Song Saturday: Layne Staley Tribute Block

How's it going lurkers? Last Saturday (April 5th) was the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's suicide and the 12th anniversary of Alice in Chains, Mad Season, and Class of '99's vocalist's (Layne Staley) death by a drug overdose.

Even though Nirvana was the most popular Seattle Grunge band during the 1990's, several others such as Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains held their own. 

Here it is 2 decades later, and I still enjoy Classic Alice In Chains. This Grunge band had a VERY distinct sound with musical themes, which focused on death, depression, and drug abuse. 

Unlike Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden for 3 examples, Alice In Chains was apolitical. Not that Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden were terrible bands, but Alice In Chains was a Grunge band that was able to resonate with me a lot better than the other Seattle Grunge Rock bands regarding issues such as death and depression.

During the Grunge era, Alice In Chains was somewhat atypical for a Grunge band. Most Grunge bands had only 1 vocalist, whereas they always had 2 lead singers.  

As a co-lead vocalist, Jerry Cantrell had the ability to harmonize with Layne Staley's blues vocals.

The media NEVER praised Alice In Chains the way they praised Nirvana.

Even though Kurt Cobain was highly uncooperative, divisive, and instigated fights with Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose, Kurt remains placed on "The Grunge God" pedestal by Nirvana sycophants and zealots.

In comparison, Layne Staley was more articulate, showed versatility, and worked collaboratively with other bands. This included Layne forming 2 "supergroups," while being a hardcore drug addict. Maybe his collaborations did well because he seemed more humble, versatile, and had a likable personality compared to Kurt Cobain.

Not to speak ill of the late Kurt Cobain, but he rubbed a LOT of other musicians the wrong way with his insane antics.

Layne Staley collaborated with at least several musicians in the Rock Industry ranging from different Rock genres and sub-genres. In the past, Staley collaborated with vocalists and bands such as Heart's Ann Wilson, Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros, and A Perfect Circle/Puscifer/Tool's vocalist, Maynard James Keenan, to only name a few.

I am actually surprised that Maynard chose to collaborate with Alice In Chains, since he has the tendency to view drug addicts as scum. It appears Maynard James Keenan contradicted himself, AGAIN.

As I was saying, Staley collaborated with other Rock bands. In addition, Alice In Chains was featured on movie soundtracks and toured with some popular '80s Metal bands, during Alice In Chains' earlier years like Megadeth, for example.

Alice In Chains' sound may have been niche, but their music still heavily influenced other bands. I will dare to say, that Alice In Chains may have influenced Twisted Sister's Dee Snider. Dee Snider created the theme song to the '90s cartoon, The Terrible Thunderlizards.

2 decades later, I still believe that The Terrible Thunderlizards theme song sounds very similar to Alice In Chains' "Man in the Box."

The Terrible Thunderlizards Opening Theme Song (1993)

Layne Staley may have been dead for these last 12 years, but the following vocalists and bands have paid tribute to him within the last decade:

Cold, Staind, Adema, Black Label Society, Kat Bjelland, Theory of a Deadman, Metallica, Godsmack, Eddie Vedder, etc.

Rather than dwelling on Layne Staley's drug addiction, I chose to do a Song Saturday Tribute to him.

1) Alice In Chains "We Die Young" Facelift (1990)

 

2) Alice In Chains "Bleed The Freak" Facelift (1990)

3) Alice In Chains "Man In The Box" Facelift (1991)

4) Alice In Chains "Would?" Singles, Dirt (1992)

5) Alice In Chains "Angry Chair" Dirt (1992) 

6) Alice In Chains "Nutshell" Jar of Flies (1994), MTV's Unplugged (1996)

7) Mad Season "River of Deceit" Above (1995)

Let me know if you agree with me about The Terrible Thunderlizards' theme song resembling "Man In The Box."

RIP LAYNE STALEY!!!