I'M SPEECHLESS!! | Alice In Chains - Rooster (REACTION!!!)

[@oakland-as-diehard6717]

As the son of a Vietnam vet. The perspective in this video is spot on. My Dad never talked much about it. But when he did… You could tell it was an everlasting stain in his memory bank. I remember coming home in 8th grade (1993) and the whole police department being outside my house because my Dad had flashbacks and ripped the gun rack off the wall grabbing a shotgun. Than flipped over the table hiding behind it screaming “ Scotty I’m coming for you “ . Because that was his buddies name that he had seen killed in battle. After that we took all of our guns and had to trade them in.Was truly a scary moment and will never really fully understand what they went through in those times. RIP Pops.. Lost him in ‘95

[@adupray]

Thank you for sharing his story. My condolences ❤

[@NIKE-cf3xl]

.. Jesus Christ 😔

[@lisamarie1157]

I'm so sorry that u lost yr Daddy. My heart ❤️ goes out to yr family. I lost my Dad in April of 2021. They say that time will heal the Wounds, but they haven't for me, I truly hope that time helped you!!

[@ImaDieHrderLkeMyKidBruceWillis]

❤🙏

[@sassyfras4085]

Yes, we called WAR FATIGUE, aka PTSD. These men were never treated, it's aweful. You can see the pain, as he diverts his eyes to push back those memories! God Bless our Servicemen! Doing the job that no one would choose...

[@jeraldkimball494]

Old vet here, this is the realities of war. The horror of seeing your buddies died in your arms and wondering when it is your turn and just trying to stay alive and keep your buddies alive too.

[@mikeminter4773]

There are no bad Alice in Chains songs at all. Thier sound is different on each album but all are great.

[@tiawarren5403]

Agreed.. not 1 bad song!

[@ZackHamlin1]

Best band ever

[@richardhenderson9767]

The entire album "Dirt" is incredible!!!! Try "Down In A Hole", "Rain When I Die", "Would?", "Angry Chair", and "Dirt" for starters......

[@1deadly187]

Thank a Veteran from any branch every chance you get. Thank you to every one of them!! LOVE...

[@dipsydoodle7988]

Great reaction as always. I still have a hard time with this video. I usually tell reactors to listen to this song without the visuals first because it's overwhelming. You did good being able to appreciate both at the same time.

[@tamibrandt]

Guitarist Jerry Cantrell wrote ROOSTER about his father's experiences in Vietnam and when Jerry saw his dad in the audience at one of their shows when AIC opened for Iggy Pop, and Jerry asked Layne (and the guys) to play ROOSTER and they did. It was the first time Jerry's dad heard Jerry's music and knew that his son understood him through that song. It brought Jerry and his dad closer together. And Layne had a vital part in that reunion. (Meanwhile Layne's own biological father was an opportunist). Jerry's dad was nicknamed Rooster when he was a kid and his hairstyle resembled that of a rooster comb. Although, maybe he used rooster as a call sign during his military career. But he didn't earn the nickname in the military, he had the nickname back when he was a kid. Jerry Cantrell, Sr had multiple tours in Vietnam and like most Vietnam vets, he didn't talk about it. The most he ever said about it was at the beginning of the official video for ROOSTER which he agreed to be a part of after hearing the song. Like all kids who hate their parents, Jerry Cantrell was no different. He was staying in a small guest room in Chris Cornell's house (Cornell was married to AIC manager Susan Silver) and the guest room had a tiny window. He was staying there and thought about what his dad may have experienced and wrote the lyrics. They demoed ROOSTER and WOULD? when they spent two days working on the acoustic songs for the SAP EP. The songs on SAP and those two songs were demoed using the money Cameron Crowe gave them for recording WOULD? for the SINGLES movie. Layne sang the hell out of WOULD? and ROOSTER. The harmony in the beginning and end on the album is Ann Wilson of Heart, but Layne does the harmonies on the official video and live versions perfectly. The Unplugged show in 1996 is so heartbreaking to watch because he was deep in his heroin addiction (and yes, I know he was doing other drugs on top of Heroin). His liver was damaged from the years of drug use. He was just high enough to do the show so he didn't get dope sick and chase away withdrawal symptoms. He was such a ghost of himself during Unplugged. (Of course, Jerry had food poisoning) All Jerry saw when he looked over at Layne was his best friend was going to die soon due to the path Layne had taken with his life. That show was filmed in April, 1996, premiered in May 1996. They did four shows with KISS in June-July 1996, after which Layne survived an overdose and became a recluse. After that, it was a six-year-long slow suicide. With Unplugged... Sean Kinney (drummer) and Mike Inez (bass player) argued with Jerry about whether Layne could even pull off the high notes in some of the songs in his condition, which is why Jerry gave them that “I told you so” smirk after Layne hit that long, high note in DOWN IN A HOLE. He did the same thing again when Layne hit a high note in ROOSTER. Layne was one of the few singers who was always better live than studio version. The fact that Sean and Mike didn’t have any confidence that Layne could do the show and Jerry being the only one that knew deep in his heart that Layne could do it because Layne had done so many things against the odds over the years no matter how high he was at the time. When Jerry needed him to be there where it counted, Layne always pulled through. Knowing how he sang ROOSTER in Tilburg, The Netherlands, in 1993 when his “yeahs” and screams were so loud and high I’m surprised the rafters didn’t come crashing down around him and then watch him sing the same song so low-key on Unplugged knowing he could do to the song what he did in Tilburg is heartbreaking. Knowing he initially sang the hell out of WOULD? on the official video and album and seeing the end of WOULD? on Unplugged . . . and knowing how deep into his addiction he had gotten by that point is heartbreaking. The entire show was a success because Layne DID have a powerful performance despite his condition. He proved to his cynical bandmates that he could still sing the high notes and he pulled it all off beautifully while the same four guys (Metallica) who had mocked him for his addiction sidelining Alice In Chains from ever doing extended tours back in 1994 sat in the front row. The mistakes he made screwing up SLUDGE FACTORY (and I think he screwed up GOT ME WRONG once or twice, but Toby Wright didn’t keep that in editing) were endearing, at least to me. They didn’t take away from the performance, it added something to the performance that, had it been removed after everyone had seen it, wouldn’t have made the show what it was. That line "they spit on me in my homeland." TV News anchor Walter Kronkite basically told the American public that we lost the war and between that and the college kids (who went to college to escape being drafted into the military) would protest the soldiers coming home. They would do protest rallies at the airports and protest the returning soldiers by spitting at them, throwing urine and other stuff on them. An uncle of mine drove a supply truck in Vietnam (to this day he won't talk about his experience). A family friend of ours said that he and his buddies came home, saw the protesters at the airport, and re-enlisted because it was safer in Vietnam than in the US with the protesters. At least in Vietnam, they knew who the enemy was. I'm NOT saying Vietnam was anything the US should have ever been in. I'm just relating stories of people I know who served there. 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 kept his humor and wit even to the end of his life. Layne was so much more than his drug addiction. He stacked his own vocals with melodies and harmonies underneath. He was able to come up with lyrics and harmonies off the top of his head. He knew that Jerry Cantrell was playing with the wrong people and gave him contact info for Sean Kinney and found out Sean Kinney was dating original bass player Mike Starr's sister. He wrote the lyrics for the original 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 was able to figure things out in a snap off the top of his head. Layne just had his demons. At the age of 34, he looked more like an 80 year old man. He knew he screwed up, between the drugs and his own depression and then his former fiancee dying, Layne just couldn't find a way to dig himself out of his own mess and at the end with his teeth problems and organs failing on him, he gave up trying. He lost sight of who his true friends were and who was using him. He was never going to give up the drugs. Instead, he tried to attain the same high he felt the first time he did drugs and could never achieve it. Layne encouraged Jerry to sing more, after all, they were Jerry's lyrics he should sing them. Vice-versa, Jerry encouraged Layne to play the guitar which is how you get Layne playing guitar on HATE TO FEEL and ANGRY CHAIR as well as I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING on the Mad Season above album. Jerry encouraged him on the guitar and was proud that Layne grew as a guitarist. Though, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine taught Layne more chords than ANGRY CHAIR and HATE TO FEEL. The friendship between Jerry and Layne was unbreakable. Jerry NEVER once thought of replacing Layne as the singer while Layne was still alive. He always wanted Layne to sing whenever he had AIC do something. If there were ever cosmic soulmates ... Layne and Jerry would be it. (And by that I mean, they were Sympatico with each other. The way they sang together was a perfect pitch where two voices make one. What you hear and see between Jerry and Layne was a genuine friendship. They looked after each other. When one had problems with a song, the other picked up the slack. They were a team. Jerry was doing a solo concert in Charlotte, NC when he heard that Layne was found two weeks after he died and Jerry was trying to get through the concert and crying. He did shows between the time he found out about Layne until Layne's funeral because if he had taken a break then, he didn't think he'd want to continue anything later after the mourning period. Layne had done so much for Jerry, giving him a place to live, money, clothes, food, guitars and gear, a band. But getting a front-row seat to watch what had happened to Layne over the years, Jerry had to watch his best friend deteriorate in a span of 12 years (1990-2002), and Jerry couldn't do anything about it. Jerry had talked himself blue in the face but Layne didn't want help. Alice In Chains was a band, but they were also a family. They had internal issues just like any family. When Layne died, it was like losing a loved one, a family member, you don't think of the fights you had with the person who died. You defend their memory. There is a reason Jerry wrote NO EXCUSES about Layne and the line "You, my friend, I will defend / And if we change, well, I'll love you anyway." "My grandmother and mother were such huge losses, but I got Layne, the guys, and I got this.” - Jerry Cantrell, Kerrang! (December 1, 2018) “Jerry really loved Layne [Staley]. They had a bond I haven't seen before,” Jerry’s former manager Bill Siddons, April 19, 2002 (the day Layne was found two weeks after he died).

[@chrono050]

wow man AIC has been a favorite of mine for 30 years learned some stuff with this post good stuff

[@southpaw933]

I love when a reactor does a little research before listening

[@rebeccarockchik6704]

Check out Love Hate Love live at the Moore. Amazing performance! 🔥🔥

[@deelak2329]

The sad realities of war. My family is from a war torn country, and I remember seeing many things when I was a little kid. My father, uncles, everyone fought in it. And many died. Others that survived died in otherways.

[@romanmartinez6458]

Holy shit!! I have never seen this. They've been one of my favorites for over 20 years. Thank you veterans. Period. Thank you .

[@tonyh6640]

Check out their song Nutshell live MTV UNPLUGGED

[@jillw4983]

We think the Rooster is the old man at the beggin's nickname.

[@debrasteffens2707]

I think everybody should be made to watch this. This is what war does.

[@jarhead4ever1]

Thanks for the salute. I listened to this dirt cd everyday when I was in Somalia. Love Alice in chains

[@Spaceman-jo5mz]

Your commentary nailed it 💯

[@amota92]

If you want to hear Laynes vocal power please check out Love Hate Love live at the Moore. Arguably their best live performance 2nd to unplugged

[@rebeccarockchik6704]

💯

[@bigbillhaywood1415]

It's way better than unplugged...id much rather hear Layne when he was healthy.

[@michelleabernathy9092]

Absolutely agree! LHL is amazing

[@lisajohnson521]

@@bigbillhaywood1415 Yeah I don't understand why people always suggest that. He was out of his mind and not even pleasant to watch. There are other awesome live performances other than one where he is half dead.

[@bradgordon3760]

Down in a Hole, Sea of Sorrow

[@tracyr8525]

Love Hate Love live at the Moore

[@mikebuttry4703]

Check out ..THEM BONES....it is a very explosive song you will love it

[@jimacton847]

I've been watching reactions for years, this is my favorite by far! thanks for doing reactions to the music I grew up on..p

[@charlesking4780]

A powerful song

[@leslie8743]

The guys didnt have a choice with the Draft. If your number is called, off to Vietnam. Bless all our guys still battling trauma.

[@JoeSmith-ey2xp]

That young men went through hell like this in the name of the flag is why we get pissed off when it's disrespected.

[@mayet4702]

Stop writing an Orange man's name on our flag! 🇺🇲😉

[@juraspeed2112]

AWESOME REACTION Bro I remember listening this song the first time...

[@bplebanek]

Just catching you for the first time. I appreciate that you "get it". Subscribed. Catch "Bleed The Freak" Live at the Moore Theatre. Looking forward to seeing where you go on this ride.

[@daniellittle830]

I really appreciate I identify as an American

[@charlesking4780]

Great reaction. #Respect 👏

[@theidajawho]

This is my FAV AiC song. Try "Rain When I Die" or "Would?". ("Would?" is about the shock they felt when fellow lead singer from Mother Love Bone OD-ed. His name was Andrew Wood, hence the play on the last name). Also after the death of Wood, Soundgarden lead singer knew a guy who could join the rest of the members and form Pearl Jam by the name of Eddie Vedder. You should check them out also, "Black, MTV unplugged".... wow, just wow.

[@CombatVeteranUSNAVY]

These were all 19- to 21-year-olds. I was 20 years old when I served in Vietnam.

[@thesoundlikechameleons2082]

5:24 thought that was Kurt Cobain at first glance! 🤣

[@Gideonite]

This song is about one of the guitarist dads time in Vietnam the people talking in the beginning are the Dad and Son. It’s called Rooster since his dad had red hair so his nickname was of course The Rooster.

[@iamthepope9167]

To add to the rooster nickname: the M60 machine gun that his dad used in combat had a barrel flash that, when sustaining gunfire, resembled a red rooster tail feather spread. As a result soldiers who manned the M60 “Roosters” were also nicknamed “Rooster”.

[@jonathanarnold4798]

As well as members of the 101st were called "roosters" due to the unit patch being a bird and resembling a rooster.

[@tinathompson3133]

The military will train you to fight but they don’t teach how to forget what you had to do. It will always be stamped in there brain.

[@miaaa8936]

All of their albums, every song hits. They do not miss. I recommend their whole catalog lol

[@daniellittle830]

I appreciate that you did some research it means more when you hear the music and the lyrics not done enough

[@Estuchfe]

A mí me encanta la Charles Manson soi libre hagas lo que hagas me encanta

[@athenasbody1544]

This is why I work with PTSD in my practice. These men and women are quiet about it, but it eats them up inside! I use a lot of sound waves and herbs to calm the brain and nervous system, also safe place to talk.

[@joedezz1600]

Thank u sir

[@Barbro247]

Barely a word about the song itself

[@Footsoldier1234]

Alice in Chains have *Very* good live performances. Check them out, although be wary anything from the unplugged show can be blocked if not careful.

[@delmaroeton9566]

Respect.

[@kurtstearns4135]

It's damn near impossible to pick the best AIC song theres so many epic ones but this is my Favorite, incredible song and Layne is one of the greatest singers of all time, the video is incredible dark and heavy, Dirt is a all time Classic Best Album!! We miss you Layne you had so much more to give but thanks for what you did. Hope you found ✌ "Wish you were here" The 🐐

[@Singlespeedjo]

Great reaction thank you!

[@nakdad]

keep it up

[@Michael-et9wn]

❤

[@Grandview6613]

God bless Jerry Cantrell Sr.

[@nakdad]

good research

[@suzannesellers7383]

I was just a kid in the 1960s, but I had an older cousin who did two tours in Nam as sergeant. After his second tour he came back and proceeded to drink himself to an early grave. Mama told me that he lost some men on a mission and he felt so much guilt he could not handle it. So he tried to kill himself slowly to assuage his guilt over the men he could not save.

[@fredtello]

yeah man people dismiss rock music but rock music really deep

[@stpnwlf9]

Layne Staley wrote most of the lyrics and Jerry Cantrell was primarily the melodies, particularly his stellar guitar work, but this song was Jerry's -- it came from a very deep emotional place for him, needing to understand and connect with a father who had been estranged from him by that insane war.

[@keithgraham8588]

No he didn't rofl Jerry was the main song/lyric writer in AIC. Jerry just gave most of the writing credits to Layne for some reason.

[@debrasteffens2707]

People understand this is what happens in wor we don't want any more wars

[@sigscorpion9275]

🤣 at 3:54 he stops dancing

[@bnferguson9827]

bro I loved your reaction,so now you got a new subscriber👍

[@daniellittle830]

There's no twerking in this video nobody is flashing hundred dollar bills nobody's riding a convertible Rolls-Royce this was the reality for these people

[@USMC-ms1pb]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@j.alexander4948]

Appreciated your reaction. 🇺🇲

[@anthonyguadagnino2681]

Do “would” next

[@evanirvana500]

My uncle died in Vietnam leaving my aunt to raise 5 kids alone.

[@dwannasandifer3958]

so sorry...the most unessessary war ever.

[@angiesmith3670]

Try Ryan Upchurch’s remake, it’s amazing!

[@aleahaleaha2593]

No one sings better than Layne….

[@trentbarnes5811]

This was one of those songs that could put you in a mood before Lil Jon started making Crunk music

[@TheDeaFiles]

Scares the "beejeezus" out of you, yah? Videos are one thing, but lyrics speaks volumes.

[@74artgrrl]

No this song wasn’t a warning of your next favorite video game. This isn’t your top 10 movie slot. People are dying throughout the globe.

[@SIXX2772]

Its good to see guys do research first and not be like other dumb dumbs wondering if this was a movie first!

[@jk6628]

It's badass aint it.

[@texasrepojoe6755]

Sup?

[@Luke-bt1zk]

Anyone who has love for Alice n Chains has love from me. Just subbed. Check out Mad Season Wake up. Mad Season consist of Layne Staley from Alice n Chains and Mike McCready guitarist 🎸 from Pearl Jam.

[@Estuchfe]

Lo ves que soi libre jeeee ustedes están atrapados coño

[@Estuchfe]

Es normal ellos no lo vivieron

[@daniellittle830]

Don't expect to understand in your reaction. I wasn't there that I can see how the heroes were fighting the Vietcong and their own government at the same time. It's not the first time and sadly not the last

[@you166mhz]

You are waving your arms like Pelosi when she talks ...

[@Reactionsbyalex]

I’m a New Yorker…and a child of foreign parents. We tend to talk with our hands lol. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@itchyandred4131]

Some real💩 right here🥺

[@daniellittle830]

That's a music video think about it in real life it happens everyday. I think the nation today forgot where they got your right to have their own opinion and way of life. People died to give you the right to speak your own mind. Not you personally sir but just as a whole, one nation under God, indivisible Comet with truth and justice for all

[@daniellittle830]

Probably get blocked

[@Brandi6666]

No i dont want to imagine. That was such a non american war and to lose so many young americans😡

[@sarleywinkle]

And the average age was 19.

[@daniellittle830]

Free Speech ain't free

[@daniellittle830]

You talk about rabbit hole no two songs the same no two albums the same they call that evolution and Revolution biggest rabbit hole of them all is the Beatles good luck on that talk about copyright within seven years they went from she loves you to Helter Skelter

[@fredtello]

it's a black man I'm wondering do you consider yourself to be oppressed as the left-wing media and activists

[@Soundeagle3456]

i wonder if people climbed trees just to avoid the landmines, my goodness.