Alice in Chains......

[Shan]

I agree that it is VERY often apalling to me what type of musicians or lack thereof make it on MTV or anywhere sometimes. Image sells more than talent.

As to missing band members, I agree Liz. You are missing the personality not the musician and I think you recognize that. I see what you are saying about Queen but the less I say about that band the better.

Back on topic, I think the reincarnation of Alice In Chains is a good fit and the new CD sounds good to me. But then I was never a major fan.

[Snoogans4Jay]

I understand your point but I still can't agree with it. If the individual members of a band do not matter, if the person who SINGS a song doesn't matter, then why do people want to become singers/musicians? I think each person with that dream believes that THEY can make a difference, that THEIR personal gift matters and counts for something special. If it doesn't matter who plays the song then why, Shandon, do you still look in reverence at Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray? Anyone should be able to do what they are doing that masters that level of talent. I don't mean to be rude and you know I love and respect you, but I think it is YOU that is missing a huge point here.

[bromleyboy]

Talking of Layne related shit, has anyone had the time to check out the Mad Season bootleg DVD that is currently doing the rounds on the internet? Just picked it up from a dodgy market in Soho. Fuck me...

You get the Seattle Moore Theatre concert that was previously available on VHS (yet to come to DVD), the River of Deceit music video, an interview with the band, a thirty minute documentary on Layne (not enough) that was aired on some music/biography channel, and a small gallery (only twelve pics but hey). I actually shed a tear or two to see this fan-made production put together because you know the record company fuckers wont give it the same justice when they get off their asses and finally release it.

I cannot recommend it highly enough, until the official DVD is released, that is. Above is such an incredibly emotive album, not only does it rock assholes but it will squeeze the water from your eyes. Literally.

[Snoogans4Jay]

Apr 25, 2010 16:37:41 GMT -5 @bromleyboy said:

Talking of Layne related shit, has anyone had the time to check out the Mad Season bootleg DVD that is currently doing the rounds on the internet? Just picked it up from a dodgy market in Soho. Fuck me...

You get the Seattle Moore Theatre concert that was previously available on VHS (yet to come to DVD), the River of Deceit music video, an interview with the band, a thirty minute documentary on Layne (not enough) that was aired on some music/biography channel, and a small gallery (only twelve pics but hey). I actually shed a tear or two to see this fan-made production put together because you know the record company fuckers wont give it the same justice when they get off their asses and finally release it.

I cannot recommend it highly enough, until the official DVD is released, that is. Above is such an incredibly emotive album, not only does it rock assholes but it will squeeze the water from your eyes. Literally.

I HAVE seen this or one similar. Mine had three videos (River of Deceit, Lifeless Dead, Long Gone Day) along with the Moore show, interview, "documentary", and slide show to the song Wake Up in the background. Beautiful. I also highly recommend. I so wish this band could have worked together longer.

[bromleyboy]

Apr 26, 2010 18:28:27 GMT -5 Snoogans4Jay said:

I also highly recommend. I so wish this band could have worked together longer.

You know the real tragedy? There were plans for Mad Season to rejoin and tour in the early 2000's but all parties were busy. Perhaps a second album might've happened if such a thing took place. Pearl Jam + Alice In Chains = FTW!!!

[Snoogans4Jay]

Apr 26, 2010 20:39:25 GMT -5 @bromleyboy said:

Apr 26, 2010 18:28:27 GMT -5 Snoogans4Jay said:

I also highly recommend. I so wish this band could have worked together longer.

You know the real tragedy? There were plans for Mad Season to rejoin and tour in the early 2000's but all parties were busy. Perhaps a second album might've happened if such a thing took place. Pearl Jam + Alice In Chains = FTW!!!

OMG that would have been UNBELIEVABLE! I so wish it could have happened.

[Shan]

I think I listen to Above more than any of the Alice In Chains CDs

[bromleyboy]

Apr 26, 2010 20:57:46 GMT -5 Snoogans4Jay said:

OMG that would have been UNBELIEVABLE! I so wish it could have happened.

Ooops, I mean late nineties. Got my wires crossed somewhere.

WIKIPEDIA: In 1997, attempts were made by Mike McCready, John Baker Saunders and Barrett Martin to revive Mad Season, although by this point Staley's health had worsened due to severe drug addiction. As a result he declined to participate in the project any further, thus leaving Mad Season without a singer. With Staley now out of the picture, the band recruited vocalist Mark Lanegan (of the Screaming Trees), who had previously guested on Above (as well as at live shows) as its new permanent singer.

I had no idea there was a studio version John Lennon's 'I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier'. Gonna have to track that one down.

[Snoogans4Jay]

Apr 27, 2010 16:15:35 GMT -5 @bromleyboy said:

Apr 26, 2010 20:57:46 GMT -5 Snoogans4Jay said:

OMG that would have been UNBELIEVABLE! I so wish it could have happened.

Ooops, I mean late nineties. Got my wires crossed somewhere.

WIKIPEDIA: In 1997, attempts were made by Mike McCready, John Baker Saunders and Barrett Martin to revive Mad Season, although by this point Staley's health had worsened due to severe drug addiction. As a result he declined to participate in the project any further, thus leaving Mad Season without a singer. With Staley now out of the picture, the band recruited vocalist Mark Lanegan (of the Screaming Trees), who had previously guested on Above (as well as at live shows) as its new permanent singer.

I had no idea there was a studio version John Lennon's 'I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier'. Gonna have to track that one down.

Yeah I only have the live recording, I would love to have that as well. Great song for them to do.

[bromleyboy]

Yeah, it's on the John Lennon tribute album, Working Class Hero.

On another Mad Season related note, me and my friend Graham were in a pub when some drunken shitter was all "Layne from Alice died! Woo-hoo, big fuckin' surprise!" Me and Graham thought he was mucking about until we picked up an Evening Standard and found out for ourselves. Pretty gutted we were.

So when we got back to his house, he dug out Dirt and said, "let's 'ave it on, eh?" I was like, "naw, fuck that, let's have Above on instead", thinking the drug themes of Dirt might've been a tad uncomfortable given the circumstances.

Well, I totally forgot the first song on that album is 'Wake Up' and by the time Mike McCready does his first guitar solo, I was proper cut up. Tears were streaming down my face - not bawling like a kid with a skint knee an' shit - but crying nonetheless. Graham looked at me and I expected him to poke fun (given he was 42 at the time and I was a good decade and a half younger) but I saw that he was fighting back the waterworks himself.

Total shame. The other guys tried to help out but Layne wouldn't answer the door because he wanted to spare them the 80lb, toothless, pale-skinned shadow that he had become, as hinted at in his last interview in 2002:

"I know I'm near death, I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way. I'm not using drugs to get high like many people think. I know I made a big mistake when I started using this shit. It's a very difficult thing to explain. My liver is not functioning, and I'm throwing up all the time and shitting my pants. The pain is more than you can handle. It's the worst pain in the world."

That drug damn near killed me in 2004 and, like John Lydon, I have nothing but contempt for anyone that uses that shit. "It's about self-pity." I'm sure Layne didn't mean for it to come across that way in his final interview but most junkies I have encountered seem to speak about their ills like it's something that cannot be overcome and wear it like a badge, even though they condemn their addiction at the same time.

Layne's mom has the final photograph (November 2001) but wont release it because of the shocking way he looked. I'm not being morbid but I would like to see it for some kind of fucked-up catharsis. When people disappear from the scene for over a year and die like that, it creates a kind of myth, and I don't like that. Of course, I want to remember him healthy but you know...

[Snoogans4Jay]

Apr 28, 2010 18:17:51 GMT -5 @bromleyboy said:

Yeah, it's on the John Lennon tribute album, Working Class Hero.

On another Mad Season related note, me and my friend Graham were in a pub when some drunken shitter was all "Layne from Alice died! Woo-hoo, big fuckin' surprise!" Me and Graham thought he was mucking about until we picked up an Evening Standard and found out for ourselves. Pretty gutted we were.

So when we got back to his house, he dug out Dirt and said, "let's 'ave it on, eh?" I was like, "naw, fuck that, let's have Above on instead", thinking the drug themes of Dirt might've been a tad uncomfortable given the circumstances.

Well, I totally forgot the first song on that album is 'Wake Up' and by the time Mike McCready does his first guitar solo, I was proper cut up. Tears were streaming down my face - not bawling like a kid with a skint knee an' shit - but crying nonetheless. Graham looked at me and I expected him to poke fun (given he was 42 at the time and I was a good decade and a half younger) but I saw that he was fighting back the waterworks himself.

Total shame. The other guys tried to help out but Layne wouldn't answer the door because he wanted to spare them the 80lb, toothless, pale-skinned shadow that he had become, as hinted at in his last interview in 2002:

"I know I'm near death, I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way. I'm not using drugs to get high like many people think. I know I made a big mistake when I started using this shit. It's a very difficult thing to explain. My liver is not functioning, and I'm throwing up all the time and shitting my pants. The pain is more than you can handle. It's the worst pain in the world."

That drug damn near killed me in 2004 and, like John Lydon, I have nothing but contempt for anyone that uses that shit. "It's about self-pity." I'm sure Layne didn't mean for it to come across that way in his final interview but most junkies I have encountered seem to speak about their ills like it's something that cannot be overcome and wear it like a badge, even though they condemn their addiction at the same time.

Layne's mom has the final photograph (November 2001) but wont release it because of the shocking way he looked. I'm not being morbid but I would like to see it for some kind of fucked-up catharsis. When people disappear from the scene for over a year and die like that, it creates a kind of myth, and I don't like that. Of course, I want to remember him healthy but you know...

There is no better record to put on to remember Layne than Above. Wake Up, Lifeless Dead, River of Deceit......so many. As to his addiction, to me he is a hero. He did not know when he took that first shot on the advice of Demri that he would be addicted. He was very young and she was beautiful and it felt good. He did not know he had an addictive personality. All it takes is one hit and you are hooked. Layne wasn't stupid and he was a kind soul. He hated Demri's addiction and NEVER sought pity for his own. That last interview was not given willingly, it was a talk on the phone to someone he thought was a friend. His trust was betrayed one last time. Sad beyond words.

Layne never committed suicide, he fought as long and as hard as he could and died on Mike Starr's birthday when the two celebrated it the only way they knew how, with drugs. I will never judge him. As Tupac said .."Only God can judge me".......I wish there could have been so much more music.

As to the "last picture". I hope it is never put online and I hope I never see it. Because HE wouldn't have wanted that. If he had he had ample time to allow it. He did not. I will not question Him. I will remember the little boy with the golden curls and the young boy that made a mistake, but I will also remember a POWERFUL singer, with a HELLUVA voice that shook Heaven to the core. I will remember an impish smile and a boy who liked toys. A boy who had cats. I will remember a man in jeans wet with sweat and no shirt and eyes rolled back in ecstasy. Layne. I don't need a morbid last picture. I have THE picture in my head.

[Shan]

Drug addiction is such an awful slow suicide. I am not sure I agree Lizzie that he didn't commit suicide but I do believe Jerry in that Layne fought as best he could until the last. Jerry's pain and brutal honesty on his last solo record brought this as home to me as Wake Up did. Check out Bargain Basement Howard Hughes, Gone, and Pig Charmer on Degradation Trip.