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Ah yes, Alice In Chains! 2 other songs also touch on the situation. Angry Chair and Them Bones Alice In Chains - Angry Chair (Official HD Video) / AliceInChainsVEVO ruclips.net/video/IpEXM1Yziws/видео.html Alice In Chains - Them Bones (Official HD Video) / AliceInChainsVEVO ruclips.net/video/zTuD8k3JvxQ/видео.html
If you want to understand why people recommended this to you, please react to "What The Final Year Of Layne Staley's Life Was Really Like". It's a short 10 minut documentary about the lead singer.
I'm a hardcore Layneaholic. Everything he did is pure masterpiece material. I think you should check out Wake Up and River of Deceit by his other band Mad Season. They help when depression allows those dark thoughts to inch closer.
Indeed and people still do. Just leave the guy alone, he suffered enough. Remember him for all the great music he left, music that speaks to a lot of us, old and new fans, that's his strength. He wrote lyrics and sang them in a way that touched many, many people. Thank you Layne for the music.
Yes. Isn't it strange how much the world and media pays attention to negativity and the terrible things humans do to each other, instead of the beauty inside of us? We are all the same animal. It tears me up that too many of us can't see the gifts that we all possess. Love each other.
They definitely did but he actually didn't have any teeth left for this performance which is even more amazing he sounds so good and they hadn't played together for over a year at this point
@@ba7672 He was dead man. People always look back like the bands in the 60s were living hard and the who was singing about dying before they were old. These dudes were actually living hard and dying before they got old. I think the only front man left is Eddie Vedder.
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he 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 deal with the withdrawal symptoms and so 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 6-year-long slow suicide. On Unplugged, Scott Olson was the second guitarist. He was there to boost the guitar sound on the stage. Layne was better Live than the studio version. LOVE HATE LOVE live at the Moore in December 1990 is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. Other rock bands should strive to have a live performance that perfect. 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 were 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. (He started losing his teeth in 1995 due to grinding) 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. I'm in the camp of No Layne/No Chains, because no matter which singer you put up there to sing those songs, it'll only be a cover. Layne had a unique voice you cannot replicate or replace. A lot of those songs were great because Layne pretty much wrung his entire soul out singing them, others were personal to Layne and to have someone else sing those, the songs lose their meaning because the new guy didn't go through the ordeals those songs are inspired by. William DuVall singing THEM BONES on the 2006 reunion tsunami gig.... William DOES NOT have the power in his voice that Layne had especially for that song. Maynard James Keenan could get remotely close to Layne's vocal range for that song (and many others). And Maynard would have the reverence for Layne's memory, he was friends with Layne, he KNEW Layne, had a history with Layne, and saw what Layne went through from Lollapalooza 93 until Layne became a recluse. Besides, Maynard already had 3 bands going on, why not join a fourth band? He had tried rehab 13 times, but he could never completely give it up. He tried quitting cold turkey on two of the last attempts at rehab, but neither one worked either. Mad Season is made up of Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, and John Baker Saunders and they all went through rehab. They all got together and dragged Layne out of his condo, got him excited about doing ABOVE album, thinking if he was creative he wouldn't want the drugs, and for the length of time it took to do that, Layne was excited about the project, but it didn't curb his drug habit. Layne wrote the lyrics to the songs he sang on the ABOVE album (minus the John Lennon cover song I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier) and he drew the cover art for the album. NUTSHELL was about how magazines like FOR EXAMPLE Rolling Stone only reported on Layne's addiction as if that were the only thing that defined the band as well as Layne's depression. Rolling Stone magazine has some unknown thing to do with the Hall of Fame, and after what Rolling Stone did to Layne and the band in the 1996 The Needle and the Damage Done article ("Oh no, it will be about the music" "Oh yeah, the band's picture will be on the cover" turns out it was only Layne on the cover and the article focused on Layne's addiction -- which Layne DID NOT want to happen -- and everything going wrong internally with the band.) that pissed off AIC management and the entire band to the point they threatened to kick the writer, Jon Weiderhorn's ass over it. I don't see Rolling Stone chomping at the bit to vote AIC into the Hall of Fame. Although if they do finally get in with William as the singer and NOT Layne. I'm going to be pissed. As far back as late 1992, Rolling Stone has personally had a bone to pick with Layne Staley, even though I can name a dozen bands who wrote about drugs in their lyrics that Rolling Stone never cared to target before or after Layne came along. Layne’s mentioned Rolling Stone hounding him in passing to Riki Rachtman during the New Orleans episode of Headbanger’s Ball in late 1992 when Layne and Mike Starr tour New Orleans and a Voodoo museum with Riki back then. There were other magazines and "reporters" BEFORE 1996 that hounded Layne over his drug addiction. Rolling Stone wasn't the only rag mag to do it. Spin Magazine and many other tabloid music mags only wanted to focus on Layne's addiction. It's why they stopped doing interviews for the longest time, and after the 1996 Rolling Stone interview, they closed ranks and as far as I know, while Layne was alive they never granted another interview. They DID do Rockline in 1998 (Layne called in while Jerry was promoting his Boggy Depot solo album) and 1999 (when the band was promoting Nothing Safe and the Music Bank box set). But for the most part, they closed ranks around each other. 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. Even though the music industry would like to have written him out of history, Layne DID exist. He was on this earth for 34 years. In that time he wrote songs that gave a normal person insight into the mind and journey of an addict. The pain and depression he endured to write the most brutally honest lyrics a musician could write concerning his feelings on his own addiction, his depression, and the tumultuous relationship with his former fiancee Demri. The emotional and physical strength he had to perform those songs live when all he wanted to do was curl away and lose himself in the drug haze I can’t imagine what it was like for him. He was hounded by the press about his addiction. He was ridiculed for his addiction. The music industry blackballed him for his addiction. The Grammys forgot about him when he died. As far as MTV and music rag mags like Rolling Stone were concerned he’s just another addicted singer. They don’t want to acknowledge his contributions to music. Layne Staley WASN'T just some rock star junkie. HE DESERVED BETTER than what he received from the people around him who he thought mattered. He wrote about drugs, his addiction, what he was feeling and what he was going through with maturity and knowledge well beyond his years. He didn’t deserve to be turned into tabloid cannon fodder by the press. I remember a show in London on February 26, 1993 where a reporter who was based in London wrote about a concert they did in another part of Europe and got Mike Inez confused with Mike Starr. Layne got on the microphone between them finishing HATE TO FEEL and beginning ANGRY CHAIR and said, "I want to say um, I want to say hello to the guy who wrote the review on the show a few weeks back. You’re in London - an enemy. I want to introduce our bass player, MIKE INEZ, not Mike Starr, you fucking idiot! Fuck that prick! Fuck the press! We’re not playing for the fucking press, all right?” "Layne was just an incomparable talent. He was like a fucking myna bird. Any accent or sound or voice, he could just immediately repeat it. He just had a gift. And I’d like to think that I have a bit of a gift myself. One of the funniest descriptions I’ve ever heard, and I don’t know that it’s true, but it just sounds fucking great, was we sound like “the satanic Everly Brothers.” Together we were kind of a two-headed monster. It added a lot of depth to the material the way we worked together." -- Jerry Cantrell (Noisey, June 7, 2018) My Top 20 AIC songs... Love Hate Love (Live at the Moore, December 1990...Layne Staley in his prime and is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. All other rock bands should strive to have a live performance this perfect), Man in the Box (Live at Weedsport, NY 1991 - the Layne’s Pissed Version...though the original version may be better to react to, because Weedsport was during Clash of the Titans tour where Slayer fans were giving the band crap and Layne got pissed and changed the lyrics), Bleed the Freak (Live at the Moore, December 1990), It Ain’t Like That (if you need a video use Singles Pro Shot video), Queen of the Rodeo (Live in Dallas, TX 1990), Real Thing (Live ANYWHERE), Them Bones, God Smack (Live at Hollywood Rock, 1993), Grind, Again, No Excuses, Brush Away, Frogs, Sludge Factory (During MTV Unplugged 1996, Layne screwed up the 2nd verse like 8 times, though the show only included one of those times), What the Hell Have I, God Am, Got Me Wrong, Swing On This, Social Parasite, We Die Young
Wow, great details 👏👏 I agree with you so much on Layne's raw talent, power and emotion. Untouchable. I think it's ridiculous that Nirvana is held on a pedestal and AIC gets left in the shadows in regards to the media, MTV, radio, magazines, etc.. But we know. Thanks for the effort you put in to share this story. 🍻 Amanda, to echo some of the other comments, I'd love to watch your reaction to the unplugged version of Down in a Hole 🙏💗🇺🇸🥃
@@soongold798 Could you imagine how long the footnote section on just my own thoughts and observations on the text would be if I DID write my own book on Layne? 🤣😂
I don't think enough people took the time to read this masterpiece of a comment. Thank you so much for providing so much information and glorifying Layne the way he needs to be seen. I'm going to see AIC on Saturday and you're right, it's not going to be the same as it was back then however I never had the chance being born in 94. However Laynes voice reached me, and Jerry's guitar rocked me, and I've been addicted ever since I discovered this band. I know every single lyric and I know how to play every song on my guitar. And the emotions I'm feeling of finally being able to see these guys for the first time are overwhelming. Thank you.
This song can catch me off gaurd at times and bring a tear to my soul. This is literally a broken soul mourning at his own funeral. It was a cry for help.
Layne was dope sick and the band wasn't even sure if he'd be able to perform, let alone be perfect. It was one of the last shows they played together before he passed. RIP, Layne. 💔😔
Nah, he wasn't sick. He was high just enough to not be sick and not nod. Reportedly, he pre-cooked and carried it in a small vial. It is also evident from the sunglasses.
Unfortunately Layne wasn’t perfect. There were songs they had to restart 7-8 times because Layne kept screwing up. You don’t see this on the show that aired, obviously, as they cut all that out and make it seem like a perfect set. It’s still an incredible feat to be able to get out there and perform at all in the state he’s in, let alone perform so amazingly well, despite all the screw ups. He performed amazingly on every song at least once, to be able to compile what I feel is the best unplugged set from the entire series.
A little background Amanda. Layne Staley, the bands singer and writer of some of AIC songs, struggled with depression and addiction for much of his adult life and later died from a speedball overdose on April 5, 2002, at the age of 34. AIC was a popular band of the 1990's and would be considered under the genre of alternative or grunge rock. This was an unplugged version of their song.
He also wasn't around the greatest of friends just to point that out which you hear in a lot of the lyrics was very a unstable guy hell of a musician tho rip Layne
that bass line honestly elevates the song in such a pensive way. the rest of the band is pretty static. the bass adds the color in the foundation behind Layne's voice
This song truly captures the feeling of feeling truly alone even in a crowd of people who should love you, and thinking that you are better off dead than being alone in a crowd.
Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, two of the main reasons I survived high school. I wrote about Layne's death and his impact on my life when we had to do the college prep essays. Named my daughter Lainey after him. This song, especially the unplugged version brings me to weeping tears every time.
Alice in chains is hands down the best band from the grunge era. Pleeeez pleeez pleeeeeez don't just listen to the live unplugged videos. It's heart wrenching and emotional, but it was towards the end when a lot of the strength in his amazing voice had deteriorated. We slowly watched a person we love die from album to album. He deserves to be remembered for how he sounded throughout the entirety of his too short life.
Layne's been gone for 20 years now and it still breaks my heart. I love people still finding AIC for the first time ever all these years later. For me, I remember sitting and watching them on MTV after school. I love Layne's voice, I'm very much a vocal person, and his music was a defining part of growing up for me. I remember in highschool watching their videos and praying he'd overcome his addiction. I still tear up remembering how bad I wanted him to be happy because we watched him lose himself to his addiction. As the years went by we all knew if he didn't heal he was gonna die and there wasn't a damn thing I could do. There's a frustration in knowing 14 year old me was powerless to help. AIC still plays today with an amazing vocalist and a deep appreciation for Layne. We all loved him, and my heart broke when he passed. But being able to see people live, learn and love his talent is a blessing. The truth is that legends never really die because their music and message lives on in the hearts of all who remember him. Thank you for doing this video. 💙
I'm glad you're finally listening to this. It's one of their best songs. Especially the unplugged album. You really get to hear the depth of layne's vocal range and the raw emotion and power he projects here. Down in a hole is another great song to listen to by Alice in chains. It's also on the unplugged album.
Between the studio version and this version, I've heard this song a million times. I still cry ... Every. Single. Time. There's a few lines in there that hit the nail right on the f'n head
Thanks Amanda for making this video and being vulnerable with us, it takes a strong person so actually soldier through this kind of pain, and I believe their music serves as a catalogue of bad times that we can relish in the pain but also learn how valuable the good times are.
I have always associated this song with my depression when that black cloud creeps in. I don't want it but it is still a part of me that cannot be denied. Still one of my AIC favourite songs and has helped me in difficult times!
AIC is the only grunge band that I can stomach. I saw them open for Ozzy in 91. Layne had a broken leg with full cast, he zoomed around the stage in a wheelchair singing his ass off!!
I am late by two days, but this band is absolutely incredible... Layne unfortunately struggled with so many demons... And lost a very long battle, but we will forever remember him as a great person. Their entire discography is so good, and I think that you would love it even if you listen to it on your own time. This video is basically a dying mans sorrow and pain being sung and you can truly hear it in his vocals.
This song describes not only drug addicted depression, but depression overall... That feeling of being alone with no one to reach out to for help is brutal no matter how poor or successful one is. This song really speaks to me
Layne lives on through his music..and though he may have lost his battle with his demons, but his music and story have helped me and countless others through our own struggles. RIP Layne & Mike Starr
Lyricist wise, "Down in a hole" (listen to the unplugged version to get the full effect) and "Rooster" will blow you away. Also, the sunglasses were due to him just shooting up from being dope sick.
Oh hell yes. The infamous Layne Staley "snarl" that's pretty much impossible to replicate vocally. His story is not one that has a happy ending, as many later on in the comments will echo or elaborate upon, and I tire of this burden of being the bearer of bad news, so I figured I'd fill you in on a lighter, more humorous tidbit on this concert. In an interview many years ago, guitarist Jerry Cantrell explained that Metallica were in the front row and this was around the time they just all got their hair cut short in the 90s, so Mike Inez wrote that message on his bass that says "friends don't let friends get 'Friends' haircuts," but it was meant as a playful jab; all in good fun. Great song, great band, RIP Layne Staley. P.S. - good observation on the shades not being a fashion statement. Layne was....well, he had a reason for wearing them at this concert, and many others.
Layne didn't want James Hetfield there and was uncomfortable about his attendance but the rest of AIC were good friends with Metallica. At a concert of theirs (Metallica),he mocked Layne. They were supposed to have AIC open for them but because Layne was deteriorating, they pulled out. During part of their tour, they started doing the opening to Man in the Box then Hetfield stops playing and in a mocking voice says "I can't do it" and some other taunts..completely pulling the piss out of Layne. People threw shit at Hetfield for it and he got pissed off. I never liked him for that. He's always had an arrogance to him but that was just cruel and uncalled for. I love that he got pelted with rubbish and booed for it by his own fans. Hetfield had Karma visit him though as ended up in rehab himself.
@@nelliesilvers1210 Yeah I remember now that you mention it, James Hetfield did have a tendency to look down upon addicts even sometimes during live shows that would come out, and it's kind of ironic of him to do that from a place of alcoholism. Being that he's been to rehab I hope he's learned from that and it does seem to have made him a better person than he was in his younger years. I myself am guilty of having a prejudice, until it hit a little too close to home in 2017 with certain relatives; I had to do some thinking.
@@TheScorpio1999 Rehab seems to have humbled him a bit but I find it hard to find sympathy for him after his cruel judgement. I tend to hold grudges when it comes to people looking down on others. I had no respect for "junkies" until I became a heroin addict. I've suffered depression from an early age and turned to drugs and alcohol really young. My first heroin hit, I knew I'd found something that worked to keep me numb. I didn't realise how quickly it got its hooks into me though until I was completely dependent on it. I realised the difference between a junkie and an addict a long time ago and I hate myself for allowing it to beat me in to submission. I hate what I've put my family through so I can definitely feel your frustration and loss..from both PsOV. It's a horrible feeling to be so out of control of your own way of thinking and feeling. Like a puppet and addiction pulls your strings.
@@zacharyrobinson9068 I've put some weight on as was so skinny you could see my ribs and my collar and shoulder bones were really prominent. I visited mum at work one day and she walked away crying. She couldn't even talk. My appearance broke her heart. Her co-worker came out to talk to me until mum calmed down. She kept expecting a phone call from the cops or my partner saying I was dead. It still hurts knowing she lost so much sleep and aged so much because of me. That guilt will always be with me and I still have a heroin and methadone addiction but I'm healthier than I was and don't use as much...still almost daily but if I go without, I'm not as sick as I used to get. I know that it's a mental craving now so can kick it when I talk myself into doing so. It's just been a part of my life for so long so it's more routine than anything. The "romance" of it left a long time ago. In short (sort of...sorry about the long reply), I think I've gotten better than where I once was.
We can all feel isolated and alone and it can be a hopeless feeling. In this day of social media there is often the feeling that there is nowhere to hide or be ourselves. Ignore what others say as you owe nobody anything….. Be yourself and be proud of yourself you need not change for anyone!
Layne was such a talent. Its sad when addiction takes someone let alone a talent like that. Truly sad. That man sang at his own funeral for years before his actual death unfortunately. Such an amazing voice.
Alice in Chains are often times much heavier than this. They have 2 acoustic EPs (Sap and Jar of Flies), and they have this Unplugged performance. This is my favorite Unplugged of all the ones that MTV put on. A lot of their music deals with depression and addiction. Unfortunately, Layne lost his battle to addiction in 2002. This performance was in 1996, I believe they only had 4-5 more performances after this later that year. But his addiction had unfortunately taken its toll and they didn't tour or perform after that. There was an interview at one point where Layne said people would come up to him and say that they think Heroin was awesome, and he was trying to tell them the opposite in the music. Another song that has a really great meaning from their catalog that you should listen to is Would?. It's a song that their guitarist wrote after his friend Andrew Wood (singer from a band called Mother Love Bone) died of a heroin overdose. It's a great song about not passing judgement on others, because you don't know their circumstances. I feel like you could get into it and appreciate it. Have a great day Amanda.
You are sadly correct. The last tine Layne ever performed live was July 3rd, 1996 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. AIC was opening for Kiss. I was at that show. Layne looked terrible, he could barely move on stage but still sounded great. Layne almost died in Kansas City that night of an overdose. At that point it was apparent that Layne just couldn't do it any more.
Would like to thank the person I talked to last week - you know who you are. It helped me alot to get out of a hole I had dug for myself. I am still just getting back to normal, but I'll write you when I can. But i cannot thank you enough for listening
I will say, this song really shows the pain and struggle that he was dealing with. His addiction got so bad that he would of rather been dead then have people trying to change who he was. I know that when i was growing up in the 90s this music was played all the time, i know in the early 2000s i started listening to linkin park. Chester bennington of that band was dealing with alot of emotional things, and had these demons eating at him, and his music was how he could express those feelings. Linkin park saved my life while i was in highschool dealing with bullying and lots of just emotional struggles. I have thanked that band many times for stopping me from attempting suicide. I felt a connection to those songs, and they just really helped me deal with my struggles. I wouldnt't be here today if it wasn't for music like linkin park, or alice and chains, and other great rock/grunge/post-hardcore music. I am a musician and music has been a great avenue for my anxiety and stressful times. I hope others can find a great outlet for any stress or anxiety or depression they may have.
This song still reaches the dark place in the back of my heart that screams for love. I survived a childhood of abuse and neglect only to seek the same in a husband and in a carless life of drugs and men who didn't even love themselves. I divorced and was left with the two best things I ever did. My 4 year old daughter and 5 year old son. I got sober when I found I was pregnant with my oldest. I relapsed with alcohol four years later. In return for her unconditional love, my daughter found me hanging in my closet when she was 8 years old. She saved my life, but I harmed her in a way I cannot repair. When people say that unloving yourself is selfish; that you should think about your kids... we DO think about our kids. We think our kids will be better off if we died. My kids are now 15 and 17, I have maintained my sobriety, and I still struggle with my demons. Thank you for this video.
Something to note is this is one of if not THE last major performance with Layne being able to preform. This was after a year or two the band not being able to tour due to Layne's mental health coupled with his addiction. He was already on the downward slide during this performance. This being their first in awhile as I said, you can see Jerry (Guitar) slyly smile to his fellow bandmates in surprise that Layne was able to nail his vocal parts. This is most noticeably seen during 'Down in a Hole'. My main point with this comment is to inform you that many hold this performance in such high regard because Layne was in the midst of his disappearance in the mire of poor mental health during this set and feel that his pain really makes this a special musical outing. Plus it's his swan song essentially making it that much more poignant. I know for me personally I love AiC's discography, I find Layne and Jerry to be one of the greatest duo's in music ever, and they hold a special place in my heart. Rest easy Layne and Mike.
Alice In Chains has brought me through so many dark places. Layne just has this voice that not only expresses how I’m feeling at that moment, but also heals in a way. Music is life, and music is medicine. I’m glad your here, I can relate a lot to your to your life story along with Layne’s. Very similar. But thank you for videos. You have a new subscriber 😉
Welcome to the incredible music of Alice In Chains. This original incarnation of the band is still my favorite group. I had discovered them in high school via a music video and was not prepared for how much it blew me away. I soon had a CD copy of that album and was so completely into it. Their earlier material tended to be very dark and heavy- lots of minor keys and downtuning, plus themes of addiction and angst in their lyrics. All of that greatly helped me better understand myself as a music fan. But, they also always had this other side to them- stripped down, acoustic, maybe a dark type of folk music. They could rock as heavy as thunder but also do quiet unplugged jams. I’ve always very much appreciated they had those two contrasting sides to their work. The lead vocalist, named Layne Staley, remains one of my top idols. His voice was incredibly unique, and he always had such a rock star type of style to boot. Some thirty years later I am still in admiration of his stylistic choices and points. But I’ll for sure never lose my long-time love for their powerful music.
The saddest thing about Layne Staley's overdose is the fact that it took two weeks for anyone to find his body. He had alienated and isolated himself to such an extent with his addiction that no one even cared enough to check in on him for two weeks...
Yeah I find that as tragic as anything. He was there all alone. Awful. I have people come to my house every few days to check on me as I live alone & my health ain't great.
@Amanda Thank you for this wonderful reaction. This band was part of the early 90’s Seattle “Grunge” movement of rock. A group of bands which took the world by storm, with their dark, emotionally honest lyrics about pain and depression. I would like to suggest a song named “You know you’re right” by another Seattle area band, Nirvana. This was the very last song lead singer Kurt Cobain would record, before his presumed suicide several months later.
During this performance, he was in the process of giving up on his battle with addiction. From what I remember hearing, this performance almost didn't happen due to his using. There's an interview somewhere where he basically says heroin was going to kill him. The unplugged performance is where you can truly hear his suffering. RIP Layne.
Very stoked that you're finally giving this one a shot! I was born and raised across the water from Seattle in a city named Bremerton. That city is my home and I love it for that. I no longer live there though.. reason being, it's a VERY depressing place. Holy crap, that place nearly sank me down a number of times. This band's from Seattle, that's why I mention any of that. Also, it may help illustrate the vocals a bit more. Not saying that Seattle's depressing! No, it's far from that.. but it does have countless cloudy days like Bremerton does, just the same. The sunglasses may not have been a fashion statement but living in Seattle area one does not need those types of shades for about 95% of the year. He likely had no reason to wear them aside from hiding his eyes for the reason you said or for something similar. They totally could've been a fashion statement though. The grunge era was an interesting time, one that I miss fondly. This is one of the top songs from Alice In Chains. I'm glad that you enjoyed the song! Should also check the song Rooster out. It's good stuff as well! :) Totally enjoyed the video, beginning to end! You rock, thank you for finally checking Alice In Chains out! :)
Happy to report, my mental health is pretty positive right now! I've been enjoying myself and just relaxing. Not doing anything special or outgoing, but I'm doing well and happily so. Lately I've just been watching movie/tv show reactions and playing my all time favorite game from my childhood - Diablo 2. It's so much fun for m! :D lol, really, as long as my mind is kept active or at thee very least distracted I'm normally a very happy camper. It's when I lose interest in things or am unable to do what I enjoy that I fall into my negative spaces and sometimes spiral out into them. It's been a long while since that's happened though. :)
I have battled alcohol for most of my adult life. I sent this song to my dad right before I checked my self into a hospital. I was diagnosed bipolar. He tells me that he can’t listen to this song again because it does explain my life. “No one to talk to” I tried to tell my friends I was an alcoholic at 23.. they told me I was just stressed. “ no place to call home” the one place I always considered home was broken up at 22. I have deeply thought about that for 18 years and anywhere I have lived I have never considered home. It might be an apartment or currently at a shelter for the last 18 month but tomorrow I am moving into a very shitty apartment and I look at it as home. I have been to them bottom now all I can see is up. It’s not about AA it’s about finally dealing with the mental illness and looking at things possible for the future not expecting bad things about it l. Stay strong. Home is where you make it and there is always someone that cares about you
You should really go down the AiC rabbithole. Layne Staley (singer) battled with heroin for years and years, ultimately succumbing to it. Almost every song of theirs is super personal and related to addiction.
What I have found thru considerable self reflection is that anxiety & depression is a form of expression by your body to get your attention that you are not living in your real truth. It was thru moments that things get real (illness, disease by you or family/friend) that is an opportunity to look at your absolute core and declare who you are. Its important to say those words out loud of what is your core such as: I am integrity, I am fairness, I am love or they can even be: I am selfish, I am entitled. Nothing that you declare that is your authentic self is wrong. Once you are able to verbalize what is at your core you will never need to go outside of your internal self again. I wish Layne Staley had come to that realization because his voice was such a gift to the world. Sorry for the rant but this felt like good timing considering the song and Amanda channel.
Pantera - Cemetery gates is truly a song i'll suggest. I used to listen to it without understanding the lyrics when i was younger, but after i lost someone close, the next time i listened to it, it hit me right in the feels.
this song is so well musically amazing. From the lyrics to the instruments you got a very sad and deep conversation with them. You get to feel every sounds and then you get the solo which represents the appeasement moment. In the streaming and cd the solo is longer and has a really deep and striking moments. And the gem of it is that in live performance the bassist (correct me if I’m wrong) get like 5min of solo which is incredible and one of the most amazing performance I’ve seen. Layne Staley was and still an amazing artist a gem that we lost but we’ll always love him and keep honoring him. ✨🧝🏼♀️💕
This might be the darkest song I’ve ever heard. Reading the lyrics, it almost seems like this was Layne’s musical suicide note. It’s like he was resigned to the fact that his addiction was on the verge of killing him. Is so sad. He was such a talent.
Not a suicide survivor, but having heard this song for the first time in 2024, it almost seems like Layne was looking into the future and describing the state of the world as it is today. The lyrics and the feel of the song just so perfectly capture the feeling of malaise combined with... well... everything he said. We chase misprinted lies - You can't trust anything that anybody in the media says anymore. We face the path of time - The general feeling of tension and anxiety around the world combined with the hysteria in the media make it seem like the world is ending every day. And yet I fight, and yet I fight this battle alone - I feel this every day. Struggling to pay bills, deal with other people, deal with the losses I've had in my family over the past few years... and I'm sure everybody has these struggles too. No one to cry to - Nobody cares anymore about anybody. Things have gotten harder for everybody, and so everybody is out for themselves. No place to call home - The world we were born into no longer exists. Trying to find the same comforts and joys that we had when we were younger will only end up feeding feelings of nostalgia and homesickness. My gift of self is raped - If you deviate from the prescribed norm handed down from on high, you're dogpiled and cancelled. I lost a lot of friends over the past 8 years or so on both sides of the political aisle for having my own opinions. They don't want you to be different. My privacy is raked - Nobody has any privacy anymore. Many of us gave it up freely by creating social media accounts that show the world everything we're doing every day. And yet I find, and yet I find repeating in my head, if I can't be my own, I'd feel better dead - This gets back to the earlier things I said. Nobody wants you to be different, they don't want you to be your own person. Maybe some people are okay with being part of a larger entity rather than being their own person, but that's not for me.
Super heart wrenching song. The world can be cruel place yet some people don't look within themselves to realise how affects us as individuals. Contemplating suicide is a hard pill to swallow. The ripple affects are devastating and have us questioning why, how could have I assisted in preventing this from happening. The scar remains. A friend committed suicide and it fucking broke me, I wish I could have helped some how, it tears me up inside.
You’re an awesome reactor, that was great. As a genuine ‘90’s kid, it cut deep. We got through it. Lots of heroes have fallen. It’s funny. It’s kinda sad.
I cried watching this and seeing your raw reaction to a song that carried many dark days alone in the desert. I love your headphones almost as much as this take and the rawness displayed in this reaction video. Thank you for that
Layne was already dying at this point. He’d lost so much weight, lost most of his teeth, yet still gave this performance and still made it another 6 years after this.
Rotten Apple from Jar of Flies is another song of Layne-era AIC that's really goosebump inducing. Same with Down in a Hole from Dirt. Their music is played daily through my car speakers. Although Jerry wrote a lot of their songs, Layne made those lyrics his own through his pain. Layne's lyrics touch base even more. His tragic, lonely end is heartbreaking and he deserved a MUCH better path. He was always judged by the media and others around him but he remained an empathetic, funny, down to Earth guy until the end. He turned recluse for the last 6 years of his life and lay deceased, undiscovered for 2 weeks which is truly a tragedy. I've been a heroin addict for over 20 years and methadone almost as long. Severe depression has followed me for decades and, as well as self harming, I've been on suicide watch so AIC's songs help when I feel dissociated and those dark thoughts creep in. R.I.P, Layne. Your wings are no longer denied💜.
The one person in the band that HAS to have soul is the singer. You won't connect with your audience without it. Some performers reach your soul with his instrument like EVH, SRV , Hendrix, Professor, Dimebag....there are many more, but the singer has to have something special....a soul. Layne had a beautiful soul, he never asked for pity, he always gave us his all & it's all out there for us to soak up. Check out "Don't Follow" or really anything they did on their EP's which was all acoustic ...beautiful songs. R.I.P. Layne, we miss you, brother.
Great review! I really admire your attempt to make talking about mental health a good thing. My 1st suicide attempt was when I was 11. There have been many, many ups & down since then. I’m 52 so was raised believing mental issues should be hidden & not discussed. I really hope that changes for future generations, it’s not easy feeling you have to pretend everything is ok out of fear people will judge you. During a bad depression episode I have to avoid listening to AIC, Nirvana and most 90’s/grunge bands because their music tends to be pretty dark. Layne looks very different in this video than in early performances due to his addictions, but I’m always blown away by how great his voice was.
I always feel so bad for him and the state he was constantly in. I have bad days and listen this and realize my troubles are just minute and am then thankful for my life and the people in it.
As many people have said, this performance by Layne is really closest thing we will ever come to seeing a man singing at his own funeral. His appearance, the dark and somber background, candles, and yet he sings like an angel. Rest in Peace Layne and Mike (Starr, original bassist - note he's not the one playing bass in the set, that is Mike Inez)
This song has been the soundtrack to my 2022. 2 suicide attempts after my marriage failed and I can literally go back in time to 1996 watching this live on MTV to escape reality of adulthood and how much life actually sucks
My divorce finalized a year ago. I don't look at it as a failure. I look at it as a chapter that came to an end. Adulthood isn't as fun as we thought it would be when we were kids, but it can be pretty awesome once we find our way. 💖
Oh goodness! I love this track and it never fails to bring the emotions. Down in a Hole, Rooster, Man in the Box, there are soooo many amazing (but very dark) songs by Alice In Chains you should check out…
The sun glasses and long sleeve shirt and gloves are an attempt to mask his horrible "H" addiction. J.C. the guitarist was suffering from food poisoning, you can see the small bucket placed on the floor near him. After a few times to record this unplugged concert, they finally recorded it perfectly. Unfortunatly his "H" addiction ended his life 6 years later.
This song punches me in the face every time I hear it. I've been battling this fight since I was a child and I'm now 46. Everyday begging myself to keep pushing and not give up. Its getting really tiring and exhausting. Anyways I suggest you keep going with their music.
While it never goes away, the key is finding ways to lesson the intensity. For example, I now look at anxiety as "extra energy" that I need to burn off and reflect on the most productive way to do so. I ssee my emotional sensitivity as a strength because I can express myself freely. I made a lot of lifestyle changes to dull the impact of the "blows" from the battle. You are stronger than you could possibly know 💖
Layne used to hangout in a bar across from his Building, the last few years of life. He didn't drink, and ppl usually left him alone. His very last picture was taken a few days before he passed, holding his new born Nephew. She has never released it, for obvious reasons. At the end he was 6'2" and only 82lbs. He was only really able to drink Ensure shakes for meals, due to the damage Heroin did to his body over time. It's much more sad than that, but ppl can find that grim info if they ask the right ppl, and really want to know. But it's just more sadness you will find.
great reaction amanda as always amanda. as another comment made on here, down in a hole from the same unplugged concert is a must as well. the lyrics will definitely make you feel a certain way. it always makes me feel a certain way since i have been battling depression most of my life.
Thanks for doing this song. I lost my brother to heroin addiction back in '94. I vowed I'd never get in the same spot, but here it is almost 30 years later and I'm fighting the same addiction. Layne was in the throes of the addiction that later killed him, he had to shoot up mere minutes before he hit the stage.
I like how they put a warning on this song!This was all we listened to back in the 90s and we didn't kill ourselves like the kids are doing now. It's straight up social media that is killing kids these days.
I’m currently addicted to fentanyl. Going in for treatment in 11 days. So nervous. So scared. So suicidal. So lonely. I was always a sensitive kid. Always the nice guy. Quiet spoken. Hopefully I’ll be alright. I never figured I’d live past 30 and here I am still. I’ve overdosed and died like 3 times. Idk how I’m still here… fighting tho. 💔💔
I’m a disabled Veteran and I nearly became a statistic. 22 Veterans commit suicide every SINGLE day. They come home and don’t know how to integrate back into “normal life”. AIC, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana all were bands that represented the grunge era and that was angst filled soundtrack to my high school years in the 90s. Unfortunately we’ve lost Layne, Chris, and Kurt all musical giants that were taken to soon. For me I survived because I met my wife after coming back from deployment from Afghanistan having lost 14 of my brothers. She also helped me to find an organization that provides service dogs free to Veterans who have lost their ability to be in civilization. I didn’t leave home because crowds, traffic, and small places made me panic. My furry battle buddy Chance helped save my life.
nice. Saw them live this year for the first time ever. They played this song. The band dedicated it to Layne and Mike. It was an amazing experience. Great song.
For someone who doesn't know the history of Alice In Chains they all seem like a very talented band, but the lead singer, Layne Staley, battled addiction the whole time of the bands existence until his sad unfortunate death. The bass player also sadly died due to a drug overdose. Many of the songs are about his battles with addiction & those who would peru upon his addiction.
I forgot to say you're a beautiful person. Someone is or is going to be very happy being with you. Stay the way you are i appreciate you and so do so many others.
See him healthy and he will blow your socks off. He’s stunning either way but a little spark that he had healthy was missing. He was an amazing artist, lyrics writer and an amazing singer. The world is smaller without him
Layne was at his worse with his heroin addiction here. He had get a taste before this performance just to get though the set. If it’s possible to sing your own eulogy, Layne did it here. They only had one more live performance after this and that was it for Alice In Chains. Layne died alone in his apt, alone, only 86lbs. He was first great singer that rock and roll lost.
I survived. Jammed with Dennis DeYoung in his garage, did gigs with Alice Cooper and Chicago.....What goes on, is crazy when you're on stage. I got out early, in the 80's
Was always one of my favorite groups he died right before my birthday he was in such a low place in his mind this is during all his depression and drug abuse I wish someone would have stepped in to help him we need singers like him back
Anyone who has battled addiction or depression can listen to this unplugged album and totally understand it has helped me threw some of my darkest times greatest singer and album ever rip layne
💖Keep the mental health conversation going by sharing your story here in the comments. No matter where you are in your journey, you have a safe place here to share your struggles and accomplishments without judgment. This is how we shatter the mental health stigma.💖
Follow/say hi on IG (@mentalamanda) and if you need some direction and would like me to be your Happiness teacher, you can sign up for my Happiness Boost course here:
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Ah yes, Alice In Chains! 2 other songs also touch on the situation. Angry Chair and Them Bones
Alice In Chains - Angry Chair (Official HD Video) / AliceInChainsVEVO
ruclips.net/video/IpEXM1Yziws/видео.html
Alice In Chains - Them Bones (Official HD Video) / AliceInChainsVEVO
ruclips.net/video/zTuD8k3JvxQ/видео.html
If you want to understand why people recommended this to you, please react to "What The Final Year Of Layne Staley's Life Was Really Like". It's a short 10 minut documentary about the lead singer.
I'm a hardcore Layneaholic. Everything he did is pure masterpiece material. I think you should check out Wake Up and River of Deceit by his other band Mad Season. They help when depression allows those dark thoughts to inch closer.
Alice in Chains Man in the Box live at the Moore is awesome
@@nelliesilvers1210 The Mad Season album is a masterpiece from start to finish.
The sad thing is that the media always played on his addiction instead of the talented person he was.
Indeed and people still do. Just leave the guy alone, he suffered enough. Remember him for all the great music he left, music that speaks to a lot of us, old and new fans, that's his strength. He wrote lyrics and sang them in a way that touched many, many people. Thank you Layne for the music.
Your true statement makes me cry.
Yes. Isn't it strange how much the world and media pays attention to negativity and the terrible things humans do to each other, instead of the beauty inside of us? We are all the same animal. It tears me up that too many of us can't see the gifts that we all possess. Love each other.
And, just as important, Love and appreciate your self and all the good things you do in this world. You are loved and valued.
They definitely did but he actually didn't have any teeth left for this performance which is even more amazing he sounds so good and they hadn't played together for over a year at this point
Someone once said this is as close as it gets to singing at your own funeral
1000% I remember seeing this when it came on MTV and man when he takes his glasses off, he looks dead.
@@ba7672 He was dead man. People always look back like the bands in the 60s were living hard and the who was singing about dying before they were old.
These dudes were actually living hard and dying before they got old. I think the only front man left is Eddie Vedder.
@@jeepmanxjEddie is the only one left.
I've requested this be played at my graveside service. No funeral.
Yeah, someone says this exact thing in EVERY reaction comment section. Way to stand out.
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he 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 deal with the withdrawal symptoms and so 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 6-year-long slow suicide.
On Unplugged, Scott Olson was the second guitarist. He was there to boost the guitar sound on the stage.
Layne was better Live than the studio version. LOVE HATE LOVE live at the Moore in December 1990 is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. Other rock bands should strive to have a live performance that perfect.
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 were 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. (He started losing his teeth in 1995 due to grinding)
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.
I'm in the camp of No Layne/No Chains, because no matter which singer you put up there to sing those songs, it'll only be a cover. Layne had a unique voice you cannot replicate or replace. A lot of those songs were great because Layne pretty much wrung his entire soul out singing them, others were personal to Layne and to have someone else sing those, the songs lose their meaning because the new guy didn't go through the ordeals those songs are inspired by.
William DuVall singing THEM BONES on the 2006 reunion tsunami gig.... William DOES NOT have the power in his voice that Layne had especially for that song. Maynard James Keenan could get remotely close to Layne's vocal range for that song (and many others). And Maynard would have the reverence for Layne's memory, he was friends with Layne, he KNEW Layne, had a history with Layne, and saw what Layne went through from Lollapalooza 93 until Layne became a recluse. Besides, Maynard already had 3 bands going on, why not join a fourth band?
He had tried rehab 13 times, but he could never completely give it up. He tried quitting cold turkey on two of the last attempts at rehab, but neither one worked either. Mad Season is made up of Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, and John Baker Saunders and they all went through rehab. They all got together and dragged Layne out of his condo, got him excited about doing ABOVE album, thinking if he was creative he wouldn't want the drugs, and for the length of time it took to do that, Layne was excited about the project, but it didn't curb his drug habit. Layne wrote the lyrics to the songs he sang on the ABOVE album (minus the John Lennon cover song I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier) and he drew the cover art for the album.
NUTSHELL was about how magazines like FOR EXAMPLE Rolling Stone only reported on Layne's addiction as if that were the only thing that defined the band as well as Layne's depression.
Rolling Stone magazine has some unknown thing to do with the Hall of Fame, and after what Rolling Stone did to Layne and the band in the 1996 The Needle and the Damage Done article ("Oh no, it will be about the music" "Oh yeah, the band's picture will be on the cover" turns out it was only Layne on the cover and the article focused on Layne's addiction -- which Layne DID NOT want to happen -- and everything going wrong internally with the band.) that pissed off AIC management and the entire band to the point they threatened to kick the writer, Jon Weiderhorn's ass over it. I don't see Rolling Stone chomping at the bit to vote AIC into the Hall of Fame. Although if they do finally get in with William as the singer and NOT Layne. I'm going to be pissed.
As far back as late 1992, Rolling Stone has personally had a bone to pick with Layne Staley, even though I can name a dozen bands who wrote about drugs in their lyrics that Rolling Stone never cared to target before or after Layne came along. Layne’s mentioned Rolling Stone hounding him in passing to Riki Rachtman during the New Orleans episode of Headbanger’s Ball in late 1992 when Layne and Mike Starr tour New Orleans and a Voodoo museum with Riki back then.
There were other magazines and "reporters" BEFORE 1996 that hounded Layne over his drug addiction. Rolling Stone wasn't the only rag mag to do it. Spin Magazine and many other tabloid music mags only wanted to focus on Layne's addiction. It's why they stopped doing interviews for the longest time, and after the 1996 Rolling Stone interview, they closed ranks and as far as I know, while Layne was alive they never granted another interview. They DID do Rockline in 1998 (Layne called in while Jerry was promoting his Boggy Depot solo album) and 1999 (when the band was promoting Nothing Safe and the Music Bank box set). But for the most part, they closed ranks around each other.
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.
Even though the music industry would like to have written him out of history, Layne DID exist. He was on this earth for 34 years. In that time he wrote songs that gave a normal person insight into the mind and journey of an addict. The pain and depression he endured to write the most brutally honest lyrics a musician could write concerning his feelings on his own addiction, his depression, and the tumultuous relationship with his former fiancee Demri. The emotional and physical strength he had to perform those songs live when all he wanted to do was curl away and lose himself in the drug haze I can’t imagine what it was like for him. He was hounded by the press about his addiction. He was ridiculed for his addiction. The music industry blackballed him for his addiction. The Grammys forgot about him when he died. As far as MTV and music rag mags like Rolling Stone were concerned he’s just another addicted singer. They don’t want to acknowledge his contributions to music.
Layne Staley WASN'T just some rock star junkie. HE DESERVED BETTER than what he received from the people around him who he thought mattered. He wrote about drugs, his addiction, what he was feeling and what he was going through with maturity and knowledge well beyond his years. He didn’t deserve to be turned into tabloid cannon fodder by the press.
I remember a show in London on February 26, 1993 where a reporter who was based in London wrote about a concert they did in another part of Europe and got Mike Inez confused with Mike Starr. Layne got on the microphone between them finishing HATE TO FEEL and beginning ANGRY CHAIR and said, "I want to say um, I want to say hello to the guy who wrote the review on the show a few weeks back. You’re in London - an enemy. I want to introduce our bass player, MIKE INEZ, not Mike Starr, you fucking idiot! Fuck that prick! Fuck the press! We’re not playing for the fucking press, all right?”
"Layne was just an incomparable talent. He was like a fucking myna bird. Any accent or sound or voice, he could just immediately repeat it. He just had a gift. And I’d like to think that I have a bit of a gift myself. One of the funniest descriptions I’ve ever heard, and I don’t know that it’s true, but it just sounds fucking great, was we sound like “the satanic Everly Brothers.” Together we were kind of a two-headed monster. It added a lot of depth to the material the way we worked together." -- Jerry Cantrell (Noisey, June 7, 2018)
My Top 20 AIC songs... Love Hate Love (Live at the Moore, December 1990...Layne Staley in his prime and is UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION performed live by a rock band. All other rock bands should strive to have a live performance this perfect), Man in the Box (Live at Weedsport, NY 1991 - the Layne’s Pissed Version...though the original version may be better to react to, because Weedsport was during Clash of the Titans tour where Slayer fans were giving the band crap and Layne got pissed and changed the lyrics), Bleed the Freak (Live at the Moore, December 1990), It Ain’t Like That (if you need a video use Singles Pro Shot video), Queen of the Rodeo (Live in Dallas, TX 1990), Real Thing (Live ANYWHERE), Them Bones, God Smack (Live at Hollywood Rock, 1993), Grind, Again, No Excuses, Brush Away, Frogs, Sludge Factory (During MTV Unplugged 1996, Layne screwed up the 2nd verse like 8 times, though the show only included one of those times), What the Hell Have I, God Am, Got Me Wrong, Swing On This, Social Parasite, We Die Young
Wow, great details 👏👏
I agree with you so much on Layne's raw talent, power and emotion. Untouchable. I think it's ridiculous that Nirvana is held on a pedestal and AIC gets left in the shadows in regards to the media, MTV, radio, magazines, etc.. But we know.
Thanks for the effort you put in to share this story. 🍻
Amanda, to echo some of the other comments, I'd love to watch your reaction to the unplugged version of Down in a Hole 🙏💗🇺🇸🥃
Why don't you publish the book on this legend
@@soongold798 Could you imagine how long the footnote section on just my own thoughts and observations on the text would be if I DID write my own book on Layne? 🤣😂
Bro make movie man seriously 🤩
I don't think enough people took the time to read this masterpiece of a comment. Thank you so much for providing so much information and glorifying Layne the way he needs to be seen. I'm going to see AIC on Saturday and you're right, it's not going to be the same as it was back then however I never had the chance being born in 94. However Laynes voice reached me, and Jerry's guitar rocked me, and I've been addicted ever since I discovered this band. I know every single lyric and I know how to play every song on my guitar. And the emotions I'm feeling of finally being able to see these guys for the first time are overwhelming. Thank you.
This song can catch me off gaurd at times and bring a tear to my soul. This is literally a broken soul mourning at his own funeral. It was a cry for help.
it was a farewell
Layne was dope sick and the band wasn't even sure if he'd be able to perform, let alone be perfect. It was one of the last shows they played together before he passed. RIP, Layne. 💔😔
He wasn't dope sick at at all. He actually fixed all day and right before walking on stage. R.I.P LAYNE
Nah, he wasn't sick. He was high just enough to not be sick and not nod. Reportedly, he pre-cooked and carried it in a small vial. It is also evident from the sunglasses.
@@prabathwijesinghe7379 yes
@@prabathwijesinghe7379 I agree. In the performances without the sunglasses you can see how high he is. It's very obvious in his eyes...
Unfortunately Layne wasn’t perfect. There were songs they had to restart 7-8 times because Layne kept screwing up. You don’t see this on the show that aired, obviously, as they cut all that out and make it seem like a perfect set. It’s still an incredible feat to be able to get out there and perform at all in the state he’s in, let alone perform so amazingly well, despite all the screw ups.
He performed amazingly on every song at least once, to be able to compile what I feel is the best unplugged set from the entire series.
I think Alice in Chains is the most emotionally articulate band of all time! The pain pours out the speakers like blood! 🤘
Most underrated comment ever.
That line you wrote, that was powerful!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Indeed
A little background Amanda. Layne Staley, the bands singer and writer of some of AIC songs, struggled with depression and addiction for much of his adult life and later died from a speedball overdose on April 5, 2002, at the age of 34. AIC was a popular band of the 1990's and would be considered under the genre of alternative or grunge rock. This was an unplugged version of their song.
He also wasn't around the greatest of friends just to point that out which you hear in a lot of the lyrics was very a unstable guy hell of a musician tho rip Layne
He also lost his finance in 1996 due to overdose
36
Also the bassist Mike Starr also overdosed. Layne was 6’1” and when he passed away weighed around 90lbs.
I get chills every time that bass line comes in during this performance.
That performance made want an acoustic bass
that bass line honestly elevates the song in such a pensive way. the rest of the band is pretty static. the bass adds the color in the foundation behind Layne's voice
Tears, tears. I get emotional.
Frogs and Brother are better but there isn’t a bad song on the album
@@DeadHeadGDF ABSOLUTLY
This song truly captures the feeling of feeling truly alone even in a crowd of people who should love you, and thinking that you are better off dead than being alone in a crowd.
Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, two of the main reasons I survived high school. I wrote about Layne's death and his impact on my life when we had to do the college prep essays. Named my daughter Lainey after him. This song, especially the unplugged version brings me to weeping tears every time.
Alice in Chains a good band. Another song that would be good to do unplugged is Down in a Hole. C'mon Patrons.
Ummmm they are an amazing band. The best of the best to come from the grunge era. Layne’s vocals are in the top 5 in history.
I second this. Down In A Hole is great
Love the unplugged performance of Down in a Hole 👏👏🥃
@@johnphillipsjr7238 I was going to make the same type of comment. This band was way beyond “good”, right?
Yes yes yes please pretty please!!!!!
Alice in chains is hands down the best band from the grunge era.
Pleeeez pleeez pleeeeeez don't just listen to the live unplugged videos. It's heart wrenching and emotional, but it was towards the end when a lot of the strength in his amazing voice had deteriorated.
We slowly watched a person we love die from album to album. He deserves to be remembered for how he sounded throughout the entirety of his too short life.
Layne's been gone for 20 years now and it still breaks my heart. I love people still finding AIC for the first time ever all these years later. For me, I remember sitting and watching them on MTV after school. I love Layne's voice, I'm very much a vocal person, and his music was a defining part of growing up for me. I remember in highschool watching their videos and praying he'd overcome his addiction. I still tear up remembering how bad I wanted him to be happy because we watched him lose himself to his addiction. As the years went by we all knew if he didn't heal he was gonna die and there wasn't a damn thing I could do. There's a frustration in knowing 14 year old me was powerless to help. AIC still plays today with an amazing vocalist and a deep appreciation for Layne. We all loved him, and my heart broke when he passed. But being able to see people live, learn and love his talent is a blessing. The truth is that legends never really die because their music and message lives on in the hearts of all who remember him. Thank you for doing this video. 💙
I'm glad you're finally listening to this. It's one of their best songs. Especially the unplugged album. You really get to hear the depth of layne's vocal range and the raw emotion and power he projects here. Down in a hole is another great song to listen to by Alice in chains. It's also on the unplugged album.
Between the studio version and this version, I've heard this song a million times. I still cry ... Every. Single. Time. There's a few lines in there that hit the nail right on the f'n head
Thanks Amanda for making this video and being vulnerable with us, it takes a strong person so actually soldier through this kind of pain, and I believe their music serves as a catalogue of bad times that we can relish in the pain but also learn how valuable the good times are.
Please listen to this whole show in its entirety. It is the best acoustic show ever recorded.
I have always associated this song with my depression when that black cloud creeps in. I don't want it but it is still a part of me that cannot be denied. Still one of my AIC favourite songs and has helped me in difficult times!
AIC is the only grunge band that I can stomach. I saw them open for Ozzy in 91. Layne had a broken leg with full cast, he zoomed around the stage in a wheelchair singing his ass off!!
I am late by two days, but this band is absolutely incredible... Layne unfortunately struggled with so many demons... And lost a very long battle, but we will forever remember him as a great person. Their entire discography is so good, and I think that you would love it even if you listen to it on your own time. This video is basically a dying mans sorrow and pain being sung and you can truly hear it in his vocals.
This song describes not only drug addicted depression, but depression overall... That feeling of being alone with no one to reach out to for help is brutal no matter how poor or successful one is. This song really speaks to me
Layne lives on through his music..and though he may have lost his battle with his demons, but his music and story have helped me and countless others through our own struggles. RIP Layne & Mike Starr
Lyricist wise, "Down in a hole" (listen to the unplugged version to get the full effect) and "Rooster" will blow you away.
Also, the sunglasses were due to him just shooting up from being dope sick.
I second "Down in a hole" from this same unplugged set. Phenomenal.
Oh hell yes. The infamous Layne Staley "snarl" that's pretty much impossible to replicate vocally. His story is not one that has a happy ending, as many later on in the comments will echo or elaborate upon, and I tire of this burden of being the bearer of bad news, so I figured I'd fill you in on a lighter, more humorous tidbit on this concert. In an interview many years ago, guitarist Jerry Cantrell explained that Metallica were in the front row and this was around the time they just all got their hair cut short in the 90s, so Mike Inez wrote that message on his bass that says "friends don't let friends get 'Friends' haircuts," but it was meant as a playful jab; all in good fun. Great song, great band, RIP Layne Staley. P.S. - good observation on the shades not being a fashion statement. Layne was....well, he had a reason for wearing them at this concert, and many others.
Layne didn't want James Hetfield there and was uncomfortable about his attendance but the rest of AIC were good friends with Metallica. At a concert of theirs (Metallica),he mocked Layne. They were supposed to have AIC open for them but because Layne was deteriorating, they pulled out. During part of their tour, they started doing the opening to Man in the Box then Hetfield stops playing and in a mocking voice says "I can't do it" and some other taunts..completely pulling the piss out of Layne. People threw shit at Hetfield for it and he got pissed off. I never liked him for that. He's always had an arrogance to him but that was just cruel and uncalled for. I love that he got pelted with rubbish and booed for it by his own fans.
Hetfield had Karma visit him though as ended up in rehab himself.
@@nelliesilvers1210 Yeah I remember now that you mention it, James Hetfield did have a tendency to look down upon addicts even sometimes during live shows that would come out, and it's kind of ironic of him to do that from a place of alcoholism. Being that he's been to rehab I hope he's learned from that and it does seem to have made him a better person than he was in his younger years. I myself am guilty of having a prejudice, until it hit a little too close to home in 2017 with certain relatives; I had to do some thinking.
@@TheScorpio1999 Rehab seems to have humbled him a bit but I find it hard to find sympathy for him after his cruel judgement. I tend to hold grudges when it comes to people looking down on others. I had no respect for "junkies" until I became a heroin addict. I've suffered depression from an early age and turned to drugs and alcohol really young. My first heroin hit, I knew I'd found something that worked to keep me numb. I didn't realise how quickly it got its hooks into me though until I was completely dependent on it. I realised the difference between a junkie and an addict a long time ago and I hate myself for allowing it to beat me in to submission. I hate what I've put my family through so I can definitely feel your frustration and loss..from both PsOV. It's a horrible feeling to be so out of control of your own way of thinking and feeling. Like a puppet and addiction pulls your strings.
@@nelliesilvers1210 are you doing better now?
@@zacharyrobinson9068 I've put some weight on as was so skinny you could see my ribs and my collar and shoulder bones were really prominent. I visited mum at work one day and she walked away crying. She couldn't even talk. My appearance broke her heart. Her co-worker came out to talk to me until mum calmed down. She kept expecting a phone call from the cops or my partner saying I was dead. It still hurts knowing she lost so much sleep and aged so much because of me. That guilt will always be with me and I still have a heroin and methadone addiction but I'm healthier than I was and don't use as much...still almost daily but if I go without, I'm not as sick as I used to get.
I know that it's a mental craving now so can kick it when I talk myself into doing so. It's just been a part of my life for so long so it's more routine than anything. The "romance" of it left a long time ago. In short (sort of...sorry about the long reply), I think I've gotten better than where I once was.
We can all feel isolated and alone and it can be a hopeless feeling.
In this day of social media there is often the feeling that there is nowhere to hide or be ourselves.
Ignore what others say as you owe nobody anything…..
Be yourself and be proud of yourself you need not change for anyone!
He also sang for Mad Season, suggest the song "Mad Season - Wake up"
Down in a hole is another powerful song from AIC.
Layne was such a talent. Its sad when addiction takes someone let alone a talent like that. Truly sad. That man sang at his own funeral for years before his actual death unfortunately. Such an amazing voice.
Alice in Chains are often times much heavier than this. They have 2 acoustic EPs (Sap and Jar of Flies), and they have this Unplugged performance. This is my favorite Unplugged of all the ones that MTV put on. A lot of their music deals with depression and addiction. Unfortunately, Layne lost his battle to addiction in 2002. This performance was in 1996, I believe they only had 4-5 more performances after this later that year. But his addiction had unfortunately taken its toll and they didn't tour or perform after that. There was an interview at one point where Layne said people would come up to him and say that they think Heroin was awesome, and he was trying to tell them the opposite in the music.
Another song that has a really great meaning from their catalog that you should listen to is Would?. It's a song that their guitarist wrote after his friend Andrew Wood (singer from a band called Mother Love Bone) died of a heroin overdose. It's a great song about not passing judgement on others, because you don't know their circumstances. I feel like you could get into it and appreciate it. Have a great day Amanda.
You are sadly correct. The last tine Layne ever performed live was July 3rd, 1996 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. AIC was opening for Kiss. I was at that show. Layne looked terrible, he could barely move on stage but still sounded great. Layne almost died in Kansas City that night of an overdose. At that point it was apparent that Layne just couldn't do it any more.
Would like to thank the person I talked to last week - you know who you are. It helped me alot to get out of a hole I had dug for myself. I am still just getting back to normal, but I'll write you when I can.
But i cannot thank you enough for listening
We are always here to listen. It helps us to.
I will say, this song really shows the pain and struggle that he was dealing with. His addiction got so bad that he would of rather been dead then have people trying to change who he was. I know that when i was growing up in the 90s this music was played all the time, i know in the early 2000s i started listening to linkin park. Chester bennington of that band was dealing with alot of emotional things, and had these demons eating at him, and his music was how he could express those feelings. Linkin park saved my life while i was in highschool dealing with bullying and lots of just emotional struggles. I have thanked that band many times for stopping me from attempting suicide. I felt a connection to those songs, and they just really helped me deal with my struggles. I wouldnt't be here today if it wasn't for music like linkin park, or alice and chains, and other great rock/grunge/post-hardcore music. I am a musician and music has been a great avenue for my anxiety and stressful times. I hope others can find a great outlet for any stress or anxiety or depression they may have.
This song still reaches the dark place in the back of my heart that screams for love. I survived a childhood of abuse and neglect only to seek the same in a husband and in a carless life of drugs and men who didn't even love themselves. I divorced and was left with the two best things I ever did. My 4 year old daughter and 5 year old son. I got sober when I found I was pregnant with my oldest. I relapsed with alcohol four years later. In return for her unconditional love, my daughter found me hanging in my closet when she was 8 years old. She saved my life, but I harmed her in a way I cannot repair. When people say that unloving yourself is selfish; that you should think about your kids... we DO think about our kids. We think our kids will be better off if we died. My kids are now 15 and 17, I have maintained my sobriety, and I still struggle with my demons. Thank you for this video.
I am happy that you are still here and proud of you for your sobriety. Here anytime you need to talk!
Something to note is this is one of if not THE last major performance with Layne being able to preform. This was after a year or two the band not being able to tour due to Layne's mental health coupled with his addiction. He was already on the downward slide during this performance. This being their first in awhile as I said, you can see Jerry (Guitar) slyly smile to his fellow bandmates in surprise that Layne was able to nail his vocal parts. This is most noticeably seen during 'Down in a Hole'. My main point with this comment is to inform you that many hold this performance in such high regard because Layne was in the midst of his disappearance in the mire of poor mental health during this set and feel that his pain really makes this a special musical outing. Plus it's his swan song essentially making it that much more poignant. I know for me personally I love AiC's discography, I find Layne and Jerry to be one of the greatest duo's in music ever, and they hold a special place in my heart. Rest easy Layne and Mike.
Alice In Chains has brought me through so many dark places. Layne just has this voice that not only expresses how I’m feeling at that moment, but also heals in a way. Music is life, and music is medicine. I’m glad your here, I can relate a lot to your to your life story along with Layne’s. Very similar. But thank you for videos. You have a new subscriber 😉
Welcome to the incredible music of Alice In Chains. This original incarnation of the band is still my favorite group. I had discovered them in high school via a music video and was not prepared for how much it blew me away. I soon had a CD copy of that album and was so completely into it. Their earlier material tended to be very dark and heavy- lots of minor keys and downtuning, plus themes of addiction and angst in their lyrics. All of that greatly helped me better understand myself as a music fan. But, they also always had this other side to them- stripped down, acoustic, maybe a dark type of folk music. They could rock as heavy as thunder but also do quiet unplugged jams. I’ve always very much appreciated they had those two contrasting sides to their work. The lead vocalist, named Layne Staley, remains one of my top idols. His voice was incredibly unique, and he always had such a rock star type of style to boot. Some thirty years later I am still in admiration of his stylistic choices and points. But I’ll for sure never lose my long-time love for their powerful music.
The saddest thing about Layne Staley's overdose is the fact that it took two weeks for anyone to find his body. He had alienated and isolated himself to such an extent with his addiction that no one even cared enough to check in on him for two weeks...
Yeah I find that as tragic as anything. He was there all alone. Awful. I have people come to my house every few days to check on me as I live alone & my health ain't great.
@@shirazzza sorry to hear about your health...hope you have plenty family and friends you're in contact with...❤️
@@johnjohn37371 thank you. Yeah I've got a bunch of support workers who come here on the regular so it ought be ok
Nobody still checked on him. His accountant notified his mother that no money had been withdrawn from his account in 2 weeks
@@RS-ge4dz that's pathetic and heartbreaking...
@Amanda
Thank you for this wonderful reaction. This band was part of the early 90’s Seattle “Grunge” movement of rock. A group of bands which took the world by storm, with their dark, emotionally honest lyrics about pain and depression.
I would like to suggest a song named “You know you’re right” by another Seattle area band, Nirvana.
This was the very last song lead singer Kurt Cobain would record, before his presumed suicide several months later.
During this performance, he was in the process of giving up on his battle with addiction. From what I remember hearing, this performance almost didn't happen due to his using. There's an interview somewhere where he basically says heroin was going to kill him. The unplugged performance is where you can truly hear his suffering. RIP Layne.
I've grown up with depression so I thank you for being there for people
He wore the glasses and gloves to cover his addiction. He was such a great singer and band with a sad ending.
Layne Staley's vocals are so haunting. One of the best vocalists of that era
This is my favorite band of all time. Their music speaks to my soul. Layne's voice is the beautiful darkness.
Very stoked that you're finally giving this one a shot! I was born and raised across the water from Seattle in a city named Bremerton. That city is my home and I love it for that. I no longer live there though.. reason being, it's a VERY depressing place. Holy crap, that place nearly sank me down a number of times. This band's from Seattle, that's why I mention any of that. Also, it may help illustrate the vocals a bit more. Not saying that Seattle's depressing! No, it's far from that.. but it does have countless cloudy days like Bremerton does, just the same.
The sunglasses may not have been a fashion statement but living in Seattle area one does not need those types of shades for about 95% of the year. He likely had no reason to wear them aside from hiding his eyes for the reason you said or for something similar. They totally could've been a fashion statement though. The grunge era was an interesting time, one that I miss fondly.
This is one of the top songs from Alice In Chains. I'm glad that you enjoyed the song! Should also check the song Rooster out. It's good stuff as well! :)
Totally enjoyed the video, beginning to end! You rock, thank you for finally checking Alice In Chains out! :)
Happy to report, my mental health is pretty positive right now! I've been enjoying myself and just relaxing. Not doing anything special or outgoing, but I'm doing well and happily so. Lately I've just been watching movie/tv show reactions and playing my all time favorite game from my childhood - Diablo 2. It's so much fun for m! :D
lol, really, as long as my mind is kept active or at thee very least distracted I'm normally a very happy camper. It's when I lose interest in things or am unable to do what I enjoy that I fall into my negative spaces and sometimes spiral out into them. It's been a long while since that's happened though. :)
down in a hole regards to mental health is def huge song
I have battled alcohol for most of my adult life. I sent this song to my dad right before I checked my self into a hospital. I was diagnosed bipolar. He tells me that he can’t listen to this song again because it does explain my life. “No one to talk to” I tried to tell my friends I was an alcoholic at 23.. they told me I was just stressed. “ no place to call home” the one place I always considered home was broken up at 22. I have deeply thought about that for 18 years and anywhere I have lived I have never considered home. It might be an apartment or currently at a shelter for the last 18 month but tomorrow I am moving into a very shitty apartment and I look at it as home. I have been to them bottom now all I can see is up. It’s not about AA it’s about finally dealing with the mental illness and looking at things possible for the future not expecting bad things about it l. Stay strong. Home is where you make it and there is always someone that cares about you
You should really go down the AiC rabbithole. Layne Staley (singer) battled with heroin for years and years, ultimately succumbing to it. Almost every song of theirs is super personal and related to addiction.
RIP Layne
What I have found thru considerable self reflection is that anxiety & depression is a form of expression by your body to get your attention that you are not living in your real truth. It was thru moments that things get real (illness, disease by you or family/friend) that is an opportunity to look at your absolute core and declare who you are. Its important to say those words out loud of what is your core such as: I am integrity, I am fairness, I am love or they can even be: I am selfish, I am entitled. Nothing that you declare that is your authentic self is wrong. Once you are able to verbalize what is at your core you will never need to go outside of your internal self again. I wish Layne Staley had come to that realization because his voice was such a gift to the world. Sorry for the rant but this felt like good timing considering the song and Amanda channel.
Pantera - Cemetery gates is truly a song i'll suggest.
I used to listen to it without understanding the lyrics when i was younger, but after i lost someone close, the next time i listened to it, it hit me right in the feels.
He gave all that he had left in this performance. His last stand. It was beautiful and hauntimg. Thank you Layne
this song is so well musically amazing. From the lyrics to the instruments you got a very sad and deep conversation with them. You get to feel every sounds and then you get the solo which represents the appeasement moment. In the streaming and cd the solo is longer and has a really deep and striking moments. And the gem of it is that in live performance the bassist (correct me if I’m wrong) get like 5min of solo which is incredible and one of the most amazing performance I’ve seen. Layne Staley was and still an amazing artist a gem that we lost but we’ll always love him and keep honoring him. ✨🧝🏼♀️💕
Alice In Chains played a huge part of my early adulthood. Great times
I think he was the best singer of Rock & Roll for at least a couple generations. We're sad he's gone.
Amanda you're a real fox. I hope you never feel.down about yourself anymore. Keep being good and you will have many many more good times.
This might be the darkest song I’ve ever heard. Reading the lyrics, it almost seems like this was Layne’s musical suicide note. It’s like he was resigned to the fact that his addiction was on the verge of killing him. Is so sad. He was such a talent.
I should listen 2 Korn daddy that's a dark ass song the story behind it
Not a suicide survivor, but having heard this song for the first time in 2024, it almost seems like Layne was looking into the future and describing the state of the world as it is today. The lyrics and the feel of the song just so perfectly capture the feeling of malaise combined with... well... everything he said.
We chase misprinted lies - You can't trust anything that anybody in the media says anymore.
We face the path of time - The general feeling of tension and anxiety around the world combined with the hysteria in the media make it seem like the world is ending every day.
And yet I fight, and yet I fight this battle alone - I feel this every day. Struggling to pay bills, deal with other people, deal with the losses I've had in my family over the past few years... and I'm sure everybody has these struggles too.
No one to cry to - Nobody cares anymore about anybody. Things have gotten harder for everybody, and so everybody is out for themselves.
No place to call home - The world we were born into no longer exists. Trying to find the same comforts and joys that we had when we were younger will only end up feeding feelings of nostalgia and homesickness.
My gift of self is raped - If you deviate from the prescribed norm handed down from on high, you're dogpiled and cancelled. I lost a lot of friends over the past 8 years or so on both sides of the political aisle for having my own opinions. They don't want you to be different.
My privacy is raked - Nobody has any privacy anymore. Many of us gave it up freely by creating social media accounts that show the world everything we're doing every day.
And yet I find, and yet I find repeating in my head, if I can't be my own, I'd feel better dead - This gets back to the earlier things I said. Nobody wants you to be different, they don't want you to be your own person. Maybe some people are okay with being part of a larger entity rather than being their own person, but that's not for me.
Super heart wrenching song. The world can be cruel place yet some people don't look within themselves to realise how affects us as individuals. Contemplating suicide is a hard pill to swallow. The ripple affects are devastating and have us questioning why, how could have I assisted in preventing this from happening. The scar remains. A friend committed suicide and it fucking broke me, I wish I could have helped some how, it tears me up inside.
You’re an awesome reactor, that was great. As a genuine ‘90’s kid, it cut deep. We got through it. Lots of heroes have fallen. It’s funny. It’s kinda sad.
I cried watching this and seeing your raw reaction to a song that carried many dark days alone in the desert. I love your headphones almost as much as this take and the rawness displayed in this reaction video. Thank you for that
Layne was already dying at this point. He’d lost so much weight, lost most of his teeth, yet still gave this performance and still made it another 6 years after this.
It’s sad that media focused only on his addiction, when he was talented. If you look further into this show, it only gets worse.
I missed the fact you had a problem. It's nice to see you on RUclips. Keep being good and thanks for the video.
Rotten Apple from Jar of Flies is another song of Layne-era AIC that's really goosebump inducing. Same with Down in a Hole from Dirt. Their music is played daily through my car speakers. Although Jerry wrote a lot of their songs, Layne made those lyrics his own through his pain. Layne's lyrics touch base even more. His tragic, lonely end is heartbreaking and he deserved a MUCH better path. He was always judged by the media and others around him but he remained an empathetic, funny, down to Earth guy until the end. He turned recluse for the last 6 years of his life and lay deceased, undiscovered for 2 weeks which is truly a tragedy.
I've been a heroin addict for over 20 years and methadone almost as long. Severe depression has followed me for decades and, as well as self harming, I've been on suicide watch so AIC's songs help when I feel dissociated and those dark thoughts creep in.
R.I.P, Layne. Your wings are no longer denied💜.
Really love your videos, Amanda. I appreciate everything about ya.
Rooster by them is another great song dealing with the Vietnam War aftermath.
The one person in the band that HAS to have soul is the singer. You won't connect with your audience without it. Some performers reach your soul with his instrument like EVH, SRV , Hendrix, Professor, Dimebag....there are many more, but the singer has to have something special....a soul. Layne had a beautiful soul, he never asked for pity, he always gave us his all & it's all out there for us to soak up. Check out "Don't Follow" or really anything they did on their EP's which was all acoustic ...beautiful songs. R.I.P. Layne, we miss you, brother.
Great review! I really admire your attempt to make talking about mental health a good thing. My 1st suicide attempt was when I was 11. There have been many, many ups & down since then. I’m 52 so was raised believing mental issues should be hidden & not discussed. I really hope that changes for future generations, it’s not easy feeling you have to pretend everything is ok out of fear people will judge you. During a bad depression episode I have to avoid listening to AIC, Nirvana and most 90’s/grunge bands because their music tends to be pretty dark.
Layne looks very different in this video than in early performances due to his addictions, but I’m always blown away by how great his voice was.
I always feel so bad for him and the state he was constantly in. I have bad days and listen this and realize my troubles are just minute and am then thankful for my life and the people in it.
I freaking love how you break this down and your attitude. You are helpful. Thank you.
I’ve definitely cried to this song multiple times
As many people have said, this performance by Layne is really closest thing we will ever come to seeing a man singing at his own funeral. His appearance, the dark and somber background, candles, and yet he sings like an angel. Rest in Peace Layne and Mike (Starr, original bassist - note he's not the one playing bass in the set, that is Mike Inez)
I'm crying. Thanks for this.
This song has been the soundtrack to my 2022. 2 suicide attempts after my marriage failed and I can literally go back in time to 1996 watching this live on MTV to escape reality of adulthood and how much life actually sucks
My divorce finalized a year ago. I don't look at it as a failure. I look at it as a chapter that came to an end. Adulthood isn't as fun as we thought it would be when we were kids, but it can be pretty awesome once we find our way. 💖
@@MentalAmanda thank you for this, 5 months after leaving that comment and I can look back to that period and see how much I've grown
Oh goodness! I love this track and it never fails to bring the emotions. Down in a Hole, Rooster, Man in the Box, there are soooo many amazing (but very dark) songs by Alice In Chains you should check out…
The sun glasses and long sleeve shirt and gloves are an attempt to mask his horrible "H" addiction. J.C. the guitarist was suffering from food poisoning, you can see the small bucket placed on the floor near him. After a few times to record this unplugged concert, they finally recorded it perfectly. Unfortunatly his "H" addiction ended his life 6 years later.
Still heartbreaking and haunting to hear it all these years later. Still tear up when I hear it.
This song punches me in the face every time I hear it. I've been battling this fight since I was a child and I'm now 46. Everyday begging myself to keep pushing and not give up. Its getting really tiring and exhausting. Anyways I suggest you keep going with their music.
Same to me. 46 too. Keep going, man. Greetings from Spain
While it never goes away, the key is finding ways to lesson the intensity. For example, I now look at anxiety as "extra energy" that I need to burn off and reflect on the most productive way to do so. I ssee my emotional sensitivity as a strength because I can express myself freely. I made a lot of lifestyle changes to dull the impact of the "blows" from the battle. You are stronger than you could possibly know 💖
@@MentalAmanda for me diet and exercise IS the key. Waaaaay better when i do that.
Layne used to hangout in a bar across from his Building, the last few years of life. He didn't drink, and ppl usually left him alone. His very last picture was taken a few days before he passed, holding his new born Nephew. She has never released it, for obvious reasons. At the end he was 6'2" and only 82lbs. He was only really able to drink Ensure shakes for meals, due to the damage Heroin did to his body over time. It's much more sad than that, but ppl can find that grim info if they ask the right ppl, and really want to know. But it's just more sadness you will find.
The closest you’ll listen to a man singing at his own funeral.
great reaction amanda as always amanda. as another comment made on here, down in a hole from the same unplugged concert is a must as well. the lyrics will definitely make you feel a certain way. it always makes me feel a certain way since i have been battling depression most of my life.
Thanks for doing this song. I lost my brother to heroin addiction back in '94. I vowed I'd never get in the same spot, but here it is almost 30 years later and I'm fighting the same addiction. Layne was in the throes of the addiction that later killed him, he had to shoot up mere minutes before he hit the stage.
Keep fighting. Don't let it kill you!
I like how they put a warning on this song!This was all we listened to back in the 90s and we didn't kill ourselves like the kids are doing now.
It's straight up social media that is killing kids these days.
Social media is having a negative impact on the mental health of our youth. Well, and the older generation as well who want to argue politics all day.
I’m currently addicted to fentanyl. Going in for treatment in 11 days. So nervous. So scared. So suicidal. So lonely. I was always a sensitive kid. Always the nice guy. Quiet spoken. Hopefully I’ll be alright. I never figured I’d live past 30 and here I am still. I’ve overdosed and died like 3 times. Idk how I’m still here… fighting tho. 💔💔
I believe in you. And I am SO proud of you for going into treatment. Please keep us updated!
I’m a disabled Veteran and I nearly became a statistic. 22 Veterans commit suicide every SINGLE day. They come home and don’t know how to integrate back into “normal life”. AIC, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana all were bands that represented the grunge era and that was angst filled soundtrack to my high school years in the 90s. Unfortunately we’ve lost Layne, Chris, and Kurt all musical giants that were taken to soon. For me I survived because I met my wife after coming back from deployment from Afghanistan having lost 14 of my brothers. She also helped me to find an organization that provides service dogs free to Veterans who have lost their ability to be in civilization. I didn’t leave home because crowds, traffic, and small places made me panic. My furry battle buddy Chance helped save my life.
So happy that you have your wife and Chance to help you heal. Thank you for your sacrifice. 💖
Everyday is a battle Amanda. We fight the battle and lose a few but in the end, we win the war in our minds…. Stay strong!
nice. Saw them live this year for the first time ever. They played this song. The band dedicated it to Layne and Mike. It was an amazing experience. Great song.
For someone who doesn't know the history of Alice In Chains they all seem like a very talented band, but the lead singer, Layne Staley, battled addiction the whole time of the bands existence until his sad unfortunate death. The bass player also sadly died due to a drug overdose. Many of the songs are about his battles with addiction & those who would peru upon his addiction.
Greatest song ever written ❤
I forgot to say you're a beautiful person. Someone is or is going to be very happy being with you. Stay the way you are i appreciate you and so do so many others.
See him healthy and he will blow your socks off. He’s stunning either way but a little spark that he had healthy was missing. He was an amazing artist, lyrics writer and an amazing singer. The world is smaller without him
"Rain" by Grandson is a really good song about how important it is to let ourselves feel pain so we can feel better afterwards.
Layne, you are truly missed brother..
We’ll never forget the love you gave to all.
Layne was at his worse with his heroin addiction here. He had get a taste before this performance just to get though the set. If it’s possible to sing your own eulogy, Layne did it here. They only had one more live performance after this and that was it for Alice In Chains. Layne died alone in his apt, alone, only 86lbs. He was first great singer that rock and roll lost.
How could anyone not know this guy was going to not end up dead. This song is his final feeling of the end. It’s haunting and always will be
I survived. Jammed with Dennis DeYoung in his garage, did gigs with Alice Cooper and Chicago.....What goes on, is crazy when you're on stage. I got out early, in the 80's
Was always one of my favorite groups he died right before my birthday he was in such a low place in his mind this is during all his depression and drug abuse I wish someone would have stepped in to help him we need singers like him back
Anyone who has battled addiction or depression can listen to this unplugged album and totally understand it has helped me threw some of my darkest times greatest singer and album ever rip layne
It's a song about just how devastating drug abuse is while the addict doesn't necessarily realize what they're doing.
Deep down he knew he wasn't writing a song, he was writing his own epitaph.