Posted on 04/20/2002 1:57:32 AM PDT by WDG55513
Body found in home may be that of Alice in Chains singer
Group soared with grunge movement
Saturday, April 20, 2002
By CANDACE HECKMAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
A body was found Friday at the University District home of Layne Staley, the lead singer of the seminal Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains.
Law enforcement sources said the body was Staley's, but would not give specifics and referred all questions to police spokesmen -- who did not return repeated calls for comment.
According to the Seattle Fire Department's dispatch log, an aid response was called to Staley's last known address in the 4500 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast in the University District, a section of the city where many boarding homes are located.
The Medical Examiner's office said late last night that they responded to a call at Staley's address and found someone who appeared to have been dead for several days.
They have not officially identified the person.
Staley, 34, wrote lyrics that dealt with the darkness of his struggle with heroin abuse.
Alice in Chains debut album, "Facelift," was released in 1990 and the group quickly rose to prominence along with other bands from the tight-knit local music community like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden; one of Pearl Jam's first shows was as an opening act for Alice in Chains.
In 1992, the group released their critically acclaimed album "Dirt," which featured the hit singles "Would?" and "Rooster." The band distinguished itself from its Seattle peers with a hard, morbid sound, and Staley's music often touched on drugs.
According to a fan Web site, Staley was born in 1967 in Kirkland.
The first instrument he played was the drums at the age of 12. He later played in different bands around Seattle.
At a party in 1987, Staley met Jerry Cantrell, who introduced him to Mike Starr (bass) and Sean Kinney (drums).
They decided to start a band and Alice In Chains was born.
In a 1996 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Staley spoke of how his drug use influenced his lyrics.
"I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them," Staley told the magazine. "Here's how my thinking pattern went: When I tried drugs, they were (expletive) 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."
In the same article, he said: "I'm gonna be here for a long time. I'm scared of death, especially death by my own hand. I'm scared of where I would go. Not that I ever consider that, because I don't."
Staley told the magazine he did not want to be seen as a rock god or martyr.
"I saw all the suffering that Kurt Cobain went through. I didn't know him real well, but I just saw this real vibrant person turn into a real shy, timid, withdrawn, introverted person who could hardly get a hello out ... At the end of the day or at the end of the party, when everyone goes home, you're stuck with yourself."
Alcohol may be the most common drug found, but even if you eliminate it,
Impaired driving is impaired driving. Injured is injured. Dead is dead.
I sure hope we work on the non-alcohol-related causes, too.
Then I guess he didn't save or invest his money and quit making it. Too bad ---I never understand why people who have a lot going for them have to end this way.
There's a band called Papa Roach, if you close your eyes, you hear FNM...there are plenty of other bands that sound just like FNM. I'd sue for damages. THe state of pop music isn't.
I never thought the other members were really big druggies....just Layne.
First and last time I ever wore sandals to a heavy metal concert (that's a whole different story).
Damn shame...
Can't say I didn't see it coming though.
The river of deceit flows down...
"Down In a Hole"
"Don't Follow"
"Over Now"
"Rain When I Die"
It always seems the best music is created by the least stable. Cobain was a complete basket case, barely able to function as a father and husband, but the dude positively ROCKED.
And now Staley, another apparent "victim" of his own creativity, part of a long history pioneered by Keith Moon and Bon Scott - maybe. Pehaps drugs were not involved? Tough sell.
AIC will certainly remain one of my all time fave bands. RIP.
That songs about gang violence ... not smack.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.