Alice In Chains | Down In A Hole MTV Unplugged | Reluctant Track Review

[@FloridaRocks]

"I'd like to fly -- But my wings have been so denied" Whatever hole we're in, keep climbing -- I'd say "quit diggin" 😏

[@mannyk596]

Pinned comment didn't think of that one "quit digging" thank you Donna 👊🏿👊🏿

[@kristimarriner7673]

“Look at me now, a man who won’t let himself be”...This is my 4th attempt to comment. When I saw this concert the first time it aired on MTV, I started tearing up when Layne walked out. He looked so sick and broken. It is still hard for me to watch as it was obvious, at least in my opinion, his addiction had won. His body was broken, but his voice still so powerful. You are the only reactor I have seen who understands how important this song during this performance at that time meant. I thank you and pray you keep climbing up out of your whole. Wonderful, thoughtful reaction ❤️🥺💔

[@erinnothingtoseehere4992]

I get that this is hard to watch. We all love Layne and it's hard to watch him suffer. You've obviously been touched by this and I feel I need to cheer you up a little. Here's a couple things that may help. One; the song was written by Jerry about a relationship - it's not about Layne and drugs. Two; Mike had been quoted as saying during this performance he caught himself watching Layne like a fan and actually had to check himself as he was playing bass live (lol). Three; at the 2:17 minute mark you can catch a sweet smile shared by Jerry and Mike as Layne hit all the notes like a pro! I think a lot of people were concerned with Layne's appearance and weren't sure what the show would be like as they hadn't played live together in a couple years. It wasn't long before Layne squashed anyone's concerns - he could bang those songs out regardless of condition. Also, this is special as they rarely, if ever, played this song live. It's a little treasure. Stay up!

[@BradCross1982]

The song Frogs from the unplugged hits me like Down in a Hole does for you brother 🤘🏽 If you haven’t seen that one it’s tough 😔 Layne always gave a 100% even if he wasn’t at a 100% 🤘🏽

[@leahlefevre9970]

Same, frogs hits me so hard. So beautifully painful & haunting.

[@mannyk596]

Because I'm in that kind of mood I'll react, upload and hopefully you'll get to see my reaction thank you for suggesting mate

[@mikegovernali3632]

i am a layne Staley fanatic alice in chainz fanatic n was a hardcore heroine addict myself for about 5 years so i was able to relate to him and to say his songs touched me is a understatement... ive watched alotta ppl react to alice in chainz songs cuz it feels like im hearing them for the first time through reactors such as yourself.. i never heard anyone hit it right on the head as much as you have .. u break down their music better than anyone else ive heard on youtube n u deserve to know that.. i only watch alice in chainz reactions cuz they bleed through their music as youve described very well.. good work man

[@LifelessDeaD75]

By far the best alice reviews you definitely get it thank you

[@tpod1376]

Layne was Always sharing his Soul's pain that We All Can Relate to it

[@stellarpulse]

You are awesome Manny. I have enjoyed your review of Alice in Chains songs. I'm glad you felt the power behind their music. Layne was such a great talent and miss him very much.

[@jboysmith76com]

Jerry Cantrell wrote the song, but when Layne sang it, I guarantee he knew it was really about him.

[@venusmc2824]

Touching Words on this song. So correct. Your reaction is amazing, so thorough. Yes… he gave it All… the pain, misery and the life of misery in addiction. I think Jerry wrote this but it applies to many aspects in life…. Across the board. Tortured Soul indeed. Awesome reaction!

[@zoelo8149]

Take care of yourself and thank you for your willingness to be so honest and open with your thoughts and feelings. That’s not easy to do under normal circumstances. Even more challenging when you are doing it while attempting to climb out of a hole. 🌾💛

[@danabomb100]

Manny, thank you for reviewing AIC! I’m in my 50s-so I got to see them live back in the 90s and, of course, they were awesome!. What I regret, is not fully appreciating their mastery of talent, or even more so, his brilliance. My niece committed suicide 1 year ago, her dad-10 years before that. She wrote letters....even then, one cannot make sense of it all. A few days after her funeral I flipped on the TV to KZbin (typically watch podcasts)..on this day AIC unplugged popped up as a suggested ‘watch’. First song, ‘Nutshell’....it’s as if he was narrating her thoughts, even though they were his own. I then understood. He is truly one of a kind, that gave every ounce of himself to his craft. I have dove fairly deep into researching this band and his life every since and have gained so much more respect for who he was. His story is truly one of great ‘rip your heart out and gut punch you at the same time’ sadness. But what amazing gift he gave. Thank you for bringing attention to how wonderful he was.

[@lisafanninghowe]

I hear you. And I feel you. Beautiful and painful and ballsy. Keep climbing!

[@jamescurt4]

We need more alice in chains reactions

[@danialmr5960]

Love these aic reactions man you are a wise person

[@lisafanninghowe]

I believe David del Sol wrote a book about Alice in chains and in the book it is stated that Sarah silver their manager cried all the way through nutshell when it was being performed on unplugged MTV because she knew as did Jerry Cantrell this was probably their last performance as a band.

[@jtough7499]

It wasnt....close but they did I think 4 more shows.

[@lisafanninghowe]

@@jtough7499 right, I think the last show was with KISS.

[@lindsayheywood7195]

That would be Susan Silva

[@stacywillis2702]

Love the Alice In Chains reactions my guy. You summed it up perfectly. Is your Patreon channel up yet?

[@tamibrandt]

This song is a love song from guitarist Jerry Cantrell to the love of his life Courtney Clarke. Early pressings listed this as the 12th track in the album. Later pressings listed this as the 4th track supposedly to fit better with the band’s desire to have the album loosely tell a story from song to song. Songwriter and guitarist Jerry Cantrell said of the song in the Music Bank box set liner notes, “Down in a Hole’s in my top three, personally. It’s to my long-time love. It’s the reality of my life, the path I’ve chosen and in a weird way it kind of foretold where we are right now. It’s hard for us to both understand…that this life is not conducive to much success with long-term relationships." Once Layne got his voice where he wanted it, it stayed there with little effort. Layne's vocal range can run rings around any other grunge singer in my opinion. Layne could sing the phone book and never hit a wrong note. Even at the end of his life, with no teeth and a lisp, his voice, wit and humor were all still there. Layne's voice and vocal range was so powerful he did NOT need auto tune or pro-tools until he lost his teeth and had a lisp around 1998, and even then he still killed the vocals. Barrett Martin (who played with Layne in Mad Season) said that when he stood to the side of the stage, he could hear the sound of Layne's vocal resonance come out of Layne's body LOUDER than it did coming out of the speakers, Layne's voice was that powerful. Layne's story is more tragic and haunting because you can actually watch and hear him deteriorate over the 12 year span: from the mild use of drugs in 1990 all the way through 1996 when he was deep into a heroin addiction to dropping to 90 pounds by 1998 to 86 pounds when he died in 2002. Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew enough to know that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and Mike Starr. He wrote the lyrics for the songs he sang on Mad Season's Above album and drew the cover art for that album. Layne was a genius in his own right. He still was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. Layne's whole situation from his drug addiction, to how he died, to how he was found only weighing 86 pounds and the drug paraphernalia, etc is tragic and haunts me when I think about it (and I didn't even know the guy personally). "Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." -- Layne Staley "My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." -- Layne Staley "When I tried drugs they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they're turning against me - and now I'm walking through hell and this sucks. I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want my fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen." -- Layne Staley

[@danabomb100]

1000%!!!! I think each person in that band (both Mikes included) held their own in talent. It was like a perfect musical storm.

[@ariqueanjum2353]

Bro where are you,,i didn't even find you on patreon!!

[@notsosmileyface]

You have good insight! You should pursue this furthur as im reactions of any kind as your thoughtful guy! Which means your opinions are real and genuine..and when that is the case, people will come by. As who doesn't like a bit of real! Although tbf mowadays its been so dumbed down! But thats just my personal opinion! 🖕🏻YT

[@Ramos8919_]

Which reaction was more emotional? Wake up or down in a hole?

[@Thatgirl1973]

❤

[@raisedbywolves6817]

Hey Manny, wouldn't mind a call whenever if in need - just give a contact info, don't wanna post it here.

[@danialmr5960]

Great reaction aic forever

[@Margaret75]

So sad