Later, he became something of a mainstay in reality shows of the Celebrity Rehab and Sober House variety. If the tragedies Alice in Chains has faced over the years were a mountain range, Layne Staley's death in 2002 would quite likely be its highest peak. As such, his body wasn't found until two weeks after his death, when people realized they hadn't heard about him in a while. R.I.P Layne Staley By the time the band's second album, the esteemed Dirt, came out, Starr's substance abuse issues were so severe that he and the band went their separate ways. Starr also received a huge outpouring of love from fellow drummers like Mike Portnoy, Matt Sorum, and Steven Adler, as well as others who have struggled with addiction, such as Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx. Layne Staley said that Starr left because he didn't want to keep up with the band's hectic touring and press schedule, while Starr later said that he was straight up fired because of his addiction issues. It originally appeared on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the movie “Singles” (1992), though shortly thereafter it was also featured on Alice in Chains’ second album, “Dirt” (1992). Lentini died in 1966. Starr took care of bass duties on Alice in Chains' beloved debut studio album, Facelift, as well as their even more esteemed sophomore effort, Dirt. Time to change has come and gone Watched your fears become your God It's your decision It's your decision Overwhelmed, you chose to run Apathetic to the stunned It's your decision Layne wrote the song, stop putting words and opinions in his mouth. this song is most certainly about Demri who died of heart complications as a result of heroin use. In October 1996, Staley was deeply shocked by the death of Demri Parrott, the vocalist's long-time girlfriend and fellow drug addict. Staley's heroin addiction. Alice in Chains performed an acoustic version of "Rooster" for its appearance on MTV Unplugged in 1996 and the song was included on the Unplugged live album and home video release. Confusion Lyrics [Verse 1] There's no time to give at all I cause you grief and blow my hatred Further in your mind You reach, I run, you fall Suggested Resources (0.00 / 0 votes) Rate this definition: DIED. Alice in Chains co-headlined the 1993 Lollapalooza festival … and never did a full-scale tour with Staley again In the summer of 1993 Alice in Chains and Primus co-headlined the third iteration of the Lollapalooza festival, topping an eclectic mainstage lineup that featured, among others, Arrested Development, Front 242 and Tool. Demri died in 1996. According to Revolver, however, the band had started cracking at the seams well before Staley passed away, to the point that they even went their separate ways for quite a while. The last song Layne Staley ever recorded with Alice in Chains, Died is the defeated lament of a broken man. However, that's not to say that Alice in Chains hasn't suffered its share of losses along the way. tells us, one of the biggest blows came when Cantrell was only 21, and he lost his mother and grandmother over a short period of time. Alice In Chains' guitarist and co-vocalist Jerry Cantrell may not have lived quite as rough a life as the band's famously tragic frontman, Layne Staley, but that doesn't mean he hasn't got his own share of past awfulness. ", Cantrell notes in Mark Yarn's Everybody Loves Our Town: A History of Grunge that he was living with the two women at the time, and when he was still dealing with the gut punch that was his grandmother's death, his mother informed him that she had mere months to live. He was there when they toured with giants like Van Halen and Iggy Pop — but sadly, so was his drug addiction. alice in chains feature New life, but, man, listening to the pounding new Black Gives Way To Blue record, you gotta conclude Seattle’s heaviest, ALICE IN CHAINS, have stuck to their leaden, doomy metal vibe, thank the gods of grunge and all that they mope over. Michael Christopher Starr (April 4, 1966 – March 8, 2011) was an American musician best known as the original bassist for the rock band Alice in Chains, which he played with from the band's formation in 1987 until January 1993. The death was ruled accidental, and caused by a "speedball" (a combination of cocaine and heroin). According to Revolver Mag, the band had started working on the album soon after wrapping up their previous tour. However, despite their considerable fame and fortune, the band has had more than their share of disasters, thanks to an array of drama, unfortunate incidents, and rock star excess. And the lyrics utilized in the song, albeit their ambiguity, seem to insinuate that the singer is taking on the role of a drug addict (i.e. As Jon Wiederhorn of Rolling Stone writes, the rest of the band were less than pleased, to the point that drummer Sean Kinney swore he'd never play with Staley again. Former Alice in Chains bass player Mike Starr, who went public with his drug problems on the reality TV show Celebrity Rehab, has been found dead in a Salt Lake City house. As Louder reports, the aspiring rock star's difficult relationship with his father was such a case. Cantrell pointed out that DuVall wasn't replacing Staley any more than Inez had replaced former bassist Mike Starr. What does DIED stand for?-- Explore the various meanings for the DIED … Album Alice in Chains. Cantrell stated the album was intended to have a "moody aura" that was a "direct result of the brooding atmosphere and feel of Seattle". As Rolling Stone writes, the Dirt sessions were seemingly cursed by misfortune, and were even interrupted by the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the mayhem got so bad that assorted members of the band found it better to flee L.A. for Tijuana and Joshua Tree. Their songs often reflected the life of lead singer Layne Staley, who died of a drug overdose in 2002. When someone mentions drugs and Alice in Chains in the same sentence, most people probably think about singer Layne Staley. Layne describes the agony and devastation he feels about the death of … The band had their last full tour with Staley in 1993, when they were co-headlining Lollapalooza. Staley had recently gone to rehab, but soon afterwards, he showed up in a band rehearsal under influence. Time to change has come and gone Watched your fears become your God It's your decision It's your decision Overwhelmed, you chose to run Apathetic to … The band's past singer (Layne Staley) died in 2002 due to depression and drugs. Watch official video, print or download text … Comments: 10. Don’t have an account? It is horrible and wonderful. Tagged: Decisions. Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation Following the demise of his band Sleeze in 1986, vocalist Layne Staley formed Alice N' Chains, a band which he said "dressed in drag and played speed metal" . Staley himself went on to explore dark paths that ultimately took his life, as well. It can also be interpreted as being about suicide or euthanasia. Jerry Cantrell wrote … Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who then recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley.Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993. Club tells us, the people close to the singer appear to think that a very specific point in time marked the start of his darkness. In 1994, they were set to tour with Metallica, but they ended up canceling just before the first dates. This song is on Dirt, released in 1992. The most famous death surrounding Alice In Chains was the loss of original frontman Layne Staley. Original lyrics of Died song by Alice In Chains. Club tells us, the people close to the singer appear to think that a very specific point in time marked the start of his darkness. It paints a picture like no other. The band was struggling with the newfound success their first album, Facelift, had brought them, and singer Layne Staley and bass player Mike Starr in particular were turning to drugs to the point it became a big issue. Alice in Chains. In fact, those who knew him said that he "more or less died in spirit" when Parrott perished. He was 34. It is revolting and embracing. Legendary singer (former lead vocalist) Layne Staley died in 2002. Song Released: 2009 Your Decision Lyrics. It turned out that the guitarist was suffering from a cartilage injury he had been sporting since 2005, as the years of intensive guitar heroics had worn down the glenoid labrum in his shoulder socket in a similar way that sometimes happens to baseball pitchers, leaving the bones to essentially grind on each other with painful results. As with so many other greats Layne died … Written-By. Song Released: 2009 Your Decision Lyrics. Produced by Sean Kinney, Mike Inez, Jerry Cantrell & 2 more. The singer was only 34 years old when he died of a speedball overdose (heroin mixed with cocaine) in 2002. One accurate version. Lentini was born with three legs, two sets of genitals and one rudimentary foot growing from the knee of his third leg. "My whole f****ng life was basically taken away from me within the period of a year, and I felt like I was on my own. Most of all, you love it. Not only grunge music, but rock 'n' roll as a whole, felt Staley's death almost as heavily as Cobain's. "Died" is a song by Alice in Chains and the final one recorded with vocalist Layne Staley before his death in 2002. In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised Not to plan my funeral 'fore the body dies, yeah Come the morning light, it's a see through show What you may have heard and what you think you know, yeah Let the sun never blind your eyes Let me sleep so my teeth won't grind Hear a sound from a voice inside Sure to play a part, so you love the game And in truth your lies become one and … Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, Layne Staley, Michael Starr, Mike Inez. Another AIC song that can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the circumstance or situation of the person. The band consists of Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, Mike Inez and William DuVall. However, as Rolling Stone notes, poor Staley was hardly the only member of the band to struggle with addiction. Alice in Chains kept the 3 legged theme going on the back cover as well by using a photo of Frank Lentini. Sadness and drug addiction played a big part in the band's music for the rest of their career. Cantrell sings the verses of the song, while Layne Staley sings the chorus. On March 8, 2011, the 44-year-old musician passed away in Salt Lake City, just a month after he'd been arrested for "unauthorized prescription drugs." is a song by Alice in Chains, written by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell as a tribute to his friend Andrew Wood, lead vocalist of Mother Love Bone, who died in 1990. Would? Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley lived a life that was full of tragedy and doom, but as the A.V. Album Facelift. As John Benson of Reuters tells us, the surviving members of Alice in Chains (guitarist-singer Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez, and drummer Sean Kinney) reunited in 2006 without a particularly clear vision of the shape of things to come. Mr. Wood was himself a prominent-professional musician and the personal friend of Jerry Cantrell, one of the leaders of Alice in Chains. Over time, this less than healthy lifestyle started taking a toll on the singer, who kept on keeping on down his dark path despite the numerous attempts his bandmates made to lure him back in the land of the living. Layne Staley was of course the original AIC lead singer and also died of a drug overdose in April of 2002. As James Hickie of Kerrang! Mike Starr, the former Alice in Chains bass player who went public with his drug problems on a reality TV show, has been found dead nine years after the band's singer died of an overdose. Alice in Chains is a rock band that's from Seattle, Washington. It is disgusting and brilliant. The guitar maestro developed a repetitive motion injury and had to have surgery to fix the issue. There's a reason why Staley is wearing sunglasses in the "Rooster" video. Fortunately for Kinney, the producer, Dave Jerden, didn't feel that Gilmore could capture the Alice in Chains drum sound, so the band took a little while off ... but not enough for Kinney's hand to heal. As for … The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Alice In Chains, Everybody Loves Our Town: A History of Grunge, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music. Alice in Chains is a rock band that's from the state of Washington. Recommended by The Wall Street Journal This is one of Alice in Chains top four or five songs. As bad luck would have it, Kinney broke his hand before the band was due in the studio, and Greg Gilmore, the drummer of Mother Love Bone, sat in to take care of that side of things. Not only grunge music, but rock 'n' roll as a whole, felt Staley's death almost as heavily as Cobain's. On the few occasions when Staley emerged from his self-imposed exile where drug dealers left illegal substances at his doorstep, he indeed resembled a shambling, grey zombie who'd even lost one or two fingers from collapsing veins, and generally looked "like an 80-year-old version of himself.". The true meaning behind Godsmack is a heroin overdose. Alice in Chains was one of the biggest names of the Seattle scene during the heyday of grunge, and with the tragic ends of both Soundgarden and Nirvana, they and Pearl Jam are the only giants of the genre still plying their trade. Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, Layne Staley, Michael Starr, Mike Inez. I embraced Alice in Chains because so many bands are so popular with no real talent or originality, they obviously were the exception! Alice in Chains were already a big band when they released 1994's Jar of Flies (their appearance in Cameron Crowe's generation-defining 1992 film Singles took care of that), but the EP elevated them to another level both creatively and commercially. As Dave Lifton of Ultimate Classic Rock reports, the 34-year-old singer was found dead in his apartment in Seattle. Alice In Chains: Your Decision Meaning. However, after recording just one song, Cantrell started experiencing excruciating pain in his arm, which he described feeling "like an icepick in your joint." Alice in Chains Logo PNG Alice in Chains (also known as AIC) is a US rock band based in Seattle, Washington. Deseret News reported that Starr had been mixing his anxiety medication and methadone, and the Hollywood Reporter later confirmed that the poor bassist's cause of death had been a prescription drug overdose. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who died in … Layne Staley was a charismatic frontman with a golden voice, but according to the A.V. The singer was only 34 years old when he died of a speedball overdose (heroin mixed with cocaine) in 2002. Released in '91, 'Man in the Box' made what Alice in Chains is today. Moving more than 140,000 units in the United States in its first week, Jar of Flies was the first EP to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. Translation of 'Died' by Alice in Chains from English to Serbian. Parrott's addiction resulted in fatal bacterial endocarditis, and Staley took the news of her passing extremely hard. Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. I could climb until I reach where angels reside Ask around to find out where the junkies applied You just up and left me on this rock all alone It's my fault for knowing not what I should have known About Died lyrics. Layne didn't take her passing very well, especially since he hadn't seen her for a while before she died. Rumors about the vocalist's condition started making rounds, and some said he'd even lost an arm to gangrene. The couple was already separated at that point, and while Staley had plenty of rock star money to finance his habits, Parrott's lower funds forced her to ultimately sell her body in order to finance her drug use. Andrew Wood) … Released in '91, 'Man in the Box' made what Alice in Chains is today. Cantrell lost both his mother and grandmother at a relatively early age, and his relationship with his father was extremely strained, due to the fact that Cantrell Sr. had his share of psychological issues from his time in the Vietnam War. It's important to remember that Layne was told that his dad was dead. You hate it and you love it. "Their period of time with us in the band, on those records is indelible and completely unique." If you didn't write it, you do not know what it is about unless the author themselves tell you. The song first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 film Singles—where the members of Alice in Chains make a cameo … The song was included on the compilation albums Music Bank and The Essential Alice in Chains. Enjoy! Meaning and history Each version the Alice in Chains logo perfectly embodies the wild style of the music they play, its free spirit, and mystic nature. It could have 1000 different meanings, this is what art means, it depends on what each listener needs to hear. But more specifically to the context of the track, Andrew died of a drug overdose . Non-lyrical content copyright 1999-2021 SongMeanings, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, The Essential Alice in Chains [Compilation], I could climb until I reach where angels reside. Like, literally all of it, except for drugs. Alice In Chains Fans Also Like: Nirvana song meanings Motley Crue song meanings Tool song meanings Metallica song meanings Soundgarden song meanings Submit Your Interpretation General CommentMy interpretation of this song is about drug abuse and loss of innocence.Alot of AIC songs dealt with drug use and this song is no different. Alice in Chains and Starr parted ways in 1993. Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney's tenure with the band has been comparatively tragedy free, though as Jon Wiederhorn of Rolling Stone tells us, Kinney did have his own struggles with alcohol abuse during the Layne Staley years. 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