When Kurt Cobain died, many people I know wept. I was saddened to be sure, though nothing compared to when Shannon Hoon died (to me that hurt a lot more because though I love Nirvana, I identified with Blind Melon more, plain and simple). But when Layne Staley died, well I think we can all agree that we knew it was coming, we just didn’t want to accept it. Adding to that the fact that he’d been dead weeks in his apartment makes it worse, because he was as alone as you could get. Self imposed as that might have been, it’s still a shame because his growl and snarl was anything but weak, quite unlike his physical state.
People often put Nirvana’s unplugged as the best unplugged performance ever, but if anything, Alice in Chains’ unplugged gives Nirvana’s a run for its money. Both have very great things to be sure. On one side you had Kurt Cobain picking some of the most random tracks to play on an unplugged thus cementing his I don’t give a shit attitude and for the entire show, Nirvana showed it could go acoustic and rock just as hard. On the other side, you had Alice in Chains playing their first concert in three years and capturing in an entire setlist, the energy and greatness they had on their Jar of Flies EP. Musically I think Alice in Chains was just on another level though Nirvana’s setlist was brilliant through and through. On both sides you had troubled singers battling with pain and addiction and you can feel the pain in their voices.
So Layne finally expires and I’m left with a hollow spot in my stomach since so many of my favorite singers had been silenced by fate. Needless to say, I was skeptical with the new singer for Alice in Chains since he will obviously be measured with Layne, but unlike the option for Blind Melon, this guy has lasted, the band is still rocking and I’m looking forward to their new release since they are sticking together and the new guy just brings it.
Am I sad I have to settle with a singer that isn’t Layne Staley? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, but I’m just glad to see the band making music, and like Blind Melon’s short lived attempt at having a stable band, the album AIC will release this year will have me shelling out money without thinking twice. Unlike Chris Cornell, Jerry Cantrell has never made me question an Alice in Chains or solo outing buy and I’m glad Seattle is strong with Alice.
Lets just hope it’s contagious.
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