Remembering Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley
This past Saturday, April 5, marked a sorrow day for many folks.
If some of you don’t recall, it was the day that Kurt Cobain (in 1994) and Layne Staley (in 2002) left this world.
I always wonder what Kurt would have done following Nirvana; cause it seemed like the band was going to break up at some point (Dave was working on future Foo material for example). I’ve read that Kurt was going to lean towards a solo acoustic career, which have been amazing, if you don’t believe me then recall the band’s Unplugged performance.
Although some people say that Nirvana was overrated, I think it would be naive of them to deny their influence and impact. I always see Nirvana as the catapult for the 90’s alternative scene. Yes, I am well aware that many bands were around before them, but their mainstream success opened up the musical horizon for a lot of people.
Layne Staley, unfortunately, seemed doomed for years. After the death of his girlfriend, he was apparently just waiting for death. From what I’ve read, he was a recluse that didn’t mind being left alone doing whatever he did. If you check out his final interviews you can picture how grim things were for him.
His work with Alice in Chains was phenomenal. AIC was just an amazingly talented, and at times underrated, band. Their music was dark and heavy, and Staley’s unique vocals made their music that much more intense.
On a brighter note, April 5 also just happens to be the birthday of one Mike McCready, who was Staley’s bandmate in Mad Season (which I think is a bit weird).
Anyways, happy birthday Mike!
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POSTED IN: Alice in Chains, Nirvana
7 opinions for Remembering Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley
Scott
May 14, 2008 at 9:47 pm
wow. I never knew Layne died on the same day as Cobain. I remember when they announced Kurt’s death I was in my car about to go to work after school and at the time I was in this “Metal rules and all other music sucks!” phase. Plus I was tired of the Nirvana hysteria. Grunge was so friggin huge at the time and I was sick of it. Anyway, when they said that he killed himself I remember saying to myself “Never saw that coming” in a sarcastic tone to myself, shut off the car and went to work totally unphased that it had happened because I really wasn’t surprised. Sometime later I became a fan of Nirvana again and I’m one of those firm believers that he was murdered. I wonder as well where Nirvana would have gone had he not died.
acostill
May 14, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I think he was murdered too, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he actually did it. I remember the day it happened. A friend called me and told me and I thought she was joking until I turned on MTV. I loved Nirvana and was really upset. The day that I found out about Layne was the morning after I saw STP and I thought “wow Scott is lucky”.
Jennifer
May 14, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I think Nirvana was a wee bit overrated; but that said, I also think the unplugged album was one of the best 10 albums of the 90s hands down. I listened to it so much I’ve gone through, I think three copies. Really. It’s such a great mix of music.
I also didn’t know that Layne died on the same day - weird. That death was worse than Kurt I think. But I love AIC and Mad Season so… I remember being pretty upset back then.
Scott
May 15, 2008 at 11:22 am
I don’t mean to get off subject here but if you want me to get on over rated bands I would first start with the beatles and then work my way up to the beatie boys. Both bands great in their own right, but over rated.
Oh and another note, Kurt and I share a birthday.
acostill
May 15, 2008 at 11:32 am
In retrospect, Nirvana was overrated. They were the weakest of the Seattle area bands, but they struck a nerve with a lot of people, like myself. No one can argue the impact that they had.
Scott, I’m pretty certain that Nirvana would have broken up and Kurt would have done a solo acoustic thing, since Unplugged opened up that door. I say certain cause I think he said this in some final interviews. Also kind of cool that you share a birthday with Kurt.
Jen, Kurt hit me harder cause I was a huge Nirvana when it happened and it was so sudden. I love AIC too, but I think with Layne most fans were just waiting for not if, but when. I also wore my copy of Unplugged, my family HATES Nirvana cause of that album.
Scott
May 15, 2008 at 10:54 pm
That would have been great if he had done his own thing acoustically. My unplugged cd is long gone but somehow I still have the entire thing on my computer. I like From The Muddy Banks Of Whiskah. In fact looking in my media player I have a lot of Nirvana but only two cds. Never did get ambitious enough to pick up that box set. I listened to unplugged today at work and like the movie Forrest Gump…it never gets old.
christopher
Jul 24, 2008 at 5:11 am
I was really amazed of the the NIRVANA Unplugged concert, I thought that Kurt was sick that night and the setting was weird just like a November mood.
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