You'd like "Would." Layne, and the band were in their prime. Thanks for your reactions, and your good energy. You've cheered me up in the middle of the night more than once.
For those who may not know. AIC hadn't performed in 2.5 yrs from doing this performance. This was April 10th 1996. They did 3 more shows together after this and the last was just shy of three months later on July 3rd 1996. My father took me to see them in their prime in 1993 when I was 7 yrs old. I'll never forget it. Been a die hard fan ever since
This set and the nirvana unplugged are by far the best thing mtv has ever done in my opinion. Took these beyond incredible emotional beautiful people and removed all the studio and allowed the raw talent and emotion to flood the listeners with something truly beautiful.
Layne was a bag of bones by the time he died and had lost almost all of his teeth. People wanted him to stop using but he said he just didn't want to. My buddy worked at a coffee shop near his condo in the U District of Seattle and he'd come in from time to time, he said he was frail thin.
all the greats are dying way way too fuckin young man and i listen and im like man i figured id atleast get to see them before they die and now i kick myself
I first found AIC in 20 years ago. I never actually paid attention to the lyrics but always thought the music was badass. Being an oblivious teen not being able to relate, their deep meaning went over my head but still thought they rocked. After going through life, I listen to them now and want to bawl my fucking eyes out every single time.@@thehauntedfisherman1792
This song is a love song from guitarist Jerry Cantrell to the love of his life Courtney Clarke. Early pressings listed this as the 12th track on the Dirt album. Later pressings listed this as the 4th track on the Dirt album supposedly to fit better with the band’s desire to have the album loosely tell a story from song to song. On the Unplugged album it's the 5th track. Songwriter and guitarist Jerry Cantrell said of the song in the Music Bank box set liner notes, “Down in a Hole’s in my top three, personally. It’s to my long-time love. It’s the reality of my life, the path I’ve chosen and in a weird way it kind of foretold where we are right now. It’s hard for us to both understand…that this life is not conducive to much success with long-term relationships." Once Layne got his voice where he wanted it, it stayed there with little effort. He was always better live than studio version. Layne'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 was 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. 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. Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12 year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. He wrote the lyrics for the songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. With MTV Unplugged, when Layne finally gave the Okay to do it. They were supposed to rehearse in Seattle but NO one showed up. Sean, Mike and Jerry would show up at different times but Layne would be MIA or Layne would show up for one or two songs and then leave. When they finally got to New York, Sean and Mike had an argument with Jerry because they thought with Layne's condition and addiction, he wouldn't be able to hit the high notes. Jerry was the ONLY ONE who was confident that Layne could do it. When you watch DOWN IN A HOLE Unplugged, and Layne hits that high note, you see Jerry look over at Sean and Mike with this "I TOLD YOU SO!" smirk. Layne did it again on ROOSTER Unplugged and Jerry did that same smirk. The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because Layne 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 fight off withdrawal symptoms and 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 six-year-long slow suicide. 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. The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team. Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period. Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway." "Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley "My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley "When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley "My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018) “Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).
I agree w you about Jerry's knowing looks when Layne hits those notes ❤. I can't believe he was able to do this show and do it at the level he did it when you consider everything- but I guess he had to show them all ❤
I saw them in concert and I used to listen to them over and over at that time in the 80s and 90s. I still enjoy listening to this MTV live because it is the best! He always sings like I feel sometimes. Love you
He was a very talented troubled soul who succumbed to his pain and heroin addiction, rest in peace and you'll be remembered for your soul touching voice.
I honestly feel blessed to have been able to see Alice and Chains and Mad Season on several occasions. Both as the opening act and the main act. They were so wonderful and so, just awesomely unforgettable. Layne was a great performer. I loved his voice that only he had. I loved that him and his band sounded just like the recorded albums. Thats when you know they are a top notch band. I also want to add that i love your videos. You always have a fun warmth. Thank you. You are so beautifully awesome.
Yes it’s sad but it’s also a blessing. Layne did not want to do that live show because he was so bad off but I believe it was his sister that convinced him to do it. That whole MTV live set was absolutely amazing. He only F’d up once on the song, sludge factory but he started over and nailed it.
I really like every AIC song...I do hope you try *River of Deceit;* by Layne w/Mad Season. He did the Mad Season project just before AIC recorded their last studio album w/Layne. And there is a 'Live' video of River of Deceit; at the Moore. One day, maybe you'll try another great vocalist...and try this song; 'Mother, Father' by Journey - Live in Houston (1981)
@@kshavon3098 But don't do the live version from The Moore for your first reaction, do the studio version as it's better. Maybe later you can do the live Moore version.
I love your passion listening to this. It still brings tears to my eyes. Layne was there through the hardest time of my life and I listened and cried my eyes out and sang with all my heart. There will never be another.
Omg I cried for almost 2 weeks over his death. I never cry over singers deaths. But we lost one of the greats. Never will we have a voice and a man who put his heart into every song.
@@kshavon3098 Junkhead is a classic .. u should do “Real Thing” live at the Moore 1990 or “Bleed The Freak” are my favorite.. those are at the same concert as “Love Hate Love” in the prime of Layne
Knowing firsthand the complete and utterly dehumanizing and shameful feelings that only one whose god has become herøin rips out my heart and soul-leaving merely shreds behind-each and every time I see or hear Layne. Someone so beautiful, and with the amount of unimaginable talent that he had, he deserved such a better end. Now all we can do is take comfort, knowing he suffers no more! Personally, I'm currently dosing off of methadone, and I can only hope to never end up falling back into that six-foot-deep hole ever again. 🤞🏻🍀 RIP, Layne Thomas Staley 08/22/67-04/05/02 Your wings are no longer denied! 🤘🏻❤️♾️🕊️
I just wanted to point out that the band, other than Jerry did not believe Layne was "up to" the performance and right where you stopped it, Jerry was sending the other band members this nod of approval along with an "I told YOU SO!" face, which I just love! I think those two were soul mates!...of course not meaning in the typical way we would use those words.
Although it is nice to stay positive it is meaningful to see the suffering in others. That is what gives us the empathy to treat others with kindness and grace. And to forgive others and ourselves for our flaws. Some of the most flawed people are the most talented and only through suffering can people reach such depths of spirit.
Thank you for reviewing these AIC videos. You make it feel as though I'm not watching them alone. AIC and especially Lane's voice get me every time. I tear up every time that i revisit these unplugged videos. Thanks again.. Great Review! Subscribed :)
You should react to the whole Unplugged performance. Aside from the fact that it was the best "Mtv Unplugged" ever...there are definitely some fun, lighthearted moments. Especially when Layne forgets what verse he's on. It's really good! ❤
When I listen to this song I get a flashback from when I was 19 and my dear cousin/big brother died at 23 years old to drugs and and violence...possibly murder...I remember looking down in the hole where we laid his coffin in and I fell on my knees and wanted to jump with him in there. My father who also died a few years after was trying to console me...He touched my head and I could feel how much it hurt him to see his son falling apart...God I miss the two of them...RIP to my Father, my cousin and Lane you are al my heroes...
the singer layne staley urged the guitar player jerry cantrell to sing more. jerry cantrell didn't want to but layne talked him into it and history was made. Layne staley has the best voice ever in my opinion. Absolutely love this band and everything they did. RIP to layne but i am glad we can still listen to the great voice he has.
I've eaten the sun so my tongue has been burned of the taste" is in my opinion, one of the best lines ever written from the group. Drugs are not your friends, ladies and gents. You might think they are in the beginning, when they help you escape from grief, anger and despair, but in the end, you're trading one set of shackles for another,
Hi thanks for reacting to this unplugged performance. Layne really sings well here. Haunting, beautiful and sad at the same time. I strongly suggest you react to Alice in Chais official music video for "Would." It's not depressing. I know you would appreciate his vocals. Anyway, keep up the good work! 💙👍🏻
This is only my 2nd video of yours ive watched but i subscribed purely for your appreciation of the music i grew up on. Between Layne and Kurt you cant go wrong
Hello. New to this channel, looking forward to your reactions.. i was one of the few fortunate ones who were able to see this band with (lead singer Layne Staley) when he was in his prime, and before the band became huge . I was stationed innthe Air Force in Tacoma Wa, back in the 80s, and me and my buddies would go to all the local (underground) Seattle shows, I got to see Alice In Chains in a tiny venue where we were literally feet away from the band on makeshift small stages in the warehouse districts in the area. Unbelievable really. And yes it's such a shame that Layne OD' from his addiction. I saw many bands back in the day from the Seattle Grunge scene back then; Mother Love Bone (which became Pearl Jam when their lead singer Andrew Wood Died) and Soundgarden, just to name a few. It always makes me sad that all these great singers are no longer with us. But I suppose it was their destiny and fate. Thank you for the vid.
Alice has been my #1 favorite band forever, and I absolutely love your reactions to them. Your reactions of them are so raw & authentic, especially because you’d never heard them before. Layne was down bad by this point, but the worst part, he didn’t die until 6 years later. It got so much worse. Even sadder, he had been dead for 2 weeks before anyone even thought to check on him… He was only 86 lbs when they found him. RIP you legend. P.S.- the quote on Mike’s bass is a friendly shot at Metallica, because they had cut their long hair around this time. It’s referencing the show Friends. He was friends with them.
I’m loving your channel. I just came across it and sub’d up and I’ve been going through all of your vids. Love it. Keep them coming miss beautiful. Peace and love from Boston.
You really should react to Mad Season "River of Deceit", Layne sings the lead on that track and it's one of my favorite from him. Mad Season was a project band featuring members of various Seattle bands who wanted to get Layne to do something about his addiction. Also, the entire Alice in Chains album "Dirt" is fantastic, Layne detailed his heroin use and abuse on that record and it's gritty.
Layne was high on heroin during that performance. The band didn’t know if he would be able to make it on stage. He was a prisoner of his addiction and he set himself free the best way he knew.
Man, Layne was absolutely wrecked during this performance. He barely knew where he was, could hardly stand on his own. Ans Jerry Cantrell (lead guitar/vocals) had food poisoning, bad fever... HOW they managed this show is beyond incredible!
So so heartbreaking 😢he is definitely missed. His last live video & yes Jerry C. Was that guy wt Layne ❤❤rest easy 🙏😇 yes he was suffering. Love watching your reactions to these songs.. definitely listen to Turn the page by Bob S. I played that song at my husband funeral.😢
❤🎶❤️🎶❤️ you keep on killin' it❗👍👍👍 now.... i GOTTA go watch ur reaction to LOVE, HATE, LOVE... I'm not even certain ive heard it before... but surely i have .. Loved this reaction tho & thanks👍👍👍
I can barely watch this Unplugged concert. It seemed that Layne was just hanging on by a thread but could still do those beautiful runs. You can see Jerry watching him and picking up some of the lyrics for Layne. Heartbreaking. Thank you Layne and AIC for the great music.
People tried to help him. He had been in rehab but his addiction had control and there was no stopping it. He gave up to it. At this point he was so dope sick and had lost most of his teeth. It is sad to watch. It was also the best unplugged performance ever in my opinion. I miss so many from this genre. Their music and voices still speak to me.
You are correct. Layne was in pretty poor health at the time of this performance. He had actually lost some teeth due to his poor health from his heroin addiction. You can hear the sound difference when he was making the “S” sound in the first song of the night (Nutshell). Side note, Layne’s former fiancé (who Layne wrote “Love, Hate, Love” about) died from a heroin OD about six months after this performance. That’s when Layne became even more reclusive and really went downhill. It’s actually surprising that he lived like 6 more years. Also, Layne used a small amount of heroin to get through this performance without getting sick. Notice the gloves? I think he tried very hard to hide his track marks. The whole thing is tragic. I wish I could have heard him live… The guitar player is Jerry Cantrell. He obviously didn’t have the vocals of Layne, but he was the backbone of the band. He wrote most of their songs.
They hadn't played for years. If you watch Jerry(the other singer/lead guitarist), he smiles and nods to the rest of the band. This shit was just popping off so great. Unfortunately, Layne(the main singer) was on his way out. Such a loss. Drugs and depression are too common with the best artists....thanks girl, one of my favorite bands growing up
I here ya. Fuckin life. That’s what’s up wit us all. Every now and then. Some body puts it out there. One of those dudes. Puts it out there. Kinda like a martyr. Or something.
Nobody will ever be Layne!!! But they are still making new music with a new singer, William Duvall. You should listen to Check My Brain. It's a killer song!!
I'm not sure if it has been edited out by now but if you pay close attention to Lanes hands when he's first walking out on stage, he fiddles with his pocket and accidently pulls a bag of dope out of his pants pocket and literally sets it on the ledge of his music stand. I just thought ya'll might get a kick out of it when you see his reaction.
This Unplugged show breaks my heart. I much prefer to watch Alice In Chains when Layne was in his prime. I recommend It Ain’t Like That, Singles Blu Ray. He’s hot AF and the whole band sounds fire. All of the other songs from the Live at the Moore show are also amazing - maybe just check out the whole thing. :)
@kshavon3098 I saw that side story I met Layne and Mike when I was 19 at a small liquor store in Fort Lauderdale smoked a joint with them both.. they were playing a small venue 8 months later man in box blew up rest is history
You'd like "Would." Layne, and the band were in their prime. Thanks for your reactions, and your good energy. You've cheered me up in the middle of the night more than once.
THANK U🙏🏾🙏🏾
I love Would ❤
Pls do a review of "would". I just found ur channel and subscribed.
@@Jameshorn32309 THANKS NEW BESTIE! I DID ALREADY. CHECK MY ALICE IN CHAINS PLAYLIST
You should listen to Mad Season "River of deceit" Live it features Layne and Mike Mcready amongst others.
Layne's swan song, he mustered up what strength he had left and knocked it out of the park
RIP legend ❤
For those who may not know. AIC hadn't performed in 2.5 yrs from doing this performance. This was April 10th 1996. They did 3 more shows together after this and the last was just shy of three months later on July 3rd 1996. My father took me to see them in their prime in 1993 when I was 7 yrs old. I'll never forget it. Been a die hard fan ever since
Im so blessed to have grown up in this era. Rock and rap and r&b were all top notch. The industry actually embraced real music still.
He was struggling with drug addiction and you can definitely hear it in his music. So heartbreaking he lost his battle. Praying he's found peace. ❤🥺
Layne Turned To Drugs Cuz He Realized How Wicked 😈 The INDUSTRY Is.. He Wasn't With It SO THEY KILLED HIM
Saying He "OVERDOSED"
This set and the nirvana unplugged are by far the best thing mtv has ever done in my opinion. Took these beyond incredible emotional beautiful people and removed all the studio and allowed the raw talent and emotion to flood the listeners with something truly beautiful.
Sad the lead singer died 2002 of drug overdose. Great band. His voice was something else.
YES
Layne was a bag of bones by the time he died and had lost almost all of his teeth. People wanted him to stop using but he said he just didn't want to. My buddy worked at a coffee shop near his condo in the U District of Seattle and he'd come in from time to time, he said he was frail thin.
all the greats are dying way way too fuckin young man and i listen and im like man i figured id atleast get to see them before they die and now i kick myself
@@avestuartyes, his downfall was so sad. I cried when he died. Beautiful talent, as was Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington
LAYNE WAS KILLED!
I get the hurt feeling also when I watch Layne sing, such a great loss, so young. RIP Layne, we all miss you brother
Well done! That entire unplugged performance was dope!!
🙏🏾🙏🏾
Facts!!!
You are spot on, so sad he's gone.
Really nice reaction. We all miss his beautiful voice ❤
THANK U
The world is a better place because of Shavon and her content. Her channel is the one I didn’t know I even needed til I found it ❤
AWE THANK U VERY MUCH BEST FRIEND 😘😘
Layne's music got me through some difficult times. I barely listen to AIC anymore, but they have a special place in my heart.
agreed.still, every once in awhile i come back and watch his unplugged videos. i always end up crying.
I first found AIC in 20 years ago. I never actually paid attention to the lyrics but always thought the music was badass. Being an oblivious teen not being able to relate, their deep meaning went over my head but still thought they rocked. After going through life, I listen to them now and want to bawl my fucking eyes out every single time.@@thehauntedfisherman1792
Best song and performance ever. Drops mic..
Bury me softly in this world reminds me of killing me softly with this song
This song is a love song from guitarist Jerry Cantrell to the love of his life Courtney Clarke. Early pressings listed this as the 12th track on the Dirt album. Later pressings listed this as the 4th track on the Dirt album supposedly to fit better with the band’s desire to have the album loosely tell a story from song to song. On the Unplugged album it's the 5th track.
Songwriter and guitarist Jerry Cantrell said of the song in the Music Bank box set liner notes, “Down in a Hole’s in my top three, personally. It’s to my long-time love. It’s the reality of my life, the path I’ve chosen and in a weird way it kind of foretold where we are right now. It’s hard for us to both understand…that this life is not conducive to much success with long-term relationships."
Once Layne got his voice where he wanted it, it stayed there with little effort. He was always better live than studio version. Layne'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 was 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.
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.
Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12 year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002.
Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. He wrote the lyrics for the songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons.
With MTV Unplugged, when Layne finally gave the Okay to do it. They were supposed to rehearse in Seattle but NO one showed up. Sean, Mike and Jerry would show up at different times but Layne would be MIA or Layne would show up for one or two songs and then leave. When they finally got to New York, Sean and Mike had an argument with Jerry because they thought with Layne's condition and addiction, he wouldn't be able to hit the high notes. Jerry was the ONLY ONE who was confident that Layne could do it. When you watch DOWN IN A HOLE Unplugged, and Layne hits that high note, you see Jerry look over at Sean and Mike with this "I TOLD YOU SO!" smirk. Layne did it again on ROOSTER Unplugged and Jerry did that same smirk.
The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because Layne 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 fight off withdrawal symptoms and 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 six-year-long slow suicide.
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.
The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team.
Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period.
Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway."
"Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley
"My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley
"When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley
"My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018)
“Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).
I agree w you about Jerry's knowing looks when Layne hits those notes ❤. I can't believe he was able to do this show and do it at the level he did it when you consider everything- but I guess he had to show them all ❤
I saw them in concert and I used to listen to them over and over at that time in the 80s and 90s. I still enjoy listening to this MTV live because it is the best! He always sings like I feel sometimes. Love you
ILY2
This performance grinds my bones and soul , I love it so much. The harmonies between Layne and Jerry, beautiful. Check out Junkhead🔥🤘
Exactly! Jerry really expressed emotions here alongside with Layne and you can feel it.💯💯 💙💙💙🖤🖤🖤😎🌌
Thank you for reacting to live Alice In Chains. So much better than in the studio!!
I remember watching this performance when it aired on MTV. powerful. Such a loss. Heartbreaking
We are all just trying to be Human together. Sometimes we are & sometimes we aren't. You are a good woman. ❤
THANK U😘
He was a very talented troubled soul who succumbed to his pain and heroin addiction, rest in peace and you'll be remembered for your soul touching voice.
💯
I honestly feel blessed to have been able to see Alice and Chains and Mad Season on several occasions. Both as the opening act and the main act. They were so wonderful and so, just awesomely unforgettable. Layne was a great performer. I loved his voice that only he had. I loved that him and his band sounded just like the recorded albums. Thats when you know they are a top notch band. I also want to add that i love your videos. You always have a fun warmth. Thank you. You are so beautifully awesome.
THANK U BESTIE AND I GLAD U HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THEM
Layne and Jerry singing together is something special. One of my favorite albums I've ever heard, so much emotions and pain.
Yes it’s sad but it’s also a blessing. Layne did not want to do that live show because he was so bad off but I believe it was his sister that convinced him to do it. That whole MTV live set was absolutely amazing. He only F’d up once on the song, sludge factory but he started over and nailed it.
I really like every AIC song...I do hope you try *River of Deceit;* by Layne w/Mad Season. He did the Mad Season project just before AIC recorded their last studio album w/Layne. And there is a 'Live' video of River of Deceit; at the Moore. One day, maybe you'll try another great vocalist...and try this song; 'Mother, Father' by Journey - Live in Houston (1981)
OK ❤
@@kshavon3098 But don't do the live version from The Moore for your first reaction, do the studio version as it's better. Maybe later you can do the live Moore version.
Agree 100% Layne was a beautiful man. Inside and out. Just so sad the world is suffering without him
I love your passion listening to this. It still brings tears to my eyes. Layne was there through the hardest time of my life and I listened and cried my eyes out and sang with all my heart. There will never be another.
😘🙏🏾
Omg I cried for almost 2 weeks over his death. I never cry over singers deaths. But we lost one of the greats. Never will we have a voice and a man who put his heart into every song.
If you want to hear his go off again, listen to junkhead live. RIP layne!
OK BET♥️
@@kshavon3098 Junkhead is a classic .. u should do “Real Thing” live at the Moore 1990 or “Bleed The Freak” are my favorite.. those are at the same concert as “Love Hate Love” in the prime of Layne
I can see a fan forming a mile away. I love to see ppl discovering AiC ❤
UR SO RIGHT♥️
Everyone always said he was one of the sweetest people you’d ever meet.
Knowing firsthand the complete and utterly dehumanizing and shameful feelings that only one whose god has become herøin rips out my heart and soul-leaving merely shreds behind-each and every time I see or hear Layne. Someone so beautiful, and with the amount of unimaginable talent that he had, he deserved such a better end. Now all we can do is take comfort, knowing he suffers no more!
Personally, I'm currently dosing off of methadone, and I can only hope to never end up falling back into that six-foot-deep hole ever again. 🤞🏻🍀
RIP, Layne Thomas Staley
08/22/67-04/05/02
Your wings are no longer denied! 🤘🏻❤️♾️🕊️
Love their unplugged
HELL YEAH
I love this women so much !!! And your reviews !!!
AWE THX ILY2 😘
The bass player also died from a drug overdose as well. Attempted rehab a few times and it just wouldn't let him go. His name was Mike Starr.
THANK U
Mike Starr wasn’t at this performance. He left the band in 1993. The bassist here is Mike Inez, he still tours with Alice In Chains.
He was a light that was taken too soon….so much pain…you feel it when he sings - RIP Layne
YES
The bass player Mike Starr ( the guitar with the handwriting) also died young of a drug overdose. Another tragic ending
YES
I just wanted to point out that the band, other than Jerry did not believe Layne was "up to" the performance and right where you stopped it, Jerry was sending the other band members this nod of approval along with an "I told YOU SO!" face, which I just love! I think those two were soul mates!...of course not meaning in the typical way we would use those words.
I definitely recommend Pearl Jam's unplugged performance of Black if you aren't familiar already!!!
OK♥️
Great review- I never heard this song till today and I was in tears by the end.
Thanks, I enjoyed your reaction! Alice In Chains, Layne in particular hold a very special place in my heart. Forever my favorite band.
Rooster was my favourite from this unplugged gig. That much so i had learn that on the guitar aSap
You are the best--so honest and true!
THANK U SO MUCH
Long live the greatest of all time Layne Staley. And rip Mike Starr. My favorite band of all time
He didn't want to do this acoustic set but he agreed and loved it after.. you can see Jerry smile after one of Laynes great moments in this song
Although it is nice to stay positive it is meaningful to see the suffering in others. That is what gives us the empathy to treat others with kindness and grace. And to forgive others and ourselves for our flaws. Some of the most flawed people are the most talented and only through suffering can people reach such depths of spirit.
Thank you for reviewing these AIC videos. You make it feel as though I'm not watching them alone. AIC and especially Lane's voice get me every time. I tear up every time that i revisit these unplugged videos. Thanks again.. Great Review! Subscribed :)
THANK U BEST FRIEND
You should react to the whole Unplugged performance. Aside from the fact that it was the best "Mtv Unplugged" ever...there are definitely some fun, lighthearted moments. Especially when Layne forgets what verse he's on. It's really good! ❤
YES I GOTTA DO MORE BESTIE
As a teenager when this came out, I was always ugly crying in my room alone to this song and Nutshell. Now I cry quietly.
When I listen to this song I get a flashback from when I was 19 and my dear cousin/big brother died at 23 years old to drugs and and violence...possibly murder...I remember looking down in the hole where we laid his coffin in and I fell on my knees and wanted to jump with him in there. My father who also died a few years after was trying to console me...He touched my head and I could feel how much it hurt him to see his son falling apart...God I miss the two of them...RIP to my Father, my cousin and Lane you are al my heroes...
the singer layne staley urged the guitar player jerry cantrell to sing more. jerry cantrell didn't want to but layne talked him into it and history was made. Layne staley has the best voice ever in my opinion. Absolutely love this band and everything they did. RIP to layne but i am glad we can still listen to the great voice he has.
Yep. And it’s a great thing Layne got him to sing more. If not, we wouldn’t have gotten those amazing harmonies like we hear in this song.
Check out Alice in Chains Live at the Moore Theatre doing "Love Hate Love" its Layne in his prime and its vocally awesome
I REACTED TO THAT ONE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO! CHECK IT OUT AND LET ME KNO WAT U THINK
I've eaten the sun so my tongue has been burned of the taste" is in my opinion, one of the best lines ever written from the group. Drugs are not your friends, ladies and gents. You might think they are in the beginning, when they help you escape from grief, anger and despair, but in the end, you're trading one set of shackles for another,
Totally agree.
Love your reaction. Drugs are bad. RIP Layne.
THANK U
"Don't Follow" and "Rain When I Die"... great reaction as usual BF 💚🤙
THANKS BESTIE♥️😘
Sill here girl. Layne’s power and emotion showed who he was in love, hate , love. They are a deep look and great music. ❤️😅
HEY BESTIE OK I WILL REACT TO IT! B ON THE LOOKOUT
Only band that makes me tear up
Hi thanks for reacting to this unplugged performance. Layne really sings well here. Haunting, beautiful and sad at the same time.
I strongly suggest you react to Alice in Chais official music video for "Would." It's not depressing. I know you would appreciate his vocals.
Anyway, keep up the good work! 💙👍🏻
UR SO WELCOME AND THANK U FOR UR SUPPORT ♥️🙏🏾
Alice In Chains and Kiss did the best MTV Unplugged in my opinion. Try reacting to I Still Love you by Kiss on MTV Unplugged. It is awesome.
You think Kiss performance was better than Nirvana's? WOW
This is only my 2nd video of yours ive watched but i subscribed purely for your appreciation of the music i grew up on. Between Layne and Kurt you cant go wrong
THANK U NEW BEST FRIEND 😘
Hello. New to this channel, looking forward to your reactions.. i was one of the few fortunate ones who were able to see this band with (lead singer Layne Staley) when he was in his prime, and before the band became huge .
I was stationed innthe Air Force in Tacoma Wa, back in the 80s, and me and my buddies would go to all the local (underground) Seattle shows, I got to see Alice In Chains in a tiny venue where we were literally feet away from the band on makeshift small stages in the warehouse districts in the area. Unbelievable really. And yes it's such a shame that Layne OD' from his addiction.
I saw many bands back in the day from the Seattle Grunge scene back then; Mother Love Bone (which became Pearl Jam when their lead singer Andrew Wood Died) and Soundgarden, just to name a few. It always makes me sad that all these great singers are no longer with us. But I suppose it was their destiny and fate.
Thank you for the vid.
UR WELCOME BABE
Got a respect to the darkness to appreciate the light
Layne was a beautiful vocalitst. Its such a shame he lost his battle with his demons.
Alice has been my #1 favorite band forever, and I absolutely love your reactions to them. Your reactions of them are so raw & authentic, especially because you’d never heard them before. Layne was down bad by this point, but the worst part, he didn’t die until 6 years later. It got so much worse. Even sadder, he had been dead for 2 weeks before anyone even thought to check on him… He was only 86 lbs when they found him. RIP you legend.
P.S.- the quote on Mike’s bass is a friendly shot at Metallica, because they had cut their long hair around this time. It’s referencing the show Friends. He was friends with them.
💙 💙 💙 💙 💙
I've eaten the sun so my tongue has been burned of the taste is a bar gyat damn
FACTZ
I’m loving your channel. I just came across it and sub’d up and I’ve been going through all of your vids. Love it. Keep them coming miss beautiful. Peace and love from Boston.
THANK U SO MUCH BEST FRIEND FROM BOSTON ♥️😘😘😘🙏🏾
Another great reaction, so glad I subbed ❤
AWE THANK U BESTIE😘
Check out their video called "Check My Brain" with their new singer. Its really, really good.
He was in the grip of it. Addiction is f ucked. RIP ........ K Shavon , I 'm ready to get in your basket.🌀🌀🌀
COME ON BABE!! WYA?!!
Layne Stalley bought and had all those candles set up that you see on that set.
You really should react to Mad Season "River of Deceit", Layne sings the lead on that track and it's one of my favorite from him. Mad Season was a project band featuring members of various Seattle bands who wanted to get Layne to do something about his addiction. Also, the entire Alice in Chains album "Dirt" is fantastic, Layne detailed his heroin use and abuse on that record and it's gritty.
I WILL REACT TO IT LATER THIS WEEK ♥️
@@kshavon3098 Excellent. Can I suggest that you do the studio version of the song instead of the live version? I really do think it's better.
@@avestuart YES♥️
Layne was high on heroin during that performance. The band didn’t know if he would be able to make it on stage. He was a prisoner of his addiction and he set himself free the best way he knew.
Man, Layne was absolutely wrecked during this performance. He barely knew where he was, could hardly stand on his own. Ans Jerry Cantrell (lead guitar/vocals) had food poisoning, bad fever... HOW they managed this show is beyond incredible!
💔
So so heartbreaking 😢he is definitely missed. His last live video & yes Jerry C. Was that guy wt Layne ❤❤rest easy 🙏😇 yes he was suffering. Love watching your reactions to these songs.. definitely listen to Turn the page by Bob S. I played that song at my husband funeral.😢
❤🎶❤️🎶❤️ you keep on killin' it❗👍👍👍 now.... i GOTTA go watch ur reaction to LOVE, HATE, LOVE... I'm not even certain ive heard it before... but surely i have .. Loved this reaction tho & thanks👍👍👍
THANK U SO MUCH BESTIE♥️😘😘
I can barely watch this Unplugged concert. It seemed that Layne was just hanging on by a thread but could still do those beautiful runs. You can see Jerry watching him and picking up some of the lyrics for Layne. Heartbreaking. Thank you Layne and AIC for the great music.
VERY HURTFUL
i love the pause then,,,him...
People tried to help him. He had been in rehab but his addiction had control and there was no stopping it. He gave up to it. At this point he was so dope sick and had lost most of his teeth. It is sad to watch. It was also the best unplugged performance ever in my opinion. I miss so many from this genre. Their music and voices still speak to me.
I understand what u say, I love this performance but my heart breaks everytime I watch it.
his wings are denied no longer...
rip layne demri mike
🌬🙏🏼🕊🕊🕊🙏🏼⌛
You are correct. Layne was in pretty poor health at the time of this performance. He had actually lost some teeth due to his poor health from his heroin addiction. You can hear the sound difference when he was making the “S” sound in the first song of the night (Nutshell). Side note, Layne’s former fiancé (who Layne wrote “Love, Hate, Love” about) died from a heroin OD about six months after this performance. That’s when Layne became even more reclusive and really went downhill. It’s actually surprising that he lived like 6 more years. Also, Layne used a small amount of heroin to get through this performance without getting sick. Notice the gloves? I think he tried very hard to hide his track marks. The whole thing is tragic. I wish I could have heard him live…
The guitar player is Jerry Cantrell. He obviously didn’t have the vocals of Layne, but he was the backbone of the band. He wrote most of their songs.
THANK U JOE♥️
They hadn't played for years. If you watch Jerry(the other singer/lead guitarist), he smiles and nods to the rest of the band. This shit was just popping off so great. Unfortunately, Layne(the main singer) was on his way out. Such a loss. Drugs and depression are too common with the best artists....thanks girl, one of my favorite bands growing up
UR WELCOME BFF
I here ya. Fuckin life. That’s what’s up wit us all. Every now and then. Some body puts it out there. One of those dudes. Puts it out there. Kinda like a martyr. Or something.
Layne was already hurting pretty bad during this. ,miss him and thank u for doing this.❤
UR WELCOME
Please check out the song Rooster by them also, so good. Jerry wrote the song for his dad, who was in the War.
He had soul like no one else
YES HE DID
@kshavon3098 you should listen to their songs Junkhead, Rooster, and Heaven Beside You.
Nobody will ever be Layne!!! But they are still making new music with a new singer, William Duvall. You should listen to Check My Brain. It's a killer song!!
Unfortunately Layne wrote his own eulogy in his music.
IK💔
i would love for you to react to man in the box live at the marquee, its by far their best performance, it sounds so unreal how he sings it
I THINK THATS THE ONE I DID AS WELL
RAIN WHEN I DIE is a Must Hear!
As an alcoholic, this is how I feel constantly
I PRAY U GET BETTER AND THE HELL U NEED 🙏🏾
Them bones by them is a must too. Do the studio version so you can see them in their prime.
RIDE OR DIE U KNO URS IS A MUST!!
This is My favorite band, so sad he had everything but not peace and happiness
I'm not sure if it has been edited out by now but if you pay close attention to Lanes hands when he's first walking out on stage, he fiddles with his pocket and accidently pulls a bag of dope out of his pants pocket and literally sets it on the ledge of his music stand. I just thought ya'll might get a kick out of it when you see his reaction.
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
This Unplugged show breaks my heart. I much prefer to watch Alice In Chains when Layne was in his prime. I recommend It Ain’t Like That, Singles Blu Ray. He’s hot AF and the whole band sounds fire. All of the other songs from the Live at the Moore show are also amazing - maybe just check out the whole thing. :)
THX BABE
I have been guilty of kicking myself in the teeth. I will speak no more of my feelings beneath.
U need to check out Mad Season Layne sang in that band.as well
I REACTED TO RIVER OF DECEIT
@kshavon3098 I saw that side story I met Layne and Mike when I was 19 at a small liquor store in Fort Lauderdale smoked a joint with them both.. they were playing a small venue 8 months later man in box blew up rest is history
@@kshavon3098 💯💯
@@greggied123 DAMN THATS A BLESSING♥️♥️