Pearl Jam shared this video on their Twitter on August 13, 2017. twitter.com/PearlJam/status/896835268631605249 Alice in Chains shared this video on their Twitter and Facebook on Layne's 50th birthday on August 22, 2017. twitter.com/AliceInChains/status/900053476763291649 facebook.com/aliceinchains/videos/10155710654102491/
No bullshit, you can watch some of his final performances. You can tell he's falling apart, and not the same guy he once was. But was STILL an incredible singer/performer
Blake Brewster just talking about that with someone, give the man a movie like they did for johnny cash in walk the line and the one they just did for queen.
His voice was crystal clear, loud, booming with an emotional intensity that comes from your gut. Not your vocal chords. I don't think many people can tap into that.
If you find yourself a friend that talks about you the way Jerry talks about Layne, you're set for life. Fuck I love Layne's voice and style, and Jerry Cantrell too... Thank god he's still around creating great art and keeping it alive and real.
Jerry is 100% right! The only thing is Jerry's not giving himself enough credit as a singer himself. Then you put the two together and it's pure magic and absolute genious!!! I'm SO proud of AIC for carrying on the legendary music and sound!!! Laynes probably up there and watching with total pride!
You know why he was such a powerful singer? Because every song was so deeply personal he could put all of his pain and anger into expressing in song what he couldn't in conversation.
That's a fair opinion but NO competition? C'mon now. Chris Cornell had arguably an equally powerful voice, was on the grunge scene since the begining, and wrote the majority of Soundgarden's material. That qualifies as competition, in my opinion.
There will NEVER EVER be another Layne Staley period. His voice and lyrics were a perfect storm. We captured and witnessed one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
:( Jerry is so sad. 1:44. You can tell even after all those years it chokes him up. Layne must have been his best friend. It must be hard carrying on the memory of someone so loved for so long.
I start to cry when I hear Alice songs cause you can feel what Layne was going through years of suffering, it's sad, haunting, but beautiful. There will never be another Layne ever.
I feel so fortunate to have been in Seattle even for a few years during the early 90s. My son's father grew up with Layne, & I got to meet his beautiful soul a couple times. Along with a few of the other guys. For a girl from a small town in OR, it was a big deal. The best music & party time of my life! I miss you Layne, Chris, Mike, Kurt, I will add Andy, even though he passed right before I moved here. His music played in my home this morn ❤🎶
Listened to hundreds of hours of Alice In Chains at absurd volumes. To this day, still find myself amazed by thier music. Such amazing talent and power.
You can tell how loved he was. Even all these years later, including Mike b4 he passed, no one can finish a sentence talking about him without tearing up. Everytime I hear his voice on Mad Season's "All Alone", I just lose it.
Keith _ same here, man. He had more soul and heart in those two lines: "ahhh-ahhh! We're all alone!" Than most singers have in their entire discographies.
I think about layne and aic everyday, I don't even know them, but I almost feel like I do through there music, having gone through a lot of the same things, there music gives me a reason to live. I wish I could play with someone as good as jerry and sean and mike, and also mike star best bass player ever.
The greatest singer from Seattle period!!! Watched a video from Kemper Arena in 1996. The last time he ever performed. The same arena that Owen Hart lost his life in 1999. Layne voice will never die! I have teenagers who listen to Alice In Chains because he made “no excuses”. He just rocked every night
Layne had such a passion for his music and being able to express it through song. He connected with countless souls. It so sad he just couldn't help himself. You are missed Layne Staley.
Layne staley was bad ass I can come close to to voice the power in voice unreal I just wish he was still around he was damn good best vocals I ever heard guy's like him and Scott weiland and Chris Cornell one of kind they're my teacher's I can follow Scott and Chris but Layne he's hard to follow man the power of voice Harmony's he came up with was out this world I want thank theses guy's for there music so generation to come can see how music can change the world!!!! Rockman
Layne was such awesome singer. That amazing sound just came out of him with like it was no effort what so ever . I have never heard anyone like him and most likely never ever will again.
The best music ended in December 1999....absolutely nothing matters after that! Long live Layne and long live the 90s...wish I could stay young there!!!!!
mikerafone music Same for me... I mean I find Maynard's voice (or vocal style) nothing special at all (and I have some TOOL albums btw)...on the other hand I really do enjoy especially Layne Staley's and also Mike Patton's voice(s)...Patton is a total psycho (mean it in a good way ofc).
To hear Jerry say that, knowing how intimately they harmonized is pretty great. Even in the "new" Alice I can still hear Layne, because they played off eachother so well.
I'm revisting Layne and my past lately. I forgot how much I loved him. Good memories. I wish he were here but I thank him for leaving us with the music.
He was a god, a sacrifice, a clown, poison and remedy. He was just a human being, a brother and a son. He was fire. This just couldn't last long. And world lacks him so much. I do.
Jerry couldn’t have said it any better way. “He was a great guy and gave me a place to stay when I moved to Seattle” and “he’s the best in rock n roll nobody else could do that”
Jerry is one of the most interesting,cool,cleverest,intelligent,down to earth,funny,reflective and influential rock stars we've had over the past 20yrs or so.when he talks we listen.love this guy🤟👍
I was at the Music Bank at the same time Layne lived there...no, we were'nt friends. He was "The keeper of the keys". If staff had your key your room was insured if you had it and your shit got jacked that was on you! He fucking lived it 24/7 and was a very humble cool dude- had many brief conversations with him....the last one at the Seattle Center after they were already huge....he was still the same guy at the rehearsal hall- no ego and just a real dude.
Laynes voice was so powerful and so primal. When you heard Laynes voice,you automatically knew this is going to be one bad ass song! Enjoyed it a lot. 😁
He's not one of the greatest singers, he is the greatest to have ever lived and greatest there ever will be in metal and all the other genres combined, no one has that range of G1-D7 and that much power, enough power to feel his voice in you.
The 90's were such an awesome time to be young, I'm privileged to have experienced all the really great music of that time. I'm sad and I feel cheated out of growing old with the musicians of my youth....my mom is so lucky to still have most of hers around.
Fell in love with Ann Wilson when I first saw that beautiful face in the 1987 "Alone" video. Five years later, in 1992, I saw Layne in the "Would" video with the glasses and the orange sweater and just stood there in front of the old television set, with arms crossed. I have never gotten that image and memory out of my mind since. Love to Ann, Love to Layne.
![Eminem - Somebody Save Me (feat. Jelly Roll) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vwa0HenQMi4/mqdefault.jpg)
Pearl Jam shared this video on their Twitter on August 13, 2017.
twitter.com/PearlJam/status/896835268631605249
Alice in Chains shared this video on their Twitter and Facebook on Layne's 50th birthday on August 22, 2017.
twitter.com/AliceInChains/status/900053476763291649
facebook.com/aliceinchains/videos/10155710654102491/
oh shit Layne and me have the same birthday. I was born in 1990 though so never really had the chance to see him.
My last name is staley and he was born one day before me.
@sophie wilde Well spoken... 🎶🎓🎶
Even on Layne's worst days he still sang better then 90% of singers
Than**
90%??? Imo it's 100%
No bullshit, you can watch some of his final performances. You can tell he's falling apart, and not the same guy he once was. But was STILL an incredible singer/performer
So true!
99%
There needs to be a documentary about Layne and a book just about him.
Or a movie
Blake Brewster just talking about that with someone, give the man a movie like they did for johnny cash in walk the line and the one they just did for queen.
I don't understand why he gets so overlooked, effing awesome
Celine Martin yes please someone pay attention to what we’re saying and make a movie or documentary!
We need a Layne biopic
Put them in the Rock and Roll HoF. I feel like I say this too often. Alice in Chains deserve it
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke anyway.
Only if the R&R HoF agrees to rescind Run-DMC from their roll of honor.
I figured they were. Well, screw it then. We all already know
Oh wow I thought they already were. That’s some fucked up shit.
The rock and roll hall of fame is a mockery, and personally I would rather they weren't in it. They are and were too good for that nonsense
Kudos to Jerry as well. You're the man too, Jerry.
He wrote and still writes insane riffs.
Most definitely best band best people best musicians. Respect💯
cool my ramdom filipino fellow
I fucking love Jerry Cantrell
His voice was crystal clear, loud, booming with an emotional intensity that comes from your gut. Not your vocal chords. I don't think many people can tap into that.
Jerry and Layne together were unstoppable.
If you find yourself a friend that talks about you the way Jerry talks about Layne, you're set for life. Fuck I love Layne's voice and style, and Jerry Cantrell too... Thank god he's still around creating great art and keeping it alive and real.
Ann Wilson holding Layne in such high regard proves just how special he was.
Jerry is 100% right! The only thing is Jerry's not giving himself enough credit as a singer himself. Then you put the two together and it's pure magic and absolute genious!!! I'm SO proud of AIC for carrying on the legendary music and sound!!! Laynes probably up there and watching with total pride!
Sandy Howell so true, those two together were quite a match vocally
Layne was Godly but Jerry harmonizing with him elevated it to a whole different level .
jerry was prettier than me back in the day
You know why he was such a powerful singer? Because every song was so deeply personal he could put all of his pain and anger into expressing in song what he couldn't in conversation.
King of grunge no competition
There's a little bit of grunge in their music but I wouldn't call them a grunge band.
Greatest band of the 90s in my opinion
That's a fair opinion but NO competition? C'mon now. Chris Cornell had arguably an equally powerful voice, was on the grunge scene since the begining, and wrote the majority of Soundgarden's material. That qualifies as competition, in my opinion.
Like Paynus Vajonas said, Chris Cornell is also equal, but also Eddie Vedder is up there too
@roger peet Kurt was the worst of them. Lol
There will NEVER EVER be another Layne Staley period. His voice and lyrics were a perfect storm. We captured and witnessed one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
So sad not to have seen AIC in concert. Layne's voice was so unique and powerful..
I agree!!
They still kick ass though! I just saw them with Korn last month. It's obviously not the same without Layne but they still sound great
Dave Dude I saw them just 2 days ago with Korn as well. And yes. It was god like.
Crazy Cat Lady how right you are
I saw the reformed aic but it just wasn't the same at all
Am I crazy or Im the only one who feels like layne is with you when you hear him, there is kind of connection with his soul
:( Jerry is so sad. 1:44. You can tell even after all those years it chokes him up. Layne must have been his best friend. It must be hard carrying on the memory of someone so loved for so long.
I start to cry when I hear Alice songs cause you can feel what Layne was going through years of suffering, it's sad, haunting, but beautiful. There will never be another Layne ever.
Same here I just listened to nutshell a little while ago and balled my eyes out
Everyone in this band was beyond talented. Best band in my lifetime for sure!
the way jerry talks about him is so sweet
Happy 50th birthday layne. we miss you.
Layne had IT. Great pitch, great tone, great musical ideas put to vocal melody. His vocal hooks are original and they stick
Powerful, soulful voice. Gentle heart. Wicked sense of humor. Fashion icon. He was the whole package
I feel so fortunate to have been in Seattle even for a few years during the early 90s. My son's father grew up with Layne, & I got to meet his beautiful soul a couple times. Along with a few of the other guys. For a girl from a small town in OR, it was a big deal. The best music & party time of my life! I miss you Layne, Chris, Mike, Kurt, I will add Andy, even though he passed right before I moved here. His music played in my home this morn ❤🎶
I love hearing from people who knew them first hand...thanks for sharing.
*Hoon
lucky
Michael P Andy Wood, singer of Mother Love Bone. Do yourself a favor and check his story out if you like the Seattle music situation from that era.
awesome story...any chance you knew elliott smith?
Listened to hundreds of hours of Alice In Chains at absurd volumes. To this day, still find myself amazed by thier music. Such amazing talent and power.
Jerry fighting back tears at the end.. I love that band they will always be my fav til I die
Greatest rocker of all time. Layne was IT!!!
You could feel the pain in Layne's voice..
The great singers always make you feel what they're feeling.
Layne's and Cantrell's harmonies, together, were the beauty.
No one can compete with Layne. His music forever burned in my heart
You can tell how loved he was. Even all these years later, including Mike b4 he passed, no one can finish a sentence talking about him without tearing up. Everytime I hear his voice on Mad Season's "All Alone", I just lose it.
Keith _ same here, man. He had more soul and heart in those two lines: "ahhh-ahhh! We're all alone!" Than most singers have in their entire discographies.
My fav Madseason song is River of deceit its his swan song and the guitar from Mike is beautiful, totally an AMAZING BEAUTIFUL song.
Jerry and Layne worked so so well in their harmonies together. It was brilliant❤😥 RIP Layne. Hope you're somewhere free and beautiful.
Jerry is one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters in music history
Jerry is 100% right. That guy was so amazing! Listen to would with just his vocals. I miss that dude so much!
I cried watching this man.
Layne understood the subtleties or how deliver at level 11.
Unmistakable, and came from the heart. True artist & master, along with Jerry.
Jerry you sure got that right...nobody will ever be better than LAYNE!!!!
I very much miss Layne... But I like that Jerry Cantrell is turning into King Théoden.
Robert Plant looks like deranged Théoden while Jerry looks like Théoden at Pelennor Fields about to give the "ride to ruin speech".
Ahahah
Layne is without question one of the G.O.A.T......the COMPLETE frontman!
Layne was the most unique and talented singer of that era for sure! AIC was huge when I was in high school and college! No one since has come close!
I love Jerry’s loyalty. I absolutely adore everything everyone said about my friend, Layne.He’s my friend too! …
In my heart. 😊♥️
he was the best. period.
gosh, such a beautiful soul. ❤
i wish we could bring him back. 😞
artsy 33 😭😭😭
I think about layne and aic everyday, I don't even know them, but I almost feel like I do through there music, having gone through a lot of the same things, there music gives me a reason to live. I wish I could play with someone as good as jerry and sean and mike, and also mike star best bass player ever.
The greatest singer from Seattle period!!! Watched a video from Kemper Arena in 1996. The last time he ever performed. The same arena that Owen Hart lost his life in 1999. Layne voice will never die! I have teenagers who listen to Alice In Chains because he made “no excuses”. He just rocked every night
Layne had such a passion for his music and being able to express it through song. He connected with countless souls. It so sad he just couldn't help himself. You are missed Layne Staley.
Hadn't seen this before, such awesome words on the greatest singer ever
Layne staley was bad ass I can come close to to voice the power in voice unreal I just wish he was still around he was damn good best vocals I ever heard guy's like him and Scott weiland and Chris Cornell one of kind they're my teacher's I can follow Scott and Chris but Layne he's hard to follow man the power of voice Harmony's he came up with was out this world I want thank theses guy's for there music so generation to come can see how music can change the world!!!! Rockman
My very first cd ever was dirt. When I was a little kid,thanks mom and dad and thank u layne.🎶🎶🎼🎵
Layne was awesome - RIP 🕯
Layne was such awesome singer. That amazing sound just came out of him with like it was no effort what so ever . I have never heard anyone like him and most likely never ever will again.
I agree with everything Jerry said. Rest in peace Layne. Still miss ya.
We were so blessed to have Layne in our lives. He is a great talent that is with me forever. Thank you Layne!
Layne is it, there never has been or will be a voice like his. Wish you were here Layne.
You can feel how much he’s truly loved & missed❤️
The best music ended in December 1999....absolutely nothing matters after that! Long live Layne and long live the 90s...wish I could stay young there!!!!!
I couldn't agree more to Jerry.For me, Layne is just untouchable
Agreed Jerry. Also you and Layne made some of the best vocal harmonies in rock history!
Eli Nair absolutely
Amen. And criminally underrated
layne will live in my top 3 singers for ever alongside maynard and mike patton
I agree, add in Mikael Stanne from Dark Tranquillity, and Tomi Joutsen from Amorphis, and those 5 top all lists for me.
I cant stand maynards
@Great White Joplin?!?!? How dare you.
none of you know, warrel dane? smfh.
mikerafone music Same for me... I mean I find Maynard's voice (or vocal style) nothing special at all (and I have some TOOL albums btw)...on the other hand I really do enjoy especially Layne Staley's and also Mike Patton's voice(s)...Patton is a total psycho (mean it in a good way ofc).
Damn straight. His voice, delivery, everything.. it was everything. So gutting how things went.
Yup one of the greatest without a doubt.
You can tell Jerry misses Layne so much 🥺 they were each others muse's 🖤💔
His unique powerful voice is still in my heart although it's been so many years. I Agree with Jerry - nobody is better
Trying to sing a Layne song is the hardest voice to imitate
he was and still is the best vocalist that ever lived, PERIOD!.. there's no one that even comes close to him, NO ONE.
To hear Jerry say that, knowing how intimately they harmonized is pretty great. Even in the "new" Alice I can still hear Layne, because they played off eachother so well.
I'm revisting Layne and my past lately. I forgot how much I loved him. Good memories. I wish he were here but I thank him for leaving us with the music.
Agreed. Haunting. Passionate. Powerful. Soulful.
AMEN. RIP Layne. You are missed
He was a god, a sacrifice, a clown, poison and remedy. He was just a human being, a brother and a son. He was fire. This just couldn't last long. And world lacks him so much. I do.
This is a interesting piece. Laynes voice was always great and haunting.
Jerry couldn’t have said it any better way. “He was a great guy and gave me a place to stay when I moved to Seattle” and “he’s the best in rock n roll nobody else could do that”
100% agree. Such a gift and a great ear for vocal lines.
Happy B-day, Daddy. :) 51 years on this rock without you, all alone! :( please never forget how much i love and miss you so still....soo much ♡
😢 crying watching this
Jerry is one of the most interesting,cool,cleverest,intelligent,down to earth,funny,reflective and influential rock stars we've had over the past 20yrs or so.when he talks we listen.love this guy🤟👍
Legend.
ive legit never been able to describe Layne's voice and what it does to me, but what Ann said... thats it. His voice was literally magical.
Everybody remembers the first time they heard Nutshell or Wake Up, I don't care who you are or what you're into! Instant goosebumps.
I was at the Music Bank at the same time Layne lived there...no, we were'nt friends. He was "The keeper of the keys". If staff had your key your room was insured if you had it and your shit got jacked that was on you! He fucking lived it 24/7 and was a very humble cool dude- had many brief conversations with him....the last one at the Seattle Center after they were already huge....he was still the same guy at the rehearsal hall- no ego and just a real dude.
Love you layne ill never forget you.
Jerry is right there’s no one better he was unbelievably talented
Dear Layne... How f*k I miss you!
Happy birthday Layne you'll always be missed ❤️
Soooooo beautiful. RIP Layne. Love Jerry
The only time I ever cried when a celebrity died was when he died. It still breaks my heart.
His voice was Badass. Never get sick of it
Laynes voice was so powerful and so primal. When you heard Laynes voice,you automatically knew this is going to be one bad ass song! Enjoyed it a lot. 😁
He is the best so-called Grunge singer and my favorite singer of all. He seemed like an awesome person as well.
Layne and Chris Cornell were 2 of the best singers in Rock of their eras. And arguably of all times..
That guy could make you cry and think all @ once.
He's not one of the greatest singers, he is the greatest to have ever lived and greatest there ever will be in metal and all the other genres combined, no one has that range of G1-D7 and that much power, enough power to feel his voice in you.
❤️ so much love for Layne
The 90's were such an awesome time to be young, I'm privileged to have experienced all the really great music of that time. I'm sad and I feel cheated out of growing old with the musicians of my youth....my mom is so lucky to still have most of hers around.
He is still the greatest singers of all time rest in peace
I always felt Layne as a brother...love him forever
Yes great Singers layne Staley 👍🏻🎶🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸⋯⋯
He is, without any doubt..
Fell in love with Ann Wilson when I first saw that beautiful face in the 1987 "Alone" video. Five years later, in 1992, I saw Layne in the "Would" video with the glasses and the orange sweater and just stood there in front of the old television set, with arms crossed. I have never gotten that image and memory out of my mind since. Love to Ann, Love to Layne.
Lanes’ artistic spirit brought those amazing songs out of Jerry