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(Seattle, WA) -- Police are investigating the death of the lead singer of the grunge rock band "Alice In Chains" in his University District apartment in Seattle. Details are sketchy, but broadcast reports say Layne Staley died of a drug overdose. His body was found early Friday evening. No other details are available.

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Looks like he had been dead for days, and he lived in a boarding house neighborhood ....



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/67353_layne20.shtml


Body found in home may be that of Alice in Chains singer

Group soared with grunge movement

Saturday, April 20, 2002

By CANDACE HECKMAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A body was found Friday at the University District home of Layne Staley, the
lead singer of the seminal Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains.

Law enforcement sources said the body was Staley's, but would not give
specifics and referred all questions to police spokesmen -- who did not return
repeated calls for comment.

According to the Seattle Fire Department's dispatch log, an
aid response was called to Staley's last known address in
the 4500 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast in the
University District, a section of the city where many
boarding homes are located.

The Medical Examiner's office said late last night that they
responded to a call at Staley's address and found someone
who appeared to have been dead for several days.

They have not officially identified the person.

Staley, 34, wrote lyrics that dealt with the darkness of his struggle with heroin
abuse.

Alice in Chains debut album, "Facelift," was released in 1990 and the group
quickly rose to prominence along with other bands from the tight-knit local
music community like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden; one of Pearl
Jam's first shows was as an opening act for Alice in Chains.

In 1992, the group released their critically acclaimed album "Dirt," which
featured the hit singles "Would?" and "Rooster." The band distinguished itself
from its Seattle peers with a hard, morbid sound, and Staley's music often
touched on drugs.

According to a fan Web site, Staley was born in 1967 in Kirkland.

The first instrument he played was the drums at the age of 12. He later played
in different bands around Seattle.

At a party in 1987, Staley met Jerry Cantrell, who introduced him to Mike
Starr (bass) and Sean Kinney (drums).

They decided to start a band and Alice In Chains was born.

In a 1996 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Staley spoke of how his drug
use influenced his lyrics.

"I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by
writing about them," Staley told the magazine. "Here's how my thinking pattern
went: When I tried drugs, they were (expletive) great, and they worked for me
for years, and now they're turning against me -- and now I'm walking through
hell, and this sucks."

In the same article, he said: "I'm gonna be here for a long time. I'm scared of
death, especially death by my own hand. I'm scared of where I would go. Not
that I ever consider that, because I don't."

Staley told the magazine he did not want to be seen as a rock god or martyr.

"I saw all the suffering that Kurt Cobain went through. I didn't know him real
well, but I just saw this real vibrant person turn into a real shy, timid,
withdrawn, introverted person who could hardly get a hello out ... At the end
of the day or at the end of the party, when everyone goes home, you're stuck
with yourself."

TIMELINE

EARLY 1987 -- Alice in Chains forms in Seattle.

APRIL 1989 -- After being pursued by several record companies, the band
signs with Columbia Records.

AUGUST 1990 -- Alice in Chains' debut album, "Facelift," is released. Song
"We

Die Young" becomes top 5 metal track.

DECEMBER 1990 -- Band sells out Moore Theater in Seattle.

JANUARY 1991 -- Band nominated for American Music Award; makes
move debut playing part of sleazy bar band in Cameron Crowe's film
"Singles."

AUGUST 1991 -- Alice in Chains makes national network TV debut on
ABC.

MARCH 1992 -- Band plays Seattle host on "Entertainment Tonight" and
takes

viewers on tour of Seattle's music scene -- pool halls, rocks clubs and other

revered dens of decadence.

SEPTEMBER 1992 -- "Dirt" is released. Written entirely by the band, the
album

paves a grim descent into a private hell.

NOVEMBER 1995 -- "Alice in Chains" debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Top
200 album chart.

SEPTEMBER 1996 -- Band is nominated for best hard rock video at the
MTV Music Video Awards.

SOURCE: Alice in Chains' official Web site.

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>>Alice in Chains Lead Singer Dies

(Seattle, WA) -- After a long battle with drug abuse, "Alice in Chains" front man Lane Staley has died. According to KOMO Four News, the Seattle Fire Department confirmed Staley was found Friday afternoon in his University District home. Initial reports indicate that Staley died of a drug overdose. Police were asked to check on the singer and guitar player when friends had not heard from him. Staley was born in Kirkland in 1967 and formed "Alice in Chains" in 1987. "Alice in Chains" was one of the pioneering bands of Seattle's grunge movement in the '80s and '90s. Staley had gone to rehab for heroin abuse at least twice in his career, a battle that landed him the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine. Lane Staley was 34 years old.

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