Alice in Chains

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Listed under : Grunge 1988-1995

Layne Staley (not Stanley) was found dead in his home on April 20th, 2002 from an apparent overdose on speedballs. According to his autopsy, and the way his body was decayed when found, they say he died on April 5th, the same day that Kurt Cobain shot himself in 1994. Weird eh?

Orville Lee : What many people say Alice in Chains represented was they were the true link between grunge and heavy metal. Labelled as heavy metal when they released their debut album in 1990, Alice in Chains were nominated for a grammy for Man in the Box and went on various tours opening for Van Halen, Iggy Pop, and Megedeth. In 1991, they released the soft, mainly acoustic EP Sap which featured members of Soundgarden and Mudhoney guest starring.

In 1992, the band hit full stride releasing the song Would? off the Singles movie soundtrack. Would? was about the death of contemporary Andrew Wood (of Mother Love Bone) who died of a heroin overdose in 1990. Sadly the song further added to the rumours of the band, or more precisely Layne Staley abusing illegal substances. When Dirt was released those rumours intensified since the albums'subject matter was dripping in narcotic abuse. Songs like Junkhead, Godsmack, and Hate to Feel were not only well crafted rock songs but cries of agony of an individual being held in the tight grip of addiction.

1993 was the year of Alice in Chains with the band outselling there fellow Seattlites (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden). They sold out shows, toured with Ozzy Osborne and the Screaming Trees, were nominated for various awards, and headlined Lollapalooza 3. Layne Staley would continue to battle his demons going to rehab on various occasions and injuring his foot in an accident but continuing to tour and contribute songs to the Last Action Hero soundtrack. Little did the world know, Lollapalooza would be Alice in Chains last big tour.

In early 1994, the band released the EP Jar of flies whick would debut at number 1 on billboard charts and the video for No Excuses was a huge MTV hit constantly being requested. All was not well in Alice land since the album was recorded in a drug fueld, alcohol soaked, miserable week in late 1993. Critics viewed it as a masterpiece throwing off fans and critics alike with their ability to write and sing soft,but intense songs that again portrayed the Alice in Chains territory of darkness and addiction. Layne Staley would again fall out of rehab causing the cancellation of several high profile tours including Woodstock 94. Rumours again started to fly and heat up especially since the suicide of Kurt Cobain in April of 94. The media spotlight started to look less at the music of alternative rock and more towards its dirty little secret. The year would end in some positive news though.

By late 1994, Alice in Chains were on hiatus even rumoured to have broken up, (which was confirmed later they had briefly). Layne Staley got together with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of the Screaming Trees and John Saunders. The band worked on songs and even played some club shows and concerts at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, the theatre Alice in Chains played in 3 years prior. The band was coined The Gacy Bunch but changed the name to Mad Season, releasing the album 'Above' and the single River of Deceit which was a hit on rock radio. The album sold well but again Layne would become unreliable and the band did not carry out a tour.

By the fall of 1995, Alice in Chains would release their "proper" follow up to Dirt with the vocalist taking a more prominant role in the song writing process writing or co-writing a majority of them. The album, which was self-titled hit #1 spawing such hits as Grind, Heaven beside you, and Again. The band still was unable to tour due to Staley's health and tensions arose between them with members deciding to do outside projects. Cantrell and Kinney contributed to the Willie Nelson soundtrack as well as Cantrell having a bit part in Cameron Crowes 'Jerry McGuire'. Mike Inez did some work with Slash.

To amazement, in the Spring of 96, the band played it's first show in almost three years for MTV unplugged which was to be made into an album and video release. The show was eventful with the band returning to triumphant form converting Alice's nihilistic sound into the acoustc format. Layne's voice, ravaged by years of substance abuse still held strong and the show was a hit. The album came out a few months later and sold very well. To capitalize on the success AIC decided to open for KISS on their reunion tour but Staley clearly weak and sick could barely stand without the help of the microphone stand. Alice again lay dormant frustratingly to helpless band members.

In late 1996, tragedy struck when former fiance and girlfriend of Layne Staley suffered an infection and died due to the illness.She was a heavy drug user but Layne confirmed years later that her death was not due to drugs. This hit Staley hard and so began his long and painful trip to his eventuall demise.

The band soldiered on with Cantrell releasing a solo album with the help of Inez and Kinney. Inez toured with Ozzy Osborne and the band released various compilations with some newer material that was recorded in the fall of 1998. The material would be issued on the upcoming hits album and boxset (Music Bank). It was the last time they would record with Layne visibly sick with reports saying skinny, around 90 lbs, pale skin, and track marks up and down his arms. Layne would now live in total recluse only appearing to obtain drugs even becoming to sick for that, paying retrievers to do his dirty work.

By 2002, Alice in Chains were no more as reported later by the last interviews with Layne Staley. He did not have positive things to say about his former band members condemning them over various issues. In April, he overdosed on a mixture of cocaine and heroin ending his long time battle. He was just a former shell of the once mighty leader of one of the world's top rock bands. Rumoured to be toothless and uncontrollably defacating on himself, the singer, painter, and overall reniassance man died alone, not to be found weeks later. Eerily, the morgue issued the time of death being on April 5, 2002, Eight years to the day Cobain passed on. Well wishers poured in but this was not the landscape he left in the mid nineties but a bland, desolate place ruled my manufactured teen queens, boys bands and reality TV. Staley's death barely made a blip on the radar screen because as many point out he didn't die at the right time like Cobain, or Tupac, or Morrison to preserve his image.

The lasting impression of Staley has not yet materialized fully. As new bands crop up and the old pathetic guard of today falter, bands will be screaming once again as Layne did years before. Alice in Chains will be remembered for the band that was not. They had huge potential but never fulfilled it. As the dust settles and memories fade what will be left is the music. Good music is timeless. The band that took heavy rock and integrated it with post punk gloom should be remembered as one of the greats. Time will tell.

Web site : www.aliceinchains.net

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