Interview Alice In Chains - Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney (part 6)

Video interview with hardrock band Alice In Chains. FaceCulture spoke to Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney about Nona, how it begun, persuading Layne Staley, being homeless, horrible lyrics, finding the sound, experience, Layne's legacy, a tough decision, reactions on Layne's death, new stuff and hard life.

[@aicgirl4ever213]

I love how Jerry says, "We knew him, and we knew how fucking cool he was." I know some fans have said they don't see how they can go on with Duvall, but I personally think that Jerry and Sean knew Layne better than most anyone. And they know Layne is smiling down and loving how the magic they created is still being woven. Duvall is not Layne. No one can ever be Layne again. He was a once in a lifetime musician and we will never see anything like him again. But that doesn't mean his music has to die with him. RIP Layne Staley!!!!!!

[@rockdog2843]

They are exactly right.The media swept Layne under the rug.Its bullshit how they disrespected Layne by not showing a picture of him also.I wouldve been majorly pissed off also if i were Jerry and Sean.

[@adanacman666]

Man ,talk about rock stars, being just down to earth regular dudes, these 2 are pretty fuken cool,I cant imagine the bullshit they have had to put up with regarding laynes passing, and the medias inherant need to sensationalize drug addiction, just to sell copy,They knew the real layne, and they also knew that Layne himself, would insist that AIC were talented enough without him ,to keep on keepin on, they are level headed guys in a world filled with ego thanks and keep putting it out there

[@renajohnson9804]

this is amazing...they fucking rock #realfriends

[@nemo7700]

Watching this interview is opening my mind on why they decided to keep the name Alice In Chains, i don't have anything against Duvall i just never felt called to hear anything they've done with him yet. I don't know if they're still doing concerts but if they come to Spain and i have the money to buy a ticket i think i would go. It's beautiful how they include us (people who listen to their music) in the fact that all of us are keeping Layne's (and i include Mike Starr too) memory alive. They knew and love Layne more than we ever will (and that's a lot!), i have so much respect for these dudes, keep doing what you love!! i'm happy that they are still on this rock with us. X

[@cameronjohnson3529]

That point where Jerry was answering the interviewer's question about the song "Private Hell" reminded me of an older Alice in Chains interview where they were asked "What are your lyrics abou?" and Layne pipes up and says "When you listen to our music, whatever you think it's about, THAT'S what it's about!" That just struck me as being really cool.that their message and their music holds the same value and the same interpretive diversity for each listener that it always has. That's why they've been one of my favorite bands sine I was 7 or 8 years old.

[@geekrockrats]

It was

[@myworstenemy680]

You never knew what you were going to get with a new Alice in Chains album, and that's what makes them one of my favorite bands. They're all so different and amazing that it's hard to have a favorite.

[@jamesthereaper7]

Thanks for posting this, awesome interview! I love Alice In Chains. RIP Layne Staley.

[@sheatree8520]

Thank you 2 so much for everything you put out there . I will always listen to your music I love it Soulfully , it’s a gift in my life . Thank you ! JC you are a hero , SK you too and my =1 favorite DUMMER!

[@flynntaylor5459]

I love their naked honesty- it is beautiful to see that Layne is so close to them- even now- I have to say this reason alone, is the reason I need to write my book- it is scarey- fucken terrifying. I have 28,000 words for them so far in 4 weeks!!! I hope that the guys will somehow see how I am for real- my heart is true! I wish I could get a message to them but I don't know how.

[@ILowlLife]

Jerry nailed it when said who they are for. When I tell people AIC is the greatest ever to me, people don’t really get it.

[@telltalemse]

awww...an Obi-Wan thing in death...lol that was cute, more powerful in death. of course media and everything will shoot for the drama story. heroin this, junkie that, its what sells, people love tragedy its a shame. but i think a lot of his fans know that layne was a special guy. of cours elike they say here, they will only really know how great and cool he was. this is a very nice interview...it seems really sincere and open its great

[@kathrineckardt2869]

Two supersweet humans. Love AIC.

[@user-bonezstayley]

I'm so glad I choose Layne Staley to live in me along with a lot of other dead artists. But Layne is my personal favorite. I'm all alone living in my car and cranking up Alice in Chains every day except for now my battery in my car is dead and I'm broke no job. This whole system we live in sucks and yes that's crappy about Layne Staley getting trashed for being a junkie 😢 RIP Layne Staley

[@RockZeWorld]

New drinking game. Every time Jerry says a version of fuck, take a shot.

[@nirv]

Speaking of getting a clue, Adblock Plus, ever heard of it? (oh boy)

[@flynntaylor5459]

LIsten to Breaks My Back, Settling Down, Keeps the Light On, and My Song on Boggy- all about his GF- well EX girlfriend!!

[@jasonmitchell4013]

Flynn Taylor Down in a Hole was written prior to the release of Dirt in 1992, so I don't think it was about Layne, I'm sorry, but it just doesn't seem like that's plausible.

[@flynntaylor5459]

think it may make little difference since Laynes issues started long before that I think it was forseeable but thats just my opinion and I im entitled to it like you are to yours- I still stand by that Down was written about Layne.

[@friendseller]

Flynn Taylor expect its not an opinion because Jerry Cantrell has said it's about a break up... there is a difference between opinions and delusions, that is also a fact.

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

@@flynntaylor5459Layne didn’t do heroin until about 1990, whenever the Van Halen tour was. When someone starts on heroin, the demise is not instant. At first you’re able to handle it. It takes at least a year, some people can control it for a few years, but eventually you become enslaved which happened to Layne by about 93”. The crack smoking ruined his health. After all William Burroughs thrived for years decades on heroin and lived into his 80s/90s.

[@kat3871]

All I heard in this interview was the word, "fuck." 😳

[@elizabethmesner6913]

let bum a smoke....

[@goudagirl6095]

Wow. They forgot to add Layne at the Grammys, and if you go to that piece of trash Wikipedia, there is a very long list of people who have died from drug overdoses thru the years (decades) yet they list NONE of the Seattle music scenes' losses, other than Mother Love Bone.

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

Layne is often disrespected, though you have to admit his demise and addiction was spectacularly pathetic and tragic.

[@mcinmosh]

@@Gcssdvnkloiutesc Actually he wasn't overlooked. Someone uploaded old VHS footage from the Grammys in February 2003, and he's in there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZqnZ5lra9ugY6csi=J8tBwEu0BIZwRYis&t=7288

[@SarahRachel59]

Wonder why Jerry broke up with someone he loved? Seems like he'd want to hang onto someone he loved, not break up with her.

[@user-iq2oq8ol6z]

+TruthIsAllThatMatters well you know life puts you into difficult situations sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do

[@ShirleyCobain]

Jerry has a long history of cheating that he publicly admitted. The reason of his break up with Courtney Clarke (the girl who inspired "Down in a Hole", "Heaven Beside You", "Over Now" and many others) was because he couldn't stop cheating on her and she didn't accept that, he talked about this in a 1996 Rolling Stone interview. He was still writing songs about her many years after the end of their relationship ("Angel Eyes" and a bunch of songs from Boggy Depot and Degradation Trip are about her and how Jerry screwed things up). So "Private Hell" may be about Courtney as well, she's the love of his life. That's what he said in the liner notes of Music Bank: “Down in a Hole” is 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.” About "Heaven Beside You": "Another attempt to reconcile the fact that my life and paths are tearing me apart from the person I love. All the songs I write about her are a way for me to maybe speak to her, express things I could never express."

[@MrTechselect]

ShirleyCobain I think Private Hell may be for another more recent girlfriend

[@flynntaylor5459]

Jerry Also says "down in a hole" was written about her but you cannot convince me of that- I think he wrote that about Layne some 10 years before his passing- and the hell if it were me i would wanna admit that- so maybe he thought that would make sense to say yeah that song was written about my GF- NO fucken way- it is about as graphic a depiction of permanent death and pleasing redemption- He wrote it for Layne!!!

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

You don’t think a straight man wrote a song about a woman he loved but wrote it about a guy he was in a band with?

[@flynntaylor5459]

@@smkxodnwbwkdns8369 not in knowing what I know about them. No. Jerry even said when layne went to workwith madseaon he felt like he had been cheated on... thats how close they were. I think he would never admit writing down about layne, its like a self fulfilling prophecy. If I did I wouldn't admit that. He would have been hounded not like he wasn't anyway but it def would put him in the hottest. I cant imagine what it was like to watch your best friend destroy himself in front of your eyes. Dirt really threw them in the spotlight. They were far too young to handle that kind of fame.

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

@@flynntaylor5459 He has admitted to writing songs about Layne, namely “Black Fades Way to Blue”. Please tell me how you made acquaintance with Layne and Jerry? Because I’m positive you don’t know them at all. Layne and Jerry weren’t even on speaking terms by about 94” and by all accounts from engineers to layne’s best friend Mark Lanegan, they hated each other. Jerry is using a romantic relationship as an analogy, not that he literally feels as close to a man as a woman he’s in love with. To layne and jerry MUSIC was what was important and they had a MUSICAL relationship together that felt adulterated to Jerrys view after Mad Season. Songs Jerry DID write about Layne was some lines in Grind, the entire song of “Cut You In”. Jerry and the other Alice members were all equally destructive. By your own logic, why isn’t he writing a bunch of songs about the demise of Mile Starr? Jerry was an alcoholic coke head who now works the program and went to rehab to get sober in middle-age. The only reason their addictions aren’t spotlighted is Layne was the one who wrote lyrics on popular releases about it. They all did heroin, smoked crack, shot up speed, drank, including other members on the scene. It wasn’t just addiction that stopped the touring, it was tensions and burn out. It was only after Demri died did Layne lose the will to live and let himself be utterly destroyed by drugs losing his teeth and so on. He was emaciated but still vital in 96”. He partied hard like many people do. It went terribly wrong for him specifically later on. Read Mark Lanegans book if you want real insights into layne, they were best friends often hanging out together socially.

[@flynntaylor5459]

I'm not debating this. Sounds like a war in the making

[@flynntaylor5459]

I never said I knew them. And I am entitled to my own opinion thank you just as you are entitled to yours.