During the early 90's my musical taste received an upgrade. I was mostly a classic rock kind of guy. It wasn't quite as classic then as it is now. Zeppelin, Stones, Pink Floyd, Clapton, etc. dominated my radio station and CD (do they even make those any more??) collection. Most were 20 years or so beyond their heyday. Now the DJ's playing the classic rock music are 60-yrs+. Does it boggle anyone's mind that a 70-year old could be jamming to Zeppelin this very minute?? It does me.
Anyway,
Around 1992 my future wife and her friends introduced me to the "new" music. It all started with Hunger Strike by Temple Of The Dog. It was the first exposure to Eddie Vedder and the "Grunge" era. It was a quick progression to Pearl Jam, STP, Soundgarden, Nirvana et al. Something about the music was right in my listening wheel-house. I was now officially a grunge/alt rock devotee.
One day I heard Rooster on the radio. It seemed like a time warp song. Nineties music with a Vietnam theme...it made me sit up and listen and then immediately I needed to know who that voice was. It turned out to be Layne Staley and the fantastic band Alice In Chains. (More changed than just the classic music, band names became head-scratchers at times as well.) This song was about guitarist Jerry Cantrell's father's Vietnam experience (he was the Rooster in the song). I needed to hear more from this band.
Alice In Chains produced four studio albums. My favorite was their second album Dirt. This album had no "sophomore jinx". It reached number 6 on Billboard and went 4 times platinum.The album was released in '92 and spawned 5 powerful singles from '92 to '93. I have included two of the best at the end of this post. The backstory of the album is typical of the times and the industry.
Layne's vocals and guitarist Cantrell's searing riffs and vocals were an experience to listen to. Their 1996 MTV Unplugged performance is one of the best if not THE best unplugged set ever recorded. I played this CD into the ground when it came out. I could have gone and watched them perform this live every week. At the top of this site there is a page with all the videos from the show. They are HD and if you have any fanship of this genre of music, you will not be able to stop watching until you have seen them all. At least that is what happened to me and inspired the page in the first place.
Then of course...Layne Staley died of a heroin/cocaine overdose on April 20th, 2002. The band broke up for three years and then reunited with a new lead singer. As good as Cantrell is...it's not as good as Cantrell and the mercurial Staley.
RIP Layne, you selfish bastard!
This is a great song, listen when you have time.
Down In A Hole lyrics
Bury me softly in this womb
I give this part of me for you
Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers
In her tomb...(in bloom)
Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved
See my heart I've decorated like a grave
You don't understand who they
Thought I was supposed to be
Look at me now a man
Who won't let himself be
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losin' my soul
I'd like to fly
But my wings have been so denied
Down in a hole and they've put all
The stones in their place
I've eaten the sun so my tongue
Has been burned of the taste
I have been guilty
Of kicking myself in the teeth
I will speak no more
Of my feelings beneath
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losin'' my soul
I'd like to fly
But my wings have been so denied
Bury me softly in this womb
(Oh I want to be inside of you)
I give this part of me for you
(Oh I want to be inside of you)
Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers
(Oh I want to be inside of you)
In her tomb...(in bloom)
(Oh I want to be inside)
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, losin' my soul
Down in a hole, feelin' so small
Down in a hole, out of control
I'd like to fly
But my wings have been so denied
Another great song.
Little know fact: the members of Metallica were in the audience for this show and the writing on the bassist's guitar was a reference to the fact that all of the Metallica had recently shorn their locks before making their epic monster album - Load.
C you tomorrow for D!
13 comments:
Always something new to learn on A-Z. My music knowledge has huge holes. You've filled in one. Thanks.
I like classic rock, but lean towards soft rock and jazz. That first song was pretty good. Peaked at your B post. Have fun in Belize!
Play off the Page
I'm a big fan of the grunge era music. Wish I'd worn something more appropriate to go with your theme today! Baby doll dresses with my Docs were so comfy!
Great lyrics.
Ooh, using the deliberate comma to slip in some Chains. Nice. I'm in complete agreement on their Unplugged set.
You the man, Chuck! Man in a Box was the first song I heard by Alice in Chains and I was hooked from that point on. I really do like the new line up as well.
Temple of the Dog - bet not many people remember that band.
And I'm not sure what scares me more - a seventy year old jamming to Zeppelin or the teenagers who jam now?
Ahhh, good times! When music was actually music and varied in taste. Now when I turn on the raido it's like one big version of the same song!
Oh God! You were so right! I do love your post, except that it makes me mad as hell all over again. I miss Layne so much, my heart aches. And Down In A Hole is my favorite super sad song. And I so love all the old Seattle grunge bands. I live in Seattle now and they've left quite a legacy here. AIC is the one I still listen to regularly, as does my 17 year old musician son. But I still love Chris Cornell and Soundgarden, too. Ah, the memories!! Great post!!! Awesome, awesome, awesome stuff!!
Oh you were so right, I do love your post!! But then again, it makes me so mad. I am still so heartbroken over Layne. He and Cantrell made the most perfect vocals ever. I still listen to AIC regularly, as does my 17 year-old musician son. I love all those grunge bands, especially the Seattle ones. I live in Seattle and they've left quite the legacy here. Ah, the memories! Great post! Awesome, awesome, awesome!!
Manzanita: Thanks for listening and hope you check some more of their music on my AIC page. Anytime I can broaden someone's musical horizon, I feel good.
Mary: You would probably enjoy the unplugged videos on the AIC page as well...who knows, you may get hooked like I did.
Jenn: I am glad you enjoyed the post. And comfy beats appropriate every time!
RaShelle: Glad you liked.
Nate: Brother, you are so right. Thanks for ratting out my comma!
Alex: I am honored you have time to stop by every day with all you have going on during the challenge. Man In The Box is another one of my favorites. Can't help but sing it (badly) when it I hear it. Temple Of The Dog was a collaborative effort of several musicans in a charity cause (I believe). Most teenagers don't jam now...the music is something unjammable.
Jana: Thanks for stopping by and reliving the 90's with me.
Nancy: Wow TWO comments? I am humbled. I knew since I had pre-scheduled this post and read the first comment you ever left me that you would enjoy this one. The link to the AIC history info is really a good read and sidetracked me for an hour as I was compiling my post. I was really crushed the day I heard Layne had died. Thanks again!
I got into grunge in the 90s too. I have gotten out of it a little so that I could listen to Justin Beiber but... ;) Lord no, I don't listen to Beiber unless forced.
LOVE them! After reading your posts yesterday, I had to play all I had...
Would? is a great song.
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