Out of all the reaction videos- yours are my favorite. I love to watch your growing fandom and love for AiC. This is my favorite from the Unplugged set ❤. But honestly, watching this always makes me sad for poor Layne. He got way worse off before he died, and that just breaks my heart for him and everyone who loved him ❤. Its his eyes- they haunt me. Its like he knows where he is and is resigned to his fate, and his eyes tell it. I'm just so sad the more I learn about Layne's last years alive, the sadder I become about all of it.
This song is a tribute to Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone who died from an overdose right before their first album dropped. It's so hard to watch and hear their live performances at this point. He was so deep in his addiction and sadly, 6 years after this was recorded, Layne would also be gone.
It's so heart wrenching to think... Layne Staley and Chris Cornell both paid tribute to Andrew Wood in song, and they are both gone now, too. I saw an interview where Chris Cornell remembered seeing Layne Staley at Andrew Wood's memorial or wake or funeral, and he remembers thinking that Layne looked like he really really needed a hug, but he didn't know him well and was hesitant, and then the moment was gone. After Layne died, all Chris could think of was how he wished he had hugged him that day.
@@micahdevynn3967 wow never heard that. He should've just fkn hugged him. And that whole Temple Of The Dog album was pretty much in honor of Andrew. Love these guys, wish they were still here.
@@leonardwashington6456 "And that whole Temple Of The Dog album was pretty much in honor of Andrew." Yup. And it was from that collaboration that Pearl Jam was born. It really was such a tight knit circle of musicians up in the PNW, ¿wasn't it?
I think you should react to Junkhead by Alice In Chains, his vocals are truly amazing. But if you do end up reacting to that, the live version is always better for this song because you can hear the true power he puts into his voice. Thanks for always putting in the work to make your fans happy with suggestions, this is why we love you!! ❤️☺️
he has always been at the tippity top of my Mt. Rushmore of vocalists ❤ his mom said in an interview that his voice is like razor blades wrapped in marshmallows 🎯
❤️🔥❤️🔥💥💥🥰 killer voice no one can ever sound like Layne ❤he is so missed… singing his truth 😢 very heartbreaking 💔 story of his short life. I’m so happy u get to hear A.I.C. & love 💕 him as much as I do ❤❤
THIS is why I love reaction videos! Thank you. I love watching people see/hear songs like this that I could only dream of being able to hear again for the first time and this was definitely the next best thing.
His vocals are and were the BEST EVER. So much raw power and he somehow brings you along for the ride to where you can literally feel his pain and raw emotion.... it's unreal
So many bands have tried to recreate this song. They ALL struggle to sing this song. Layne did it with such ease. I often to this day at the age of 43 wonder what music they still could be making had he just held on. RIP, Layne…
Layne and Kurt both passed away on April 5th, 8 years apart. 2 days before my birthday, I always keep them in my thoughts and listen to their music daily 🖤 favorite AIC song is Right Turn featuring Chris Cornell (the only other voice to rival Laynes talent imo) 🤘🏼
100% Agree!! If Frogs doesn’t creep you out (in a good, AIC, way), you’re not human. Sludge Factory -there is no other way to explain that song but ‘sludgy and angry’ - grungiest of all grunge.
You should listen to Man in the Box live at the Marquee in Dallas. Peak Layne vocal performance. There is no video, but his vocal performance is better than the studio recorded version. Incredible talent
I listen to everything except Country. I’m not a country music fan but I listen to everything else and this is one of my favorite bands of all time and he was so sexy back in the day.
I think why everyone can relate to the vocals is because of the heart they were sang with and the pain that was expressed when singing. We all felt it in some way. Since you are new to the group, I would like to see reactions with the new singer. Even though he is not new anymore. Keep up the grunge life
Awesome keep up the AIC reacts I'd like to see you react to 'I stay away' 'What the hell have i' 'A little bitter' 'Sickman', 'Godsmack' and also Mad Season, that was Layne's side project. Do Long gone day and wake up live at the Moore
The backstory with WOULD? ... guitarist Jerry Cantrell wrote the song for Andy Wood, singer of Mother Love Bone after Andy died of an overdose in 1990 just as Mother Love Bone was going to hit big. After Andy died, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament dissolved Mother Love Bone and re-emerged as Pearl Jam. WOULD? as a title is a play on Andy Wood's name. Layne sang the hell out of WOULD? and ROOSTER on the album, official videos and concerts in 91-93. WOULD? appeared on the Singles soundtrack because Seattle, Washington as big as the town is, musically it's a small town. All the bands that came out of the Seattle scene knew each other and went to see each other play the club circuit. Cameron Crowe was married to Nancy Wilson of Heart and he wanted to make a movie about the Seattle music scene and made Singles where a fictional band, Citizen Dick opened for Alice In Chains. They used IT AIN'T LIKE THAT from the Facelift album and Cameron Crowe gave them money to demo songs... AIC took the money, they demoed the 6 acoustic songs that are on SAP EP and two songs ROOSTER and WOULD? that ended up on the Dirt album. Cameron Crowe picked through the songs and used WOULD? out of the bunch. Jerry thought the song was strong enough to be included on the Dirt album and that's how WOULD? ended up on the Singles soundtrack and the same version ended up on Dirt. Whenever you see Bad Animals Studios in the liner notes, at the time the album was recorded, Bad Animals Studios was owned by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. Nancy Wilson was married to Cameron Crowe between 1986 and 2010. Drummer Sean Kinney developed that heavy kick-drum at the formation of Alice In Chains. That heavy kick-drum is the foundation of AIC's sound. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell was fine doing backing vocals on the early songs like the ones they played in their clubbing days and on Facelift like the Call and Return of the chorus on MAN IN THE BOX until one day when he was trying to write songs for the SAP EP and the Dirt album, Layne looked at the lyrics and encouraged Jerry to sing more because after all, they were Jerry's lyrics. He should sing them. When Layne and Jerry sang together they achieved the perfect pitch of two voices making one voice. Layne Staley's vocal range can run rings around any other grunge singer in my opinion. Layne could sing the phone book and never hit a wrong note. Even at the end of his life, with no teeth and a lisp, his voice, wit and humor were all still there. Layne's voice and vocal range was so powerful he did NOT need auto tune or pro-tools until he lost his teeth and had a lisp around 1998, and even then he still killed the vocals. Barrett Martin (who played with Layne in Mad Season) said that when he stood to the side of the stage, he could hear the sound of Layne’s vocal resonance come out of Layne's body LOUDER than it did coming out of the speakers, Layne's voice was that powerful. The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was other drugs). His liver was damaged from the years of drug use. He was just high enough to do the show so he didn't get dope sick and to chase away withdrawal symptoms. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to Layne's choices for his life. That show was filmed on April 10, 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a 6-year-long slow suicide. Before the show, drummer Sean Kinney and bass player Mike Inez argued with guitarist Jerry Cantrell about whether Layne could even pull off the high notes in some of the songs, which is why Jerry gave them that “I told you so” smirk after Layne hit that long, high note in DOWN IN A HOLE. He did the same thing again when he hit a high note in ROOSTER. The fact that Sean and Mike didn’t have any confidence that Layne could do the show and Jerry being the only one that knew deep in his heart that Layne could do it because Layne had done so many things against the odds over the years no matter how high he was at the time. When Jerry needed him to be there where it counted, Layne always pulled through. The entire show was a success because Layne did have a powerful performance despite his condition. He proved to his cynical bandmates that he could still sing the high notes and he pulled it all off beautifully while the same four guys (Metallica) who had mocked him for his addiction sidelining Alice In Chains from ever doing extended tours sat in the front row. The mistakes he made screwing up SLUDGE FACTORY 8 times even though the dvd only shows 1 time (and I think he screwed up GOT ME WRONG once or twice, but Toby Wright didn’t keep that in editing) were endearing, at least to me. They didn’t take away from the performance, it added something to the performance that, had it been removed after everyone had seen it, wouldn’t have made the show what it was. Knowing what Layne was capable of before, and what you see on Unplugged is the difference between night and day. Watch him sing DOWN IN A HOLE and knowing that this was the same guy who back in 1992 was hanging from the rafters of a low ceiling in a bar belting out LOVE HATE LOVE, that is what's heartbreaking. Knowing how he sang ROOSTER in Tilburg, The Netherlands, in 1993 when his “yeahs” and screams were so loud and high I’m surprised the rafters didn’t come crashing down around him and then watch him sing the same song so low-key on Unplugged knowing he could do to the song what he did in Tilburg is heartbreaking. Knowing he initially sang the hell out of WOULD? on the official video and album and seeing the end of WOULD? on Unplugged . . . and knowing how deep into his addiction he had gotten by that point is heartbreaking. Mike Starr (who is in the video) was the first bass guitar player. He left the bad after Rock in Rio January 22, 1993 (long story). Mike Starr was the last person to see Layne alive on April 4, 2002. They had an argument and Starr left. No one noticed Layne had died on April 5, 2002, because he never answered the phone nor opened the door. It took inactivity over the span of two weeks for his ACCOUNTANT to notice something was wrong and called Alice In Chains manager Susan Silver who called Layne's mother to alert her to the situation who then called 911 on April 19, 2002. Mike Starr died of a prescription drug overdose on March 8, 2011. And to pour salt in the wound, MTV (and the music industry) has more or less blackballed Layne (and yet, they laud over Kurt Cobain every April 5th, because Kurt was the "face of grunge", meanwhile Layne gets a "by the way"). The Grammys went so far as to invite Jerry, Mike and Sean to the Grammy show in 2003 and then refused to put Layne's picture up in the memorial of the musicians who died in 2002. (Or they "forgot" to) which pissed Jerry, Mike and Sean off and they walked out on the show. Though I do applaud MoPOP including Layne Staley and Mike Starr when they inducted Alice In Chains in the MoPOP Museum of Pop Culture. It's more recognition of Layne (and Mike) than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (thanks to Rolling Stone's criticisms of Layne and his addiction) and the Grammys (who FORGOT him when he died) have EVER done. Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12-year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne kept his humor and wit even to the end of his life. All the information above has longer, deeper stories, and I could say so much more, but RUclips has a cap on comment length. In the end, it all boils down to: Layne Staley deserved better than what he received from the people around him who he thought mattered. He wrote songs about things with maturity and knowledge well beyond his years. He didn’t deserve to be turned into tabloid cannon fodder by the press.
Should listen to Mad Season. Little different sound from Layne with the side project well I guess supergroup since the guitar player is Mike from Pearl Jam and the drummer is from Screaming Trees.
You should react to Layne‘s vocals on the Mad Season performance at the Moore theater in Seattle from 1995. I think you might enjoy River of Deceit and Long Day Gone with Mark Lanegan.
You should check out the video for “Electric Worry” by a band called Clutch who got their start in this era (91) & are still around making great,vital music to this day 🖤🤤
Can you imagine how much beautiful music they could have made if Layne could have overcome his addiction? So much talent and a genuinely nice person. It’s so sad but his voice will live on forever!!
Sub 757! Hey bestie, glad to see you're feeling an old favorite band of mine. P.s. my friends banned me from listening to Alice in chains when I drink lol.... Apparently I get a bit rowdy.🍺
Uhhh…He was Gen X, and don’t put that weight on a dead guy. He was good, but I can easily name 5 rock stars without thinking that had a wider range than he did.
@@billybee3423 My Bad! Probably had "Z" stuck on the brain from elsewhere. And what "weight" am I putting on a dead guy? That statement is as loosely thought out as my Gen Z flub, but by all means, give me your five. I'd love to give them a listen.
Yay, more Alice in Chains! Would is such a great song. I love their unplugged, but it kinda makes me sad bc you can tell how deep Layne was into drugs. Now you should do the song Black from Pearl Jam's unplugged. Their unplugged is amazing too (honestly, it might be my favorite one 😊). Much love and happy holidays ❤
Harmony was their thing. He and Cantrell were the best at this. I encourage you to listen to the studio version of this as well. It's UNREAL! Also list to Sea of Sorrow another great one and one they haven't performed live since his death. I took my son to see what is left of the band. He loves them as much as I do!
When I heard Layne didn't have most of his teeth during this live recording due to drugs it really hit me hard. What a sad and yet beautiful live set. RIP to one of the best
I love Alice in chains I was just listening to this band the other day I have a few of their albums but I'mma tell you something the majority of their songs is about Layne Staley's heroin addiction the lead singer and he died at 32 he was high as a kite doing this concert look at his eyes he is totally wasted
Layne sounds 3/4 dead in the MTV Unplugged versions. But even so, he still kicks the ass of any of those mindless talentless vocoding hacks who are fully alive but brain, talent, and soul-dead singing today. Friends don't let friends listen to AIC alone. it's dark, and tragic, and devastating, but so magnificent.
At one point Layne had a bad vocal day and they made fun of him and it made him feel self-conscious.. So later on during recording he insisted on doing hsi vocals alone and isolated. While they were listening to him perform his vocals he produced effects that can usually only be accomplished by machine. They ran in the booth afterwards to see if he had the machine hooked up but there was no machine there.
It would mean the world to me if u can react to heart shaped box by nirvana, I love your reactions to the grunge songs so much 🥰 much love from holland ❤️
Sad watching the band at action park years before. Youthful live having fun. You can see Layne just normal and aware. Then watching this seeing how out of it he is. How much he’s struggling with something. Just sad. Going from normal to distant with those around you. Watch that mtv action park episode with Alice In Chains. That whole band was just a different goofy fun time young kids turnt into addicts struggling.
It's tough to watch track on the acoustic, as Layne was almost gone.....For some of the real power of the Layne and the band, earlier live concerts on RUclips with Layne in full voice. I mourn for him and our band does several AIC songs.....Never can sound like Layne. I try. ruclips.net/video/NVMYZ_R88B4/видео.html
Bad version....should have done the REAL version. As AMAZING as Layne's voice is, the unplugged versions are the worst his voice ever was! They had not performed in over two yrs before this because he was strung out on dope. Do his TRUE FANS some justice and react to the real version and you will hear what I mean.
I’ve been a “TRUE” AIC fan since I was 12 back in 92. As a “TRUE” fan I appreciate all of their work including the whole unplugged show which was magical. As bad off as Layne was at this point, I’m extremely thankful that he blessed us with this performance. 🤘🏽
while i agree she should have done the studio version, layne still killed it here and that's what matters most. i am a "true fan". plus, she didn't know cause she never heard the song before🤣 you can't blame her at all. the fan that recommended this song should have been more clear. but it's okay regardless this song is amazing both ways. no need to be so negative🙄
Out of all the reaction videos- yours are my favorite. I love to watch your growing fandom and love for AiC. This is my favorite from the Unplugged set ❤.
But honestly, watching this always makes me sad for poor Layne. He got way worse off before he died, and that just breaks my heart for him and everyone who loved him ❤.
Its his eyes- they haunt me. Its like he knows where he is and is resigned to his fate, and his eyes tell it. I'm just so sad the more I learn about Layne's last years alive, the sadder I become about all of it.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT 🙏🏾😘♥️
This song is a tribute to Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone who died from an overdose right before their first album dropped. It's so hard to watch and hear their live performances at this point. He was so deep in his addiction and sadly, 6 years after this was recorded, Layne would also be gone.
It's so heart wrenching to think... Layne Staley and Chris Cornell both paid tribute to Andrew Wood in song, and they are both gone now, too.
I saw an interview where Chris Cornell remembered seeing Layne Staley at Andrew Wood's memorial or wake or funeral, and he remembers thinking that Layne looked like he really really needed a hug, but he didn't know him well and was hesitant, and then the moment was gone. After Layne died, all Chris could think of was how he wished he had hugged him that day.
@@micahdevynn3967 wow never heard that. He should've just fkn hugged him. And that whole Temple Of The Dog album was pretty much in honor of Andrew. Love these guys, wish they were still here.
@@leonardwashington6456 "And that whole Temple Of The Dog album was pretty much in honor of Andrew."
Yup. And it was from that collaboration that Pearl Jam was born. It really was such a tight knit circle of musicians up in the PNW, ¿wasn't it?
@@micahdevynn3967LAYNE AND CHRIS BOTH WERE KILLED
I love this song . Top 5 of all time personally. I didn’t know it was a tribute to Andrew Wood until I read this comment
Layne was so addicted and sick here, and still sounded amazing. I really hope you react to the video and see layne healthy and kick ass! RIP brother
I love Alice In Chains. Layne was amazing, their harmonies are great, and you can really feel his pain come through.
I think you should react to Junkhead by Alice In Chains, his vocals are truly amazing. But if you do end up reacting to that, the live version is always better for this song because you can hear the true power he puts into his voice. Thanks for always putting in the work to make your fans happy with suggestions, this is why we love you!! ❤️☺️
I GOTCHA BABE AND THANK U😘
@@kshavon3098 live ! watch it live ! live at singles party 1992
@@kshavon3098nooooo gotta listen to the studio version first and if you do live gotta do the right one cause it’s a hard song to perform live.
I say it every time but I don’t care, I love your reactions to this band! Your enthusiasm and energy makes me smile and feel good every time. 😊
AYYYYEEEE THANKS BABE AND UR COMMENTS MAKE ME FEEL SO GOOD♥️🙏🏾
he has always been at the tippity top of my Mt. Rushmore of vocalists ❤ his mom said in an interview that his voice is like razor blades wrapped in marshmallows 🎯
I love your AIC reactions 😍
AWE THX BEST FRIEND 😘
I grew up listening to these guys and still do. This was my high school days and into my 20’s. . Just an awesome group.
❤️🔥❤️🔥💥💥🥰 killer voice no one can ever sound like Layne ❤he is so missed… singing his truth 😢 very heartbreaking 💔 story of his short life. I’m so happy u get to hear A.I.C. & love 💕 him as much as I do ❤❤
THIS is why I love reaction videos! Thank you. I love watching people see/hear songs like this that I could only dream of being able to hear again for the first time and this was definitely the next best thing.
THX BABE AND UR WELCOME
His vocals are and were the BEST EVER. So much raw power and he somehow brings you along for the ride to where you can literally feel his pain and raw emotion.... it's unreal
This is my favorite Alice In Chains song. The studio version and its official video totally blew me away as a young music fan.
This is one of favs..good choice.
THX BESTIE
he was really good
YES
Phenomenal vocalist.
So many bands have tried to recreate this song. They ALL struggle to sing this song. Layne did it with such ease. I often to this day at the age of 43 wonder what music they still could be making had he just held on. RIP, Layne…
Prince was one of Layne’s idols. RIP to both Layne & Prince.
YES RIP
Just stumbled across your reaction videoson some of my favorite music. They are the best! Hooked on your vids now ❤
AWE THANK U SO MUCH BABE😘😘
Check out the studio version as well. Amazing
Layne and Kurt both passed away on April 5th, 8 years apart. 2 days before my birthday, I always keep them in my thoughts and listen to their music daily 🖤 favorite AIC song is Right Turn featuring Chris Cornell (the only other voice to rival Laynes talent imo) 🤘🏼
Wake Up by Mad Season is amazing too. Layne's voice was like a lion!
You're my fave reaction channel.. Keep up the great work.
AWE THANK U SO MUCH !!😘😘😘
Another great reaction BF...More AIC - "Don't Follow" and "Rain When I Die" 💚🤙
Yes second Rain When I Die. Or Sludge Factory Unplugged version
THX BESTIE I GOTCHA BABE😘
Rain When I Die is such a good song, i should have mentioned that!!
@@kshavon3098 😀🙌
@@melany5506 🤣😘
The unplugged sounds good but it is painful to watch. 😢
I’m still with you on Love Hate Love ❤
so true:( you can feel the pain by listening to his voice. so heartbreaking but he left us his beautiful music to share ❤️
💯
Two songs that always get overlooked from this show; Frogs & Sludge Factory.
Both are incredible songs, and made better with this show.
100% Agree!! If Frogs doesn’t creep you out (in a good, AIC, way), you’re not human. Sludge Factory -there is no other way to explain that song but ‘sludgy and angry’ - grungiest of all grunge.
Love this lady
You should listen to Man in the Box live at the Marquee in Dallas. Peak Layne vocal performance. There is no video, but his vocal performance is better than the studio recorded version. Incredible talent
I DID LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO
Loved your reaction❤❤❤❤❤
THX BABE😘😘
This song is and Always has been my favorite 😎
I can't believe Layne and the bassist are gone!😢
I listen to everything except Country. I’m not a country music fan but I listen to everything else and this is one of my favorite bands of all time and he was so sexy back in the day.
I think why everyone can relate to the vocals is because of the heart they were sang with and the pain that was expressed when singing. We all felt it in some way. Since you are new to the group, I would like to see reactions with the new singer. Even though he is not new anymore. Keep up the grunge life
THANK U
Your reviews make me smile so big and swells my heart.
AWE THANK U SO MUCH😘
My girl and he was only a shell of himself at this point....watch him do it while healthy
Hi it was fun watching along with you K! 💙 Agree that his vocals are amazing. 👍🏻
THX BABE
Love your reactions girl I think you see the talent of this band!!!
THANK U♥️♥️
Awesome keep up the AIC reacts I'd like to see you react to 'I stay away' 'What the hell have i' 'A little bitter' 'Sickman', 'Godsmack' and also Mad Season, that was Layne's side project. Do Long gone day and wake up live at the Moore
THANK U
Your reaction to Laynes talent is funny wheh you stop and stare at the camera but also lovely to see, you get why he was so talented.
THANK U😘😘
One of the best leads ever … Layne will be missed forever … gone why too soon ....🙏🤘.
YES
Thanks you for reacting to this! ❤️
The backstory with WOULD? ... guitarist Jerry Cantrell wrote the song for Andy Wood, singer of Mother Love Bone after Andy died of an overdose in 1990 just as Mother Love Bone was going to hit big. After Andy died, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament dissolved Mother Love Bone and re-emerged as Pearl Jam. WOULD? as a title is a play on Andy Wood's name. Layne sang the hell out of WOULD? and ROOSTER on the album, official videos and concerts in 91-93.
WOULD? appeared on the Singles soundtrack because Seattle, Washington as big as the town is, musically it's a small town. All the bands that came out of the Seattle scene knew each other and went to see each other play the club circuit. Cameron Crowe was married to Nancy Wilson of Heart and he wanted to make a movie about the Seattle music scene and made Singles where a fictional band, Citizen Dick opened for Alice In Chains. They used IT AIN'T LIKE THAT from the Facelift album and Cameron Crowe gave them money to demo songs... AIC took the money, they demoed the 6 acoustic songs that are on SAP EP and two songs ROOSTER and WOULD? that ended up on the Dirt album. Cameron Crowe picked through the songs and used WOULD? out of the bunch. Jerry thought the song was strong enough to be included on the Dirt album and that's how WOULD? ended up on the Singles soundtrack and the same version ended up on Dirt.
Whenever you see Bad Animals Studios in the liner notes, at the time the album was recorded, Bad Animals Studios was owned by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. Nancy Wilson was married to Cameron Crowe between 1986 and 2010.
Drummer Sean Kinney developed that heavy kick-drum at the formation of Alice In Chains. That heavy kick-drum is the foundation of AIC's sound.
Guitarist Jerry Cantrell was fine doing backing vocals on the early songs like the ones they played in their clubbing days and on Facelift like the Call and Return of the chorus on MAN IN THE BOX until one day when he was trying to write songs for the SAP EP and the Dirt album, Layne looked at the lyrics and encouraged Jerry to sing more because after all, they were Jerry's lyrics. He should sing them. When Layne and Jerry sang together they achieved the perfect pitch of two voices making one voice.
Layne Staley's vocal range can run rings around any other grunge singer in my opinion. Layne could sing the phone book and never hit a wrong note. Even at the end of his life, with no teeth and a lisp, his voice, wit and humor were all still there. Layne's voice and vocal range was so powerful he did NOT need auto tune or pro-tools until he lost his teeth and had a lisp around 1998, and even then he still killed the vocals.
Barrett Martin (who played with Layne in Mad Season) said that when he stood to the side of the stage, he could hear the sound of Layne’s vocal resonance come out of Layne's body LOUDER than it did coming out of the speakers, Layne's voice was that powerful.
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was other drugs). His liver was damaged from the years of drug use. He was just high enough to do the show so he didn't get dope sick and to chase away withdrawal symptoms. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to Layne's choices for his life. That show was filmed on April 10, 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a 6-year-long slow suicide.
Before the show, drummer Sean Kinney and bass player Mike Inez argued with guitarist Jerry Cantrell about whether Layne could even pull off the high notes in some of the songs, which is why Jerry gave them that “I told you so” smirk after Layne hit that long, high note in DOWN IN A HOLE. He did the same thing again when he hit a high note in ROOSTER.
The fact that Sean and Mike didn’t have any confidence that Layne could do the show and Jerry being the only one that knew deep in his heart that Layne could do it because Layne had done so many things against the odds over the years no matter how high he was at the time. When Jerry needed him to be there where it counted, Layne always pulled through.
The entire show was a success because Layne did have a powerful performance despite his condition. He proved to his cynical bandmates that he could still sing the high notes and he pulled it all off beautifully while the same four guys (Metallica) who had mocked him for his addiction sidelining Alice In Chains from ever doing extended tours sat in the front row. The mistakes he made screwing up SLUDGE FACTORY 8 times even though the dvd only shows 1 time (and I think he screwed up GOT ME WRONG once or twice, but Toby Wright didn’t keep that in editing) were endearing, at least to me. They didn’t take away from the performance, it added something to the performance that, had it been removed after everyone had seen it, wouldn’t have made the show what it was.
Knowing what Layne was capable of before, and what you see on Unplugged is the difference between night and day. Watch him sing DOWN IN A HOLE and knowing that this was the same guy who back in 1992 was hanging from the rafters of a low ceiling in a bar belting out LOVE HATE LOVE, that is what's heartbreaking. Knowing how he sang ROOSTER in Tilburg, The Netherlands, in 1993 when his “yeahs” and screams were so loud and high I’m surprised the rafters didn’t come crashing down around him and then watch him sing the same song so low-key on Unplugged knowing he could do to the song what he did in Tilburg is heartbreaking. Knowing he initially sang the hell out of WOULD? on the official video and album and seeing the end of WOULD? on Unplugged . . . and knowing how deep into his addiction he had gotten by that point is heartbreaking.
Mike Starr (who is in the video) was the first bass guitar player. He left the bad after Rock in Rio January 22, 1993 (long story). Mike Starr was the last person to see Layne alive on April 4, 2002. They had an argument and Starr left. No one noticed Layne had died on April 5, 2002, because he never answered the phone nor opened the door. It took inactivity over the span of two weeks for his ACCOUNTANT to notice something was wrong and called Alice In Chains manager Susan Silver who called Layne's mother to alert her to the situation who then called 911 on April 19, 2002. Mike Starr died of a prescription drug overdose on March 8, 2011.
And to pour salt in the wound, MTV (and the music industry) has more or less blackballed Layne (and yet, they laud over Kurt Cobain every April 5th, because Kurt was the "face of grunge", meanwhile Layne gets a "by the way"). The Grammys went so far as to invite Jerry, Mike and Sean to the Grammy show in 2003 and then refused to put Layne's picture up in the memorial of the musicians who died in 2002. (Or they "forgot" to) which pissed Jerry, Mike and Sean off and they walked out on the show. Though I do applaud MoPOP including Layne Staley and Mike Starr when they inducted Alice In Chains in the MoPOP Museum of Pop Culture. It's more recognition of Layne (and Mike) than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (thanks to Rolling Stone's criticisms of Layne and his addiction) and the Grammys (who FORGOT him when he died) have EVER done.
Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12-year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne kept his humor and wit even to the end of his life.
All the information above has longer, deeper stories, and I could say so much more, but RUclips has a cap on comment length. In the end, it all boils down to: Layne Staley deserved better than what he received from the people around him who he thought mattered. He wrote songs about things with maturity and knowledge well beyond his years. He didn’t deserve to be turned into tabloid cannon fodder by the press.
his vocals and emotion gives you the goosebumps
Should listen to Mad Season. Little different sound from Layne with the side project well I guess supergroup since the guitar player is Mike from Pearl Jam and the drummer is from Screaming Trees.
I DID IT WILL BE UPLOADED PROBABLY TOMORROW
You should react to Layne‘s vocals on the Mad Season performance at the Moore theater in Seattle from 1995. I think you might enjoy River of Deceit and Long Day Gone with Mark Lanegan.
I WILL UPLOAD THAT ONE THIS MORNING 😘
You should check out the video for “Electric Worry” by a band called Clutch who got their start in this era (91) & are still around making great,vital music to this day 🖤🤤
If u could, Would u? Lol...Stunning, Unique voice, I love and miss Layne. R.I.P....Thanx sis, Blessings, Peace
😘♥️
Can you imagine how much beautiful music they could have made if Layne could have overcome his addiction? So much talent and a genuinely nice person. It’s so sad but his voice will live on forever!!
I love to hear he’s in your top 5 ❤❤❤❤❤❤
BEST BAND OF ALL TIME. 100%❤
You are also listening to one of the best guitarist
got damn right you aint worried.....
HUH
You should react to Would album version or official video version too
I will always recommend "It ain't like that" Singles Blu-ray Pro shot. Yes it's live. You can thank me later lol
OK🤣
Hey miss K love those shiney lips good reaction rip to layne
LOL THX BABE
Love me some AIC, Would? is the ultimate JAM. RIP Layne. HE was such a great vocalist!!
Sub 757! Hey bestie, glad to see you're feeling an old favorite band of mine. P.s. my friends banned me from listening to Alice in chains when I drink lol.... Apparently I get a bit rowdy.🍺
😂😂WATS UP A1
OH YEAH!!! RIPLS ❤🙏🏻
That was 🔥🔥🔥 his voice is Amazing. Did you know Lenny Kravitz released a new song it's called TK421 and it's A banger.☮️
Layne was genz's Freddie Mercury. Period.
Uhhh…He was Gen X, and don’t put that weight on a dead guy. He was good, but I can easily name 5 rock stars without thinking that had a wider range than he did.
@@billybee3423 My Bad! Probably had "Z" stuck on the brain from elsewhere. And what "weight" am I putting on a dead guy? That statement is as loosely thought out as my Gen Z flub, but by all means, give me your five. I'd love to give them a listen.
It's mindblowing that the guy can be high as fuck and still sound this amazing.
DEFINITELY AGREE
R.I.P. Layne. We miss you dearly.
80% REAL ❤
😘🙏🏾
My favorite AIC song!! ❤❤
Такой уникальный тембр и такая печать смерти на лице,так грустно
Yay, more Alice in Chains! Would is such a great song. I love their unplugged, but it kinda makes me sad bc you can tell how deep Layne was into drugs. Now you should do the song Black from Pearl Jam's unplugged. Their unplugged is amazing too (honestly, it might be my favorite one 😊). Much love and happy holidays ❤
SAME TO U TO BABE😘
Check out their song godsmack
There will never be another Layne 😢😢it’s heartbreaking 💔
FACTZ💔
You should hear the video version of it! Even better my friend.
Harmony was their thing. He and Cantrell were the best at this. I encourage you to listen to the studio version of this as well. It's UNREAL! Also list to Sea of Sorrow another great one and one they haven't performed live since his death. I took my son to see what is left of the band. He loves them as much as I do!
I love you! You seem like you'd be a lot of fun to be around and just chill while watching music videos! Like you so far, just subbed.
ILY2 THX BEST FRIEND
When I heard Layne didn't have most of his teeth during this live recording due to drugs it really hit me hard. What a sad and yet beautiful live set. RIP to one of the best
YES RIP💔💔
I sing Would in my band ,K Shavon, one of my faves! Except the last words, I feel like Richard Cheese, I'll see if I can find ham!
90's Grunge rock has strong blues roots. unfortunately like blues heroin was a commonly used drug. love these guys
layne staley is infact the coldest ever. GOAT
This is so cool watching you react to one of my favorite songs and i dnt know who the fk you are bc I just found you 😂
WHEN I TELL U THIS COMMENT MADE ME LAUGH HARD AF!!!!😂😂😂
I love Alice in chains I was just listening to this band the other day I have a few of their albums but I'mma tell you something the majority of their songs is about Layne Staley's heroin addiction the lead singer and he died at 32 he was high as a kite doing this concert look at his eyes he is totally wasted
check out their song I'll stay away
Heyyyy best friend!
HEY BESTIE STEP😘
❤
Layne sounds 3/4 dead in the MTV Unplugged versions. But even so, he still kicks the ass of any of those mindless talentless vocoding hacks who are fully alive but brain, talent, and soul-dead singing today. Friends don't let friends listen to AIC alone. it's dark, and tragic, and devastating, but so magnificent.
DAMN
80% real haha
🤣🤣ITS TRU
Soundgarden Badmotorfinger don’t get no better
BET♥️
he's not sad in this, he's high as hell.
DAMN
At one point Layne had a bad vocal day and they made fun of him and it made him feel self-conscious.. So later on during recording he insisted on doing hsi vocals alone and isolated. While they were listening to him perform his vocals he produced effects that can usually only be accomplished by machine. They ran in the booth afterwards to see if he had the machine hooked up but there was no machine there.
THATS DOPE🔥🔥
@@kshavon3098 Layne Staley has often been described as what happens when a guitar string learns how to sing.
Listen to Chris Stapleton COLD 🥶 GREAT SONG ❤
It would mean the world to me if u can react to heart shaped box by nirvana, I love your reactions to the grunge songs so much 🥰 much love from holland ❤️
AWE THX BABE I GOTCHA
please react to it aint like that singles by alice in chains!!!!!❤
Sad watching the band at action park years before. Youthful live having fun. You can see Layne just normal and aware. Then watching this seeing how out of it he is. How much he’s struggling with something. Just sad. Going from normal to distant with those around you. Watch that mtv action park episode with Alice In Chains. That whole band was just a different goofy fun time young kids turnt into addicts struggling.
Have I run too far to get home 🏡 🤌
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤s
You need to listen to Frogs.
And sludge factory.
Dammit Layne!! 😕
It's tough to watch track on the acoustic, as Layne was almost gone.....For some of the real power of the Layne and the band, earlier live concerts on RUclips with Layne in full voice. I mourn for him and our band does several AIC songs.....Never can sound like Layne. I try. ruclips.net/video/NVMYZ_R88B4/видео.html
Devastating. Care for those that love you
🤍🤍
your reaction vids are good. not like those annoying pause and talk every few secs reaction vids
AWE THANK U SO MUCH BABY♥️♥️
Bad version....should have done the REAL version. As AMAZING as Layne's voice is, the unplugged versions are the worst his voice ever was! They had not performed in over two yrs before this because he was strung out on dope. Do his TRUE FANS some justice and react to the real version and you will hear what I mean.
I’ve been a “TRUE” AIC fan since I was 12 back in 92. As a “TRUE” fan I appreciate all of their work including the whole unplugged show which was magical. As bad off as Layne was at this point, I’m extremely thankful that he blessed us with this performance. 🤘🏽
Agree...but to hear this version and not the original is a tragedy! You will agree if a true fan.@@stephena2390
I was 20 then..very well engaged with this band at this time.@@stephena2390
while i agree she should have done the studio version, layne still killed it here and that's what matters most. i am a "true fan". plus, she didn't know cause she never heard the song before🤣 you can't blame her at all. the fan that recommended this song should have been more clear. but it's okay regardless this song is amazing both ways. no need to be so negative🙄
Of course....obviously she doesn't know! haha....and you'll get over it! lol @@siftingz
Let it go. Please speak english first
THATS WAT I TOLD UR MOM😂