Original lead singer Layne Staley was born Layne Rutherford Staley on August 22, 1967 in Kirkland, Washington. His parents divorced when he was seven, and he grew up with his mother. He began using drugs at an early age, and by the time he was in high school, he was addicted to heroin. Despite his drug use, he was a talented musician and began playing in bands in the Seattle area.
In 1987, Staley met guitarist Jerry Cantrell, who was also struggling with drug addiction. The two of them formed Alice in Chains, and the band quickly gained a following in the Seattle music scene. Their debut album, "Facelift," was released in 1990 and was a commercial success. The band's second album, "Dirt," was released in 1992 and was even more successful, reaching number one on the Billboard charts.
Staley's drug addiction continued to spiral out of control, and he began to miss concerts and recording sessions. In 1996, he was hospitalized after a drug overdose, and the band was forced to cancel their tour. In April 2002, Staley was found dead in his Seattle apartment from an overdose of heroin and cocaine. He was just 34 years old.
Staley was a talented musician and songwriter, and his death was a great loss to the music world. He is considered one of the greatest vocalists of his generation, and his influence can be heard in the work of many other bands.