you're right, i think Layne done a few more things after this then went into seclusion until his death in 2002, the last song he recorded was a cover of Another Brick in the Wall
The last songs were died and get both again. In fact layne was ln such bad shape they used clips from the sea in sorrow video for get born agian video. layne said that song was about his addict father who claimed to be a born again Christian.
@@THEslashman well I'll start. At this point Layne stayed away from his band mates as a fundamental. He was terrified in rehearsal that Jerry would realize his teeth had rotted out.
i really feel like he already knew. the lyrics are about magazine articles painting him as a womanizer and a bad person, the substance abuse guess had to come from someone who knows who Layne is.
@@Ultra54ableHell, I'm tripping at people having that reaction to marijuana. I've been using medical marijuana over 2 years now and take very small doses and the effect it has on me still has no bearing whether I use indica, sativa, hybrid, etc. After 2 years, 5mg edibles typically knock me out. IF I manage to stay awake, I equate the feeling to being sick, because it feels similar to how I feel when I start having anaphylaxis. Because of that, I only take it when I'm hoping to knock myself out because I can't handle the physical pain I'm in any more. There must be something faulty with the way my body feels the effects of cannabis, because from what I've seen and heard, no one else experiences it this way. This was an aside response to your comment, really having nothing to do with AIC. But, as for Layne, his pain is palpable. I think his pain was so deep and profound that he couldn't help but let it out through his instrument.
This and the Nirvana unplugged gig.. Man that comment is so deep and so accurate.. Props to whoever you borrowed that from and thank you for putting it here!
The whole of Jar of Flies proved it, and when they went out on MTV Unplugged it got even higher. The lowest point ironically created some of the most high tier beautiful music I've ever heard.
You guys and EVERYONE forget who started the unplugged of rock. TESLA! If you haven't watched Five Man Video Band through it's entirety, are you all missing something. I can't say which is better. The whole aura of Layne Staley is something to overcome. But don't miss one of the best and the FIRST!
AIC and Layne don't need the hall of fame to validate their art. Those that know, know. He has probably saved lives with this performance alone. No panel of faceless industry suits can make this beautiful music any more relevant and important.
The 90s were such a good decade for rock music...Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, Maynard, Zach de la Rocha, Kurt Cobain... So many amazing vocalists with so much deep pain and beautiful music.
Don’t leave out Scott Weiland! Back in the day one of the greatest vocalists, then drugs destroy him vocally. All these grunge guys man so good, and their downfall was drug suicide etc. etc.
Oh myyyyyyy......haven’t even watched the video yet. You are literally watching the last gasps of a man who knows he is soon to die. The pain in his voice will continue to echo for years to come. Pleaaaaaaaaaase do “Down In a Hole” from this same MTV unplugged. Epic
This was years before he died. If this was recorded in 2001 or 2002 then one could argue that this was him knowing he was going to die, but thisbwas in 1996. He didn't die until 2002.
@@david-nance If you are referring to that book Angry Chair, that book is a bunch of lies and that quote was claimed to have been within the months or weeks leading up to his death.
You nailed it. This song was not just a cry for help. It was a declaration of desperation and lonliness and loss. Lane, at this point, was beyond help. In absolute recognition, and so many people who understood where Lane was coming from, his recognition was detracted from his blatant outcry for release from pain. We related so much we ignored the messenger.
"His voice is haunting" ,"ls this a cry for help?". Interesting you caught that second line into the song. Layne Staley voice is definitely haunting. I hope you react to Love Hate Love Live at the Moore. You can see Layne at his best, before he got sick and is one of the best performances ever. Please do yourself a favor and go down this rabbit hole. Alice in Chains is everything!!!! You'll be glad you did! Also his performance of Frogs unplugged is so good!
I was a teenager in the 90s. These songs seemed to show up every day. It was a great time to be alive! My son is 16 and a musician. He keeps telling me how lucky I was to be a kid in the 90s
He's right. The 90's really was the birth of multiple new genres/sub-genres of music, and the wealth of truly great artists/bands that came up in the 90's is imply not comparable to any other era of music. Not to say there aren't great other era's of music, but there was just SO MUCH great music in the 90's.
I was there. I survived it too. I don't know how. I was in a self induced coma of music, concerts, and festivals fueled by any drug we could get our hands on..
Such a sad tragedy 😢 please don't judge addicts, those suffering from depression, it's such a hard and lonely battle for these people. Be kind, have sympathy and empathy ❤
Look you have to understand from the outside it seems easy I lost my mom a few years back from her alcohol addiction and is so hard to find empathy and sympathy when you've watched her choose her addiction over you and your siblings over and over again she literally torn her life down to nothing more then her next drink and being forced to watch it happening and knowing what would happen and where it leads and she won't hear you because all that matters is that next drink and the only thing you can manage to do to not get sucked into the vortex of her life is to cut her out of your life to save yourself yes I miss mother every day and wish she would have listened to me to see her grandchildren grow up but like I said it a lot harder then just that you have to remember the lives that are affected by that person's addiction
@@Krazyirish13 I am so sorry to hear about your mom. It is so very sad what happened 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I just wish drugs and alcohol did not exist in this world at all. That would save so many lives...
Most addicts suffer from undiagnosed conditions & whether they know it or not, they are self-medicating. Opiate/Opioid addicts normally have depression/bi-polar/schitzophrenic disorders. Most meth/stimulant addicts are neurodivergent disorder sufferers.
That song is one of the most amazing pieces ever!!! MrLboyd see every caveat of why this is great. Content, Musicians, Vocals.... I was introduced to this around the year 2000 I listened to this so many times.......
Layne was battling an heroin addiction, bro, He was fked up during this show, it almost didn't happen, Layne was dope sick and couldn't play, they had to send their manager out to go find heroin for him or he couldn't do the show. Well, he found it and the show went on....All their songs are about their life, most are cries for help from Layne. We lost the best singer in Rock the day he died. He died of a Heroin/Coke Overdose, was dead 2 weeks in his condo before being found by his mother, she called the cops, the cops busted down his door and he was found dead, said his body already started to decompose as well. That would fk me up, it would haunt me the rest of my days!
come on... if he wasnt' famous he would still be a junkie....fame doesn't increase price, it only reveals your true character... just enjoy all the great songs we got from AIC
@@notimportant3686 what’s wrong with being a junkie, maybe he enjoyed it...besides, now he will always be young and a freaking legend, instead of getting old and having to deal with all these assholes that seem to be infecting the US
@@jsmoker10 if that is a good trade off for you then there is nothing really further to discuss, we have differing view points... what if we replaced "junkie" with suicidal or self-cutting, etc... does that change a little bit?
“O God I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space -were it not that I have bad dreams.” Hamlet. That’s the whole song right there. In a few words.
Layne Staley is a Legend! Most epic male vocalist to grace the Rock scene!! Alice in Chains is the greatest band from Seattle and beyond! RIP Layne & Mike More Alice in Chains please!! Love Hate Love, live @ The Moore Rooster, Them Bones, Rain when I die, Man in the a Box.
Live in Seattle Love Hate Love. Nothing will ever touch this performance. Nothing. You will hear the true power and emotion in his voice and it wasn't even difficult for him to to. Absolutely the GOAT
I think you are the best reaction channel on RUclips. Your reactions are not shouting. Not jumping around. Your talking points are nuanced and evocative. I really enjoy it and am glad to find your channel. On a side note: this song is one of three that makes me cry every time. My mother is dying, and this song pretty much perfectly sums up the gloom I live in each day.
Layne's story is particularly soul-crushing. He became a singer because he wanted to impress and hopefully find his dad who abandoned him when he was a child. When they finally reunited, his dad only cared about Layne's fame and money and used him to get drugs. This made Layne realize that his dad didn't really love him and that his entire life was meaningless.
This was recorded in 1996, they only played 6 more shows that same year. Layne's one time girlfriend died of an overdose towards the end of 1996, and after that, Layne went into seclusion. He only appeared on a cover of Another Brick In The Wall for The Faculty soundtrack, and two songs for the Nothing Safe Best of the Box album. If you watch more videos from this performance, you can see how frail he was, and how far gone he was, yet his voice was still very powerful. From this Unplugged album, Down In A Hole and Would are both amazing along with Nutshell. For me though, when I'm listening to this song in my car, right after he sings, "if I can't be my own," that bass you kept talking about, just buries the fuck out of the song, like it is trying to crater to the center of the Earth, and then the heaviest line in the song hits, "I'll feel better dead." It is just such an impactful 1-2 punch that hits hard on many different levels.
MTV Unplugged was SOOO overlooked back then. But now that you have all these people who cant carry a tune without (electronic) help, I think people appreciate it more. Id love to see you react to MTV Unplugged Pearl Jam - Black.
From Layne Staley's death April 5, 2002 To what would've been his upcoming birthday August 22, 2002 Was *139* days. Using Gematria, practice of converting letters into their corresponding numerical value (A=1, B=2, C=3...... Z=26) "Layne Staley" = *139* 2Pac's album All Eyes on me' released February 13, 2/13 Then, 213 days later, 2Pac died on September 13, can be written as 13/9 "Tupac Shakur" = 139 "New York" = 111 September 11: leaves 111 days left in the year. In the MLB's 111th World Series, the New York Mets lost the series on November 1, 11/1...
I really appreciate your deep insight and reflection. Art is interpreted differently within every individual. Even if it’s not what the artist meant, if they can make someone feel something and connect with their own reality it speaks volumes. That’s the goal. I love your reactions man
I just gotta say....that wasnt his problem friend. Demons are deeper than popularity. I'm 51, this dude is seriously to many of us top 5 all time legends. Glad young people get to listen.
@@aaront5225I'm from the Gen-X Era (50 yo) and my (adult) kids & I shared great music while they were growing up. We also went to rock concerts together.
Man literally anything on this unplugged show they did was legendary. So glad this happened before he died. Just listened to this on repeat when I was in high school.
“Friends don’t let friends get “Friends” haircuts” was a reference to the TV Show, and a not so subtle shot at Metallica who was sitting in the front row of the show. They had all recently cut their hair short which was controversial for a metal band of their status at the time.
The bass player was calling out Metallica who was there. They were being called sell outs and they were trying to be attractive males. Just seemed like they were unoriginal people just trying to pretend to be Rockers. While Layne Staley sings about the Heroin addiction that's actively killing him. They became more acceptable as a rock band because that overall idea was hardcore and makes everyone else a poser. You go on and sing about being hardcore attractive men being macho? Compared to someone who was singing about dying from their addiction instead of quitting, possibly having already lost teeth, contributing to his voice. That makes Layne Staley the true Rock Star, and they gave Metallica the bird.
This song was written about the Rolling Stones Magazine that lied and said they were writing and article about Alice in Chains. However, Layne was on the cover and the op-ed was written about his drug use. He was severely depressed, his gf died of an overdose, and he was trying to cope with withdrawal. This is my favorite unplugged episode ever
You are a star. Thank you for feeling this song, torment, this sadness. I wish we all could have reached out. We meaning all of us could have helped. His voice was of no one ever and I will always feel that his life sucked. Please make this voice an anomoly, so amzing that we realized just how much he changed our lives with his voice.
This song is so very powerful and Layne poured so much of his heart into it revealing his vulnerability, as he did in every song he wrote. He was a light amongst the darkness that eventually overcame him. There will never be another storyteller as great as he was. A true loss to the world of music. R.I.P. Layne Staley, your gift to us is and always will be appreciated.
I dig your reaction and analyzing. I just wanted to add that often times it's the tragedy in their life that launches these artist on their path to "fame". Often they are already depressed and conflicted and they find music or art as their therapeutic means to deal. Sadly, once they reach fame and added pressure of this attention, they can't cope without some sort of substance abuse. They were broken from the beginning, before anyone knew them and then they find they don't have the emotional maturity or mental strength to manage this spot light. It's a sad cycle we've all watched play out for many beloved artist. Usually, they are very sensitive people and the level of scrutiny and haters that come with fame are generally too much. Anyways, that's my take. Keep up the good work brother. Loving it!
"Is this a cry for help?" 3:06 ... It was at that minute that I cried. 🥺😢 Yes my friend. Not everyone suffers and cries in silence. 🎶🎙️🎸 Certain people sing their "pain" in such a beautiful melody, that almost no one notices their cry of despair amidst the beautiful chords. 🎬🃏🎭 Some "pretend" to be other people on screen, making the world laugh at their jokes and their talent... But at the end of the day, they go home to cry. 🗒️✒️🗣️ Others like me, write anonymously and isolate themselves, waiting for a chance to speak. ~ And so, we live a life that feels more like a cheap drama movie, where not everyone stays alive until the end. ~ Your sensitivity in perceiving what he perceived led me to vent. Sorry about that and thanks. ~ A friend from Brazil.🇧🇷
You completely understand these songs immediately when you discover them. It’s so comforting that you come help us see more insight into songs so many of us have kept close to us in our heart boxes for decades. These songs keep many of us alive.
I was able to see Alice in Chains with Layne live on several occasions and he was just awesome! The whole band was amazing! Layne was great! Thanks for a great reaction!🙏🎸✌
Man this is the best unplugged that MTV ever did. A lot of people say Nirvana and yes it was more popular at the time, but nothing matches this. It's raw, sad, painful and beautiful all at the same time. Alice in Chains was a very unique band and I think one of the best bands that ever existed. Damn straight I said it🤔. RIP Layne Staley, your music affected my soul and that's very rare to do, and thank you Jerry Cantrell for being freaking amazing, along with every other band member.
Man, to be honest I really liked your comments and your thoughts, your vision. I can listen to you hours. Appreciate it for this conversation and your wisdom.
as somebody who spent a lot of time listening to AIC alone in my room during my teen years, I'm very happy getting to see you experience them for the first time. I haven't watched this unplugged in its entirety in many years, now seems like as good a time as any. while this song is fantastic, the true magic of AIC (to me, at least) was always the harmony between Layne and Jerry. if we're going from this unplugged set, I highly recommend "no excuses," it's always been a personal favorite. great content man, all the best.
That last minute of the video helped so much, honestly I subscribed just because of it. I know he’ll probably never even see this comment, but I appreciate the way that he delivered the message, not only did he get a bullseye on what the song is about, he turned it into a message for us adolescents out there. I respect that
Lane Staley not only was battling addiction, he was fighting the media. They were saying that Lane had A.I.Ds and was gay. In this song Nutshell, he sang "miss printed lies" and "my privacy is raked". Lane had a voice of a rock god!!! He is missed very much.
Amazing reaction. I grew up on Alice in Chains, and this is the most emotional video to me, and is hard to watch knowing he took his life not long after this was shot.. You have great insight on breaking down a video, and reading it to the song and emotion. If you ever had the time to do a reaction on the whole Alice Unplugged performance would be epic. Other good songs are Rooster, Would, Man in the Box, Down in a Hole, i could keep going on, and on. Look forward to watching your Unplugged reaction. Who else agrees???
I’m a 25 year old black man and I discovered this song back in 2018 and I’ve been attached to this every since. Especially my battle during my depression era
First time viewer. What did I find? Substance, depth, thoughtfulness, empathy, wisdom. I stopped in to hear a reaction on a song/band I love. I’m leaving a subscriber with real appreciation. Excellent analysis on the depth of this song. If only others caught on to those lyrics before Layne (the singer) took his life.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
"Is this a cry for help?" Welcome to Alice in Chains' music.
god especially junkhead lmao
Yep. The entire band needed help. Unfortunately Layne and Mike Starr couldn't conquer their demons. Thankfully Sean and Jerry are still with us.
Very much so
That's exactly what I said
He suffered from depression and severe addiction. Although most people believe he was high in this unplugged session but actually he had food poison
Sadly, this was near the end of Layne's struggle with heroin. He is still one of the greatest vocalists ever
This was 1996. Layne died in 2002.
He did a bit more after this. But, who am I to try and narrate the guy's life. His music does that for him..
you're right, i think Layne done a few more things after this then went into seclusion until his death in 2002, the last song he recorded was a cover of Another Brick in the Wall
The last songs were died and get both again. In fact layne was ln such bad shape they used clips from the sea in sorrow video for get born agian video. layne said that song was about his addict father who claimed to be a born again Christian.
1998
@@THEslashman well I'll start. At this point Layne stayed away from his band mates as a fundamental. He was terrified in rehearsal that Jerry would realize his teeth had rotted out.
The fact that you picked up so much subtext behind his lines so quickly is nothing short of amazing.
i really feel like he already knew. the lyrics are about magazine articles painting him as a womanizer and a bad person, the substance abuse guess had to come from someone who knows who Layne is.
I can't agree more.
It's the weed, it makes you smarter.
@@Ultra54ableHell, I'm tripping at people having that reaction to marijuana. I've been using medical marijuana over 2 years now and take very small doses and the effect it has on me still has no bearing whether I use indica, sativa, hybrid, etc. After 2 years, 5mg edibles typically knock me out. IF I manage to stay awake, I equate the feeling to being sick, because it feels similar to how I feel when I start having anaphylaxis. Because of that, I only take it when I'm hoping to knock myself out because I can't handle the physical pain I'm in any more. There must be something faulty with the way my body feels the effects of cannabis, because from what I've seen and heard, no one else experiences it this way.
This was an aside response to your comment, really having nothing to do with AIC. But, as for Layne, his pain is palpable. I think his pain was so deep and profound that he couldn't help but let it out through his instrument.
Everyone researches ahead of time. Then acts as they listen. Lol. It’s been imitated by standup comedians. “Ooooh 🤔 ok”
I'll steal a comment from another Alice In Chains Unplugged reaction video:
This is the closest we'll get to hearing a man sing at his own funeral.
This and the Nirvana unplugged gig.. Man that comment is so deep and so accurate.. Props to whoever you borrowed that from and thank you for putting it here!
@@DrHappybone
Pearl Jam - Black 😭
@@BakedNConfused probably my favorite song of all time. Good call.
Wow well put… sad
He died what six years later ?
No band did live acoustic like Alice in Chains. Layne Staley's voice was perfect.
The whole of Jar of Flies proved it, and when they went out on MTV Unplugged it got even higher. The lowest point ironically created some of the most high tier beautiful music I've ever heard.
And, Layne was NOT his best self at that time. His best was out of this world.
@@davidw3673 Sad. He had to make little effort, and wasted his gift. Sad
Seether and godsmack got greatttt acoustic live aswell
You guys and EVERYONE forget who started the unplugged of rock. TESLA! If you haven't watched Five Man Video Band through it's entirety, are you all missing something. I can't say which is better. The whole aura of Layne Staley is something to overcome. But don't miss one of the best and the FIRST!
"Is this a cry for help?"
Yes... yes it is
Alice in chains with Lane Staley should be in the Hall of Fame, because nobody’s got a voice like that man and I don’t believe anybody ever will
AIC the greatest
Yesssss
They’ll be inducted soon we’re starting to see those amazing 90’s bands up for it cause of the 25 years or more since their debut albums
I agree 100 percent
AIC and Layne don't need the hall of fame to validate their art. Those that know, know. He has probably saved lives with this performance alone. No panel of faceless industry suits can make this beautiful music any more relevant and important.
The 90s were such a good decade for rock music...Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, Maynard, Zach de la Rocha, Kurt Cobain... So many amazing vocalists with so much deep pain and beautiful music.
You can throw Shannon Hoon on that list too.
Yes, but I'm sure he's never heard of them either...
Don’t leave out Scott Weiland! Back in the day one of the greatest vocalists, then drugs destroy him vocally. All these grunge guys man so good, and their downfall was drug suicide etc. etc.
Jerry Cantrell, Billy Corrigan and Aaron Lewis
Leave out Zak de la Rocha and Kurt Cobain and throw in Chuck schuldiner and Phil Anselmo and we have a complete list.
The "friends don't let friends get haircuts" is because metallica just cut off all their hair and was in the audience.
front row from what i understand.
"Friends Don't let Friends get FRIENDS haircuts"
ruclips.net/video/YvGiGMGlAh8/видео.html
Was just about to type this exact thing🤣
@@Whatthefunk24 They gotta get it correct! Lol
"Is this a cry for help?" Oh man, you have no idea.
Love man!! Pure love!! Miss this dude!
Oh myyyyyyy......haven’t even watched the video yet. You are literally watching the last gasps of a man who knows he is soon to die. The pain in his voice will continue to echo for years to come. Pleaaaaaaaaaase do “Down In a Hole” from this same MTV unplugged. Epic
Yes, please do so
This was years before he died. If this was recorded in 2001 or 2002 then one could argue that this was him knowing he was going to die, but thisbwas in 1996. He didn't die until 2002.
He once said he knew early on that heroin would kill him. That he knew he would never be able to get off of it
@@david-nance If you are referring to that book Angry Chair, that book is a bunch of lies and that quote was claimed to have been within the months or weeks leading up to his death.
@@ji_su never heard of it, heard it in a youtube video from laynes mother
You nailed it. This song was not just a cry for help. It was a declaration of desperation and lonliness and loss. Lane, at this point, was beyond help. In absolute recognition, and so many people who understood where Lane was coming from, his recognition was detracted from his blatant outcry for release from pain. We related so much we ignored the messenger.
Yes. I think he knew he was beyond help. He knew the help was there, but also knew that his demons wouldn't allow him to accept that help. Haunting.
He didn’t write it. Jerry did. About Andy Wood from Mother Love Bone.
@@86crud Layne wrote this one. Would? is the song you're referencing.
@@darkchainzz797 Aw jeez you’re right. Forgive me.
"His voice is haunting" ,"ls this a cry for help?". Interesting you caught that second line into the song. Layne Staley voice is definitely haunting. I hope you react to Love Hate Love Live at the Moore. You can see Layne at his best, before he got sick and is one of the best performances ever. Please do yourself a favor and go down this rabbit hole. Alice in Chains is everything!!!! You'll be glad you did! Also his performance of Frogs unplugged is so good!
Frogs 🙏🙏🙏
Literally everything Shannon just said.
yep, frogs and sludge factory
Frogs!!! My all time fave!
Man in the Box at Moore is EVERYTHING
He was the saddest dude… I cried when he died. RIP Layne.
My heart will forever hurt for Layne. He touched my soul.
Amen x
Oh I'm so here for this!! RIP Layne Staley
Same same same
I was a teenager in the 90s. These songs seemed to show up every day. It was a great time to be alive! My son is 16 and a musician. He keeps telling me how lucky I was to be a kid in the 90s
I feel so lucky to have been around and influenced by the 90s music. My formative years were shaped to a background of these songs and bands.
He's right. The 90's really was the birth of multiple new genres/sub-genres of music, and the wealth of truly great artists/bands that came up in the 90's is imply not comparable to any other era of music. Not to say there aren't great other era's of music, but there was just SO MUCH great music in the 90's.
I was there. I survived it too. I don't know how. I was in a self induced coma of music, concerts, and festivals fueled by any drug we could get our hands on..
OMG, I was 20 when this was out and I actually played the heck out of this.
Btw - great insightful commentary.
@@IKnowHowItEnds Yep, me too. Smack in the middle of it in Seattle. Great times and I knew what I was a part of....
Such a sad tragedy 😢 please don't judge addicts, those suffering from depression, it's such a hard and lonely battle for these people. Be kind, have sympathy and empathy ❤
I absolutely agree with you
Look you have to understand from the outside it seems easy I lost my mom a few years back from her alcohol addiction and is so hard to find empathy and sympathy when you've watched her choose her addiction over you and your siblings over and over again she literally torn her life down to nothing more then her next drink and being forced to watch it happening and knowing what would happen and where it leads and she won't hear you because all that matters is that next drink and the only thing you can manage to do to not get sucked into the vortex of her life is to cut her out of your life to save yourself yes I miss mother every day and wish she would have listened to me to see her grandchildren grow up but like I said it a lot harder then just that you have to remember the lives that are affected by that person's addiction
@@Krazyirish13 I am so sorry to hear about your mom. It is so very sad what happened 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I just wish drugs and alcohol did not exist in this world at all. That would save so many lives...
Most addicts suffer from undiagnosed conditions & whether they know it or not, they are self-medicating. Opiate/Opioid addicts normally have depression/bi-polar/schitzophrenic disorders. Most meth/stimulant addicts are neurodivergent disorder sufferers.
We all have our own demons.
That song is one of the most amazing pieces ever!!! MrLboyd see every caveat of why this is great. Content, Musicians, Vocals.... I was introduced to this around the year 2000
I listened to this so many times.......
Layne was battling an heroin addiction, bro, He was fked up during this show, it almost didn't happen, Layne was dope sick and couldn't play, they had to send their manager out to go find heroin for him or he couldn't do the show. Well, he found it and the show went on....All their songs are about their life, most are cries for help from Layne. We lost the best singer in Rock the day he died. He died of a Heroin/Coke Overdose, was dead 2 weeks in his condo before being found by his mother, she called the cops, the cops busted down his door and he was found dead, said his body already started to decompose as well. That would fk me up, it would haunt me the rest of my days!
So tragic man. I loved this band so much and I hate that Layne was so tortured internally. Man RIP
His voice is haunting. Bro, you have no idea! Please do more Alice In Chains. Layne was one of the greatest vocalists of all time
I feel so sad for everyone that wasn't a part of this scene while it was happening. We are a dieing generation and group of artists
I just hope that there are artists like this out there, but now that I'm not part of the young generation I'm not exposed to it, but they are.
Seether is still around but their genre pretty much shifted from back then, still good music tho
Grunge was my favorite early 90s mid 90s. STP was my band, love me some Scott Weiland.
@@michaelkimball8192 Yes!
@@CamiM305 lmfao
"If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead"
I feel that every day...
Know your pain dude, we are here with and for you.
There are so many of us walking this path with you
The most sweetly agonizing song ever written. Some days I can't even listen to it.
Here ya brother. I just play it thru tho. The pain is what I’m looking for. So I can remember what pain the drugs bring me 😕
Top 3 or maybe even THE greatest song of all time if you ask me. It’s absolutely perfect.
Layne also fronted a band called Mad Season. That band is also fire.
Still one of my favorite albums...brilliant
Yessir
Awesome band as well
yes!!!!
Great band
The friends comment on the guitar is referring to when Metallica cut their hair
When metallica forced a haircut on a band member
@@demonicrebellion6903 And AFAIK Metallica was in attendance at this show, so it was kind of a direct callout.
@@Deeraise Trolling before the internet, yeah?
Layne cut his hair
@@annlowry9841 No
The price of fame can be very steep...😢
RIP Layne Staley. ❤🕊🙏
come on... if he wasnt' famous he would still be a junkie....fame doesn't increase price, it only reveals your true character... just enjoy all the great songs we got from AIC
Fame comes with a price. Indeed.
@@notimportant3686 what’s wrong with being a junkie, maybe he enjoyed it...besides, now he will always be young and a freaking legend, instead of getting old and having to deal with all these assholes that seem to be infecting the US
@@jsmoker10 if that is a good trade off for you then there is nothing really further to discuss, we have differing view points... what if we replaced "junkie" with suicidal or self-cutting, etc... does that change a little bit?
Nutshell is probably the only song on the planet that I can listen to on endless repeat and never, ever get tired of it. Just absolute perfection
Agree 💯
So known, so loved , he felt so alone... sadly he is so missed. Watching him react to the video was powerful.
“O God I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space -were it not that I have bad dreams.” Hamlet.
That’s the whole song right there. In a few words.
Layne Staley is a Legend! Most epic male vocalist to grace the Rock scene!! Alice in Chains is the greatest band from Seattle and beyond! RIP Layne & Mike
More Alice in Chains please!!
Love Hate Love, live @ The Moore
Rooster, Them Bones, Rain when I die, Man in the a Box.
Iyo
You hit the nail on the head. I'm glad years later someone still gets what this song is about and appreciates the content rather than dismisses.
Listen to everything they have. Nutshell, Down in a Hole, Would? and, Man in the Box are my faves.
The greatest mtv unplugged album EVER
Layne Staley's voice is the ONLY voice that can give me goose bumps. I absolutely love his voice; irreplaceable.
Same here
Pearl Jam - Black
Made me cry the other day, like a waterfall 😭
Chris Cornell.
Try 5 random Chris Stapelton songs with lyrics he mostly wrote or totally wrote.
@@BakedNConfused that song is one of the absolute best.
Literally every song from Alice In Chains is great
Literally all of the Alice in Chains songs featuring Layne's vocals.
I’m glad they played “Nutshell” as the first song. It really set the tone for the entire Unplugged performance.
I have found that people who die so young have that soulful voice and talent. Even when they dont know they will die.
Live in Seattle Love Hate Love. Nothing will ever touch this performance. Nothing. You will hear the true power and emotion in his voice and it wasn't even difficult for him to to. Absolutely the GOAT
I think you are the best reaction channel on RUclips. Your reactions are not shouting. Not jumping around. Your talking points are nuanced and evocative. I really enjoy it and am glad to find your channel.
On a side note: this song is one of three that makes me cry every time. My mother is dying, and this song pretty much perfectly sums up the gloom I live in each day.
I dont enjoy it. Would rather hear the music.
@@paulaball8725 I mean I guess you could just stop watching reaction videos then...
@@Buddanutslol I'm not watching anymore of them. Gave it a try, because of the artist, didnt enjoy.
Yeah it made me cry too man
RIP Layne... your pain helped alot of people through theirs including me...
Layne's story is particularly soul-crushing. He became a singer because he wanted to impress and hopefully find his dad who abandoned him when he was a child. When they finally reunited, his dad only cared about Layne's fame and money and used him to get drugs. This made Layne realize that his dad didn't really love him and that his entire life was meaningless.
Yeah great dad huh !
This was recorded in 1996, they only played 6 more shows that same year. Layne's one time girlfriend died of an overdose towards the end of 1996, and after that, Layne went into seclusion. He only appeared on a cover of Another Brick In The Wall for The Faculty soundtrack, and two songs for the Nothing Safe Best of the Box album. If you watch more videos from this performance, you can see how frail he was, and how far gone he was, yet his voice was still very powerful. From this Unplugged album, Down In A Hole and Would are both amazing along with Nutshell.
For me though, when I'm listening to this song in my car, right after he sings, "if I can't be my own," that bass you kept talking about, just buries the fuck out of the song, like it is trying to crater to the center of the Earth, and then the heaviest line in the song hits, "I'll feel better dead." It is just such an impactful 1-2 punch that hits hard on many different levels.
Suggestion? Litteraly anything by Alice in Chains, before Layne died.
Amen
After too they deserve that
William kicks major ass. Phantom Limb has become my favorite Alice song of all time
Yes! What the Hell Have I, Would?, Got Me Wrong, Down in a Hole, Them Bones, I can go on and on and on...
@@bratshats The new Alice lineup is making better music than anything out now.
MTV Unplugged was SOOO overlooked back then. But now that you have all these people who cant carry a tune without (electronic) help, I think people appreciate it more. Id love to see you react to MTV Unplugged Pearl Jam - Black.
Today is the 19th anniversary of Layne’s death. RIP
Hard to believe it's been almost two decades...
Thank you for your reminder. Layne’s greatness should never be forgotten ❤️
I want to give it a thumbs up but he is an amazing artist we lost to soon.
From Layne Staley's death April 5, 2002
To what would've been his upcoming birthday August 22, 2002
Was *139* days.
Using Gematria, practice of converting letters into their corresponding numerical value
(A=1, B=2, C=3...... Z=26)
"Layne Staley" = *139*
2Pac's album All Eyes on me' released February 13, 2/13
Then, 213 days later,
2Pac died on September 13, can be written as 13/9
"Tupac Shakur" = 139
"New York" = 111
September 11: leaves 111 days left in the year.
In the MLB's 111th World Series, the New York Mets lost the series on November 1, 11/1...
I really appreciate your deep insight and reflection. Art is interpreted differently within every individual. Even if it’s not what the artist meant, if they can make someone feel something and connect with their own reality it speaks volumes. That’s the goal. I love your reactions man
I just gotta say....that wasnt his problem friend. Demons are deeper than popularity. I'm 51, this dude is seriously to many of us top 5 all time legends. Glad young people get to listen.
This Unplugged album is one of my all time favorites. Great reaction sir! No complaints.
Layne singing his eulogy. A troubled old soul. What a special performance. RIP brother. Anything from their DIRT album is great. Great reaction.
Alice in Chains and other '90s bands were the soundtrack of my existence. In a way, they still are.
Well said. I say this music is imprinted in my DNA
@@allisoncollins1978 I hope it's in my DNA, if I ever have a child it would crush my soul if they were into terrible music.
@@aaront5225I'm from the Gen-X Era (50 yo) and my (adult) kids & I shared great music while they were growing up. We also went to rock concerts together.
@@MissyM68 You have won today's greatest mom ever award. That's awesome.
Mine too, I just can't imagine ever again, a sound like it.
Down in a hole- Alice In Chains unplugged is a must do 👍🏼 same performance
First time I’ve seen your channel and you have the best insight of anyone doing reactions on RUclips. Subscribed!
Man literally anything on this unplugged show they did was legendary. So glad this happened before he died. Just listened to this on repeat when I was in high school.
Brother, you gotta listen or watch the whole AIC unplugged!
Agree!
i love the Nirvana unplugged, but this show was by far my favorite. Hands down.
Changed my life as a musician
One of the best albums I own. Fantastic
@@droid0311 My favorite album of all time.
You gotta watch all of this set it's a masterpiece
u treated the song with respect and you are intelligent and compassionate. the world need more of you. kudos.
Laynes struggles were a tragedy of epic proportions
His passing was like Janis moving on
“Friends don’t let friends get “Friends” haircuts” was a reference to the TV Show, and a not so subtle shot at Metallica who was sitting in the front row of the show. They had all recently cut their hair short which was controversial for a metal band of their status at the time.
The original bassist Mike Starr was dating a friend of mine. She was a model and while she was past out drunk he cut her hair off.
I was looking for this comment. I recently learned about the reference a few months ago myself.
@@deifyingpariahs Did she break up with him after that?
The bass player was calling out Metallica who was there. They were being called sell outs and they were trying to be attractive males. Just seemed like they were unoriginal people just trying to pretend to be Rockers. While Layne Staley sings about the Heroin addiction that's actively killing him. They became more acceptable as a rock band because that overall idea was hardcore and makes everyone else a poser. You go on and sing about being hardcore attractive men being macho? Compared to someone who was singing about dying from their addiction instead of quitting, possibly having already lost teeth, contributing to his voice. That makes Layne Staley the true Rock Star, and they gave Metallica the bird.
@@joshuachandlersan5014 bro....That was SO well said. This coming from a man with 4/5 tattooed on him...
This musical genius is no longer with us. God bless him. He's a "goat" for sure.
Jar of Flies one of the best albums ever created by Heroine and man. "Don't Follow" is one of my all time favorite songs.
Don’t Follow is one of the greatest.
💯
Don’t follow is the best
Layne on an interview said what never composed any songs "high".
Rust in peace by megadeth is best album under heroin
This song was written about the Rolling Stones Magazine that lied and said they were writing and article about Alice in Chains. However, Layne was on the cover and the op-ed was written about his drug use. He was severely depressed, his gf died of an overdose, and he was trying to cope with withdrawal. This is my favorite unplugged episode ever
You are a star. Thank you for feeling this song, torment, this sadness. I wish we all could have reached out.
We meaning all of us could have helped. His voice was of no one ever and I will always feel that his life sucked. Please make this voice an anomoly, so amzing that we realized just how much he changed our lives with his voice.
"is this a cry for help?"
welcome to Layne Stanley's music, my friend.
This song is so very powerful and Layne poured so much of his heart into it revealing his vulnerability, as he did in every song he wrote. He was a light amongst the darkness that eventually overcame him. There will never be another storyteller as great as he was. A true loss to the world of music. R.I.P. Layne Staley, your gift to us is and always will be appreciated.
Addiction in a nutshell
Man shut up with that epiphany. (
I dig your reaction and analyzing. I just wanted to add that often times it's the tragedy in their life that launches these artist on their path to "fame". Often they are already depressed and conflicted and they find music or art as their therapeutic means to deal. Sadly, once they reach fame and added pressure of this attention, they can't cope without some sort of substance abuse. They were broken from the beginning, before anyone knew them and then they find they don't have the emotional maturity or mental strength to manage this spot light. It's a sad cycle we've all watched play out for many beloved artist. Usually, they are very sensitive people and the level of scrutiny and haters that come with fame are generally too much. Anyways, that's my take. Keep up the good work brother. Loving it!
“Is there anything else I should be listening to?”
All of it… it’s all amazing. ❤️
Another favorite band of mine...was lucky to see these dudes performing live 2 times
Alice in chains- rooster
I am a combat veteran with PTSD and relate so much to that song. You gotta react to the official video of that one
without doubt . . . thank you for your service, sir!
Nobody gets anywhere safely without having The Rooster quietly strolling ahead of you with an M60.
@@REDHEADSARETOPS I was a 240b gunner, no m60 needed....lol
Please do Down in a hole and Would. Also from this performance. Amazing!
Yessss!
"Is this a cry for help?"
3:06 ... It was at that minute that I cried.
🥺😢
Yes my friend.
Not everyone suffers and cries in silence.
🎶🎙️🎸
Certain people sing their "pain" in such a beautiful melody, that almost no one notices their cry of despair amidst the beautiful chords.
🎬🃏🎭
Some "pretend" to be other people on screen, making the world laugh at their jokes and their talent... But at the end of the day, they go home to cry.
🗒️✒️🗣️
Others like me, write anonymously and isolate themselves, waiting for a chance to speak.
~
And so, we live a life that feels more like a cheap drama movie, where not everyone stays alive until the end.
~
Your sensitivity in perceiving what he perceived led me to vent.
Sorry about that and thanks.
~
A friend from Brazil.🇧🇷
You completely understand these songs immediately when you discover them. It’s so comforting that you come help us see more insight into songs so many of us have kept close to us in our heart boxes for decades. These songs keep many of us alive.
I was able to see Alice in Chains with Layne live on several occasions and he was just awesome! The whole band was amazing! Layne was great! Thanks for a great reaction!🙏🎸✌
Laynes a fuckin LEGEND 🙌...THE WHOLE WORLD MISSES YOU ❤
Man this is the best unplugged that MTV ever did. A lot of people say Nirvana and yes it was more popular at the time, but nothing matches this. It's raw, sad, painful and beautiful all at the same time. Alice in Chains was a very unique band and I think one of the best bands that ever existed. Damn straight I said it🤔. RIP Layne Staley, your music affected my soul and that's very rare to do, and thank you Jerry Cantrell for being freaking amazing, along with every other band member.
Couldn't agree more
The sad part is not than Layne Staley died..... but that he took the grunge era down with him.
Man, to be honest I really liked your comments and your thoughts, your vision. I can listen to you hours. Appreciate it for this conversation and your wisdom.
Jerry's writing and style with Layne singing... oh man, there are few duo's who compare.
Famous people fighting demons realize that just because the spotlight is on them, doesn’t necessarily mean life is any brighter.
Great statement
Not many of these guys were fame chasers, they just wanted to make music
In some ways I think its worse for them. Unlimited money, surrounded by people who will never say no to them. Rip Layne
as somebody who spent a lot of time listening to AIC alone in my room during my teen years, I'm very happy getting to see you experience them for the first time. I haven't watched this unplugged in its entirety in many years, now seems like as good a time as any.
while this song is fantastic, the true magic of AIC (to me, at least) was always the harmony between Layne and Jerry. if we're going from this unplugged set, I highly recommend "no excuses," it's always been a personal favorite.
great content man, all the best.
That last minute of the video helped so much, honestly I subscribed just because of it. I know he’ll probably never even see this comment, but I appreciate the way that he delivered the message, not only did he get a bullseye on what the song is about, he turned it into a message for us adolescents out there. I respect that
Alice In Chains had a lot of cries for help. "Jar Of Flies'" "Don't Follow" is my personal favorite.
Yes sir!
Lane Staley not only was battling addiction, he was fighting the media. They were saying that Lane had A.I.Ds and was gay. In this song Nutshell, he sang "miss printed lies" and "my privacy is raked". Lane had a voice of a rock god!!! He is missed very much.
So full of pain and sorrow...
I hope Layne might have finally found PEACE. We miss you, Layne.
I've listened to so many reactions to this song but you are the only one that seems to understand the core and dives in to it. Empathy +100
The FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS GET HAIRCUTS refers to when Metallica cut their hair. Funny for such a somber band.
Alright, it’s time..... Pearl Jam - Black (MTV Unplugged version)
So many great PJ songs, where to begin
This performance always makes me feel like I'm watching a man sing at his own funeral......RIP Layne😢
Wow. Well put man. I have felt the same way but couldn’t articulate it like you did. So true.
Please check out the video Rooster by them
I was about to say the same thing!
Best comment I’ve ever read about this performance was that it was like hearing a man sing at his own funeral. RIP Layne Staley.
Best Unplugged session of all time… hands down! Truly talented band.
Amazing reaction. I grew up on Alice in Chains, and this is the most emotional video to me, and is hard to watch knowing he took his life not long after this was shot.. You have great insight on breaking down a video, and reading it to the song and emotion. If you ever had the time to do a reaction on the whole Alice Unplugged performance would be epic. Other good songs are Rooster, Would, Man in the Box, Down in a Hole, i could keep going on, and on. Look forward to watching your Unplugged reaction. Who else agrees???
He didn't take his life.. He died 6 years after this...
You should check out Upchurch's cover of Nutshell he did, and anything else by Alice In Chains as well, thank you Sir.
Probally best cover i heard of nutshell 👍
@@louis638 agreed!
Upchurch and jelly roll are two of the few that I will trust to do a cover of the grunge era greats
Could you imagine them taking on hunger strike😱
@@reneeg9406 check out black top MOJO and small town titans cover of " Hunger Strike " it's off the charts.
That was a great time for Rock music! Rooster is a beautiful painful song that speaks to combat veterans
I’m a 25 year old black man and I discovered this song back in 2018 and I’ve been attached to this every since. Especially my battle during my depression era
First time viewer. What did I find? Substance, depth, thoughtfulness, empathy, wisdom. I stopped in to hear a reaction on a song/band I love. I’m leaving a subscriber with real appreciation. Excellent analysis on the depth of this song. If only others caught on to those lyrics before Layne (the singer) took his life.
Singing with one foot in the grave, it is tangible.