Once you bite that forbidden fruit, youi are never free. I dont use anymore, but it like I can no longer see color in the world, everything is grey now.
@@tucker68 There's nothing funny about it not even from that point of view. It's devastating for the users and the families who have to bury their sons or daughters. The shit has such a tight hold some have to die to beat it. What's humorous about that? The shit is far too relevant to be even remotely funny.
Alice In Chains is my favorite band of all time. And their "Unplugged" concert was one of the best shows of all time......of all artists. This particular song, Layne took off his shades and it makes me tear up every time I see it. He was so tortured. I don't know a better artist to portray such emotions. RIP Layne........
Layne really was the best at pure emotional expression. He was a very talented singer to begin with but the way he can express himself so vividly makes him an all time great.
I've always related so much with this song. Still climb outta that hole myself. At least I'm not laying on the bottom anymore. Great reaction guys. Hope everyone has an amazing day.
He definitely sang about it in lyrics but not in these lyrics, people always attribute these lyrics to Layne but they’re Jerry’s lyrics, Jerry wrote the whole song. He also dealt with addiction and mental health issues.
@@texthit that’s just lyrics wise tho, also Jerry wrote the large majority of the hits as the sole writer lyrics and music. Lyrically people who aren’t super familiar with the writing of the band constantly act like Layne wrote lyrics to that Jerry wrote, down in a hole and them bones and we die young are all examples where I see people acting like Layne wrote the lyrics when they’re actually Jerry’s. Layne was a quality songwriter mainly lyrically but Jerry was always the primary songwriter for the band even tho among casuals Layne is the one who gets the most credit from people. I don’t think Layne wrote some of their best songs because he only wrote 3 songs total for the band as the primary songwriter and that was angry chair/hate to feel/head creeps, while I love angry chair and hate to feel I don’t think any of those 3 are some of their absolute best songs. Layne wrote lyrics for some of their best songs that’s true but Jerry is the only one in the band who wrote a bunch of songs as the sole writer and many of those songs are the best and most iconic songs. Jerry was always the superior songwriter, Layne was obviously one of the best voices ever and himself a quality songwriter but I think if anything Layne gets more credit for songwriter than he deserves in AIC not the other way around. His work in mad season was great tho and definitely helped show how he’d grown over the years as a songwriter.
The good thing is he was 1000% invested in the feelings of that song. And we got one of the most amazing performances from AIC. The bad thing is the price he paid for that. He was literally down in a hole. His demons and addictions took over and were killing him. Unfortunately we lost Layne WAY too early. Nutshell is the "final chapter" for him, in my opinion. Even deeper and sadder.
One of my all time favorites. Do you know why Layne looked so relaxed when singing? The answer is heroine. Like most questions about his life. Gone too soon. He was a singular talent
@@ReneChewbaka that is not a baseless assumption at all. Layne battled a heroin addiction his entire career, to the point where they couldn't even tour. It eventually killed him. All pretty well known.
He's calm because he's high out of his mind on heroin here , Jerry never sings as much as he did this unplugged ...one if the best to ever do it and his voice was almost gone here too that what's insane still sounds so good .
For grunge, personally I think it goes from best to worst for the Big 5, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Soundgarden, then Pearl Jam. I also use the word "worst" loosely as they are all amazing bands
Yes I still like all 5 bands and Radiohead among a lot of bands from that era Smashing Pumpkins and NIN as well but I still think the best two were Alice In Chains and Radiohead music that people will be listening to many years from now.
I’d go, AIC, Soundgarden, STP, PJ then Nirvana. It’s really really hard for me to pick between Soundgarden and STP for the 2 spot. I love Scott Weiland so much and the DeLeo bros created IMO some of the best guitar riffs and ridiculous bass lines I’ve ever heard (for which they don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve for, btw…), BUT Chris just puts Soundgarden over the top by a cunt hair.
If you watch the whole Unplugged performance you can see Jerry trading concerned glances with Layne during the entire concert. Their relationship was strained but you can tell that band cared for each other, and unlike say Stone Temple Pilots after Scott Weiland died, they never trash-talked Layne after he died.
Thanks for doing Alice in Chains. They are one of my favourite bands to watch reactions to. Their music is so full of feeling. And the harmonies from Layne and Jerry are absolutely beautiful in this song. R.I.P. Layne. I’d recommend you guys do Bleed the Freak next. Great reaction guys🙋🏻♀️👍🏼🙌🏼👏🏼💜🇨🇦
I stumbled upon your video when I saw Alice in Chains Down in a Hole and brought back memories of my dark struggles many years ago and their song Nutshell is what brought me out (and I'm a HUGE fan of AIC) but one night I listened to the song again (I can never tire of their sound) and the lyrics hit me hard and I then understood that I wasn't the only one who has been through what I've been through. The song Nutshell saved me and I will be forever in debt to them. Rest easy Layne. You're no longer fighting those demons. Thank you for posting this. Peace!
1 of my favorite songs ever. I grew up to this. The phrase I would use is channeled their energy, you feel it deep down in your core all the way to your soul. Rest easy Layne
Man that's one of the years of life because I lived that way and I DO UNDERSTAND, but humbled to listen to Alice and chains, 50 now and still listening, great band i miss it
It is so sad if you ever saw what Layne looked like when he was healthy he looked like a shell of his former self singing at his own funeral but his voice is still amazing this song still makes me want to cry my favorite two bands from that era which I still think is one of musics best, Alice In Chains and Radiohead and both bands have multiple songs that still bring tears to my eyes.
Mel, the word you were looking for is "consumed". This song always brings me, consumes me, into the depths of Laynes despair at the gravity of his addiction. As a music lover, it has been so sad to see so many great talents lose their battles with addiction and depression. Tragic.
This band has so much to offer - my favorite is "Would", and I really love "Again". I don't think you can go wrong - this band pulled me through a very difficult death in my family and seemed to come to me just at the right time. R.I.P. Layne Staley.
Alice In Chains MTV Unplugged is the best ever! And Layne is the most talented musician ever! I also love Layne's side project Mad Season. Layne wrote so many masterpiece songs. Also, Layne looks absolutely beautiful in this unplugged show. He is very sad because of his battle with drug addiction and depression, and this profound sadness makes the whole show even more haunting, amazing, and unforgettable. All the songs in this unplugged are masterpieces.
Good stuff guys, one of the best shows ever but a very sad one. Layne the lead singer here was one of the best voices ever and Jerry the lead songwriter/guitarist/2nd vocalist is just one of the best musicians ever, he’s the one who wrote this song. They were a Very special duo. anyway nice reaction.
Wanna get hit even harder in the feels? Check out "Bleed the Freak" Live @ the Moore Theater! Incredible performance, basically set the entire Rock world on notice a new Vocal King was taking over!
One of my favorite bands is such a tragic story for layne the lead singer. He's so calm because he's high as a kite on heroin. Another gone way too soon
You're right technically but there's a back story. AIC is my favorite band. I was in my late teens/early 20s when Grunge (I hate labels but for simplicity Sake) took over. Breath of fresh air. Ever since recording Dirt their struggles began making major probs especially Layne. Jerry carried the band. On the Unplugged night, they hadn't seen ea other in many months n rehearsal was the shits. Layne was high, but shot just enuff 2 get thru the show. He didn't nod off much. But it's a testament to the beginning of the end. The REAL end. Like when Cobain exhales and belts out that last line. It was like he was giving it everything cuz he knew the end was near. Thanks!
This song is a love song from guitarist Jerry Cantrell to the love of his life Courtney Clarke. Early pressings listed this as the 12th track in the album. Later pressings listed this as the 4th track supposedly to fit better with the band’s desire to have the album loosely tell a story from song to song. Songwriter and guitarist Jerry Cantrell said of the song in the Music Bank box set liner notes, “Down in a Hole’s in my top three, personally. It’s to my long-time love. It’s the reality of my life, the path I’ve chosen and in a weird way it kind of foretold where we are right now. It’s hard for us to both understand…that this life is not conducive to much success with long-term relationships." Once Layne got his voice where he wanted it, it stayed there with little effort. He was always better live than studio version. Layne'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. Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12 year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. He wrote the lyrics for the songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. With MTV Unplugged, when Layne finally gave the Okay to do it. They were supposed to rehearse in Seattle but NO one showed up. Sean, Mike and Jerry would show up at different times but Layne would be MIA or Layne would show up for one or two songs and then leave. When they finally got to New York, Sean and Mike had an argument with Jerry because they thought with Layne's condition and addiction, he wouldn't be able to hit the high notes. Jerry was the ONLY ONE who was confident that Layne could do it. When you watch DOWN IN A HOLE Unplugged, and Layne hits that high note, you see Jerry look over at Sean and Mike with this "I TOLD YOU SO!" smirk. Layne did it again on ROOSTER Unplugged and Jerry did that same smirk. The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because Layne was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was doing other drugs on top of Heroin). His liver was damaged and he knew it. He was just high enough to do the show to fight off withdrawal symptoms and he didn't get dope sick. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to the path Layne had chosen for his life. That show was filmed in April, 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a six-year-long slow suicide. 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. The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team. Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period. Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway." "Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley "My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley "When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley "My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018) “Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).
He was basically singing his own eulogy here. He wouldn't pass for a few years after this but you can see how sick he was, teeth missing etc. His voice was incredible, but he was a shell of himself the last several years of his life, and it started awhile before this unplugged session.
Fun fact, you might have noticed that the bass player has something written on his guitar. The Metallica guys were sitting in the front row and they had all just cut off there hair. Mike Inez wrote “Friends don’t let friends get haircuts.” on his bass.
I fear the worst for Layne. His music helped me tremendously through such a dark period of my life. Just knowing what I was going through, I wasn’t alone. I eventually found and was rescued by our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that that last days and hours when Layne was isolated, that he was able to cut through the darkness surrounding him and accepted the heavenly burning fire that is available to all of us.
Nirvana always got all the attention, but Alice in Chains had all the talent. Kurt Cobain couldn't hold Layne Staley's Jock with 2 hands ! Layne is 1 of the greatest vocalists I've ever heard and AIC's songs hold up after all these years like a fine wine. Just gets better the more time that passes.
Well I have seen you guy's let 2 singers (take you there) Chris Stapleton, now Layne Staley next should be Chris Cornell. He was in a Seattle band called Soundgarden, then he collaborated with a rock band called Rage Against the Machine who had just recently let their lead singer go. They formed a super group called Audioslave. (Like a Stone) is the song you should listen too, and put your seatbelts on he will take you there!!!!!
My favorite line in this song is "I'd like to fly but my wings have been so denied." Hits right in the heart.
F heroin. What a tragedy losing Layne.
Jerry is one of the best lyricists ever.
Once you bite that forbidden fruit, youi are never free. I dont use anymore, but it like I can no longer see color in the world, everything is grey now.
@@puppetmaster8551 yes he is 🙏🏻
@@ndelliott138 That makes my heart hurt.
@@ndelliott138 glad you got away from it, hope one day you can be free of its shadow.
RIP Layne, the greatest to ever do it
Heroin?
@@jakeplourde that’s fucked up broski; greatest to ever sing blues infused grunge/rock
@@jakeplourde know im late but dont listen to this guy. Love the dark humor. People need to learn to laugh.
Eh
@@tucker68 There's nothing funny about it not even from that point of view. It's devastating for the users and the families who have to bury their sons or daughters. The shit has such a tight hold some have to die to beat it. What's humorous about that? The shit is far too relevant to be even remotely funny.
Alice In Chains is my favorite band of all time. And their "Unplugged" concert was one of the best shows of all time......of all artists. This particular song, Layne took off his shades and it makes me tear up every time I see it. He was so tortured. I don't know a better artist to portray such emotions. RIP Layne........
First I ever heard was jar of flies. Such a great sound 👌
Layne really was the best at pure emotional expression. He was a very talented singer to begin with but the way he can express himself so vividly makes him an all time great.
I've always related so much with this song. Still climb outta that hole myself. At least I'm not laying on the bottom anymore. Great reaction guys. Hope everyone has an amazing day.
Hang in there internet buddy! You've got this!!
I love watching people experience the tremendous emotion this particular version of this song provides. Great reaction!
RIP Layne Staley (lead singer)
What’s sad is, he fought depression and addiction….sang about it in hidden lyrics and overdosed on heroin 😢
He definitely sang about it in lyrics but not in these lyrics, people always attribute these lyrics to Layne but they’re Jerry’s lyrics, Jerry wrote the whole song. He also dealt with addiction and mental health issues.
@@puppetmaster8551 yep, Cantrell wrote most of their stuff
Eh it was about sixty fourty Jerry but Layne wrote much more then people give him credit for and wrote some of the best songs IMO
Also mad season
@@texthit that’s just lyrics wise tho, also Jerry wrote the large majority of the hits as the sole writer lyrics and music. Lyrically people who aren’t super familiar with the writing of the band constantly act like Layne wrote lyrics to that Jerry wrote, down in a hole and them bones and we die young are all examples where I see people acting like Layne wrote the lyrics when they’re actually Jerry’s. Layne was a quality songwriter mainly lyrically but Jerry was always the primary songwriter for the band even tho among casuals Layne is the one who gets the most credit from people. I don’t think Layne wrote some of their best songs because he only wrote 3 songs total for the band as the primary songwriter and that was angry chair/hate to feel/head creeps, while I love angry chair and hate to feel I don’t think any of those 3 are some of their absolute best songs. Layne wrote lyrics for some of their best songs that’s true but Jerry is the only one in the band who wrote a bunch of songs as the sole writer and many of those songs are the best and most iconic songs. Jerry was always the superior songwriter, Layne was obviously one of the best voices ever and himself a quality songwriter but I think if anything Layne gets more credit for songwriter than he deserves in AIC not the other way around. His work in mad season was great tho and definitely helped show how he’d grown over the years as a songwriter.
Love ya Layne. Thanks for the music you left behind.
The good thing is he was 1000% invested in the feelings of that song. And we got one of the most amazing performances from AIC. The bad thing is the price he paid for that. He was literally down in a hole. His demons and addictions took over and were killing him. Unfortunately we lost Layne WAY too early. Nutshell is the "final chapter" for him, in my opinion. Even deeper and sadder.
The unplugged songs are always better! Do nutshell unplugged next by Alice In Chains 👍🏼
Not a first time listen they aren't. They are only better if you're ALREADY a fan.
One of my all time favorites. Do you know why Layne looked so relaxed when singing? The answer is heroine. Like most questions about his life. Gone too soon. He was a singular talent
You don't know that. You're making assumptions.
@@ReneChewbaka that is not a baseless assumption at all. Layne battled a heroin addiction his entire career, to the point where they couldn't even tour. It eventually killed him. All pretty well known.
It’s been documented Layne needed heroin to make this concert, unfortunately. To me, he looks high and fragile but so beautiful. A legendary enigma.
I've heard this song hundreds of times and I still get goosebumps! So beautiful!!
"One person can save millions, but sometimes millions cant save one."
RIP Layne
He's calm because he's high out of his mind on heroin here , Jerry never sings as much as he did this unplugged ...one if the best to ever do it and his voice was almost gone here too that what's insane still sounds so good .
For grunge, personally I think it goes from best to worst for the Big 5, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Soundgarden, then Pearl Jam. I also use the word "worst" loosely as they are all amazing bands
Yes I still like all 5 bands and Radiohead among a lot of bands from that era Smashing Pumpkins and NIN as well but I still think the best two were Alice In Chains and Radiohead music that people will be listening to many years from now.
I’d go, AIC, Soundgarden, STP, PJ then Nirvana. It’s really really hard for me to pick between Soundgarden and STP for the 2 spot. I love Scott Weiland so much and the DeLeo bros created IMO some of the best guitar riffs and ridiculous bass lines I’ve ever heard (for which they don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve for, btw…), BUT Chris just puts Soundgarden over the top by a cunt hair.
L7 are up there too.
I’ve heard this a Million times and I still get the goosebumps when Layne sings #rip
Dead man singing.. such a sad story I was heading down into that hole myself
Great performance while in such sad condition ✌❤🤘
Little did we know that his music was like a sad harbinger.
You guys should really do this whole Unplugged show. Absolute gold!!! R.I.P. to the greatest frontman to EVER live!!!
If you watch the whole Unplugged performance you can see Jerry trading concerned glances with Layne during the entire concert. Their relationship was strained but you can tell that band cared for each other, and unlike say Stone Temple Pilots after Scott Weiland died, they never trash-talked Layne after he died.
Thanks for doing Alice in Chains. They are one of my favourite bands to watch reactions to. Their music is so full of feeling. And the harmonies from Layne and Jerry are absolutely beautiful in this song. R.I.P. Layne. I’d recommend you guys do Bleed the Freak next. Great reaction guys🙋🏻♀️👍🏼🙌🏼👏🏼💜🇨🇦
RIP angel. You've got your wings.....
The offical video is awesome also !!
I stumbled upon your video when I saw Alice in Chains Down in a Hole and brought back memories of my dark struggles many years ago and their song Nutshell is what brought me out (and I'm a HUGE fan of AIC) but one night I listened to the song again (I can never tire of their sound) and the lyrics hit me hard and I then understood that I wasn't the only one who has been through what I've been through. The song Nutshell saved me and I will be forever in debt to them. Rest easy Layne. You're no longer fighting those demons. Thank you for posting this. Peace!
Nutshell is my favorite song of theirs but love Down in a Hole. RIP Layne Staley.
Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Rip Layne
It was just Even thru his horrific addiction, He never lost his blessing of his voice
1 of my favorite songs ever. I grew up to this. The phrase I would use is channeled their energy, you feel it deep down in your core all the way to your soul. Rest easy Layne
He words so powerful he was telling yall something
Listen to the whole thing, basically giving everyone a real deep insight on drug usage. God Rest Your Soul Layne
So high he could barely stand and pull this off shows how great he was
Probably your best song and band reaction yet!
"See my heart,
I decorate it like a grave."
Peace be with you, Layne.
Man that's one of the years of life because I lived that way and I DO UNDERSTAND, but humbled to listen to Alice and chains, 50 now and still listening, great band i miss it
It is so sad if you ever saw what Layne looked like when he was healthy he looked like a shell of his former self singing at his own funeral but his voice is still amazing this song still makes me want to cry my favorite two bands from that era which I still think is one of musics best, Alice In Chains and Radiohead and both bands have multiple songs that still bring tears to my eyes.
One album...Dirt or OK Computer (or The Bends)?
Big fan too...and if neither which?
They always said this album was a man singing at his own funeral! RIP Layne
Great energy between you guys
You need to watch the whole concert amazing
that entire performance is his legacy..R.I.P.. absolutely singing from a different place than anyone realized.
I love the bass in this song
I have been a fan of AIC since the beginning I turned 58 this year I just became a fan of you guys
Love hate love live at the Moore theatre
It was 100% real and then he died 🥺 He was singing his truth 😞
Alice in chains one of the best to come out of the 90s grunge. Rip Layne. You could see how bad the H had him.
Yes! 💜
When it come Layne's vocals, the word I would use is "transfixed".
Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved, see my heart, I decorate it like a grave.
This song is a masterpiece. 😍 Please react to AiC- Bleed the freak live at the Moore :)
Totally agree, love that song!
The late, great Layne Staley..
He can NEVER be replaced..
So very, very missed...
Love you Layne...R.I.P
Mel, the word you were looking for is "consumed". This song always brings me, consumes me, into the depths of Laynes despair at the gravity of his addiction. As a music lover, it has been so sad to see so many great talents lose their battles with addiction and depression. Tragic.
This band has so much to offer - my favorite is "Would", and I really love "Again". I don't think you can go wrong - this band pulled me through a very difficult death in my family and seemed to come to me just at the right time. R.I.P. Layne Staley.
Alice In Chains MTV Unplugged is the best ever! And Layne is the most talented musician ever! I also love Layne's side project Mad Season. Layne wrote so many masterpiece songs. Also, Layne looks absolutely beautiful in this unplugged show. He is very sad because of his battle with drug addiction and depression, and this profound sadness makes the whole show even more haunting, amazing, and unforgettable. All the songs in this unplugged are masterpieces.
If you ever want a good cry, I suggest listening to their performance of "Nutshell" from their MTV Unplugged show.
He was dying at this time from heroin addiction, that's Layne Staley though. Untouchable.
On heroin, wife died of overdose, he died a couple years later. We love him
MTV unplugged was AMAZING! I miss it!
Good stuff guys, one of the best shows ever but a very sad one. Layne the lead singer here was one of the best voices ever and Jerry the lead songwriter/guitarist/2nd vocalist is just one of the best musicians ever, he’s the one who wrote this song. They were a Very special duo. anyway nice reaction.
Hits homeee
One of the best bands ever!!!!
You guys should check out Chris Cornell, the band Soundgarden. Sadly Chris decided to check out like Layne did.
Wanna get hit even harder in the feels? Check out "Bleed the Freak" Live @ the Moore Theater! Incredible performance, basically set the entire Rock world on notice a new Vocal King was taking over!
Through his ups and downs through addiction, even during this performance, Layne Staley never lost his voice. He still sang like a god.
You just feel it.....
He's calm becasue he's high on heroin. This is a song about addiction sung by a man who'd soon lose his life to the addiction.
This song is actually written by Jeremy about a breakup. Can be taken any way you feel tho, music is art.
Dude never ever. I replied more than once. You 'll can be the one's to unite us Americans back. Straight
He was very sick-it's obvious,tho great performance
I ran into them at the Hampton inn in hampton Virginia they were opening for van halen
Lane was so bombed on heroin during this performance. It's eerily beautiful. RIP to a Legend! #FuckHerion
One of my favorite bands is such a tragic story for layne the lead singer. He's so calm because he's high as a kite on heroin. Another gone way too soon
You're right technically but there's a back story. AIC is my favorite band. I was in my late teens/early 20s when Grunge (I hate labels but for simplicity Sake) took over. Breath of fresh air. Ever since recording Dirt their struggles began making major probs especially Layne. Jerry carried the band. On the Unplugged night, they hadn't seen ea other in many months n rehearsal was the shits. Layne was high, but shot just enuff 2 get thru the show. He didn't nod off much. But it's a testament to the beginning of the end. The REAL end. Like when Cobain exhales and belts out that last line. It was like he was giving it everything cuz he knew the end was near. Thanks!
This song is a love song from guitarist Jerry Cantrell to the love of his life Courtney Clarke. Early pressings listed this as the 12th track in the album. Later pressings listed this as the 4th track supposedly to fit better with the band’s desire to have the album loosely tell a story from song to song.
Songwriter and guitarist Jerry Cantrell said of the song in the Music Bank box set liner notes, “Down in a Hole’s in my top three, personally. It’s to my long-time love. It’s the reality of my life, the path I’ve chosen and in a weird way it kind of foretold where we are right now. It’s hard for us to both understand…that this life is not conducive to much success with long-term relationships."
Once Layne got his voice where he wanted it, it stayed there with little effort. He was always better live than studio version. Layne'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.
Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12 year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002.
Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. He wrote the lyrics for the songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons.
With MTV Unplugged, when Layne finally gave the Okay to do it. They were supposed to rehearse in Seattle but NO one showed up. Sean, Mike and Jerry would show up at different times but Layne would be MIA or Layne would show up for one or two songs and then leave. When they finally got to New York, Sean and Mike had an argument with Jerry because they thought with Layne's condition and addiction, he wouldn't be able to hit the high notes. Jerry was the ONLY ONE who was confident that Layne could do it. When you watch DOWN IN A HOLE Unplugged, and Layne hits that high note, you see Jerry look over at Sean and Mike with this "I TOLD YOU SO!" smirk. Layne did it again on ROOSTER Unplugged and Jerry did that same smirk.
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because Layne was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was doing other drugs on top of Heroin). His liver was damaged and he knew it. He was just high enough to do the show to fight off withdrawal symptoms and he didn't get dope sick. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to the path Layne had chosen for his life. That show was filmed in April, 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a six-year-long slow suicide.
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.
The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team.
Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period.
Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway."
"Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley
"My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley
"When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley
"My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018)
“Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).
He was basically singing his own eulogy here. He wouldn't pass for a few years after this but you can see how sick he was, teeth missing etc. His voice was incredible, but he was a shell of himself the last several years of his life, and it started awhile before this unplugged session.
Fun fact, you might have noticed that the bass player has something written on his guitar. The Metallica guys were sitting in the front row and they had all just cut off there hair. Mike Inez wrote “Friends don’t let friends get haircuts.” on his bass.
R.I.P Layne. Every time I hear this song I tear up. So much love for Alice in Chains
That whole album is amazing
Always sang his own truth..
I fear the worst for Layne. His music helped me tremendously through such a dark period of my life. Just knowing what I was going through, I wasn’t alone. I eventually found and was rescued by our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that that last days and hours when Layne was isolated, that he was able to cut through the darkness surrounding him and accepted the heavenly burning fire that is available to all of us.
Rip Layne. This song got me through alot.
One of the best rock bands all time. Cut short from heroine. Layne is a boss
That's deep
He was under the influence when this was filmed. He performed so good.
I miss 90's grunge RIP Layne
Hey S & M Squad!!
RIP layne. Gone shortly after this. Was already fading in this performance. So sad
Ride on his wave
He sang about his struggles
Nutshell.
How I wish he could have been saved.
hair oh win
Nirvana always got all the attention, but Alice in Chains had all the talent.
Kurt Cobain couldn't hold Layne Staley's Jock with 2 hands !
Layne is 1 of the greatest vocalists I've ever heard and AIC's songs hold up after all these years like a fine wine.
Just gets better the more time that passes.
Well I have seen you guy's let 2 singers (take you there) Chris Stapleton, now Layne Staley next should be Chris Cornell. He was in a Seattle band called Soundgarden, then he collaborated with a rock band called Rage Against the Machine who had just recently let their lead singer go. They formed a super group called Audioslave. (Like a Stone) is the song you should listen too, and put your seatbelts on he will take you there!!!!!
His last performance
POWERHOUSE VOCALS‼️‼️
...but my wings have been so denied.
"Ready to Die" T-shirt...Layne is on a downward slope in real-time... "Down in a Hole". Lot's going on here.
Layne was calm because he was sick it wasn't long after this he passed this wasn't near his prime
Alice in Chains is nothing to sleep on y'all. Please do more
He's so calm because he was on heroin and died Nit too long after this was his last televised performance
Such a tragic end for Layne.
Empathy