Layne Staley

Rock Singer

Layne Thomas Staley was an American singer and songwriter who was the original lead vocalist of the rock band Alice in Chains, which rose to international fame in the early 1990s as part of Seattle's grunge movement.

Full Name

Layne Thomas Staley

Birthday

Aug 22, 1967

deathday

Apr 5, 2002

AGE

BORN

United States

BIrth SIGN

Leo

RElationship

Height

6′ 1″

Net Worth

$5M

About

Layne Thomas Staley was born on August 22, 1967, in Kirkland, Washington. His zodiac sign is Leo and his ethnicity is Caucasian. He was the son of Phil Staley and Janis Staley-Stover. Layne attended the Liberty High School in Renton, Washington, during which time he started playing drums and formed a band with some schoolmates. After graduating high school, he joined the band Alice in Chains, which he had been part of since 1987.

In 1992, the band released their debut album “Facelift” to critical acclaim and commercial success. The album went double platinum in the United States and spawned an iconic single “Man in the Box”. They followed up with another successful album called “Dirt” in 1992 that helped cement their place as one of the most influential bands of their era. The band released two more albums before going on hiatus in 1996 due to Staley's drug addiction problems.

Staley sadly passed away on April 5th, 2002 due to a drug overdose at his home in Seattle at the age of 34. Despite his short life, he left a huge legacy behind him that has inspired generations of rock music fans around the world. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest rock singers of all time and an icon of grunge music in particular.

Life Timeline

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1967</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Layne Staley is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On August 22, 1967, Layne Staley was born in Kirkland, Washington.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1984</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Forms Band Alice In Chains</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Staley forms the band Alice In Chains and becomes their lead singer.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1995</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Alice In Chains' Album Releases</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">The band's third album "Alice In Chains" is released and goes on to be certified platinum.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1996</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Band Goes on Hiatus</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Alice In Chains goes on hiatus due to Staley's substance abuse issues.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2002</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Final Alice In Chains Album Released</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Alice In Chains releases their fourth album "Black Gives Way To Blue" with Staley as lead singer.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">April 5, 2002</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Staley Passes Away</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Layne Staley passes away from a drug overdose at the age of 34.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2005</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Posthumous Release of Unreleased Material</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Alice In Chains releases the album "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" which contains unreleased material from Staley.</p></div>

Why We Love Them

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> He was an Incredible Vocalist</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Layne Staley had the most incredible vocal range and talent in rock music. His unique voice easily captivated audiences and his lyrics were both emotionally powerful and thought provoking.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> He was a Great Songwriter</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Layne Staley wrote some of the most iconic songs of the 90s, including "Man in the Box" and "Rooster". His songwriting was often dark and personal, providing an emotional catharsis for listeners who related to his struggles with depression and addiction.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> He Inspired Many People</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Layne Staley has inspired countless people with his music, lyrics, and life story. His influence extended beyond just music, inspiring people to face their inner demons and live life to the fullest.</p></div>

Interesting Facts

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> Musical Collaborations</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Layne Staley was a member of two bands - Alice in Chains and Mad Season. He also collaborated with bands such as Pearl Jam, Queensryche and Metallica.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Early Success</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Layne Staley achieved success early in his music career when his band Alice in Chains hit the top 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart with their single "Man in the Box".</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Struggles with Addiction</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Layne Staley struggled with drug addiction throughout his career. He had a severe heroin addiction which eventually led to his death in 2002.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Voice Impersonator</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Layne Staley was known for his unique and powerful singing voice which he used to great effect on many of Alice in Chain's songs. He was often impersonated by other singers who could not match his vocal power.</p></div>