 For me, this is as sad a day in music as it gets. Alice In Chains was one of my favorite bands, ever, if not in fact the one favorite above all else. A lot of it had to do with Layne's voice, the way he hauntingly carried his voice. Simply amazing work he did.
I tried to emulate Layne a lot when I was a younger singer. Not his lifestyle, but the delivery of the words and the tentative way he did things. I stopped when I realized that I would need to be strung out more often than not to really grasp it. Then I realized that I could never be somebody else, so I tried to be myself and worked on my vocal style. But I owe that push to layne and Alice In Chains. They've been a huge influence, and I always held out hope, against all hope, that Layne would be able to win the war against drugs and himself, reunite the band, record a new CD, tour, and destroy the world one more time. But... sadly, life has decided to not do it. Now, one of my heroes of music, Layne Staley, has died. Layne was my personal John Lennon, my own Joey Ramone. The man did a lot of awesome work in his all-too-short life. He will be missed by all Alice In Chains fans, everywhere.
At the very least, we have Jerry Cantrell to keep the music and the spirit alive. When I see Jerry with Nickelback, I wonder what the reaction will be like. If you thought the tour would sell out with Nickelback riding such a huge wave... Jerry Cantrell being one of the last members of AIC will send tickets sales through the roof. It would not surprise me if Jerry pulled together an AIC tribute tour... reunite the surviving members (never thought I'd have to say that about AIC ), and proceed to destroy the world for one last time. Needless to say, I would follow the tour, religiously.
But, until then, I'll do the one thing I can do: remember the band and the good times. Facelift, Sap, Dirt (what I have on right now), Jar Of Flies, Alice In Chains (also called Tripod), Alice In Chains: MTV Unplugged, Nothing Safe: Best of the Box, The Music Box box set, Alice In Chains Live, and finally Alice In Chains Greatest Hits. Not to mention the videos and DVDs. These are must-haves and collectibles now. I recommend them all to every music fan.
In closing, I present the lyrics to an Alice In Chains song that is recognized as of their best: "Down In A Hole."
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VERSE 1A
Bury me softly in this womb
I give this part of me for you
Sand rains down, and here I sit
Holding rare flowers in a tomb...
In bloom
VERSE 1B
Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved.
See my heart, I decorate it like a grave.
You don't understand who they thought I was suppposed to be.
But look at me now, I'm a man who won't left himself be.
CHORUS
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losing my soul
I'd like to fly...
But my wings have been so denied.
VERSE 2
Down in a hole and they've put all the stones into place.
I've eaten the sun so my tongue has been burned by the taste.
I have been guilty of kicking myself in the teeth.
I will speak no more of my feelings beneath.
CHORUS
VERSE 3
Bury me softly in this womb (oh I want to be inside of you)
I give this part of me for you(oh I want to be inside of you)
Sand rains down, and here I sit
Holding rare flowers in a tomb... (oh I want to be inside of you)
In bloom (oh I want to be inside)
CHORUS
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losing my soul/control
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, outta control
I'd like to fly...
But my wings been so denied.
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Long live Alice In Chains, in music and memory forever.
R.I.P. Layne Staley
August 22nd, 1967 - April 19th, 2002
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