Professional Singer Vocal ANALYSIS of Alice In Chains | "Love, Hate, Love (Live)"

[@PeterBarber]

Really enjoyed checking out the most recommended performance of Layne and Alice In Chains! What's your favorite part of this live show?

[@LostandFoundonNorden]

Bleed the Freak from this same show and also the live performance of It Aint Like That from the Singles movie set.

[@casey10bb]

Song, 'Real Thing', from this same show is great- shows Layne's different techniques, and 'Bleed the Freak' from this show, but the whole show is great. Thing is, Layne is very versatile. Take the song Rooster, BUT listen to the raw 'demo' version and hear what he does. Layne also has a beautiful soft quality displayed in his background on 'Heaven beside you', and the song, 'Am I inside'. THIS is why Layne's voice is amazing.

[@stephaniegeer1691]

My favorite part of his vocals in this performance is his SOUL…his raw EMOTION & deep passion for the twisted lyrics…his scream encompasses it all.🎶❤️✌🏻

[@Snoopdog333333]

Pretty sure Layne truncated his vowels because he was very anti-establishment everything LOL

[@skarlottt]

I love how he is so good at breath control.

[@jasonhernandez4838]

This dude literally predicted the epic climax based on the beginning vocal. Thats worth a subscription.

[@PeterBarber]

I appreciate you

[@StayinInMyLayne]

Wow . .. Was not my reply worthy of a comment 😮

[@scozier2539]

Yea he must be psychic, or maybe he listened to the song before hand. Ever think of that

[@MsSmurk]

Thanks for reacting to this epic performance! Hard to believe Layne was only 23 years of age when he sang here.

[@skarlottt]

So young

[@PeterBarber]

That's wild

[@imstnn]

Bro, he was my age I can't believe it 💔

[@marijaj.8644]

Every time i need to remeber that he was kid. That's so unique

[@coolhands431]

There will never be another Layne Staley. I am so thankful that I was privileged to grow up when AIC was around.

[@mot0rhe4d40]

We never knew how good we had it.

[@jamesbermingham7259]

Exactly. Until this HORRIBLE music of today was imposed on us. Lol

[@meghanelizondo774]

​@@jamesbermingham7259There's no one like Layne as a vocalist, but there are some new independent artists out there doing unique music (ie Ren). Give 'em some love.

[@jamesbermingham7259]

@meghanelizondo774 absolutely. I will

[@grimzal214]

Chris Cornell once said that even though all these bands were from the same grunge movement unless someone told you, you wouldn't know they were in the same movement because they all sounded different with different styles and what not

[@grimzal214]

So looking at one grunge band will never get you ready for what to expect from another grunge band

[@casey10bb]

yeah, I recall Layne said it in an interview how all the Seattle bands supported each other and there was no competition between them they sounded so different from one another.

[@cecelia1350]

Chris was right!

[@SisterNunya]

All my heroes are dead now. I still can’t listen to Chris Cornell not there yet

[@Astrophobia88]

@@SisterNunya Cantrel still kicking dude! Layne will be missed but Cantrel was Alice in Chains and still is!

[@MommaOsoIrish67]

Layne had an almost ethereal ability to instantly haunt a person's soul connecting every emotion. He made you FEEL the lyrics so deeply. Check out the MTV live of Down in a hole. Ugh. And, for me, Dont Follow is something to experience... an almost painful regret, but attempting to be disguised as a loving goodbye... So sad to lose another amazing artist too soon.

[@skarlottt]

That was so beautiful. He was still so great and I'm glad he's being recognized as a vocalist. Jerry is underrated!

[@PeterBarber]

100%

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Don't follow is another one of my favorite songs of all time!!

[@jamesonsanders3558]

This was Layne in his prime before heroin. This live performance is much better than the album version. One of the best live performances ever in my opinion.

[@evapierce1090]

I agree. Layne was better live. Very few artist can claim that.

[@rjcoady21]

I legit didn't even make the connection it was the same person 😮

[@tracyrichards6545]

I'm 61 and AIC has been my fav band since well forever 💔💔❤️❤️

[@jeanneuitto2415]

I'm 69 and I'm right there with you!

[@tracyrichards6545]

@@jeanneuitto2415 💌🇨🇦

[@janetfedeles3964]

I am 68 and with you guys, too! This vocal analysis explains Layn'e's awesome abilities in ways I never knew. He was the best ever.

[@RJ-qo6qj]

Me too and I'm old as well, lol.

[@kx4tee]

I'm 18 and aic are and will be my fav band forever 🤩

[@bucmon9845]

On this live show "Bleed the Freak" is another favorite of mine.

[@mikehansen5356]

The whole concert is out of this world definitely Layne at his best

[@alicaveltman3021]

It's mine too. ❤

[@fubar1217]

Definitely another great song from this show!

[@terriblackburn8766]

Mine too!

[@azja6666]

My all time favorite!

[@sugeygumdrops4679]

Barrett Martin said you could hear Layne over the monitors/speakers in live performances. Ann Wilson said his vocals came out of his body. He could cut through a steel wall.

[@thefirst9500]

Mark Lanegan said something similar (sang with Layne on the Mad Season record). He was asked about grunge singers (can't remember the question), he said Chris Cornell had the best technique but with Layne, he could hear the sound coming out of him. He said that while smiling like wow, it was really something.

[@janetfedeles3964]

Wow! I believe it! Whatxa great way to describe his talent. Must have been awesome to see him live.

[@charreed8727]

​@@thefirst9500Mark Lanagen's last book included his relationship with Layne. Gives you an insight into the depths of his addiction.

[@jenniferriggs1900]

​@charreed8727 I recently bought that book, but feel like I need to be in a better mental state to read it. Layne + Mark on that Mad Season album was magic. I wish that attempt to save Layne had worked. I think after that, everyone knew he was basically a dead man walking. 😢

[@janetfedeles3964]

@jennferriggs1900. Yes, so wished Layne could have been saved. His addiction to heroin was the worst I have ever seen in its effects on one's body. I am sure I just didn't see others but seeing Layne at the end made ne so sad.

[@Kappowski]

Man, Jerry had the best rock hair. Let it fly dude!!

[@AceAnnie1-7]

Absolutely! ❤

[@vegan.atheist.weirdo]

He did, and Mike Starr was right there with him, often in tandem. Sean's hair was just as great but you don't see as much headbanging going on behind the drum kit. This is why Layne once joked that they were a hair band -- "That's rock: good hair. [...] We've got the best hair."

[@loloholmes2793]

I guess... if you're into stringy greasy hair. Mike Starr on the other hand, now that was a beautiful mane of hair! Mike's hair was better than Jerry's all day long. Mike had epic 90s hair!!

[@adammcneelam]

"I live for you, but I'm not alive" awesome lyric.

[@longextinct]

“I wanna peel the skin from your face Before the real you lay to waste” Hearing to that for the first time was something else. Layne is such a unique lyricist

[@davidcross2341]

Those are some great words

[@shilohivy4590]

There will never be another. Rest easy to a real legend

[@libratdns1]

Layne's voice was said to be so powerful that not only did it emanate from his mouth but it also came out of his chest. This is one of the very best live vocal performances you could possibly ever find for grunge. This is AIC magic.

[@dasninjastix]

What I love most about this performance are the handoffs between Layne and Jerry between voice and guitar. You can hear it most distinctly after Jerry's solo when they both slide back and forth passing to each other. Brilliant musicians and songwriters. There will never be another Layne, his voice and legacy lives on in our hearts. 🤘

[@Dan.R.A]

Beautiful message my friend 🤘

[@timgrim4677]

I get chills every time I hear this performance... RIP Layne.

[@Snoopdog333333]

They say you don't hear Layne your FEEL him

[@heatherwade2373]

And that’s the truth.

[@KennethHewlette]

I feel him in every song .He inspired me in the music I make

[@bridgettecoffey1083]

No this isn’t a good example of grunge… it IS the example. ❤ RIP Layne

[@heatheral-hammadi3046]

This is THE example!!

[@clivesteveandpaul]

Phenomenal songwriting and singer. RIP Layne

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

The phenomenal level of natural talent Layne had, pulling incredibly sweet harmonies iff the top of his head and with the most incredible accuracy and power is truly hard to believe - and I really doubt anyone could oull it off as good as he could!!

[@Caldyman]

I think this is indeed one the premiere performances of Grunge in a live setting. Along with the MTV Unplugged of Pearl Jam (Black), Nirvana (Where Did You Sleep Last Night) and Alice in Chains (Nutshell).

[@srt8rocketship241]

Call it what you want , Alice In Chains is just a damn great Rock and roll band.

[@d4mdcykey]

Layne was a true force of nature, when that dude let loose the gravity of earth shifted.

[@Snoopdog333333]

Favorite part is when he turns his back to the audience and belts out the final sustained notes then Jerry enters the frame. What an absolute perfect moment in time.

[@jaron91]

No, this not a great example of the genre. This is a unicorn.

[@businesscatlimbo]

Only other vocalist in the genre that could keep up would be Chris Cornell. Eddie Vedder and Scott Weiland are great vocalists in their own right, but Layne and Chris were unique.

[@PeterBarber]

Okay

[@Thelius42]

Mark llanigan could give them a run for their money but in different ways

[@alicetwain]

​@@Thelius42 Lanegan sang in a completely different style. He didn't have the power of Layne Staley or the agility and variety of Chris Cornell, he had an incredible raspy voice, but he often sang at a much lower volume. One could ear Lanegan and Staley together in Mad Season's Long Gone Day (which is a very jazzy song and they are very comfortable with it).

[@Thelius42]

@@alicetwain On his first solo album he had a couple duets with Cobain too. Yes very different style but equally good in its own way. If you like whiskey soaked baritone there were none better

[@Sjudit84]

I have heard this song a million times and have seen this performance already a ton too...and still...with earphones in...the goosebumps... Even when I first heard him sing in 2003 (that is when I first heard their music, already too late by then too), I knew he was special, but since then whenever I hear professionals analyze his singing, I mean why the hell was this guy such a one time talent? Mind blown! And regarding how slow sometimes AIC-s songs are, I actually really loved it back then bcs it just dragged you down with them to a place, I never felt it from any other band like that, and I'm sure the slowness of the songs for sure aided in that.

[@danabomb100]

I’ve asked that question before….who he gives that ‘nod’ to…..whoever was on the other end of it has a very special moment to have embedded in their memory! The GOAT recognizing you during one of the most iconic performances in AIC history :)

[@Monklentine]

I thought I remembered seeing Layne's girlfriend Demri by the front of the stage that night.

[@RobbieFitzgerald]

Werent Temple of the Dog there too? Maybe it was one of them.

[@matthewgoodA1206]

I’ve long felt Layne was an underrated singer, partly due to the uniqueness of his voice, and that the original Alice In Chains had too much darkness in their sound for most people. Not for me, though. They could also get heavier than a lot of people wanted from rock. So much that many fans still consider them more metal than anything. Grunge-metal, if such a thing exists. Labels aside, I would consider this one of the most epic tunes that was written during that era.

[@lisadez]

A.I.C. had the 1st top ten hit for a grunge band. Layne is arguably the best singer not only in grunge but in all of Rock music. He had a soul stirring vocal like nothing I've ever felt. ❤ me some Layne xx

[@tiawarren5403]

Perfect grunge by the GOAT vocalist❤❤❤❤rip Layne we sooo miss you!!!

[@Lailer10]

Chills. Everytime i see AIC and Mad Seasons live at the Moore performances and AIC unplugged.

[@jasonpickett2448]

He changes the "vocal color" to mimic the sound of human whaling and heaving.. he had a gift for arrangement. But that could also be part of the "vowel shifting".

[@cjonesufc]

Jerry Cantrell is one of my all time favorite guitar players. They opened for Van Halen early in their career and King Edward himself said in an interview that he went out to watch Jerry play every night they played together. Also, I still think Facelift is their best album. Every single song is incredible and the guitar and vocal performances are among the best ever recorded. In my opinion, of course.

[@kikivon3501]

Fun fact, some groups of people from Washington state will use the “R” sound in odd places. It’s usually associated with the lower socioeconomic classes, my family being in that group. Layne is from Kirkland Washington, which is a higher socioeconomic area, but Layne’s family was poor. For example they would say, “ I’m going to waRsh the car” maybe it’s just part of the local Washington vernacular?

[@usedguitarstring]

Fantastic vid from f one of the best vocals in lanes career (IMO). I’m a vocalist and guitar player in a pro band. We often shift vowels and consonants to either back up our vocal, or add another dimension to the experience for our fans. Works every time when it’s pulled off by pros.

[@kimathomenow1]

I can watch Layne all day, but I watched you waiting for your reaction. I was thinking, "dude, you don't even know what's coming in this song." Just an amazing powerful song, sung by a powerful singer. ❤️❤️❤️

[@cygnuspmc]

It is a good example of grunge, although AIC was considered a little less "mainstream" than Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. I Stay Away is another classic that goes over his range pretty well. Other great analysis of Grunge, particularly if you are interested in the history of it would be to check out Mother Love Bone - the untimely death of Andrew Wood led the band to break up, which formed Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Andrew Wood probably had more influence on grunge than any other individual. Chris Cornell never really recovered from his loss.

[@micahdevynn3967]

I saw an interview after Layne's death in which Chris Cornell reflected on being at Andrew Wood's wake. He said there were these heavy footsteps coming down the hall, and then Layne Staley burst threw the door in an absolutely frantic state, completely disheveled. He said Layne broke down right there in front of everyone, and no one really knew what to do about it, so no one did anything. Chris said that Layne looked like he really needed a hug, but they didn't know each other super well at the time, so he just stood there watching, and then the moment was gone. After Layne's death, Chris Cornell said he knows it most likely wouldn't have changed anything, but he really wished he had given Layne a hug that day. It was a really tight knit circle up there, and what happened to one affected them all.

[@moaigaming4133]

The type of vocal "style" Layne used, with those Rs in the vowels, is known in grunge as "yarling" Cornell, Weiland, and others have used that little color. Another awesome song by AIC you should check out is called Sunshine. The harmonies and note choices are amazing and you won't be disappointed.

[@brianstrong6931]

Gotta do bleed the freak from live at the Moore or Man in the Box

[@peacepupppy]

I don't know if it is considered proper grunge, but I do know that this was an iconic performance by them. I love it!!! Wooohooo.

[@randywissler9923]

I honestly never thought of AIC as grunge. More like a slower metal.

[@יונתןירקוני]

It is definitely considered Grunge cause Grunge is a cultural scene of 90s Seattle more than a type of music, which it is too. The origins of Grunge are punk and heavy metal, so that's why AIC and Nirvana count as the same genre

[@detectivekornfed]

​​@@יונתןירקוניbut the term grunge music was made up by the music media. Jerry Cantrell has consistently referred to AIC as rock / metal. To my knowledge, AIC, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc., didn't care for the contrived term for a conjured, alleged musical category, of which they themselves did not identify.

[@MattyIce-te4hs]

For me and whomever else wants to share it I suppose, my opinion is that grunge is descriptive of a shift in music culture. What began with Guns & Roses was anti-glam. Alice was a dirtier style of glam rock early on and previous to the We Die Young EP that preceded Facelift. The term grunge is really just everything that isn’t glam(orous). So based in part on the buzz around their live performances and the shift in the industry and finally “Man in the Box” hit well after its release and they went into the studio for Facelift and the term grunge would come into the media about a year later when Smells Like Teen Spirit killed an almost dead or on life support Glam Rock wave that permeated the ‘80s emphasis on perm. Grunge isn’t pretty, grunge isn’t clean, grunge doesn’t wear makeup, grunge uses drugs to excess, grunge isn’t about Girls Girls Girls it’s about the pain of losing Andy to heroin, it’s about the brooding rainy climate of Seattle and needing to wear flannels and boots because of the damn rain (when I die), if the industry is glam then it’s everything glam isn’t. Grunge isn’t airbrushed and grunge doesn’t wear leather or makeup. Grunge lives in Seattle so no convertibles. If Baywatch is glam then Oz is grunge. Pal Anderson was glam and Courtney Love was grunge😂 the music itself had a mood and that was grunge not whether it was blues rock or punk or metal etc…

[@DJMAERZ]

Someone has probably already said it but this entire concert is an absolute must listen. It's only around 30 minutes long.

[@baruckobungoo8225]

The "R" that you were talking about around 5:15 is something that Layne does in a lot of Alice songs... It always makes me think of how Paul McCartney sometimes used that technique

[@carmenheer67]

No, it's an exceptional song by AIC that showcases Laynes vocal abilities. It's not an example of that era because no other bands have anything that sound even remotely close to this song . Layne is the goat and that is the best live performance of all time. 😘😎

[@brettgregoire418]

You get it! "Sweet little Angel" You an feel the emotion and power building.

[@Kaya97899]

Layne was something really special he had unique amazing voice and he had so much power in his voice before drugs took over him… RIP angry angel… i recomend you Mad Season -wake up live , its so powerful there Layne is absolutely stunning he wrote that song about his adiction… and its so sad

[@Skybolt211]

Hey Peter, awesome reaction, loved the breakdown. One thing you didn't mention is how Layne bent the pitches on so many of those held notes... all on purpose of course to make it more jarring and discordent.

[@casey10bb]

...and Layne's super great breath control - he displays it all the time but can see at 3:23 how he goes right into the next verse without having to take a breath.

[@PeterBarber]

For sure!

[@joycekunzelman7435]

The entire Moore Theatre concert was amazing. Actually, any of the live performances you can find are incredible - they never let their audience down. An aside: "Drugs took him". Such a simple description of what happened to him. He dabbled for a few years, recreational, as so many young people and musicians do. Then he discovered heroin and fell in its thrall in the early 90's. He was in and out of rehab but always relapsed. He performed less and less after 1995 and rarely seen after 1998. It took another 4 years before he died. He was singing and dying for a decade.

[@KyleS.1987]

Great analysis! I would say this performance is a great example of one kind of grunge music. Alice in Chains and Soundgarden were more rooted in hard rock and metal. Nirvana had more of a punk thing going. But it's all grunge.

[@tamibrandt]

LOVE HATE LOVE live at the Moore December 22, 1990, is LAYNE STALEY in his prime and UNTOUCHABLE PERFECTION. All other bands should strive to have a live performance this perfect. Layne is better live than studio version. One of the very few singers who are better live. The entire Live at the Moore concert from December 22, 1990 was turned into a live vinyl album and VHS called Live Facelift. It cost about 75.00USD last I checked. The VHS has live concert footage from December 22, 1990 of: MAN IN THE BOX, REAL THING, LOVE HATE LOVE, SEA OF SORROW, BLEED THE FREAK, bonus footage of IT AIN'T LIKE THAT live and official videos for WE DIE YOUNG, MAN IN THE BOX and SEA OF SORROW. Jerry Cantrell is the guitar player. He's a certified Riff Lord. He respects any musician who KNOWS their instrument. Layne wrote the song about his tumultuous relationship with Demri Parrott (pronounced Per-roh). There was cheating on both sides. Listen to the song from the mindset of a sociopath. How many times did Layne come back home from being on tour to find another guy just so smitten-puppy love-tattoo-you-on-my-chest in love with Demri at first sight. But the Demri fans think Layne should have lain down and taken that because he deserved it for screwing groupies on the road? There a few stories of her on the road with him where the first thing she thought of was scoring junk before anything else. I've come to the conclusion that apparently to Demri fans the Layne/Demri relationship is a sacred, hollowed relationship and NO ONE is allowed to side with him against her for what she did to him with the drugs and cheating on him, but he was lower than a snake for what he did to her with the drugs and cheating on her. She was so independent, she DID NOT even want to be recognized as his girlfriend (God-forbid that ever happen). Even though the second he told her he wouldn't get her any more drugs, she just turned around and shacked up with the next guy who would do what she wanted. Her family called Layne back home from GERMANY where he was on tour for a damn intervention with her. Layne never thought interventions worked, but he did it for her. There was one instance where Layne sent her out for coke or something, and she came back with heroin. Hell, it wasn't like Demri was headed for a life in a convent when she met Layne and on the day she was to take her holy orders, Layne corrupted her. She already knew how to get drugs when they met. Layne could have wished upon a star a million times over that she would have married him, but she wasn't going to give up the drugs any more than Layne would have, so there was no way in hell she was marrying him. She had such a feminist independent streak. When they were making the SEA OF SORROW video, the girlfriends were all invited down to participate in the video. Every girlfriend showed up EXCEPT Demri. She didn't even show up to support him let alone be in the video. Discussing the title track "DIRT", Cantrell stated that "the words Layne put to it were so heavy, I've never given him something and not thought it was gonna be the most bad-assed thing I was going to hear." Staley said he wrote the song "to a certain person (Demri) who basically buried my ass". In an interview with the Canadian magazine M.E.A.T. in December 1992, Layne Staley said about the Dirt album cover: "This album cover... I like to refer to it as "revenge". The woman on the album cover is kinda the portrayal of that person being sucked down into the dirt (laughs), instead of me. The picture is the spitting image of her, and that wasn't even planned. Actually, I was pretty angry about it when I first saw it - she's not happy about it either (laughs). It was real eerie. The girl on the album cover is really Mariah O'Brien NOT Demri. She had two heart surgeries that Layne paid for and two lung surgeries (that Layne also paid for) all stemming from endocarditis that she contracted through intravenous drug use. She passed away on October 28, 1996, from a bacterial infection that was a complication from the last overdose she had. Even though they had broken up for good by 1994, he still loved her and she was still hanging around in 1995 and 1996 before she hooked up with someone else a few months before her death. Demri’s death devastated Layne. A few months later, Layne asked her mother for the teddy bear Demri had with her in the hospital and a few other things. It took another few weeks and an accidental meeting on a busy street to exchange the items. The consensus was that Layne never got over Demri’s death. He used her death as the catalyst to go into a drug-induced tailspin in which he would take his addiction to lengths few could imagine or sustain. (This is coming from a Layne fan who was NEVER a fan of Demri and the many times she strung him along)

[@isgrimner]

Ok, there is one of my personal "Mt. Rushmore" of vocalist in Layne Stayley. Two of the others on my list that I want to see you review; Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) and Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave, solo). For Maynard, check out the Salival version of Pushit. For Chris, most may tell you his cover of Nothing Compares to You. I would like to maybe see Call Me a Dog or Fourth of July (he sings it as a duet with himself in two of his ranges). Maybe do some Mike Patton (Faith No More)too, I believe he actually does sing opera as well.

[@MommaOsoIrish67]

Yes! And the longer, live version of Pushit! I think it's the 13th track.

[@jenniferriggs1900]

Yes! Layne and Maynard are my two favorite vocalists. I hope Peter dives into Maynard's work (I'm new to this channel so now I'll go search and see if he's done any Tool videos before).

[@erikjalefors9377]

The Vowel thing was called Yarling , and there is a severe lack of it in the world these days ❤ check out Layne singing Wake Up with Mad Season , live at the Moore

[@glisanjohn358]

the reason grunge is great is because every song on every album sounds different.You have heaviness and beautiful melody along with great lyrics.Love every members contribution in this band.Jerry's riffs just grab you and don't let go and then you have Layne's voice which is mesmerizing!

[@theMenace985]

He goes even crazier with the distortion on Junkhead live. Would be great to see you react to some of his harshest vocals.

[@grantwing4942]

I dont think anyone else could hold those notes like Layne Staley did. We lost a legend.

[@stephaniegeer1691]

Oh thank you sooo MUCH for this breakdown!! It’s a favorite of mine.Ive had the fortune of seeing AIC in concert in the early 90’s with Layne…they were great, but Laynes vocals were INCREDIBLE despite him being pretty intoxicated,lol. Man I miss that guy!!RIP Layne.🎶❤️✌🏻

[@Adrian101882]

Awesome! Which concert did you get to see AIC at back in the day?

[@mrspgp]

I've said this a bunch before but his mom did an interview after he passed and she described his voice as razor blades wrapped in marshmallows, I think that's perfect description. he has been on my Mt Rushmore for vocals since I 1st heard them in 1991 🥰he still gives me goosebumps in places I didn't know I had lol🥰 RIP 😇my fave

[@antoniop4914]

That was the best analysis ive seen on this. Great video, very interesting

[@markivancic706]

Absolutely perfect, amazing

[@JackForest-x7q]

Layne is AMAZING!!!!!. The harmony between him n Jerry is SO unique. The has NEVER been anything like it....EVER!!

[@MultiKamil97]

What a coincidence. When I was driving today, Man In The Box was on the radio and I liked it so much that I googled it and found out it's a song by Alice In Chains. Now I'm crazy about this song 😅

[@ruthless964]

Welcome Sir 👍🏻

[@Sunshineandhydrangeas]

Their Dirt album is a must listen if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it.

[@MultiKamil97]

@@Sunshineandhydrangeas I'll check that one out! It's been some time since I listened to a whole album of any band.

[@kevincoady5248]

Feeeeeeed myyyy Eyyyyyeess!

[@jasondean88888]

I'm curious how ending up on an Alice in Chains song....after Googling an Alice in Chains song...is a coincidence.

[@brampritchard3308]

As a retired grunger - who either opened for or watched from the side of the stage at the onset of all these amazing happenings - truly my favorite analysis of Layne and his supporting cast! Great stuff, PB!!

[@numberonepun6969]

Layne and Chris Cornell had the same vocal coach David Kyle who also coached Anne Wilson from Heart among many others.

[@sianne3866]

Jerry Cantrell said Layne only took one lesson.

[@trickedouttech321]

The difference between Layne and all modern singers he did not use Autotune or pitch correction EVER, when you saw him live it was his voice. I checked 30 top songs today everyone was either autotuned or pitch corrected, In fact, I just KZbinr singers all pitch corrected. This is why people today are falling in love with 90s music, it's very human and soulful and not robotic sounding.

[@ShininDays]

i'd love to hear you do a vocal analysis on Chris Cornell's performance of beyond the wheel in germany from 1990

[@DeannThomas-le2ut]

I saw them in concert right before they took off and NO ONE in grudge has ever impressed me like Layne. He was 100% the best.

[@moonylovesmusic]

tell us moore please😮

[@teddyt314]

I'm glad you picked up on that crowd interaction. Most don't. Everyone thinks because his singing is so on point here that he is in a down mood he is not. The man is having a great time. Prefotmance=gud

[@kimathomenow1]

Love love love AIC, Layne and band. This song is absolutely amazing. My heart felt everything. Thanks for covering this song.

[@tonyvrell2378]

This is the most incredible live performance ever! The epitome of the era

[@Eileen_in_Vegas]

Loved this R&A. Great analysis of the voice!

[@paulyf3]

This is an amazing song and Layne was amazing

[@drock55551]

Alice In Chains in their Prime was a force to be reckoned with. The whole band is amazing, but Layne was at a whole other level when it came to vocalists.

[@lilautist2755]

Agreed in particular the entire Live at the Moore show is one of the greatest musical performances ever on this earth in my very biased opinion 😃

[@metalmellie4371]

Bleed the Freak, same show please!!!!! It's as amazing but in many different ways!!!

[@johanngrunholz6412]

11:05 his band members said you could hear Layne perfectly fine over their amplified instrument during practising sessions even if he wasn't using a mic

[@douglasgonzalez7561]

I’ve always considered AIC as a Metal band with grunge elements.

[@ES-zl9py]

Like acid bath

[@danielfriend3977]

I was there and the whole show was amazing one of the greatest live shows i have even seen

[@StayinInMyLayne]

Peter!!! Your analysis is fantastic!! I will never understand how all the people who analyze this song...don't listen to it in it's entirety before stopping every 5 seconds to analyze every note!!!!! .Enjoy it!! Let it sink into your bones and then analyze ....Thank you😊

[@dissonancy9762]

I don't love being quite old, but I can say I saw Layne Staley and Mark Lanegan perform on the same night, Screaming Trees opening for Alice in Chains. At least one of the band members had to run off to vomit at some point (it was at a Dutch venue, apparently he couldn't handle the weed), but it was legendary. Mark Lanegan was one of those grunge/rock singers who did have a low voice.

[@leddygee1896]

I don't love being quite old either...

[@truther4life]

AIC in my opinion THE best grunge band!! Hands down!!! The Dirt album along with Jar Of Flies are 🔥🔥🔥

[@genebingle1754]

Ya I’ve never heard anything like Jar Of Flies

[@Pollydoling]

Love hate love is a perfect example for grunge. It is off their first album in 90 or 91. Right before Nirvana came out with their first album

[@Kranktus]

Chris Cornell uses a lot of R's too. You definitely should check out Temple of the Dog (Say Hello 2 Heaven) Live at Moore Theater 1990

[@terriblackburn8766]

They both had the same vocal coach

[@ttidforever7416]

Layne had this amazing ability that all the great singers have despite genre to recognize the essence of what they were trying to convey be it lyrically or musically and have it transform you for those few minutes! As far as this being an Iconic grunge track, there are so many of those, but this performance is an all-timer!! Check out Chris Cornell for a singer who not only could hit those caterwauling highs, but incredible lows vocally as well. Phenomenal content Peter!!!

[@thebomb78]

Legend of our music. Gone waaay too soon. 🤘🏻

[@deltamoins]

Good analysis of the vowels changing pronounciation to express feelings and emotion. I listen a lot to 90's grunge and rock and they indeed do it a lot.

[@IndustrialFaith]

Facelift is amazing, regardless of what track you listen to. Pure magic. o7

[@Brimstone3]

AIC was really kind of their own thing, even though they were one of the big 3 or 4 (biggest names in grunge), but most grunge leaned more towards punk or....pop/adult alternative, whatever that is, and AIC leaned more towards the rock/metal side of it, soaked in originality and art. to me anyhow.

[@ronsuper100]

Great analysis of Layne's beautiful and haunting voice. Layne was the King of the "YEAAAAHH"!!! I see Alice in Chains as more hard rock with a pinch of grunge.

[@wolfgangfalcore]

This is one of my favorite vocal performances of all time. Vedder unplugged singing Black is another one. Layne just hits me a certain way I can’t explain, like Plant live on since I’ve been loving you, or Freddy Mercury at live aid. Just one of the special ones, in my personal top 5….

[@MontanaFree]

This is the epitome of the proper live grunge song! Intense perfection.

[@lindachaney5092]

When AIC came on the scene me and my husband played them constantly, our kids grew up singing their songs..and still remember in their 30's. Come back to listen now and then all these years later❤

[@lyutprok]

Vowel transformations FTW! :D Layne ran circles around the other "top grunge singers" of this era. He just did not get appreciated as much as Cornell or Eddie Vedder in the media, they were more interested in reporting on Layne's addictions. Fact is, the dude had his technique down to the tee and I never understood how could Kurt Cobain not have been ripped to shreds for being a crappy singer and an addict but Layne did get dragged. really sad. Oh and maybe some insight, they hung more around metal festivals/crowds and they got quickly fed up with the "grunge" stigma on them, so they pushed their sound more and more towards metal than their peers as time went on. Imo when one thinks of the grunge scene it's more along the lines of the Pearl Jam/Nirvana sound. But it's a blurry line.. most of them weren't even alike, they were just from around Seattle lol It's sad, they were a part of the "big Seattle four" but never got enough credits from the scene even tho they were the first of them to sign a record deal. You know, when you see bootleg footage here on yt of their 90's shows it was always filmed with a potato, however you can still clearly hear him blasting through the PA and crappy cam footage. Always a treat! He was an angel and is missed! ❤ Thank you for your work and I'll put my request here again for Man in the Box before ppl come with the Unplugged shannanigans (hihi)

[@bryanjacobsen5005]

Small correction: Whether you are talking independent label releases, or major label signings and releases, Soundgarden predated Alice in Chains.

[@lyutprok]

@@bryanjacobsen5005 no! I was talking about major label (I should've specified) AIC signed with Columbia/Sony in mid '89 and Soundgarden got A&M a while later (still '89 tho)

[@bryanjacobsen5005]

@mkxv1 Every source I see has Soundgarden signing with A&M first. Since Louder Than Love came out in early September of '89, that means they had to have signed at the very least several months before that. Alice in Chains didn't release their EP (not a full album) We Die Young until July of 1990, and were rushed into the studio to record Facelift for release in late August on '90 based on the success of the song We Die Young. The internet and the dates indicate Soundgarden signed first. We are splitting hairs at this point though. Both great bands, both signed early.

[@ruthless964]

Agree, Layne pisses over Kurt can’t sing Cobain. The 🐐

[@THE_GOP_]

Cobain could sing his technique was just really bad

[@tracyjones-trj]

sorry for swearing but they/he is FUCKING AWESOME. GOAT., WHAT A VOICE XXX

[@jeremykeasbey4145]

I saw a lot of comments mentioning yarl singing to explain the 'R-' sound being used, but there isn't alot of info on there on the how and why behind it. Figured I'd put my 2 cents in if anyone's interested in the technical side. This is an overly simple explanation, but the purpose is pretty similar to the 'O-' embouchure of operatic singing with a few major differences. Both help bridge the vocal break between chest & falsetto. 'O-' helps produce a sound that's wide, pure, and generally chest heavy with minimal distortion. 'R-' helps produce a sound that's narrow, airy, and generally more nasal so distortion can be added more easily. Yarling sacrifices the resonance and fullness common in operatic singing in favor of freedom to manipulate the jaw for enunciation. That's also one of the reasons you see fry/growl mixed in; to widen the wave profile without compromising the enunciation.

[@chrispyy606060606]

His power in this performance was incredible, even crazier when you consider how young he was here. (22?)

[@lucyhightree1520]

I don't think his turning his vowels is about anything except his own expression and his intent to imprint the deepest of human feeling inside us

[@patrickwade757]

rip Layne . this band got me through high school

[@sy-lg4ok]

Mr Barber nods his head, purses his lips, scrunches his face into the ' grrrr' face like a natural metal/heavy/rock guy ! Love watching the ' head nods' , the 'DJ bounce' of ....'music enthusiasts! ' (lol) 🤘😁

[@pivovinorakija]

Great reaction... Definitely subscribed 🥰 13:00 - Great observation 🙂

[@9Nitengale]

My favorite part of this is that I was at this show! All these seattle grunge artists have some similarities because they were all such close friends. (Except maybe Nirvana). They practiced in the same practice rooms, they partied at the same house parties and bars... My spouse was a good friend of Layne's in particular... he has many a story about them sitting at the bar, getting hammered, making weird noises with their faces and mouths.

[@EnnameMori]

I always took that vowel morphing in grunge and industrial as a playfulness around what sounds could be made. Distorting the vowels and how that interacts with belting/grit/screams to make textures.

[@lindachaney5092]

Best example of "proper grunge"❤❤RIP Layne