Arrogant, I don't have any problem with people having a different opinion than mine but I have a huge problem with people that think everyone has to agree with and have same opinion as themselves!!
@@heroicsquirrel3195 Nirvana Sucks 🤣
Mike was a great bassist. My favorite in fact . He was a sweet guy and kind soul . He comes from a good family . I love mike RIP YOU AND LAYNE ARE SO MISSED
Laynes most impressive feat was the fact that he managed to use more drugs than anybody but never got caught using or buying.
Totally different time period. Today he absolutely would have
Well, give him credit for causing 1000 times the suffering and death of all the serial killers in American history. Him and Cobain have an impressive death toll. Leftists are great, eh?
Cuz mike was buying all his shit. 🤣
@@Wargasm644 exactly lmao
@@baneverything5580 what you saying. They are responsible for thousands of kids taking drugs. I don't get what you mean
Alice in chains was way better than Nirvana any day
AIC were better musicians in general. I am sure Kurt would admit to that. Dave G would. In my opinion Nirvana changed the world music scene. AIC didn't do that but they are a better band in many ways.
What is better is different for everyone. It’s like saying apple is better than banana. You’re so low IQ kid. But I prefer Alice, but everyone likes different
Fear The Voices is a jam and a half.
Rest easy Layne and Mike..
So many gone and many more to come.
Mike was so proud of [ruclips.net/video/MEIBILvXPa8/видео.html] after the Van Halen tour. He played the cassette for me when they were on break back home. He wrote the jam with Eddie, fulfilling his lifelong dream of that association. Didn't mention any scalping at that time. But ENTIRELY believable. His dad, John, was a pretty coked up mess. So lovable, so sad!
I was a herion addict myself and Layne was asking for help for many years and nobody caught on that they won't come out and say they need help I was the same. But it was too late for the poor guy and doing Crack didn't help the situation at all . Who cares if Layne doesn't talk to you anymore just call the ambulance and try to save his life whatever was left of it. Rehab centers are the worst place to go. Get clean and go out and get away from everyone that's what I did. And it worked.
The end of their bromance is the most heartbreaking breakup ever.
I grew up one block over from Mike in ..burien Washington..my best friends brother paul.was Mike's best friend..RIP
I think mike got kicked out because him and Layne were really close and both hooked. You can’t kick Layne out and if they didn’t do something there was a very good chance those two keeping on that path might have meant the end of band a lot sooner. Just an opinion, could totally be wrong.
Actually you could be right. I thought about this theory too.
@@media696 I didn’t know any of them personally so I’m a little reluctant to chime in but, I had heard the under age girls thing as well and that that was a major concern.
Your theory makes sense. It’s also my theory, the only difference being that it wasn’t just about protecting the band’s and Layne’s interests, it was also about protecting Mike’s interests. They had to be separated, for everybody’s good. They were really removing his opportunity to get high by the same token.
It would have been more honest though to kick them both out, but of course that would have been the end of AIC. So maybe the guilt Jerry hints at in his music has something to do with that.
@@Gomba13 yeah that’s fair.
It’s totally wrong. Mike was too much trouble , it was a combination of things, like sleeping with underage girls. The entire band was on hard drugs.
My favorite Bassist of all time. RIP Mike and Layne 🙏
Alice In Chains is my favorite out of the so called "Big Four" (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains) Seattle bands.
What was I doing before I knew this
@@MrBones-lw2bf Knew what? I don't get it.
@@smokedawg1 that Alice In Chains was your favorite out of 4 individual bands
@@smokedawg1 Mr. Jones was just being a sarcastic jerk. My favourite out of *the Big Four* too !
yeah mine too. They were definitely the darkest and heaviest of the Seattle major 4. I like Soundgarden next, quirky timings and guitars, almost as dark and heavy. I go out of town next though- STP was badass af and way better than Nirvana and PJ imo...Deleo had some killer guitar hooks and multitracks! Shame they got written off as grunge pretenders...their stuff is actually more original than some straight grunge lol 🎸🎼🤘👍
So heartbreaking
...yeah...you are 😍🥰
😂oops🤭🙈
@@udsmall7306 what ?
@@adriennereyes5405 nuthin...just a double entendre that... you're cute! 😂🤭
@@udsmall7306 thank you
@@adriennereyes5405 you're welcome! Have a nice night 😍🤭🌌
Would? is one of my favourite songs of all time and I don't think it would be half as good as it is without Mike Bass playing. RIP
They all got their drugs one way or another. Unfair to make Mike the scapegoat.
I had the pleasure of partying with Mike in Nawlins back in '92 in a Decatur street bar called, 'Kagan's'. He was one of the funnest people I ever partied with.
He kept buying pitchers and filling everyone's cups up and I got him stoned AF on some good weed in a nearby alley.
I didn't recognize him, but I kept noticing his AIC backstage pass so I assumed he was a Tech or Roadie for AIC, so after a couple of hours of partying with him I asked him what he does for AIC. He laughed and replied, "I'm the fucking Bassist, dude."
Smh
Dang that's an amazing story 💙 🖤
good weed in nawlins...in 92 ? ...ya right...u couldnt find good weed in the whole-State bk then /lol
@@chriswoods662 your connects sucked.
@@chriswoods662that’s not true. I live in New Orleans & our weed back then was 🔥
One of the greatest bass players in history.
Mike was a very nice guy, good heart. I fell out of “the scene” by the mid 90’s and had no idea he was mired down in recovery/substance abuse until I heard he had passed. In our twenties the substance intake was all about having a good time, by our 30’s and 40’s people you love start disappearing, by our 50’s “the lifestyle” has killed off a lot of people you loved. Stop now, get help, reach out, stop thinking about yourself and try to imagine what your death would do to your family and friends. I lost two close friends in a week last month. Easily half of my closest friends are gone. Take the hard road (sobriety) and be a better person. Mike Starr was a Rock Starr…….and he was THE bassist for AIC as far as I’m concerned. The original line up were the only AIC I ever knew, what came after wasn’t AIC to me.
I had such a crush on him. I literally broke a VHS tape rewinding Would over and over again
Layne had such range in his voice. And such a tortured soul. Obviously, Mike was similar. And damn they were 🔥 looking back in the day!! Then when the A.I.C. 95' CD came out, I was chilled to the bone. It was so dark & sinister. It felt like death. And then Layne passed away after that. Layne & Mike, R.I.P. 🌹
Yeah, 7 years after that
I'm more apt to believe Mike Starr's account of why he was selling tickets and back stage passes. Seeing as he was the only one who seemed to stay close to Layne even at the end. Jerry Cantrell gives me the impression he's got the bigger ego of them all.
yes but without Cantrell theydve gotten nowhere, he's like the working man of the band. But he wrote some UTTERLY INSANE guitar stuff, mindblowing.
@@joejones9520 Indeed, Jerry's role in AIC cannot be overstated... at least 50% of the band by himself.
Jerry's voice is almost as great as Laynes was
Jerry definitely had the biggest ego of the group. But without him, the band would’ve never made it. Definitely not due to lack of talent, but mainly due to lack of discipline/responsibility.
@@jessicap9832 Jerry wasn't just the driving force and the leader, he wrote the lion's share of AIC songs.
Its a sad and cautionary tale what happened to members of this band. Everyone says he was such a genuine and nice guy, that's the greatest compliment to be remembered by. the music he made will be discovered by youngsters generations from now. And in that sense he's immortal
This was really good. Thank you for making this video.
This was a sad story this band lost 2 greats, Rest in Peace Mike and Layne!!⚘
Love the pace. Great video thank you.
Wow this band is steeped in tragedy not only did we lose this talent, but we also lost Layne😢😭
The absolute saddest and most destructive part of excessive drug use is You can't feel any love from anyone! Mostly there sure is not love for yourself 😞
I had the pleasure of meeting Mike in the early 90s... I can say this video is accurate. Mike from my experience with him was a pretty cool guy. He loved A.I.C. and he loved Layne.. He did create a lot of problems for himself. however he loved his friends and family with all his heart. when I heard he past away I wasn't surprised. Mike was one of those stars that burned bright and hot, and those that burn hot and bright often burn out fast... R.I.P. Mike
That's cool you met in him his happier days. It sucks but some people just aren't built to handle fame and success at a young age... what starts as a blessing becomes more of a curse as the excesses destroy their lives. Some, like Mike (or Layne for that matter) never truly recover from the mistakes they make during the rapid ascent. Very sad. RIP Mike Starr
It used to break my heart when he was on that rehab show. He introduced himself to everyone like "hi, mike starr from Alice in chains", like he felt noone knew who he was without the name of the band....
Drug Addiction totally sucks, consuming so many great and talented musicians. Prescription or illicit it's just two different sources for feeding the beast with the same end result.Rip Layne, Mike.
Much respect and love to Alice In Chains for not only surviving, but as the years passed to thrive and become a more evolved beast in the Rock / Metal universe ....... R.I.P To Layne and to Mike .
One of the saddest stories to such a beautiful band . RIP to both Layne and Mike. Absolute legends. They went through a lot of stuff man. Sad to have seen them go so soon . F*** Drugs man. They ruin everything that's good in this world. So many legends have passed cause of it .
Great video. This topic was overdue.
I met Mike Starr in Portland when they were opening for Van Halen on the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album and Facelift. We were 7th row back, 16 years old, and at my first concert. Mike came into the crowd after Alice’s set. He came up to us and offered me his beer. I said nah, but shook his hand. And nothing else, too Start struck I guess. He wanted to talk and I was too stupid stumbling over my words. I just remember him as a heck of a nice guy who humored me. His death saddened me as I really wanted him to come break out of his addiction and record again.
As sad as these are to hear, it should also be pointed out that they are very well done. Great job as usual.
mike starr was a awesome bassist and superb stage presence even sun red sun was great music a very sad loss a true tragedy
I really appreciate you producing this AIC info for fans like me.
Thank you for this 💕👏
I have nothing but love for Mike. God bless Mike and Melinda, and their Mom too, I am still a little mad at his Dad though because I wish his Dad protected him from substances better when he was younger. But, I don't have hate, I'm just "a little bitter"....
I still get pretty sad when I think of the What-ifs that might have been had Laynre and Mike been able to overcome their addictions and continued on with Chains up to this day. What would they as a band given us?......not to take away from what Chains has become since both of their deaths......just curious is all.
I feel the same about Jimi Hendrix (27) Randy Rhoads (25) Stevie Ray Vaughn (35 ) and Dime (38). 40-50 years after Jimi & RR passed and it still pisses me off! RIP Mike Starr.
Congrats on 300k!
Love that you strive for historical accuracy, and intricate details.
My band was supposed to open for 'Days Of The New feat. Mike Starr' the same week he passed. It was surreal hearing about his death.
Days of the new was such an awesome band. So different!
Damn good bassist and he looked like a total rock star as well. RIP.
Love this channel!!
Mike was so handsome!!!
AIC was supposed to play Woodstock 94 & canceled just days before the show-they are on the T-shirt & program I have; never saw them live, sadly…..LSMS RIP
Mike was such a wonderful, talented kind soul. He was just so stuck mentally and physically. I used to play bass an absolutely he is such a huge musical inspiration for me. I have a tattoo dedicated to him. ❤
Apparently you didn’t know Mike well
I was Lucky to see them on their “Dirt” tour.
U were so blessed 2 have had that experience. Sure wish I had seen them!
Hey man very cool video , very informative and i really liked how you did the book quotes. It really adds a lot of depth to the video if that makes any sense.
Great video. GreAt research! I’m a little buzzed. But Rock on! Keep em coming! :)
I was wondering what happened to Mike Starr after getting fired from Alice In Chains , than a old friend from school told me that he passed away from drug over dose I was completely unaware of his actions and drinking habits and drugs abuse I was really shocked he passed away, I thought Mike was a great Bassists for the band! R.I.P MIKE STARR
I had the pleasure of meeting Mike and what I most remember is him saying to me.
Quote, I'm a good person. Not just because of the band ,but because I know I am . end Quote.
God bless he was a sweetheart. And a groovy rocking bass player. Rock in Power*
Great Videos Thank you