29. Layne Thomas Staley (8/22/67 – 4/5/02) "It Ain't Like That" for my new gallery "Telling
Stories from the Grave" and the November Song Titles/One Artist Challenge.

"Where I go is when I feel I'm able
How I fight is why I'm feelin' sore
In my mind, not forgotten
Feel as though, a tooth were rotten
Behind the smile, a tongue that's slippin'
Buzzards cry, when flesh is rippin'"

I had to go with this AIC clip from the movie Singles...



Part of the major sound that primarily emerged in Seattle, WA, "grunge"
redirected rock music in a way that we may likely never see again. Layne
had a haunting style that quite well stood out in the emerging rock genre.
The lyrics were deep and brooding and often dealt with quite taboo and
dark subject matter. I personally really connected with this music even
though I'm a pretty positive and upbeat guy. It was refreshing after the
overdose of heavily commercialized "big hair" band rock-n-roll.

On April 19, 2002, Staley's accountants contacted Staley's mother Nancy
McCallum and informed her that no money had been withdrawn from the
singer's bank account in one week. McCallum then placed a call with 911
to say "she hadn't heard from… [Staley] in about two weeks." The police
went with McCallum and her husband to Staley's home, "When police kicked
in the door to Layne Staley's University District apartment on April 19,
there, on a couch, lit by a flickering TV, next to several spray-paint
cans on the floor, not far from a small stash of cocaine, near two crack
pipes on the coffee table, reposed the remains of the rock musician."
The article also stated that the 6'1" Staley weighed just 86 pounds when
his body was discovered.

In his last interview, given on December 20, 2001 roughly four months before
his death, Staley admitted, "I know I'm near death, I did crack and heroin
for years. I never wanted to end my life this way." Staley's physical appearance
had become even worse than before: he had lost several teeth, his skin was
sickly pale, and he was severely emaciated.

Do you know someone heading down this path? Want (to) help? Donate? Go to...

The Layne Staley Memorial Fund