Layne Staley
| Layne Staley | |
|---|---|
Staley performing with Alice in Chains in Boston in 1992
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Layne Thomas Staley |
| Born |
August 22, 1967 Kirkland, Washington, United States |
| Died | April 5, 2002 (aged 34) Seattle, Washington, United States |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1979–2002 |
| Labels | Columbia |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | www |
Layne Thomas Staley (August 22, 1967 – April 5, 2002) was an American musician who served as the lead singer, occasional rhythm guitarist and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. The band became known for Staley's distinct vocal style, as well as the harmonized vocals between him and Cantrell.
Staley was also a member of the supergroups Mad Season and Class of '99.
By mid-1996, Staley was out of the public spotlight, never to perform live again. Staley struggled for much of his adult life with depression and a drug addiction, culminating with his death on April 5, 2002.
Layne Thomas Staley was born to Phillip Blair "Phil" Staley and Nancy Elizabeth Staley (née McCallum) in Kirkland, Washington. He was seven years old when his parents divorced, after which he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Jim Elmer. He was raised Christian Scientist. He took his stepfather's name while enrolled in Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, and was known for some time as Layne Elmer. In late 2001, shortly before his death, he would describe the experience of witnessing his parents' divorce: "My world became a nightmare, there were just shadows around me. I got a call saying that my dad had died, but my family always knew he was around doing all kinds of drugs. Since that call I always was wondering, 'Where is my dad?' I felt so sad for him and I missed him. He dropped out of my life for 15 years." In that same interview he hinted that his parents' break-up and his father's drug use were at least partially responsible for his own drug problems, and also said that he was convinced that if he became a celebrity his dad would return.
Staley approached music through his parents' collection, listening to Black Sabbath (regarded by him as his first influence) and Deep Purple. Other favorite bands include hard rock and metal bands like Anthrax, Judas Priest, Saxon, Rainbow, Mercyful Fate,Twisted Sister, Van Halen, and industrial/new wave acts such as Ministry, the Lords of the New Church and Skinny Puppy. He began playing drums at age 12; he played in several glam bands in his early teens, but by this point, Staley had aspirations of becoming a singer. In 1984, Staley joined a group of Shorewood High students in a band called Sleze, which also featured future members of The Dehumanizers and Second Coming.
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