there were a few things about the album I didn't include because I felt like it was beating a dead horse. There were some stories of Jerden and Layne butting heads over Layne singing while high and having to redo vocals. There was also one story about Layne's dealer coming to the studio and giving advice to Jerden who obviously didn't take too kindly to the advice.
Did you say "a deceased puppy in a jar" as one of the items Layne requested in his recording booth? I backed it up & listened a second time, and that's what it sounded like.
Dirt is a masterpiece. Jerry wrote killer riffs and Layne wrote nakedly personal lyrics that still resonate today. Layne and Jerry never sounded as tight harmonically as they did on Dirt. It's also their most "metal" album. And it's the album that Layne had the most input on. It's my favourite AIC album bar none.
@@damo9961 Damo is my nickname too and I have to disagree even when he was near the end and he recorded "get born again" even when Layne was at his worst he was better than 99% of front men out he was a once in a lifetime talent, it's sad I heard somewhere, Layne had the world's longest suicide attempt its sad he had so much freaking talent and was just an overall good person 😢
Layne Staley singing Rooster at sunset during Lollapalooza '93 was one of the most memorable concert experiences Ive ever had. I feel so fortunate to have been there. Such a massive loss 😔
Knowing what he knew about the occult/Illuminati ate him alive. He had a good heart and couldn’t handle it, which is understandable. He is in a better place now and I hope his soul is at rest. That’s amazing thanks for sharing
@Rena that’s so awesome oh my gosh. I wasn’t even born yet when Layne was with Alice in chains lol. Your so lucky I would do anything to meet him and talk to him, especially to ask about the occult references in his lyrics. I feel like I have a lot in common with Layne Staley besides the fame, struggling through opioid addiction after family members passing away from cancer and I feel every lyric in Alice in chains music.
@Rena do you know what I mean by occult though? Alot of people in music are into it and so was Layne Staley, I can tell from lyrics and symbolism. It ate him alive and made him depressed which I totally understand and I am going through exact same thing right now, trying to stop opioids though hopefully today is the last day. That is the most amazing story ever I’m so thankful for you sharing. Are you able to send a picture of them on Snapchat by chance? Sorry I just really want to see them. I would even want to pay you for them but I’m not going to do that cause those are yours and special to you and he gave it to you. But would just be cool to see a picture of something he gave to a fan out of the goodness of his heart. I wish I could have talked to him about aliens and the occult and maybe did a little you know what with him lmao, but I’ll have my time maybe when I’m on the other side. I’ll send you my Snapchat if you want.
@Rena I hope you do the best in life and all other lives. Especially during these crazy days and I wish as much protection as I can. These days we are living in are surreal. Stay safe. 🤍
Doesn’t matter how you classify their style of music, AIC was an amazing one of a kind band. Layne’s voice alone could transport your mind to another time or place, but the entire band together could teleport you to another dimension. I absolutely loved them back in the day and still listen to them all the time.
This album has never ever been left out of my playlists since around 1993... in my first and second cars, CD Walkman, and now my cellphone. I love to play my drums along with it too.
My, opinion, of course, though musically this album is the best. For me, sonically, riff wise, harmonies, vocal. It's ridiculous how out of time this album is, and the band is. One of my all time favourites
I saw Layne in a three piece suit at the start of their set on Lollapolooza in 93 and it was like 95 degrees that day! Needless to say he took the jacket tie vest and shirt off after playing Would the first song to start the show! Very charismatic singer and great stage presence! His voice very unique and an unbelievable range! RIP Layne!
The meaning of Mad Season: River of Deceit as sung by Layne Staley. Start off by saying this is about Layne’s drug habits particularly with Heroin! Think about it: The river(blood flow in your veins) takes down the Deceit (Heroin). If you read the lyrics now with this in mind and counter the fact this eventually led to Layne’s death is poetic. He KNEW he had a problem and was conveying that to the listener. My pain is self chosen. Pull off my skin and swim to shore…Heroin addicts pick at their skin. Shore represents being off the drug…now I can grow a beautiful shell (New Skin) for ALL TO SEE. Listen again with this in mind.
The fact that so many gone from this Era is just devastating. Such powerful men in my teens gone to soon. I have 2 AIC tribute tattoos 1st to Layne & 2nd to Starr
It's crazy to think this band was essentially dying from its inception. It's like dirt was the beginning of the end, and their self titled was a hellish nightmare. It's amazing that this band still puts out great music, but to me it feels like a different band, still great nonetheless. All hail Jerry Cantrell.
This "If I like this, I have to hate that" really just limits your Musical Experiences. I enjoy all the big four of the Grunge era, but I also like to Listen to some Mötley Crüe on occasion. Why not be a bit more open to different styles of music 😁
The second CD I ever bought was Dirt. Coincidentally, it was exactly the time I started doing drugs. They were fun, at first. If only I had recognized the irony. Dirt was a suicide note from a hardcore addict. Thank God I got out. Layne didn’t.
AiC came along when I was 19 with Facelift. I was a total Metal head and if it wasn't Slayer, Kreator, etc I wasn't interested, but when these guys came out I was hooked. Dirt came out at the end of a dark time for me. Made it easier to deal with and walk away from. Good times man.
I’m at work so I can’t watch this now but I know it’s going to be a great video. I’m only 22 but I’ve struggled off an on with addiction for years and Dirt got me through a lot of dark days. I’ll never forget when I first heard the album and I had it on repeat for about a year or two.
I feel your pain bro. Ive been fighting that fight longer than you have been alive. I wish you the best, if you find something to get you through the dark times, do it meditation, music, working out, painting whatever. There is no future in being high. Layne's life summed it up completely. Had so much but the shit will take it all and more. Stay strong my friend.
Sending love, mate. Every day you're clean is a day to celebrate. A relapse is just another opportunity to show yourself love, forgiveness, and understanding that no one is perfect. No one will ever be perfect, we can only ever be the best version of ourselves. Don't focus on your mistakes, focus on your efforts to rectify them, learn a lesson, and grow from it. Music heals so much, I hope your journey in life brings you many opportunities for joy💝
"Dirt" is one the greatest hard rock albums of all time, right up with "Appetite for Destruction" and "Master of Puppets." Regardless of the genre being "grunge" or "thrash." It is all blues based rock played with different intensities, interpretations, and with a unique intangible quality. Alice in Chains definitely had it on "Dirt."
That album is iconic to my life in 1992 as well. I was 27 in ‘92 and dealing with some demons of my own. Not to the extent that Layne was going through, but enough that I consider it a chapter of my life I am glad is over with. Perhaps its no surprise that Dirt is one of my favorite albums.
I wish compliments for the quality of the singing were included with how often the lyrics are talked about. This albums way of harmonizing the debauchery they sang about is what made it so nuts to me.
I remember first hearing this album when I was 12 (summer of 1992). What's been fascinating to me as I get older - when you're a kid and you hear a good rock album it's like a magic trick but you don't get all of the nuance. You get older, you look back at what went into it, you hear stories like these, and while the album was already 'humanizing' quite a bit as you got older anyway this further adds to that. RIP Lane and Mike.
I love Alice in chains and layne is like a hero to me when it comes to singing. If it wasn't for this album and the band in general I would have probably never been inspired to write the songs that I have wrote either in the past or now. Thank God for this band and rest in peace the late great Layne Staley. He will forever be missed in my opinion.
Alice in Chains was an immensely talented band. It's hard for me to listen to their songs now, despite the fact that they are one of my favorite bands. Every time I hear their music, I think of Layne and how his life ended. Much like Scott Weiland, his eventual demise seemed almost inevitable, but no one should suffer like that. It is so sad to me that someone as famous as Layne was could pass away and lay dead for two weeks before anyone even looked for him. He had become almost forgotten and invisible. I just think of what he might have become if live had treated him differently, and some one would have found him the help that he needed. As was the case with many of the singer's from the Grunge movement, fame ended up destroying him. A lot of those artists were people with serious mental health issues that channeled their struggles into the music. In many cases, they were crying out for help that never came. No one should ever die alone and forgotten. That haunts me.
Thank you very much for these deep dives into the lives, history and back-stories of these artists. I appreciate it! At 13:07 sounds like you are having a rough moment! Take care.
I've been listening to Dirt since it came out. Found myself in the same situations they were singing about many years later. And now that I'm sober, the music still brings me back. Instant trigger. Layne was the best.
I love your Alice In Chains videos bro.. I can never get enough of the Layne stuff. I relate to him so much. Had so many friends on heroin growing up and lost quite a few as well. Keep up the good work brother
Angry chair saved my life"... 🙏💜 I had just had my stillborn boy. His name was Dayne 🕯️ I could relate to the pain. I am a Songbird myself and I thank God for them. Rip Layne and Micheal. So Greatful for the both of you and the band. 🌹
Disregarding the subjects, I think this video is exceptionally well made. There are so many pictures that some fans would not have heard of. A tip or suggestion: play music by the bands you're talking about, it makes it a lot more engaging and exciting for fans, and introduces and familiarizes those initiates who are not introduced or familiarized. Again, awesome video, thanks so much. Since you touched on so many topics, I wish you could create an entire documentary about all of this. Everything you spoke about is familiar to me, I have always been deeply invested in 90s music, from Jeff Buckley to Faith No More, Depeche Mode, Chili Peppers, Mother Love Bone. So seeing you gloss over them makes me wish the people who have no clue what this is quite about had a chance to listen to you go deeper into the evolution of 90s Seattle rock. There are so many stories tied in together, from Mother Love Bone spawning Temple of the Dog, or awesome rabbit holes like Chris Cornell wearing a necklace made by Shannon Hoon, as seen in the clip of Black Hole Sun, to Layne naming the Blind Melon (the band Shanon was a singer of) single ''No Rain'' on MTV Rage. The rise of Cornell starting as a drummer just like Layne, to the death of Andrew Wood leading to Eddie Vedder, it's all so beautifully tied together, marred with frightfully terrifying stories of drug abuse leading to death. It's a story that needs to be told without hollywood or netflix sensationalism; this shit is jarring, heartwrenching, sensationalist as is. I really hope the story gets told soon, before it gets wattered down by infinite-hand replications and reproductions, until the truth is just as much as a guess as any fabrication.
It was cause of Layne and his lyrics, and Cantrell's back up vocals and sick riffs, that helped me get through my addiction. I struggled for 13 years with heroin and related a lot to the lyrics. Everytime I was in rehab I would listen to them constantly. I've been clean for 8 years now, have a gf and daughter, a house, and a job I love building houses. I've always loved my life, even during my struggles, but having a little princess that I'm responsible for is the best feeling I've ever experienced. She's 3 but is extremely good at naming bands on the radio, Alice in chains is one she always gets right cause the voice is unmistakable. Same with acdc and rush for the same reason, just a unique voice. But I digress, Alice in chains is one of my favorite bands ever and I will always appreciate them.
Got into them in high school. Dirt then Jar of flies, then Sap all of which I loved. Tripod record was different but still great and had some of my favorite aic songs. Aic is still amazing live. Catch them if you get a chance
Addiction is hell. So this is one of my favorite albums. Started in highschool when I was lucky to graduate in 1995 to fit in because I was shy. Then I found an addiction from the mid 2000s until a 2 weeks ago. It's Adderall which people ridicule people actually being addictive. Well I have relapsed many times. Relapsed a month ago and went on a 10 day run. For 3 days there's a "Adderall crash". It proves it is. I'ts legal meth. I'm sober almost 2 weeks. I'm so done starting over.
I used Adderall in highschool. Fun times but the crashes made you feel like death, as you know. It has been 20 years since and a lot of people I went to school with are dead from drugs or bald and no teeth, despite being in our late 30s. People I know still use, amongst other things, and I feel lucky just being a half gallon drinker a day for over a decade. Finally beat that in my early 30s. You're doing an awesome thing and it is very fucking difficult. Every day can be a battle. Including how addicting Addie can be. Much love.
Despite the substance abuse horror the band endured which led in part to the creation of what is very likely their best album Dirt, I'm proud of what they accomplished in that record. Every song is real art (this can also be said for all the work they made with Layne till his passing) and real art is forever. The dual vocals in the chorus on the song Junkhead are my favorite from the 90's, and that's impressive considering the talent and creative diversity found in that decades music.
Dirt dropped about 9 days before I shipped out to Somalia. Somehow a copy made it to me over there. The depth and darkness of it actually helped me work through all that I was seeing in that abused country. It continues to live in my Top 10.
I've watched many hours of videos about AIC (yours are always on point and well done) but this one provided a lot of new info for me. Thanks for the excellent content!
The rock and roll bar had been set so incredibly high during the 60's and 70's (from Zeppelin to Van Halen) that there was nowhere to go but down. The resulting punk/grunge standard became not better, but simply different.
Absolute masterpiece. I feel that album like no other. I've been off heroin for over 100 days now and I love it. That album will always be close to my heart.
It's not an album. It is a monumental heavy rock masterpiece. The best record to come out of the grunge era. It was the soundtrack to the best years of my life, being a young guy in his early 20s during that era was fucken awesome. I can only feel pity for the youth of today, those who were there know what I mean.
I have fond memories of being young with my dad listening to their songs, but it’s hard for me to hear their music sometimes because of an incident involving him, his suicide attempt after battling addiction, and having the Dirt album on repeat. Messed up him for life. It’s all I can think about whenever I hear them. Sucks, because I still love that album and have it on all my playlists some of those songs remind me of riding in a vehicle with him and hearing him sing along, but I won’t lie … I sometimes cry like a little girl when I hear Down In A Hole for obvious reasons. Great band who made some gripping music that was amazing - not their fault.
First heard of AnC when Rooster was released on MTV.... cycled down to my local shop and bought the Dirt album. Loved it. So cycled right back to the same store to pick up any of their other albums... bought the first one they released. Also loved it. Such an amazing band. For those new to AnC, I also recommend that you check out 'Mad Season' - equally amazing music.
Excellent video. This year marks the 30th anniversary of AiC's album Dirt. I have been wondering if it is difficult for Jerry and Sean (the remaining members from the making of the album). The care also applies to the other EPs and Albums from Layne-era AiC. At times I feel guilty for being an avid fan of their music because it feels wrong to cherish something that was the result from the pain that the members of AiC were experiencing. On another note, are you doing okay? I ask due to the last second of the video.
I understand your feelings about enjoying music that came out of pain, but knowing that the band agreed to “put it all out there” + the discussion about the deep tracks and the meaning behind their order being very deliberate makes me think that it was a decision the band made collectively to air out their pain. Lots of art, whether it’s fine arts or music often comes from the expression of the artists’ personal experiences, including painful ones. That’s why we can connect with music so deeply if we have a shared experience or sense of pain or loss. I have a playlist for when I’m feeling a certain way about things that happened in my past, and I can connect to the songs and get that sense of, “I’m not the only one. I can wallow in my pain for a bit, but I’m going to be ok.” That’s what makes music so powerful. And on another note, yeah I hope he’s ok and didn’t go strangle someone. I had to go back and listen again because I had paused just before that moment.
This is why I absolutely love your channel. I love Alice In Chains and even a period in my life not to long ago for like 8months -1 year every day I listened to or watched videos or researched for countless hours during my free time. Almost as an obsession but that’s my addictive personality to anything I am into. Since then I kinda don’t want to say I moved on but more like I found/listened/read all the info I could about them that it became repetitive loosing the spark. Just shows your commitment as in each of your videos about them I probably know all that your speaking about but still always learn a new thing or two witch I can’t thank you enough sir! (Funny comment I even tried to pin point the exact day layne used or was grabbed by herion witch I narrowed down to like 1-5 dates LOL)
Always something new - I was very interested in hearing about the drum engineering. I LOVE that huge drum sound and I think the Metallica Black drum sound is probably my favourite rock drum production ever recorded, so it was interesting that they were recorded using the same method!
I really think Dirt is the lyrically darkest album EVER to go quadruple Platinum. Like... Even by 90's standards it was so heavy and moody and dealt with such serious shit. For that record to achieve huge success is kind of crazy.
Besides the downward spiral and einima dirt is the perfect record it's hard to find an album to press play and leave it but it does it so does jar of flys but dirt just hits different
The meaning of Mad Season: River of Deceit as sung by Layne Staley. Start off by saying this is about Layne’s drug habits particularly with Heroin! Think about it: The river(blood flow in your veins) takes down the Deceit (Heroin). If you read the lyrics now with this in mind and counter the fact this eventually led to Layne’s death is poetic. He KNEW he had a problem and was conveying that to the listener. My pain is self chosen. Pull off my skin and swim to shore…Heroin addicts pick at their skin. Shore represents being off the drug…now I can grow a beautiful shell (New Skin) for ALL TO SEE. Listen again with this in mind.
This was so ironic. Due to my own addiction, I was also in downtown LA scoring drugs during the riots. That's a no shit statement about Layne. They were really out there selling coke and smack as usual. RIP...
My favorite album of that era of music... Years ago I had a co-worker that told me to stop playing the album because I played it so much that he got sick and tired of hearing it
The media only focused on what every rock star did before them and never mentioned a peep about 80s party and glam rock. Then when a grunge singer gained a habit that's all they focused on. Maybe Kurt's death had a lot to do with it. But the media contributed to his death. And facelift and dirt. Different I'll admit. But still both so good.
Alice in chains also stood out from the rest you hand two great singers Layne and Jerry I think people forget sometimes..Alice will forever be my favorite band..
Layne getting into Slayer makes sense as Alice In Chains opened the Clash Of The Titans tour in 91. That said I don't hear any Slayer influence on Dirt or any AIC music.
I saw Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Urge OverKill, RHCP, but Alice In Chains at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago October 1993 was the best show I've ever experienced.... Layne was dressed like a witch hanging from a black net that looked like a huge spiderWeb. It was the most intense musical experience I've seen ever . Yes I was on Mushrooms but they were hitting on all cylinders and looked and sounded incredible. Fuckin amazing show. I was lucky to see it. Sean Kinney was explosive. Jerry was playing like a God and Layne was on point and energetic.
Alice In Chains were easily the best of the Seattle Sound that came out. I remember hearing Sea of Sorrow at my job at a gas station the first time...and later seeing the video for Would? when MTV still played music. I was 18 in 92, right in the middle of that period. Alice In Chains and Soundgarden were the best new music of my lifetime that came after Master of Puppets In 86. Layne Staley and Chris Cornell were the best singers of a generation...both gone now, such a loss. Add Axl Rose and that’s probably the top 3 vocalists of my life for me...that came DURING my lifetime. (Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were there when I was born). It’s crazy that Axl is the 1 remaining...tho I subscribe to the theory that Chris was murdered. What happened to Layne by the end is just God Awful.
In my opinion this album by Alice In Chains dirt and the two album anima are the two best records in my opinion of all time! They were brilliant bounce at the top of their game and dirt has been one of my absolute favourite albums of all time ever since it was released! Thank you so much for doing these things about bands especially this one about Alice In Chains and the recording of dirt! You now have another subscriber and I’m going to all your videos right now and listening to all done. I obviously can’t see the screen but your voice is great and your details are amazing! Can you put out awesome video dude you’re making me really happy and I bet a lot of people really happy I can’t wait for some other videos thank you again so so so much you’re a fantastic! Sorry for all the typos I am completely blind and I have VoiceOver and things to help me navigate my iPhone and I dictate everything so I don’t know how to fix my typos so again sorry for all the typos please don’t come for me about the typos!
Fun Fact: the first song written on Dirt was actually Dirt. It was written between the release of Facelift and the release of Man in the Box as a single. It was performed as early as November 1990 there’s videos on TH-cam of their performances and the song has nothing to do with heroin either as it was before he tried it. It is based on previous relationships/friendships where Layne got screwed over and desired getting even.
Wow. Hearing Kelly Curtis's thoughts on why he didn't want to deal with this. Damn. You feel that about people you knew who were on the edge. What happened to those people after you leave them?
Wasn't expecting a shout out to MEAT magazine in this. In the pre-Internet times it was a great way to get concert dates to metal shows and read quality articles.
there were a few things about the album I didn't include because I felt like it was beating a dead horse. There were some stories of Jerden and Layne butting heads over Layne singing while high and having to redo vocals. There was also one story about Layne's dealer coming to the studio and giving advice to Jerden who obviously didn't take too kindly to the advice.
Im a big AIC fan this was so well done
What were you talking about strangling at the end of the video?
@@Mikethompson303 Neighbours dog. LOL (he replied as much in another comment)
Did you say "a deceased puppy in a jar" as one of the items Layne requested in his recording booth? I backed it up & listened a second time, and that's what it sounded like.
Twist of Fate , I’m reading the book about AIC by David De Sola and that part about the puppy is in the book. I recommend it.
Dirt is a masterpiece. Jerry wrote killer riffs and Layne wrote nakedly personal lyrics that still resonate today. Layne and Jerry never sounded as tight harmonically as they did on Dirt. It's also their most "metal" album. And it's the album that Layne had the most input on. It's my favourite AIC album bar none.
Amen!! 🙏💜🪶🦋🌹
Well said 💯🎯👍
Yeah because Layne's voice was on the way out from his drug abuse. He wasn't at his best even on Dirt and it was all downhill from there.
@@damo9961 not true. His vocals are at his peak here. Or at least as good as on facelift.
@@damo9961 Damo is my nickname too and I have to disagree even when he was near the end and he recorded "get born again" even when Layne was at his worst he was better than 99% of front men out he was a once in a lifetime talent, it's sad I heard somewhere, Layne had the world's longest suicide attempt its sad he had so much freaking talent and was just an overall good person 😢
Layne Staley singing Rooster at sunset during Lollapalooza '93 was one of the most memorable concert experiences Ive ever had. I feel so fortunate to have been there. Such a massive loss 😔
Knowing what he knew about the occult/Illuminati ate him alive. He had a good heart and couldn’t handle it, which is understandable.
He is in a better place now and I hope his soul is at rest.
That’s amazing thanks for sharing
@Rena that’s so awesome oh my gosh. I wasn’t even born yet when Layne was with Alice in chains lol.
Your so lucky I would do anything to meet him and talk to him, especially to ask about the occult references in his lyrics. I feel like I have a lot in common with Layne Staley besides the fame, struggling through opioid addiction after family members passing away from cancer and I feel every lyric in Alice in chains music.
@Rena do you know what I mean by occult though? Alot of people in music are into it and so was Layne Staley, I can tell from lyrics and symbolism.
It ate him alive and made him depressed which I totally understand and I am going through exact same thing right now, trying to stop opioids though hopefully today is the last day.
That is the most amazing story ever I’m so thankful for you sharing. Are you able to send a picture of them on Snapchat by chance? Sorry I just really want to see them. I would even want to pay you for them but I’m not going to do that cause those are yours and special to you and he gave it to you. But would just be cool to see a picture of something he gave to a fan out of the goodness of his heart.
I wish I could have talked to him about aliens and the occult and maybe did a little you know what with him lmao, but I’ll have my time maybe when I’m on the other side.
I’ll send you my Snapchat if you want.
@Rena I hope you do the best in life and all other lives. Especially during these crazy days and I wish as much protection as I can. These days we are living in are surreal. Stay safe.
🤍
Hell yea I bet that was awesome
One of the best rock/metal albums of the 90's. Grunge too whatever you want to call them.
Doesn’t matter how you classify their style of music, AIC was an amazing one of a kind band. Layne’s voice alone could transport your mind to another time or place, but the entire band together could teleport you to another dimension. I absolutely loved them back in the day and still listen to them all the time.
Str8 bro.
Dirt changed the way I appreciated music... amazing album.
I'd like to call it Gruntal (Grunge/Metal)
@@grungyperry7530 I like it
This album has never ever been left out of my playlists since around 1993... in my first and second cars, CD Walkman, and now my cellphone. I love to play my drums along with it too.
Sean Kinney, the unsung AIC member. 🤘
Dirt is easily one of the best rock albums of all time
Na
@@TheApacheTrailyour opinion fn
My, opinion, of course, though musically this album is the best. For me, sonically, riff wise, harmonies, vocal. It's ridiculous how out of time this album is, and the band is. One of my all time favourites
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😮😮🎉
@@TheApacheTrail😂😂😂😂😂
I saw Layne in a three piece suit at the start of their set on Lollapolooza in 93 and it was like 95 degrees that day! Needless to say he took the jacket tie vest and shirt off after playing Would the first song to start the show! Very charismatic singer and great stage presence! His voice very unique and an unbelievable range! RIP Layne!
The meaning of Mad Season: River of Deceit as sung by Layne Staley.
Start off by saying this is about Layne’s drug habits particularly with Heroin! Think about it: The river(blood flow in your veins) takes down the Deceit (Heroin). If you read the lyrics now with this in mind and counter the fact this eventually led to Layne’s death is poetic. He KNEW he had a problem and was conveying that to the listener. My pain is self chosen. Pull off my skin and swim to shore…Heroin addicts pick at their skin. Shore represents being off the drug…now I can grow a beautiful shell (New Skin) for ALL TO SEE. Listen again with this in mind.
The fact that so many gone from this Era is just devastating. Such powerful men in my teens gone to soon. I have 2 AIC tribute tattoos 1st to Layne & 2nd to Starr
It's crazy to think this band was essentially dying from its inception. It's like dirt was the beginning of the end, and their self titled was a hellish nightmare. It's amazing that this band still puts out great music, but to me it feels like a different band, still great nonetheless. All hail Jerry Cantrell.
Totally agree. Jerry Cantrell is a rock who drove the sound from the beginning, knowing that Layne is an amazing vocalist, writer, lyricist.
We're all dying from day one.
@@scottashe984 we are born into a grave
It really don’t feel the same without Layne fr
When Dirt came out, I liked it more than Nevermind.
AIC and Soundgarden were the best bands of the Grunge era. I wasn’t a Nirvana fan then, and I’m still not.
You can like them both u know...
@@TerryJKiely
Nope. Not possible.
Lol
This "If I like this, I have to hate that" really just limits your Musical Experiences. I enjoy all the big four of the Grunge era, but I also like to Listen to some Mötley Crüe on occasion.
Why not be a bit more open to different styles of music 😁
@@mikenommel3952
It’s called preference.
AIC and Soundgarden were brilliant.
Nirvana kinda sucks.
The second CD I ever bought was Dirt. Coincidentally, it was exactly the time I started doing drugs. They were fun, at first. If only I had recognized the irony. Dirt was a suicide note from a hardcore addict. Thank God I got out. Layne didn’t.
Proud of you,bro!I made it out,too,thank God!👊✌️
This is actually my all-time favorite AIC album/CD. All of their songs are absolutely amazing. Great upload!
Not just one of the greatest 90's albums. But I can objectively say it's one of the greatest rock albums period. Complete masterpiece start to finish.
AiC came along when I was 19 with Facelift. I was a total Metal head and if it wasn't Slayer, Kreator, etc I wasn't interested, but when these guys came out I was hooked. Dirt came out at the end of a dark time for me. Made it easier to deal with and walk away from. Good times man.
Dirt is so good that it absolutely holds up today. Such a great album.
I still listen regularly
@@christineferreira2181 me too.
its burned in my soul. I learned all the guitar back in the day when it came out. Best drum/vocal/guitar ive ever seen work together .
I’m at work so I can’t watch this now but I know it’s going to be a great video. I’m only 22 but I’ve struggled off an on with addiction for years and Dirt got me through a lot of dark days. I’ll never forget when I first heard the album and I had it on repeat for about a year or two.
Truly an amazing album. I wish you the best and hope you’re doing better.
I feel your pain bro. Ive been fighting that fight longer than you have been alive. I wish you the best, if you find something to get you through the dark times, do it meditation, music, working out, painting whatever. There is no future in being high. Layne's life summed it up completely. Had so much but the shit will take it all and more. Stay strong my friend.
Sending love, mate. Every day you're clean is a day to celebrate. A relapse is just another opportunity to show yourself love, forgiveness, and understanding that no one is perfect. No one will ever be perfect, we can only ever be the best version of ourselves. Don't focus on your mistakes, focus on your efforts to rectify them, learn a lesson, and grow from it. Music heals so much, I hope your journey in life brings you many opportunities for joy💝
"Dirt" is one the greatest hard rock albums of all time, right up with "Appetite for Destruction" and "Master of Puppets." Regardless of the genre being "grunge" or "thrash." It is all blues based rock played with different intensities, interpretations, and with a unique intangible quality. Alice in Chains definitely had it on "Dirt."
Agreed
That album is iconic to my life in 1992 as well. I was 27 in ‘92 and dealing with some demons of my own. Not to the extent that Layne was going through, but enough that I consider it a chapter of my life I am glad is over with. Perhaps its no surprise that Dirt is one of my favorite albums.
I wish compliments for the quality of the singing were included with how often the lyrics are talked about. This albums way of harmonizing the debauchery they sang about is what made it so nuts to me.
I remember first hearing this album when I was 12 (summer of 1992). What's been fascinating to me as I get older - when you're a kid and you hear a good rock album it's like a magic trick but you don't get all of the nuance. You get older, you look back at what went into it, you hear stories like these, and while the album was already 'humanizing' quite a bit as you got older anyway this further adds to that. RIP Lane and Mike.
I love Alice in chains and layne is like a hero to me when it comes to singing. If it wasn't for this album and the band in general I would have probably never been inspired to write the songs that I have wrote either in the past or now. Thank God for this band and rest in peace the late great Layne Staley. He will forever be missed in my opinion.
Alice in Chains was an immensely talented band. It's hard for me to listen to their songs now, despite the fact that they are one of my favorite bands. Every time I hear their music, I think of Layne and how his life ended. Much like Scott Weiland, his eventual demise seemed almost inevitable, but no one should suffer like that. It is so sad to me that someone as famous as Layne was could pass away and lay dead for two weeks before anyone even looked for him. He had become almost forgotten and invisible. I just think of what he might have become if live had treated him differently, and some one would have found him the help that he needed. As was the case with many of the singer's from the Grunge movement, fame ended up destroying him. A lot of those artists were people with serious mental health issues that channeled their struggles into the music. In many cases, they were crying out for help that never came. No one should ever die alone and forgotten. That haunts me.
Just read those words to my wife choking back the emotion.Beautifully written,thank you.✌️….love from Texas,Brent
Thank you very much for these deep dives into the lives, history and back-stories of these artists. I appreciate it! At 13:07 sounds like you are having a rough moment! Take care.
Good catch
Yeah, what was that all about?
Oh yeah, how weird
"I might go strangle my fuck..."!?
Sounds like " I'm gonna go strangle"
I LOL’d at that! I imagined a pet cat being a pain in the ass while he was recording. “I’m gonna go strangle that f**king cat!” Lol😂😂
The Dirt record sounds like what overdosing feels like.
Truly a haunting record from a man who already knew his time was running out.
AIC is one of the few bands who has an untouchable 90's catalog. facelift right through self titled. the desperation in layne's voice on frogs...ugh
I've been listening to Dirt since it came out. Found myself in the same situations they were singing about many years later. And now that I'm sober, the music still brings me back. Instant trigger. Layne was the best.
I love your Alice In Chains videos bro.. I can never get enough of the Layne stuff. I relate to him so much. Had so many friends on heroin growing up and lost quite a few as well. Keep up the good work brother
Angry chair saved my life"... 🙏💜
I had just had my stillborn boy.
His name was Dayne 🕯️
I could relate to the pain.
I am a Songbird myself and I thank God for them.
Rip Layne and Micheal.
So Greatful for the both of you and the band. 🌹
You're welcome
I love nirvana Soundgarden but Alice was my band always laynes voice Jerry guitars seans drums just unreal still gives me chills to this day
Disregarding the subjects, I think this video is exceptionally well made. There are so many pictures that some fans would not have heard of.
A tip or suggestion: play music by the bands you're talking about, it makes it a lot more engaging and exciting for fans, and introduces and familiarizes those initiates who are not introduced or familiarized.
Again, awesome video, thanks so much. Since you touched on so many topics, I wish you could create an entire documentary about all of this. Everything you spoke about is familiar to me, I have always been deeply invested in 90s music, from Jeff Buckley to Faith No More, Depeche Mode, Chili Peppers, Mother Love Bone. So seeing you gloss over them makes me wish the people who have no clue what this is quite about had a chance to listen to you go deeper into the evolution of 90s Seattle rock. There are so many stories tied in together, from Mother Love Bone spawning Temple of the Dog, or awesome rabbit holes like Chris Cornell wearing a necklace made by Shannon Hoon, as seen in the clip of Black Hole Sun, to Layne naming the Blind Melon (the band Shanon was a singer of) single ''No Rain'' on MTV Rage. The rise of Cornell starting as a drummer just like Layne, to the death of Andrew Wood leading to Eddie Vedder, it's all so beautifully tied together, marred with frightfully terrifying stories of drug abuse leading to death. It's a story that needs to be told without hollywood or netflix sensationalism; this shit is jarring, heartwrenching, sensationalist as is. I really hope the story gets told soon, before it gets wattered down by infinite-hand replications and reproductions, until the truth is just as much as a guess as any fabrication.
Laynes voice is pure magic…angelic
Great video...LOVE AIC. You forgot to cut the microphone off at the end...LMAOOOOOOOOOO
It was cause of Layne and his lyrics, and Cantrell's back up vocals and sick riffs, that helped me get through my addiction. I struggled for 13 years with heroin and related a lot to the lyrics. Everytime I was in rehab I would listen to them constantly. I've been clean for 8 years now, have a gf and daughter, a house, and a job I love building houses. I've always loved my life, even during my struggles, but having a little princess that I'm responsible for is the best feeling I've ever experienced. She's 3 but is extremely good at naming bands on the radio, Alice in chains is one she always gets right cause the voice is unmistakable. Same with acdc and rush for the same reason, just a unique voice. But I digress, Alice in chains is one of my favorite bands ever and I will always appreciate them.
Got into them in high school. Dirt then Jar of flies, then Sap all of which I loved. Tripod record was different but still great and had some of my favorite aic songs. Aic is still amazing live. Catch them if you get a chance
Addiction is hell. So this is one of my favorite albums. Started in highschool when I was lucky to graduate in 1995 to fit in because I was shy. Then I found an addiction from the mid 2000s until a 2 weeks ago. It's Adderall which people ridicule people actually being addictive. Well I have relapsed many times. Relapsed a month ago and went on a 10 day run. For 3 days there's a "Adderall crash". It proves it is. I'ts legal meth. I'm sober almost 2 weeks. I'm so done starting over.
Good for you. Yeah, when I picked up a script for adderal, the bottle said "amphetamine salts." That's all I needed to read.
Best of luck to you.
Stay strong! You can do it!
Everyone who gets sober usually relapses a few times before success. You are winning the war .
I used Adderall in highschool. Fun times but the crashes made you feel like death, as you know. It has been 20 years since and a lot of people I went to school with are dead from drugs or bald and no teeth, despite being in our late 30s. People I know still use, amongst other things, and I feel lucky just being a half gallon drinker a day for over a decade. Finally beat that in my early 30s. You're doing an awesome thing and it is very fucking difficult. Every day can be a battle. Including how addicting Addie can be. Much love.
Despite the substance abuse horror the band endured which led in part to the creation of what is very likely their best album Dirt, I'm proud of what they accomplished in that record. Every song is real art (this can also be said for all the work they made with Layne till his passing) and real art is forever. The dual vocals in the chorus on the song Junkhead are my favorite from the 90's, and that's impressive considering the talent and creative diversity found in that decades music.
Alice in chains "Dirt Tour" opening were Screaming Trees and Grunt Truck 🚛 ! One of the best concerts I've ever done seen 🤟💯❤️R.I.P Layne
Damn, not when I saw them in Chicago. Tad and Sweetwater opened for them.
@@timthegem how was that ?I always digged Tad .
Dirt dropped about 9 days before I shipped out to Somalia. Somehow a copy made it to me over there. The depth and darkness of it actually helped me work through all that I was seeing in that abused country.
It continues to live in my Top 10.
I've watched many hours of videos about AIC (yours are always on point and well done) but this one provided a lot of new info for me.
Thanks for the excellent content!
The rock and roll bar had been set so incredibly high during the 60's and 70's (from Zeppelin to Van Halen) that there was nowhere to go but down. The resulting punk/grunge standard became not better, but simply different.
Absolute masterpiece. I feel that album like no other. I've been off heroin for over 100 days now and I love it. That album will always be close to my heart.
The rehab thing choked me up because I thought immediately about the lyrics “if I can’t be my own, I’d feel better dead”
DIRT was the official moment that Seattle grunge took over.🤟
And ruined music forever 💀.
Alice In Chains ranks #2 in my top 10 artist of all time but I do agree that Grunge killed rock.
@@Bruineboon03 Half agree due to the awful nu metal/nickleback bands that were inspired by them.
@@Bruineboon03 so what are you doing here ?
@@Bruineboon03 You're telling me 80s cheese metal is better than AIC? Bye
RIP Layne And Mike🙏🏻🤘
What are you ranting about under your breath there at the end? You alright, mate?
It's not an album. It is a monumental heavy rock masterpiece. The best record to come out of the grunge era. It was the soundtrack to the best years of my life, being a young guy in his early 20s during that era was fucken awesome. I can only feel pity for the youth of today, those who were there know what I mean.
Alice In Chains & in particular Dirts impact on rock music cannot be understated.
Rain When I Die!! The first time I listened to the (oh jeezus) CASSETTE, I (triple jeezus) rewound and listened to that song 8 times...good times.
Same!
he surmizes its gonna rain when he perishes
Hands down one of the best albums to come out of the 90s, I’d say it’s only topped by their self titled album from 95.
Dirt is easily in my top 5 Bangers of all time....Every song is a Gem from beginning to end
This album got me through alot of shit. Deployments, marriage issues, just life.
This was my first rock/alternative album I ever bought way back when I was a freshman in high school. It started my love for those genres.
rest easy Layne. We all miss you
What got strangled at the end their? A dog? 😂 Lol.
Work, done. On to the next task: the dogs ass. 😂
Thank you, I love Alice in Chains and I love Layne Staley RIP 😇 and Mike Star😇 DIRT is amazing!! Thank you for sharing this story. 😊💓🤘✌️
The best album in my collection. All killer no filler. The last 3 songs a transcendental.
Monumental album to my existence.
Great video! One of my favorite bands and favorite albums 🤟 thanks again! 💀✌️
That freak out at the end of the video lmfaoooooo
I have fond memories of being young with my dad listening to their songs, but it’s hard for me to hear their music sometimes because of an incident involving him, his suicide attempt after battling addiction, and having the Dirt album on repeat. Messed up him for life.
It’s all I can think about whenever I hear them. Sucks, because I still love that album and have it on all my playlists some of those songs remind me of riding in a vehicle with him and hearing him sing along, but I won’t lie … I sometimes cry like a little girl when I hear Down In A Hole for obvious reasons.
Great band who made some gripping music that was amazing - not their fault.
Dang everyone! Don't sleep on Jerry he is a great singer too and wrote almost all of it.
First heard of AnC when Rooster was released on MTV.... cycled down to my local shop and bought the Dirt album. Loved it. So cycled right back to the same store to pick up any of their other albums... bought the first one they released. Also loved it. Such an amazing band. For those new to AnC, I also recommend that you check out 'Mad Season' - equally amazing music.
Excellent video. This year marks the 30th anniversary of AiC's album Dirt. I have been wondering if it is difficult for Jerry and Sean (the remaining members from the making of the album). The care also applies to the other EPs and Albums from Layne-era AiC. At times I feel guilty for being an avid fan of their music because it feels wrong to cherish something that was the result from the pain that the members of AiC were experiencing. On another note, are you doing okay? I ask due to the last second of the video.
I understand your feelings about enjoying music that came out of pain, but knowing that the band agreed to “put it all out there” + the discussion about the deep tracks and the meaning behind their order being very deliberate makes me think that it was a decision the band made collectively to air out their pain. Lots of art, whether it’s fine arts or music often comes from the expression of the artists’ personal experiences, including painful ones. That’s why we can connect with music so deeply if we have a shared experience or sense of pain or loss. I have a playlist for when I’m feeling a certain way about things that happened in my past, and I can connect to the songs and get that sense of, “I’m not the only one. I can wallow in my pain for a bit, but I’m going to be ok.” That’s what makes music so powerful.
And on another note, yeah I hope he’s ok and didn’t go strangle someone. I had to go back and listen again because I had paused just before that moment.
It hurts to hear someone describing not being seen as a person, an object, you matter, everyone matters and deserves to know their experience is real.
This is why I absolutely love your channel. I love Alice In Chains and even a period in my life not to long ago for like 8months -1 year every day I listened to or watched videos or researched for countless hours during my free time. Almost as an obsession but that’s my addictive personality to anything I am into. Since then I kinda don’t want to say I moved on but more like I found/listened/read all the info I could about them that it became repetitive loosing the spark. Just shows your commitment as in each of your videos about them I probably know all that your speaking about but still always learn a new thing or two witch I can’t thank you enough sir! (Funny comment I even tried to pin point the exact day layne used or was grabbed by herion witch I narrowed down to like 1-5 dates LOL)
Always something new - I was very interested in hearing about the drum engineering. I LOVE that huge drum sound and I think the Metallica Black drum sound is probably my favourite rock drum production ever recorded, so it was interesting that they were recorded using the same method!
13:07 “I’m gonna go strangle that fu…”
When true life meets Rock N’ Roll True Stories.
awesome video.......i like the last part where you say " i wanna strange the..." hahaha
When I was younger I was into nirvana. A few years down the drain now I’m into Alice In Chains
I really think Dirt is the lyrically darkest album EVER to go quadruple Platinum. Like... Even by 90's standards it was so heavy and moody and dealt with such serious shit. For that record to achieve huge success is kind of crazy.
“The Wall” is probably the most successful “dark” album I think.
@@Ontariosound You beat me to it. Anyone who knows me knows I'm in a bad place when I'm sitting alone in the dark with that record.
Besides the downward spiral and einima dirt is the perfect record it's hard to find an album to press play and leave it but it does it so does jar of flys but dirt just hits different
The meaning of Mad Season: River of Deceit as sung by Layne Staley.
Start off by saying this is about Layne’s drug habits particularly with Heroin! Think about it: The river(blood flow in your veins) takes down the Deceit (Heroin). If you read the lyrics now with this in mind and counter the fact this eventually led to Layne’s death is poetic. He KNEW he had a problem and was conveying that to the listener. My pain is self chosen. Pull off my skin and swim to shore…Heroin addicts pick at their skin. Shore represents being off the drug…now I can grow a beautiful shell (New Skin) for ALL TO SEE. Listen again with this in mind.
Imagine what they'd be doing now if Layne had never done dope 😭
They would all be in their 50's and hopefully retired. Nothing worse than a band that hangs on waaayy too long.
Angry chair would have never been written
That ending though 😂😂😂😂😂
13:07 who's gettin choked?!
This was so ironic. Due to my own addiction, I was also in downtown LA scoring drugs during the riots. That's a no shit statement about Layne. They were really out there selling coke and smack as usual. RIP...
The Dirt album is one of my favorite albums of all time. 🤘🏻
I was 22 yrs old when this came out and we all knew it was a masterpiece on day fuckin 1
My favorite album of that era of music... Years ago I had a co-worker that told me to stop playing the album because I played it so much that he got sick and tired of hearing it
The media only focused on what every rock star did before them and never mentioned a peep about 80s party and glam rock. Then when a grunge singer gained a habit that's all they focused on. Maybe Kurt's death had a lot to do with it. But the media contributed to his death. And facelift and dirt. Different I'll admit. But still both so good.
Alice in chains also stood out from the rest you hand two great singers Layne and Jerry I think people forget sometimes..Alice will forever be my favorite band..
Rain When I Die is my favorite track on Dirt also
Me too
Thank you for all your work, especially your AIC stuff
Layne getting into Slayer makes sense as Alice In Chains opened the Clash Of The Titans tour in 91. That said I don't hear any Slayer influence on Dirt or any AIC music.
I saw Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Urge OverKill, RHCP, but Alice In Chains at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago October 1993 was the best show I've ever experienced.... Layne was dressed like a witch hanging from a black net that looked like a huge spiderWeb. It was the most intense musical experience I've seen ever . Yes I was on Mushrooms but they were hitting on all cylinders and looked and sounded incredible. Fuckin amazing show. I was lucky to see it. Sean Kinney was explosive. Jerry was playing like a God and Layne was on point and energetic.
Alice In Chains were easily the best of the Seattle Sound that came out. I remember hearing Sea of Sorrow at my job at a gas station the first time...and later seeing the video for Would? when MTV still played music. I was 18 in 92, right in the middle of that period. Alice In Chains and Soundgarden were the best new music of my lifetime that came after Master of Puppets In 86. Layne Staley and Chris Cornell were the best singers of a generation...both gone now, such a loss. Add Axl Rose and that’s probably the top 3 vocalists of my life for me...that came DURING my lifetime. (Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were there when I was born). It’s crazy that Axl is the 1 remaining...tho I subscribe to the theory that Chris was murdered. What happened to Layne by the end is just God Awful.
Down in a hole is an awesome song, angry chair is eerily apocalyptic. One of Alternative’s high points no doubt.
Top 5 best albums ever. Great video. Keep it up. RIP Mr. Staley.
Bleed the Freak ...my favorite Alice in Chains song
This album changed the world ...Definitely not grunge it's just thrown Into that category because they are from Seattle.
Yeah I did not think Soundgarden or STP were grunge to me either,just good rock
'Dirt' is the sound of pure human despair.
Everybody Loves Our Town seems to be an endless source of fodder for Grunge-era stories.
R.I.P. Layne Staley and Mike Starr #LSMS
Dirt is easily a perfect, 10/10 album. No skips
In my opinion this album by Alice In Chains dirt and the two album anima are the two best records in my opinion of all time! They were brilliant bounce at the top of their game and dirt has been one of my absolute favourite albums of all time ever since it was released! Thank you so much for doing these things about bands especially this one about Alice In Chains and the recording of dirt! You now have another subscriber and I’m going to all your videos right now and listening to all done. I obviously can’t see the screen but your voice is great and your details are amazing! Can you put out awesome video dude you’re making me really happy and I bet a lot of people really happy I can’t wait for some other videos thank you again so so so much you’re a fantastic! Sorry for all the typos I am completely blind and I have VoiceOver and things to help me navigate my iPhone and I dictate everything so I don’t know how to fix my typos so again sorry for all the typos please don’t come for me about the typos!
Fun Fact: the first song written on Dirt was actually Dirt. It was written between the release of Facelift and the release of Man in the Box as a single. It was performed as early as November 1990 there’s videos on TH-cam of their performances and the song has nothing to do with heroin either as it was before he tried it. It is based on previous relationships/friendships where Layne got screwed over and desired getting even.
Wow. Hearing Kelly Curtis's thoughts on why he didn't want to deal with this. Damn. You feel that about people you knew who were on the edge.
What happened to those people after you leave them?
Wasn't expecting a shout out to MEAT magazine in this. In the pre-Internet times it was a great way to get concert dates to metal shows and read quality articles.
Ok, what was that caught on a hot mic at the end of this video?! 🤔
I see Alice in chains, I watch. 😩👌