ROOSTER Alice In Chains Studio Multitracks (Listening Session & Analysis) Layne Staley

Free Voice Lessons: chrisliepe.com/free-your-voice/
Screaming & Distorted Vocals Course: www.mymusicalvoice.com/p/the-...
My Website: chrisliepe.com
‪@aliceinchains‬
#sing #aliceinchains #laynestaley #grunge #voicelessons
Layne's powerful yet incredibly diverse vocal delivery sits perfectly in this masterfully crafted instrumental. Layne and Jerry's blend is unlike any other vocal duo. Watch and listen as I get to go through the studio multitracks and reveal what makes this song work so well!
We look at individual band member performances, effects, and of course... The quirky and dynamic approach of Layne Staley's amazing vocals!

[@filipvlakancic1179]

One of the most unique voices ever, when he "steps" on that drive pedal in his throat, its like a raw natural power.

[@chrisliepe]

Yep, totally amazing!

[@khaitouniqe9425]

@@chrisliepe

[@khaitouniqe9425]

@@chrisliepe

[@khaitouniqe9425]

@@chrisliepe

[@khaitouniqe9425]

@@chrisliepe

[@RolloKnox]

Hearing Layne's voice isolated like that gave me serious chills... my god what a voice.

[@stephanyampolsky7187]

Please keep doing alice videos there is an endless supply of fascinating vocal techniques and production tricks

[@chrisliepe]

I love doing them! Thanks for watching!

[@RolloKnox]

Was gonna say the same thing....

[@powerstation0872]

@@chrisliepe piggybacking off this, if you like heavier, more scream-y songs/vocals, I highly recommend Avenged Sevenfold's older album called Waking The Fallen. Eternal Rest, Unholy Confessions, and I Won't See You Tonight parts 1 and 2 are my favorites. It might be hard, but if u could get multitracks for any song on this album, prepare to have your mind blown at Shadows/Rev's vocals.

[@DirtSweatGears]

Layne was one of the most incredible vocalists ever. The fact that he's slightly off pitch sometimes gives his voice helps it feel just so haunting. It's NOT what we're "supposed" to hear but in such an incredible way.

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Definitely done on purpose just for this effect too.. But for sure, absolutely love LOVE hearing these phenomenal, and in this case I believe the best singer of all time, singers and musicians having their art broken down into each little part. Pretty much what they heard putting it all together!! ❤️🙏🙏❤️🙏

[@jameskeyes5191]

Layne’s voice sounded perfectly ghoulish in a beautifully unique way, but the way he and Jerry stacked their harmonies was simply greater than the sum of its parts.

[@rome8180]

One of my favorite bands. I'm always amazed at how effortlessly Layne can sing in the higher end of his range. At the Unplugged show, he was able to easily hit these notes while 30 pounds underweight, strung out on heroin, and slumped over in a chair. His mixed voice is perfection. My only complaint with this video is I would have liked to hear more of Layne and Jerry's vocal blend. A little too much time was given to just Layne. Part of what makes them magical is their harmonies, like you mentioned up top. I think the fact that Jerry has an almost "bland" voice is a great asset when it comes to harmonizing with Layne. Two "interesting" voices might not work as well together.

[@sotiroussis]

The first time when we all heard that line ''the bullets SCREEEEAM..''

[@laurenlisieux]

RIP Layne.. the best one ever 🖤🔥

[@ISAAKKUSH]

This song has the 2nd best "Yeah!" in rock history. The 1st one is in "Love Hate Love"...

[@kater9124]

That song is about pain

[@Angel-tz6ce]

Confusion? Junkhead?

[@SHUTDOWNOfficial]

@@Angel-tz6ce Confusion is definitely up there hell yeah

[@lindsayheywood7195]

How wonderful to hear Layne's vocals isolated like this!

[@DaltPlaysGuitar]

Chris, please never stop doing these videos. This is so damn cool

[@chrisliepe]

Glad you're liking them! I don't plan on stopping any time soon!

[@nontologicalbeing]

These multitrack listenings of absolutely singular vocalists like Layne and Chris and their bands are so valuable. Being able to hear every inflection of these monumental voices feels like peeking behind the curtain and it's so great. Thank you Chris for sharing your appreciation and expertise

[@powerstation0872]

Just about every single aspect of this song is hard as all hell. It's so simple, musically. Just a minor pentatonic with a couple major thirds and devil 4ths added in. But the way its produced just makes it sound MINDBOGGLING. Easily one of the heaviest songs ever created. They really didn't hold back on any aspect of their performance or production. Such an intense song from start to finish.

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

*the fact that they could do it live and to me have their songs sound even better than in the studio truly shows their true talents ❤️🙏🙏❤️

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Easy to play, VERY hard to play WELL 🙏❤️❤️🙏 FOR REAL Brother, all these years later and I still cannot get enough.. my goodness I miss him, and them😢❤

[@josephstude5638]

man those head-voice harmonies at the beginning are spine-tingling. I love what you do with these, nerding out along with the rest of us. Thanks Chris!

[@6810]

That outtake was sensational! It was a technical, yet nuanced reading of Layne, but also a vulnerable, intimate personal performance. Thank you for your wonderful work!

[@majd8138]

The true god of grunge. My favorite vocalist, his presence was unrivaled live.

[@fb39371]

This is absolute gold for a budding vocalist

[@nickx1754]

I love these song break down videos. I'm surprised how little of "marble mouth" Layne actually implemented. Keep these vids coming, Chris. Good stuff!!

[@m4nu003]

Layne changed my life. I think Junkhead is another good example

[@ryan.1357]

Have you heard the demo version?

[@livingoneasystreet3528]

The demo version is just that much more, the backing vocals in it are fucking amazing

[@ryan.1357]

@@livingoneasystreet3528 The harmonies in the chorus are different; it's a three part for each chorus in the demo, panned left/right/center. It's mixed a lot differently, too; in the demo the low part is actually the lead. And none of his voice is doubled, which I prefer almost always when listening to Layne. Doubling has its own effect, but it's hides some of his natural vocal character. Listen to the first "well what have you got" in the demo. You can almost hear phlegm (in a good way).

[@zyzhou3060]

Layne's vocals sound even better in the demo version of this song.

[@Brandon-Lee_]

I agree %100

[@jaykeys9416]

Layne is an absolute Legend!!!

[@ManCub583]

Alice In Chains was one of the first bands to ever show me how to express myself through music/lyrics. I’ve been writing songs since 3rd grade, but a lot of them were very amateurish before listening to AIC because none of the songs had any meaning to me. My songs got significantly better throughout high school as soon as I heard AIC and learned to put my experiences into my lyrics. Now I’m on your channel so I can learn how to actually sing my songs cause I can’t sing…😂😂

[@laurawatters914]

That was totally awesome!! My favorite front men are Layne Staley and Eddie Vedder and Robert Plant, thank you so very much for sharing this awesome video 😊💓🤘✌️ BEAUTIFUL VOCALS!!

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

The fact that every single little, or big, oart sounds so incredible is amazing -- BUT, when you realize that they sounded even more amazing LIVE truly shows the true gifts, and phenomenal talent each and every single one has, of course ESP Layne, who became my favorite singer of all time the night i got to see them open up for Van Halen back in like '92 i believe.. Wish i could have gotten to the Moore theater to see Mad Season, because THAT is one of the most incredible shows i believe with every single musician being Soo on top of their gift that night.. chills just thinking about it..

[@ashcreekAER]

Am I the only one who grew up thinking a woman sang the intro? No idea it was Layne, such a versatile and unique voice Holy crap!

[@zombiana]

I read somewhere that it was Ann Wilson.

[@WyattWinters]

@@zombiana Ann sang on the demo of the song which was recorded during the sessions that spawned the Sap EP. Layne rerecorded the intro himself for Dirt

[@ohwhen7775]

I love this comment because I 100% thought it was two women singing the intro for this song until I saw the Unplugged version from '96! Color me surprised indeed!

[@jasonlamar6347]

Such a great point that the imperfections make it honest and more believable as an expression of the mood and message of the song. It serves the song.

[@TotalDESSSS]

My favourite song of all time. What a wonderful time we live in, to be able to get to hear the isolated tracks like this. Thank you for the great analysis, and I agree on everything regarding unnecessary pitch correction and vocal timbre nitpicking. It's supposed to sound like that, 'cause that's FUCKING AWESOME

[@LOSERMINDED7989]

Funny how i was practicing this song and...geez Chris you made improve sm, i sang so instantaneously i went to tears. Thank you teach! You opened my mind to new horizons. You're the best

[@chrisliepe]

So glad the approach is working for you, Chad!

[@Brian-kl1gf]

Good afternoon from New England..I was in my prime when the whole grunge thing exploded and AIC was the band for me....At that time I too was struggling with addiction problems and AIC got me thru some very dark times..I'm also a drummer and Sean Kinney was a huge influence on my playing..His tom and cymbal work is so tasty...And what can I say about Layne that hasn't already been said...Rip Layne I hope you found your Peace...

[@greydazeplays]

Layne's voice is legendary I think he is one of the best of his era thank you for the great content Chris the effort you put in is very much appreciated

[@madhatter8508]

I never noticed the flanger on the bass, sounds pretty neat and I never would have thought to use a flanger on it.

[@chrisliepe]

Right??!!

[@jvince001]

Hahaha “this is why you don’t pitch correct stuff!” You said it EXACTLY when I was thinking it

[@jeveazevedo6100]

Thank you so much for this masterpiece of work Chris! Layne is one of my biggest inspirations on vocals and since I found your channel I learned how my own voice really works and how to use it properly to sing his songs in a better and accurate way. Keep rocking hard, you're a beast!

[@chrisliepe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

Very cool brother -- recently got back to playing my guitar and singing again after over 10 years of almost no guitar work but over 20 HARDCORE years playing with numerous bands every week, but the thing that blew me away, after not really singing for a few years is how much range I lost, but in just a month I can hit the little falsetto part of nutshell again, which though I am a horrible singer the fact that I got back notes I had to sing an octave lower just a month ago I'm hitting exactly again and even holding them pretty solidly, gives me hope to get back all I've lost and maybe even get better then I was(lol, maybe 5 years of hardcore practicing on guitar 😢)

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

But yes, thanks for sharing this with us all 🙏

[@madhatter8508]

That cover is pretty cool at the end there. It reminds me of when Alice in Chains play it live with William DuVall.

[@angermanagementstudios]

Chills Chris. Literal chills. Thanks mate.

[@louisroland100]

Layne voice without instrumental in Rooster, the perfect video

[@DE_Razor_Shaving]

Amazing! 😁👍🏼

[@withmygoodeyeclosed]

Thank you Chris. Grunge music got me through boarding school, but especially "Dirt". Listening to this album through some cheap earbuds on my mp3 player just made everything better... Funny, I always imagined Layne to be "brighter" sounding during the verses but isolated he sounds a lot darker here IMO. On the topic of "the yarl", it'd be great if you could dive into some "Days Of The New" songs, Travis Meeks was insanely talented at such a young age.

[@trey2735]

Man this was an incredible breakdown! Definitely gonna have my wife watch this with me. Great job on your version at the end man!

[@aarontrejo]

One of your finest videos 🤘

[@ieatnails]

i needed this video CHRIS THANK U ONCE AGAIN 🙏🙏❤️❤️

[@han36solo]

Brilliant analysis Chris! Fascinating how he was so perfectly off pitch and the power and overall effect it had on the vocal. A million things to take from this. Devastating that most of my favs are gone, and your vids on Layne, Kurt, Chris, and Scott are wonderful thanks again!

[@afternoonbears6989]

So glad I stayed to the very end for your awesome cover!!!

[@gorilaverde]

Only amazing, thx for this video!

[@TheJD616]

Love this video. One of my all time favorite songs. You’ve just earned a subscriber!

[@Rogueorl]

LOVE how you break down these amazing songs. I get to hear things I've never heard before and I've been listening to these songs for decades. Would LOVE to see you do Gary Numan's My Name Is Ruin

[@heathd6199]

Was awesome watching/listening to you breakdown Laynes vocals!!! Thank you so much for this!!!

[@peteraustin7206]

Great analysis Chris! It’s great to hear AIC like that.

[@cookiethesnitch]

Omg wow! This is my favorite rock band. Layne's voice is just incredible.

[@patbusnello9658]

CHILLS! 😮🔥😢

[@mxlxr7]

mann, i fo'und this channel and i dont stop to watch your videos, i have learned so much, thanks from Argentina

[@dr3038]

Listening to my favorite song of all time get broken down piece by piece makes it clear why I get the chills every time I hear it. INCREDIBLE.

[@jedinuttall]

Ive already learned to sing rooster, didnt realise you had done this vid until just now. These isolated stem videos are always sick 👌👌

[@creativeheadroom]

The chorus on the voice is an Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Chorus. Dave Jerden mentioned this in an interview that Warren Huart did a few years ago.

[@kevinnistor1954]

Yo Chris idk if you realize how motivational your channel is at times. Imma stop playing it safe, thanks man 🤟

[@catsockstudio]

Again, great video. Videos like these have given me a new appreciation for some of those over-played songs of the 90's/early 2000. It's as if I have new ears on!

[@chrisliepe]

Nice!

[@runningwildttv3648]

Finally some more Layne Stuff💪

[@ohwhen7775]

Great video Chris, really enjoyed the breakdown of his sheer ability. Was a tad surprised you didn't go into his note choice and ornamentation of how he sings melodies (actually you did mention the sliding towards the end) but I guess it was more about the various vocal techniques he employed of which you presented a really elaborate showcase. Listening to the tracks here in isolation reveals more info that is not so apparent otherwise! For note choice I mean the blue notes in Layne's overall singing since, as Rick Beato has pointed out, the blues vocabulary was still a part of 90's rock as a whole. Nutshell another great example of this. When he either slides from the natural 4th up to the b5 in the verses or starts on the b5 in the chorus of Rooster, so tastefully done. Man even the amount of things going on at the 19:41 run, I love the subtle wholetone slide from Eb to F at the end of that run, he loves sliding between notes like that and when he drags them out it's not only more intense but the thought to just do that shows incredible maturity in my opinion, just great musical variance and intuition. This is surely related to why experienced players of instruments tell practicing musicians to sing along when they play, it's to get more "lyrical" or melodic phrasing into your vocabulary in order to sound more meaningful. One aspect of Layne Staley's voice I love similar to early Robert Plant, is their inherent quality of tone and intensity of their voice when they scream, they both have this natural distortion as you call it which they were so lucky to just have as part of their signature, Whole Lotta Love being a Plant example, "YOU NEED", and perhaps on Dazed & Confused too, blanking out on other Led Zep examples but you get me. Other singers could definitely scream but I feel like Layne's inherent voice takes the cake maybe even over Plant for sheer intensity, and over any other 90's rock vocalist. One only has to listen to "Would", sublime. And I love your point on Layne's use of yarling, it was merely just another tool for him, as I like the way Eddie Vedder does it in Jeremy and Alive. Even Jeff Buckley would sometimes yarl and I feel like that wasn't as prominent in his style as others but would make it work for sure. Rooster is in my opinion the best and most mature track they ever made next to Would as a very close second. Hearing that F Mixolydian chord and Jerry Cantrell's foresight to blast that chord voicing through distortion for that Chorus is an experience in itself. Hats off to the entire band for that one.

[@janelleroseway1576]

Omg! Layne’s voice…smh! So unique and chilling.

[@jamescurt4]

Hell ya thank you for this

[@chrisliepe]

You're welcome!

[@bellatyler7376]

I was just listening to Mad Season & AIC!! 🙂 I came across Mad Season playing in NY RKCNDY and I was like why have I not ever seen this... wait...what? 🙂🙃 Hee hee...AIC Dirt 30 is so clear, crisp, flawless...not sure how to explain the feeling of sound I hear...Beauty...Unplugged captured me with Nutshell and the perfect start of Layne's voice as soon as he sat down. I have been connected ever since...eternally magical!! Oh yeah, thank you Chris, for sharing all the cool music techniques and info you are so privileged to share with us...love love love the sound of AIC!! Yeah that bass is awesome!!

[@Dboyer1971]

Well done. The word you used around 16:00, “subtlety”, perfectly describes AiC, to me. Been discovering those subtleties for over 30 years. ✌🏼👍🏼

[@Loddyshaw]

That was a trip.

[@NoelWesley]

I was talking about this song to an non AIC fan on Saturday night. Wow. Listening to the isolated tracks is like I'm rediscovering the song.

[@aholder4471]

Well I haven't looked yet but this mix has all the hallmarks of an Andy Wallace mix. The chorused bass, the white noise sample gated by the snare that sounds like a reverb tail but isn't. It wouldn't surprise me if he mixed it because I swear he mixed everything that I loved in the 90s and that is not an exaggeration. I mean Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Rage against the machine, Incubus I think, uhm, seriously go look up his engineering credits. It's crazy. It's also crazy that he used the same snare sample (always underneath the real snare as a tail, like a reverb instead of a sample replacement thing) and also the same chorused bass which is an old effects unit dialed to a specific preset, that is the same everytime. Hey if it works, don't fix it.

[@powerstation0872]

Also, I swear that the vocals in this multitrack are a different take than the ones in the final mix.

[@TheAlexLamberty]

Subbed. Immediately- because of the Singlecut on your wall with the soapbar P90’s 😍 whew. Great video 👍🏻

[@chrisliepe]

Thanks for the sub!

[@duzie22]

I have some of your courses Chris 👍 Thanks so much for putting this content out there for all of us to enjoy and work with !

[@chrisliepe]

My pleasure! Thanks for engaging in my courses too!

[@duzie22]

The “ Discover your Voice “ course alone has so much useful content . It’s become a staple to use during my morning commute.

[@chrisliepe]

@@duzie22 That's great to hear!!

[@danielhayes6975]

It seems that his singing was extremely loud naturally. Or is that production? Very cool!

[@bryanh8630]

I started working for Dave Jerden just after this record. First time I saw Dave he was sitting on the couch doing drum edits and telling Bryan Carlstrom where to cut the tape etc…I actually threw away a giant box of 2” tape that was all the excess drum edits and takes…if anyone wants to know anything I can at least fill you in a bit…and since I’m now a psychotherapist that could include a bit more than just what guitars were used haha

[@chrisliepe]

O WOW!!! That is SO cool!! Did you have any contact with Layne at all?

[@bryanh8630]

@@chrisliepe no …during an offspring record they came in over the weekend to demo some things out but I was at a church retreat all weekend…really sad but there was a pic one of the guys took w layne…hunched over…couldn’t walk without a cane…no teeth…looked really bad…you know his accountant was responsible for finding him dead…it had been two weeks and he hadn’t used his credit card…the guy thought that was weird…someone finally went to hiss house and he had been dead for 2 weeks…unfortunately he didn’t treat people very well …as a therpist I understand why and it’s all around really sad…ps I’m working through your paid course! Thanks man!

[@chrisliepe]

@@bryanh8630 ya... sad sad story :( What a tragedy. It is neat that you had the experience you did though! Fun that you're going through the course too!

[@jessehutchings]

11:50 Exactly, dude. It was all the post grunge radio rock bands that totally overdid it and often with absolutely egregious technique. If you listen to Layne's casual talking voice you can hear it there, too. It's just his natural voice and I wouldn't be surprised if someone, maybe a vocal coach, told him to utilize that because it's his true voice

[@JohnnyRawks]

This is awesome. I'm rehearsing this song to do live. It was requested by a buddy. The yarl is definitely there. It's all over Layne's vocal. My take on it is this.... rather than try to defend it or down play it, embrace and celebrate it! The fact that people will parody it and make fun of it should simply be dismissed out of hand. Too bad for them if they view it negatively. Maybe they should sell several million albums first before they sit back and judge? I give their collective critique zero credence, and so should you :) Cheers Chris, and thanks!

[@jimijames27]

Ha ha ha, the zipper case full of cd's. Yep, that took me back. I remember spinning this album for days.

[@kkrsnn5632]

Oh shiiiiiiii..... This is gold content 😎

[@chrisliepe]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamiegunn]

Awesome!! Great insight once again on dynamic vocal placement and moving the resonance. I must see. Thank you Chris for equipping singers with a wealth of tools and knowledge to be expressive and unique. Your version of the song is amazing!!

[@alexguitarman100]

If Layne's voice was a beer i'd be in rehab within days

[@jimijames27]

Layne had a big nose. I get the feeling he found his freedom in that part of his face. His voice was distinct but I hear a huge difference between him, Cornell, Vedar, Cobain and the like. All those guys sound vastly different to each other.

[@Timothy_Jacob]

After hearing that little cover at the end, your voice actually sounds almost exactly like their new singer, William Duvall. Just saw them live last month.

[@chrisliepe]

Thats an amazing compliment! Thank you so much!

[@Timothy_Jacob]

@@chrisliepe You're very welcome

[@gwildor]

I too needed to change my pants Chris.. This is amazing.

[@Mithrandier]

Love this. Please do Say Hello 2 Heaven 🙏🙏

[@jedinuttall]

Its also super fun watching someone as passionate as i am about music, analyise songs i have too. Makes me feel like less of a weirdo😂😂

[@Brezzy350]

I just found out about this song a few days ago. What a coincidence

[@casey10bb]

Layne sings the 'demo' of Rooster more crisp and better than even this version, and this version is exceptional especially when hearing it with your break down. Great great Video, one of the best.

[@chickenlickin3820]

Yeaahhhhhh Snuff that Rooooooooster!

[@HellYeahThrillerQ]

Not once did feel that your amazement at this or that was out of place. 😅 I love it all equally. Haha. Ahh ahh. I’m just so happy to listen to someone as into AiC and every aspect of them as I am.

[@pitpride1220]

I would love to hear the harmonies and leads in Frogs, Again, Rotten Apple, Rain When I Die, Them Bones, Sunshine and Junkhead. Excellent explanation Chris!

[@mrspgp]

Chris you have a great voice! easy for even the best singers to feel inferior compared to Layne but you are talented as well sir. also it's super interesting to listen to a vocalist use their voice as an actual instrument as it is, which I feel like Layne did that to a masterful level and I know I've said this in countless vids of yours lol but yet again, Layne Staley is my favorite vocalist any genre, year or otherwise

[@cameronw9377]

Layne's a badass dude

[@ttestates1]

The chorus on Lane's voice was a TC Electronic 1210

[@CodyBridge]

i definitely notice a few of the lines on the main vocal track arent what was used on the final version, especially noticable on the "gloria sent me pictures of my boy" line, this one is more open, distorted and monotone than the final take used

[@audiobunny1767]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@samvimes5124]

My cat's looking really confused now, Chris. ;)

[@judes_music]

almost boy-bandish hahahahahaha, the shade... I love your enthusiasm xxx

[@soybajo-kira8585]

I’d be cool if you could do this for their song Voices if you’re able

[@MrLogo1002]

can you do one of these about from the ground by hollywood undead? specifically, the parts where J-Dog are screaming "its a red night, and i dont see any light and then a flatline, im fucking ready to die"

[@terryjohnston3333]

You definitely have a William Duvall tone song good mate 👍

[@geirbyre]

Dirt is a masterpiece!❤ Enjoing this isolated tracks videos, Chris! How do you get those tracks?

[@cantrellayne]

Thank you for this video. AiC is my favourite band. Can you talk more about the chemistry between Cantrell & Staley? Thanks. Please, do an analysis on Incubus's Brandon Boyd.

[@chrisliepe]

Ya, I've got some Incubus coming! :)

[@mtaylorknowles]

Great video! Maybe one day you could do Angry Chair??

[@chrisliepe]

OHHH another amazing song!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

We need to hop on a collab soon!

[@chrisliepe]

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