Tag Archives: layne staley
It’s Over Now…
It seems odd to celebrate someone’s “death day.” Given my love of Layne Staley and his music, it would seem more appropriate to celebrate his birthday. But I can’t help thinking of Layne’s personal struggle with drugs not only every April 5, but almost every time I hear his music. And I would likely have my “Grunge” card revoked if I didn’t also mention Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, whose suicide ironically occurred on this same day, eight years before, also after a struggle with heroin, which he claimed to have tried in order to help cope with a painful stomach condition. (It is interesting to note that in both cases, the musicians’s bodies were not discovered immediately after their deaths, so the date of their death was determined by medical professionals.)
“We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time…If I can’t be my own, I’d feel better dead”
“Chaos and hate shadow me, pain it fills me up…Only one thing makes me feel, missing better half of me.”
*related: https://alienredqueen.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/in-chains-music-and-drug-addiction/
Kurt Donald Cobain~ 2/20/1967-4/5/1994
Layne Thomas Staley~ 8/22/1967- 4/5/2002
Rest In Peace, Plutarch
I love all the people slinging shit around Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death. Yes, he was a junkie! Yes, he had small children that needed him. But I all these people judging him like, “He should have just stayed clean…” (really?) are just showing how ignorant they are about the struggle of addiction.
I read in an article recently that, when asked how bad his problem was, he claimed he knew he would die soon if he couldn’t get clean. He tried to get clean, going to AA and rehab more than once. He actually remained cleaned for quite a while, a stretch of (I think) around 20 years. And he clearly was no longer using for the “fun of it.” He was suffering with his addiction, and his story, right up to his “death prediction,” reminds me once again of Layne Staley– another brilliant artist who suffered and lost his battle with addiction.
So I wish people would stop being so damn high and mighty, especially about things I’m betting most of them have never battled themselves. At the very least, if they have nothing “nice” to say, they should just refrain from commenting at all.
The air must be really nice up on that high horse. ~smh
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee
Layne Thomas Staley (August 22, 1967 – April 5, 2002)
Every article I see is dope this, junkie that, whiskey this – that ain’t my title. ~Layne Staley
Remember the music, remember the man. Hope you’ve found peace, Layne.
Hey There, Sugar
In researching and preparing for an upcoming article on the anniversary of Layne Staley’s death, I came across this tribute website, and then found THIS little nugget of “wisdom.” Continue reading
In Chains: music and drug addiction
In the wake of yet another music icon lost to a suspected drug overdose (Whitney Houston), I’d like to say a few words. There’s no way I can pay tribute to all of the great musicians, actors, comedians, and entertainers that have had a tremendous influence or personal impacts on our lives and have been lost to drug and alcohol abuse. Also, celebrities aside, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that probably almost anyone that reads this has known someone who they lost to either drug overdose or complications from past drug use. I know I have…several.
Another reason I’m not going to mention all of the artists lost over the years is because frankly (and I know this may be an extremely unpopular opinion/statement) I don’t really identify with or care about all of them. This is not to say that I feel that anyone should overdose and die on drugs, but they did not all have the same effect on my life. The two people I will mention here today struck a chord with me in particular and this is why…
alienredqueen 