Alice In Chains Singer's Life Could Become Movie

Rock Radio Online ^ | October 6, 2006 | Staff

[mcg2000]

A biography of late Alice In Chains frontman Layne Staley might be turned into a movie, reports Blabbermouth.net. A press release from Arts Publications indicated that Argentinean journalist Adriana Rubio has been contacted by Philadelphia-based filmmaker Eric Moyer about making a film version of her book, Layne Staley: Get Born Again. Moyer said in a statement, "I am determined to make this film about Layne Staley, not only to celebrate his life and talent, but to warn others through his compelling story that heroin will kill you...no matter who you are."

Staley died in April of 2002 after struggling with an addiction to heroin for many years.

Rubio's book features interviews with Staley's mother and sister, as well as the vocalist himself, who spoke with the writer just months before his death.

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Staley's mother initially gave the book her blessing, but later withdrew support because she said it "lacked concern for basic human dignity."

[mcg2000]

[pissant]

Can they make a movie about my plumber Frank. It would be more interesting.

[theDentist]

Can they entitle it: "A druggie's wasted life."?

[mcg2000]

Can they make a movie about my

I'm not sure about the social aspect of life, but he problably lives in the same financial freakin' zip code! Uggg ... the art of plumbing is costly one ...

[MAD-AS-HELL]

What about making a movie about my testicles? They have been hanging around longer than Alice in Drag's addicted singer.

[Andonius_99]

ah, Layne, we hardly knew ye. Shame you went the way you did, not that we didn't expect it, though. Tragic...

[wolfpat]

Staley died in April of 2002 after struggling with an addiction to heroin for many years

He wasn't old enough to have struggled with anything for "many years".

[randog]

The movie might suck, but the soundtrack would be awesome.

[yobid]

Spoiler:

I hear he dies at the end of the movie.

[okkev68]

Another loser druggy "artist". I would rather see a movie about the other Alice in Chains. Or is that Allison Chains.

[mcg2000]

What about making a movie about my testicles? They have been hanging around longer than Alice in Drag's addicted singer.

Let's just close that mental image and the thought process that lead to you that statement ;)

[discostu]

A decade is a long time to deal with addiction.

[smith288]

I LOVE AIC and listen to them more than any other band in my collection. All the albums out from Dirt to SAP or "Tripod" can match the mood you are in. Staley was a genius in terms of emotion with words and music. Not the best singing voice but that's not what AIC was about.

I went and got Jerry Cantrell's albums and Mad Season which was a compilation group from other grunge bands of the 90's.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING can imitate Staley and what he brought to AIC regardless of what others think of him here.

I miss that guy and wish he hadn't destroyed it all with drugs.

Im pretty sure I wont bother with this biography of Staley. His music was his biography in my opinion.

[Shaun_MD]

Actually it was the combination of heroin and crystal meth that did him in.

[mcg2000]

It would appear the death of his fiance pushed him into becoming Seattle's Syd Barrett. From that point he only recorded two more songs with AIC ("DIED" & "GET BORN AGAIN") with "ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL" while teaming up with some guys from Tool. If you listen closely to "BRICK", you can hear the difference in Staley's pronounciation due to his teeth falling out. A lisp settles into his lyrics.

"I know I'm dying, I'm not doing well" ... "I'm not using drugs to get high like many people think. I know I made a big mistake when I started using this s***. It's a very difficult thing to explain. My liver is not functioning and I'm throwing up all the time and s****** my pants. The pain is more than you can handle."

- Staley '02 from mtv.com

[discostu]

Most sources say he was already in throws of addiction early in the 90s, then things got worse as other events (like his fiances death) happened. A sad waste of talent.

[mcg2000]

I watched a program about heroin addiction that included a brief mention of Staley. They spoke with local dealers and estimated his 2001 addiction was costing about $9k per week.

[FarRightFanatic]

Moyer said in a statement, "I am determined to make this film about Layne Staley, not only to celebrate his life and talent, but to warn others through his compelling story that heroin will kill you...no matter who you are."

Earth to Moyer: This is not a news flash.

Sad that he died the way he did, because I always loved Alice in Chains, but he had to know that this would kill him eventually.

[007girl]

That's hilarious!!!

[smith288]

Sad that he died the way he did, because I always loved Alice in Chains, but he had to know that this would kill him eventually.

I plan on using Staley as an example to my son who, though only 6, will learn the perils of drug use when he grows older and becomes interested in music.

Im pretty sure teeth falling out of your face and crapping yourself should suffice as a deterrant (worked for me when I was warned of drugs) so I hope my kids are smart enought o avoid that crap like the plague.

Personally, AIC has a sound that transcends time. Could be that im getting older and hanging onto music past its time, but I truely believe AIC could be a sound future generatings will listen to.

[FarRightFanatic]

"Personally, AIC has a sound that transcends time. Could be that im getting older and hanging onto music past its time, but I truely believe AIC could be a sound future generatings will listen to."


I think you are right.

[mcg2000]

The River of Deceit
Lyrics by Layne Staley

My pain is self-chosen
At least, so The Prophet says
I could either burn
Or cut off my pride and buy some time
A head full of lies is the weight, tied to my waist

The River of Deceit pulls down, uh huh
The only direction we flow is down
Down, oh down
Down, oh down
Down, oh down
Down, oh down

My pain is self-chosen
At least I believe it to be
I could either drown
Or pull off my skin and swim to shore
Now I can grow a beautiful shell for all to see

The River of Deceit pulls down, yeah
The only direction we flow is down
Down, oh down
Down, oh down
Down, oh down
Down, oh down

The pain is self-chosen, yeah
Our pain is self-chosen
Down, oh down

[Andonius_99]

Could be that im getting older and hanging onto music past its time, but I truely believe AIC could be a sound future generatings will listen to.

I agree, they're kinda like Zeppelin in that sense. A unique sound that was all thier own - often imitated, never duplicated.

[Armedanddangerous]

Never heard of him.,,

[smith288]

These two songs detail his struggles with Heroin

"Angry Chair"
Sitting on an angry chair
Angry walls that steal the air
Stomach hurts and I dont care

What do I see across the way
See myself molded in clay
Stares at me, yeah Im afraid
Changing the shape of his face

Candles red I have a pair
Shadows dancing everywhere
Burning on the angry chair

Little boy made a mistake
Pink cloud has now turned to gray
All that I want is to play
Get on your knees, time to pray, boy

I dont mind, yeah
I dont mind, i-i-i
I dont mind, yeah,
I dont mind, i-i-i
Lost my mind, yeah
But I dont mind, i-i-i
Cant find it anywhere
I dont mind

Corporate prison, we stay
Im a dull boy, work all da y
So Im strung out anyway

Loneliness is not a phase
Field of pain is where I graze
Serenity is far away

Saw my reflection and cried
So little hope that I died
Feed me your lies, open wide
Weight of my heart, not the size

Pink cloud has now turned to gray
All that I want is to play
Get on your knees time to pray



"God Smack"
Care not for the men who wonder
Straw that broke your back, you're under
Cast all them aside who care
Empty eyes and dead end stare

Don't you know that none are blind
To the lie, and you think I don't find what you hide?

What in God's name have you done?
Stick your arm for some real fun

For the horse you've grown much fonder
Than for me, that I don't ponder
As the hair of one who bit you
Smiling bite your own self, too

And I think that you're not blind
To the ones you left behind
I'll be here

What in God's name have you done?
Stick your arm for some real fun

So be yearning all your life
Twisting, turning like a knife

Now you know the reasons why
Can't get high, or you will die
Or you'll die

What in God's name have you done?
Stick your arm for some real fun
So your sickness weighs a ton
And God's name is smack for some

[Cyclopean Squid]

Great band. His voice was very distinct. Too bad like most rock stars he meddled in drugs. A waste of talent.

[dfwgator]

Loosely based on Dennis Leary's rant about "The Doors" movie:


"We need a two and a half hour movie about the Layne Staley? Folks, no we don't. I can sum it up for you in five seconds, ok. "I'm wasted. I'm nobody. I'm wasted. I'm famous. I'm wasted. I'm f'ing dead." There's the whole movie, ok!? 'Dead Guy in a Recliner', there's your title for you."

[smith288]

BTW, for all interested, AIC is back together doing a reunion tour to honor the late Layne Staley and his contributions to music throughout the 90's.

The front man will be William Duvall. Never heard of the guy but hope they do well.

[Constitution Day]

I saw AIC in about 1997.
One of the BEST concerts I ever went to. Top three, at least.

[mcg2000]

Right at the end, huh? Interesting ... I've always wondered how they sounded those last few shows.

[Rainbow Rising]

I LOVE AIC and listen to them more than any other band in my collection. All the albums out from Dirt to SAP or "Tripod" can match the mood you are in. Staley was a genius in terms of emotion with words and music. Not the best singing voice but that's not what AIC was about.

Alice In Chains is one of my all-time favorite bands. I never get tired of listening to Facelift or Dirt. I still get chills when I hear "Love Hate Love." Layne brought something very special to that band. I felt terrible when I heard about his death. What a waste.

[Peleliu1944]

Totally agree with you.


Funny too, you would mention Mad Season. It's whats in my CD player in my car. I've been listening to it for the last couple days.

[kmc2232]

Alice In Chains is my fav. band of all time, and I agree with you with chills, but I get it whenever I listen to "I can't remember." Layne is god on vocals and Jerry's solo in the song it's prob. his best work ever..

Can't wait to see this movie