On April 5, 2002, Layne Staley, the haunting voice of ALICE IN CHAINS, was found dead in his Seattle apartment at the age of 34 from a speedball overdose. His body had lain undiscovered for approximately two weeks. Staley's death marked the tragic end of one of heavy music's most distinctive and emotionally powerful vocalists. His ability to convey anguish, addiction, and despair through his voice made ALICE IN CHAINS' music — albums like 'Dirt,' 'Facelift,' and the 'Jar of Flies' EP — among the most viscerally honest in all of rock. The harmonic interplay between Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell created one of the most iconic vocal partnerships in music history. Staley had been largely reclusive since 1996, consumed by the very demons he sang about so powerfully. His loss remains one of metal's deepest wounds.
