The surviving members of Alice In Chains, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez, issued a statement this past Sunday in which they said that they are “heartbroken” about the death of lead singer Layne Staley.
Layne Staley, whose dark and soulful voice helped to create pioneering Seattle grunge-metal band Alice In Chains, was found dead on Friday, April 19, in his apartment complex. He was 34 years of age.
Police officers who were called to his address on Friday found a corpse so badly decomposed that it took authorities a full day to confirm the identification of Staley. His body was surrounded with heroin-injection paraphernalia when relative found him and called the police. No criminal wrongdoing is suspected in his death. “There was nothing suspicious about his death. It appears to be an overdose or possibly a natural death,” Seattle police spokesman Duan Fish said.
The group goes on to describe Staley as “a sweet man with a keen sense of humor and a deep sense of humanity.”
“We are proud to have known him, to be his friend and to create music with him,” the statement from the band continues. “Layne struggled greatly for the past decade. We can only hope that he has at last found peace.”
Staley had a history of drug abuse, including a habit with heroin that he chronicled in the harsh and often depressing and morbid lyrics that made Alice In Chains one of the premier Seattle-grunge acts, associated with other groups such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. His addiction ultimately sidetracked his music career.
The band signed with Columbia Records just before the grunge scene took America by storm. Alice In Chains showed their hard edge sound on the three song EP “We Die Young” in the year 1990. The band’s first full-length release, “Facelift,” followed a few months later and was a success for the band. In 1992, the band released, “Dirt.” The multi-platinum-selling album included the singles “Would?” and “Rooster” launched Alice In Chains into superstardom.
Many people were upset at Staley’s death. First year student Jamie Knobler describes Staley’s death as being, “unexpected yet expected” and “disappointing.” “Staley had one of the few voices that didn’t die out with the grunge era. Now that he is gone we are left with a only a few more from the grunge era, such as Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland,” Knobler said. Other people will miss the music of Alice In Chains.
Quincy Adam, a sophomore, was also upset by Staley’s death. “He had one of the most distinct voices in rock, which really made the band. Alice In Chains was one of the first bands that influenced my guitar playing and really helped me improve my playing,” Adam said.
The band members were joined at the vigil by more than 200 fans, many of whom left notes and flowers in remembrance of the late singer. There was a request from Staley’s family for the media to respect their privacy as they mourn their loss. Staley’s family also has asked for donations to be made to Eastside Recovery Center in Bellevue, Washington.
Alice In Chains music will continue to live on and Staley’s death will be a reminder for many about the dangers of drug abuse.
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