How Alice In Chains Paid Tribute To Layne Staley - "Black Gives Way To Blue" Feat. Elton John

How Alice in Chains Paid Tribute to Layne Staley
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I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.

[@rnrtruestories]

anyone listen to the piano mix version Alice in chain's KZbin channel put up recently?

[@chucksmitleyv145]

Link? 👀 I can’t find it 🥲

[@doctormidnight]

It's been on Amazon music for years, I personally think it's the better version.

[@allouttabubblegum1984]

That is the one of the most beautiful songs they ever did, even if Layne wasn't there to sing it. Had no idea Elton John was involved!

[@xerotonin6776]

That explanation Jerry gave to Cornell's daughter was very sweet. I would think in real world terms that black tar heroin leads to your lips turning blue moments before you die. It's happened to me 3times.

[@Dr.EdwardKevorkian]

No words...

[@catinthehat8412]

Jerry is a very nice man 🖤___💙

[@ChainsGoldMask]

No disclaimer

[@HolyShnikeez_1975]

I guess I can go anywhere I want. If I only knew where to go ~ Layne Staley

[@gbluesky4264]

Layne is a Very Underrated singer..What a gorgeous and expressive voice he had.

[@Metal_Mama87]

Layne was so loved. Still is.

[@barbaraconny1898]

Out of the "Grunge" bands AIC was the best ❤ RIP LAYNE

[@fu102]

Staind did a really, REALLY good tribute song called "Layne"

[@dream_in_digital]

This was beautifully done. Susan's words were the perfect way to end the video. Thank you. 💙

[@dmphax]

I lost it at that point. RIP Layne & Chris.

[@AvecPoesie]

Layne Staley is embedded upon my heart and mind and he will always be. 🖤 My Life has been a deeply sorrowful and tragic experience. My Spirit and mind are firmly embedded in the Black (the tragedies, the health struggles, the abuses, clinical depression and far more) yet, I remain hopeful that at some point before I perish, the Black will give way to Blue in my own existence.

[@SmokingRun]

That was beautiful at the end. I had no idea what that meant nor have I ever heard the song.

[@chucksmitleyv145]

That song hit me hard the first time I heard it. Ever since it’s been my go to when challenged with grief. I’d argue it’s one of Cantrells best works

[@jessehutchings]

It's always amazing hearing about my rock icon's own rock icons and it's so funny to imagine Jerry Cantrell being terrified to send Elton John a note offering to collab

[@anniecroteau3598]

I can't listen to this song without crying. RIP Layne we miss you ❤

[@MeLoNHeAd00]

Maybe Layne wanted to give Jerry the understanding of how he was feeling before he passed .

[@redacted2275]

Mad Season was Layne showing his feelings... Cantrell was oblivious or had given up on his friend by that point. AIC's 1995 album has just one song written by Staley. In the Unplugged album he was practically dead already. Big loss.

[@MeLoNHeAd00]

@@redacted2275 weird that he was dead on his feet but yet gave one of his best vocal performances ever . Imo it was the greatest unplugged ever. They should have ended it with "don't follow"

[@Pablo-ze6un]

​​@@redacted2275 Cantrell acknowledged the Mad Season record and said it was great, at first he was a little perxpeled due to it being Layne playing alongside other people but he came around on it. then all of the AIC guys wanted Layne to play with them again if he was feeling like he could, and practically all of the songs on the Self-Titled record had lyrics written by him bar Grind, Heaven Beside You and Over Now. and it was during the recording sessions that he was told that he should probably call it quits for the sake of his own health but he didn't listen, then they were offered to play the Unplugged and all of the guys were a little uneasy about it but Layne insisted that he wanted to play it (the candles were actually his idea that he bought himself personally), and you can see Jerry looking over him and cheering him up during the entirety of the whole thing. Even when Alice was done for, Cantrell kept sharing his music with Staley and that's how the songs Get Born Again and Died came to be, Layne thought those tracks were cool and wanted to write lyrics and put them out as Alice songs. it was after these final recording sessions that Cantrell gave up on Staley, tired of his friend constantly lying to him and never accepting help (he went/was sent to rehab like a dozen times) + you need to take into account that Jerry himself had his own personal issues, and he would soon be in the throes of a crack addiction. Cantrell expresses his feelings about Staley on some of his solo songs, and of course many of the tracks on BGWTB are inspired by or straight up dedicated to Layne.

[@anniecroteau3598]

@@redacted2275 you are wrong. Layne wrote 9 out 12 songs on Tripod

[@bobinchainz]

Jerry and the boys must be protected at all costs

[@DirtyDovi]

Elton's taste in music would surprize, even make people's heads spin.. My lifelong friend was/is one of his private jet pilots - and I've heard some cool stories!

[@kylehegedus5498]

R.I.P. Layne Staley

[@digitalchaos1980]

Love this story. Have always been a huge AIC fan and was quite upset with Layne' passing. I have to admit I didn't know this story about the song, however. RIP Layne!

[@V4Now]

Good on Elton

[@jessehutchings]

I love Layne Staley forever

[@rawkguy4896]

Black Gives Way to Blue is the greatest comeback record of all time by far. The title track is such an Alice in Chains move. By the end of the album I was expecting some grimey ugly metal track a la Them Bones and instead I got a beautiful eulogy to one of the most unqiue singers in all of rock music. Jar of Flies is my favorite AiC release, but Black Gives Way to Blue is easily my favorite studio album.

[@keithhalbrooks4633]

Miss Layne and I am glad we picked the song Black gives way to Blue to play at my Brother's funeral..it means so much!♥

[@jeb0112]

It’s time for ALICE IN CHAINS gets inducted into the Rock hall of fame three way over due!!!!

[@danthegeetarman]

Wow, very cool to see elton john was involved too. RIP to a musical genius. Very touching tribute song 🙏🙏

[@j-sin3344]

Cleary he means emotionally heavy, theres no real electric guitars except for the slide. IDK I thought he meant heavy guitars, but Love AIC and was sad when Layne passed, Mike too

[@WinterInTheForest]

I'm a big fan of AIC but I don't care for this song. Elton John's playing is the best part about it and I hate Elton John. Oh well lol

[@derekhughes8318]

Rest in peace Layne 🙏

[@bobthebear1246]

WOW. 😳 I had no idea that Sir Elton John is a huge Alice in Chains fan. That's amazing!! ❤ I know that he's a fan of Metal in general - after all, he DID play on 2 tracks on Saxon's 1987 *Rock The Nations* album (This, by the way, should be a subject of another Rock 'n' Roll True Stories episode) but Alice in Chains is of course VERY different from Saxon. This episode makes me love both Sir Elton and Jerry Cantrell even more than I already did. Elton John is already tied with Billy Joel for my favorite solo artist of all-time, and Alice in Chains is one of my Top 5 favorite bands of all-time. What an unlikely yet perfect marriage of the two very different but equally amazing styles. ❤❤ Love to both!!!! ❤❤

[@noregertsyamsayin8011]

On Jerry Cantrell's latest album Brighten there is a cover of an Elton John song "goodbye". It is an amazing song and cover. I'm not a big fan of Elton John either.

[@DaLoganFrost]

Layne Staley. You are still missed. You were the coolest rocker of all time imo. Rock In Peace

[@anthonytabura6346]

RIP Layne Staley 💯🎤🤘🏾🙏!!!!!!!

[@floydsemlow8253]

That was the most poweful 3:55 second clup ever! R I P Layne Stanley

[@johnparsons1573]

Beautiful story from Jerry. I love Jerry he has always been my favorite guitarist

[@spacecat7247]

I'm learning every day. So sad but so very meaningful. Glad they have soldiered on.

[@TheRemulosEpsolonProgramme]

Elton is a hard rock and metal guy? No way.

[@therealracer135]

What's the song name?

[@allanvanuga9196]

Great video.

[@Cfolger]

One of the best ones yet

[@ranman75]

Love this story.🤘🤘🤘

[@daniellecarpenter4467]

🕯🖤

[@tarynolyvia]

I love all of your content, but especially AiC lately. I’ve been heavy into them, but all the records with Layne. This just gave me the push to work into their post-Staley discography. Thank you!

[@timshirey-go9wl]

I remember seeing them play at the Newport music hall in Columbus Ohio man in the box. Lane and the band put one of the best shows I've ever seen. Such great talent in that band. RIP Lane.

[@daBEAGLE1017]

ba ba ba Benny, Benny in the jeyeyets A true Legend.

[@moriganna67ify]

Voices is in dedication to both Layne Staley and Mike Star. You see the picture of Layne on a mantle.

[@barnacle-]

would’ve given anything to see him live.

[@cloudbloom]

That story at the end is really sweet. RIP Layne🙏

[@dirtybird311]

Good stuff!!!

[@mikestanislaus1107]

I have one complaint about that song. It's too short. Absolutely gorgeous. RIP Layne Staley.

[@fede2]

Do one on Pearl Jam's first drummer, Dave Krusen.

[@rnrtruestories]

That’s a great one

[@synesthesia.aesthetic]

Elton John is a fucking gem

[@Spooky_515]

Never really cared for layne that much. Didn’t write many songs and his voice is really overrated by aic fans like he’s Chris Cornell or whatever. Jerry has always and will always be the heart and soul of the band but when it comes to the Seattle scene I’m a Nirvana guy

[@anniecroteau3598]

Layne wrote almost 50% of Alice songs. He did much more than you think. He was the heart of Alice as much as Jerry and even more

[@joscar062]

Nirvana ain't shit

[@Vermonster23]

It is one of my all-time favorite Alice In Chains songs. I am a bit confused because there is a video with Lane Stanley singing that song before he died.

[@anniecroteau3598]

Impossible

[@Vermonster23]

@@anniecroteau3598 it’s literally on KZbin.

[@anniecroteau3598]

@@Vermonster23 Layne cannot have sung "Black Gives Way To Blue" before his death, the song wasn't yet written. You must have the wrong song

[@Vermonster23]

@@anniecroteau3598 I sent you the link. I completely agree, that’s the confusion. However, there is a video…

[@anniecroteau3598]

@@Vermonster23 I'm curious where's the link?

[@Pamplemousse82322]

Song title is We Used To Be A Glam Band, But Followed The Trend So Insincerely

[@lukewarmwater5320]

"...and that's effin' heavy!" Yeah you're all Rock n' Roll aren't ya Tipper? Lol!