Heroin Addicts Make Some Kickass Tunes.... Just Ask Alice in Chains.

[Chemical_Boy]

So Alice in Chains is absolutely the shit IMHO. I absolutely love the group and have since I was like twelve. They just kick ass. They might just be my favorite band ever....

I recently got a hold of some Jerry Cantrell discs. I gotta say I love those. I am listening to one right now. I knew somehow that he was the one primarily responsible for the awesome style and sound of AinC. These discs seem, to confirm that for me.

Don't get me wrong- Layne Stayle was an incredible artist and definitely a primary influence on the band. But Jerry is the man....

Oh well, Later....

[SHELLEY]

em, saying that heroin addicts make kickass tunes
is like saying that heroin addicts are thieves
two seperate groups of people, just happen to overlap occasionally, doesn't make them one and the same
i mean, listen to kurt cobains whining shitfest :p

[Oakleyskier]

have you heard of mad season bro? you'd probably digg them.

[blackman]

AIC is the shit. well...the old AIC is the shit. this new stuff is just god awful. Jerry is a woderful artist but layne was the sound of that band. Jerry may have came up with the music, but layne gave it emotion. the new dude in the band just isn't layne and that's why they shouldn't be called AIC.

It's funny though, most junkies seem to fancy layne more than Jerry. you are a fine exception chemboy.

yea oakleyskier, mad season is awesome.

[mikey5string]

ryan adams!

[shisha]

Mad season is the shit. I seem to recall that flea played french horn on one of their songs.

[Chemical_Boy]

em, saying that heroin addicts make kickass tunes
is like saying that heroin addicts are thieves
two seperate groups of people, just happen to overlap occasionally, doesn't make them one and the same
i mean, listen to kurt cobains whining shitfest :p

I hear ya. I should clarify since yer being all technical and stuff ;)

Just cuz someone is on dope don't mean they will be a good musician.

But there ius something specific that seems to be related to heroin use with regards to the grunge bands from Seattle in the 1990s. You can here it in their voices.... A nasally quality that seems only to happen to the junky bands, and for them only when they are actively using.

For example, Stone Temple Pilots had this quality with their album Core. The drugs seemed to affect his voice, or maybe affect him in such a way that he changed his voice a bit. Either way the tone seems to have a certyain quality that is related (IMO) to the heroin. It seems too, that the actively using bands had what was to me a darker and more emotional quality to their music that really appealled to me. This seemed to go away when they got clean, and came back when they got dirty again.

I noticed similar tonal qualities with AinC, Pearl Jam, STP, and Soundgarden. I am sure there are others, but these are "big" bands that everyone seems to know.

I can say that I believe this quality that I am thinking of is a direct result of the dope use.

So, you are correct in that using heroin doesn't mean a band will be good (I am sure in a lot of cases, it destroys the band or bandmembers). But what I really meant is there is something about the heroin use specifically that seems to lend itself to a very kickass and unique sound.

Thanks for being so touchy:cool:.... Just kidding:D:D I can truly appreciate the rhetorical value of what you are saying!

[harryhood2001]

I have had times where I was obsessed with Layne Staley. I loved him so much, cuz I could feel his pain, because it was my pain. I have always had this melencholy disposition, that just seems to go hand in hand with heroin. It is truly the only time Im happy. Alice in Chains was wonderful, especially the "Unplugged", it was there first time together in 3 years, and you could tell Layne was very high, as Im sure he would of had to be just to make it through the performance. He wore sunglasses for the first 3 songs until he screwed the beginning of the 4th song, then he took off his sunglasses, and his eyes were pinned and red as hell, and during the times he wasnt singing he was almost nodding. Who cares it was spectacular performance. THen there is MAD SEASON... Sometimes I love to listen to that CD and just feel all the pain Layne was dealing with, however I cant listen to that CD and not go fix. The first song on the album is like him talking to himself saying, "wake up young man,its time to wake up, your love affair has got to go...For ten long years the leaves we rake up...SLOW SUICIDE"S NO WAY TO GO". Gets me everytime he is speaking to himself. Then there is the song River of Deceipt where he says, "my pain is self chosen, or at least I believe it to be". Then the last song Were All Alone, it is haunting, and sad. Im sorry to ramble but when i saw this post I had to chime in cuz Layne Staley is the perfect example of a perfectly healthy man, mentally and physically, until heroin got its unforgiving hooks into him. I can just SO feel his spirit sometimes, when Im a little dope sick and already emotionaly, and listen to Mad Season and think about how he had everything, and CHOSE to live a heroin adiicted recluse. I say chose, thats not nessesarily the case. Im sure he didnt want to be a junky, but think about it after all of his songs and the self degredating, melencholy music, he was the posterboy for tortured soul musical artist heroin addict, I mean really he had to die the way he did. It was just seemed like the natural next step. I just wish that some of us dont have to feel, as alot of us just cant handle there feelings. RIP Layne you know I love you

[Citricburn]

listen to kurt cobains whining shitfest :p


how the fuck can someone who listens to death metal and,....ahem skrewdriver say that?

[blackman]

^^^^^^^^^+1! HONESTLY!

[duck]

I like your avatar blackman, what's it from?

[dharma bum]

ryan adams!

I love summer of '69. Haven't heard much from him since that obscene robin hood movie. No really, Ryan Adams is really, really talented. English Girls Approximately, Come Pick Me Up, and my favorite.....Political Scientists. And he puts out more shit than 'lil Wayne.

@Oakley Skier, Mad Season was like Layne's best work to me..mostly about his addiction and coming to terms with it, like "Wake Up" "Long Gone Day" I never get sick of....nothing worse when you mention Mad Season and somebody says,"Oh! That mathcbox 20 album it fucking rocks. Rob Thomas is so edgy."

AIC though, have a place in my heart. Though I see and hear tons of bands that blow them away now, it doesn't matter, AIC was the soundtrack to my youth...

Edit: That avatar is from the funniest,ballsiest movie ever made. Could NOT be made in todays PC world.

[blackman]

I like your avatar blackman, what's it from?



Thanks, duck! Much appreciated. It's from a scene in Blazing Saddles where all the racist white folks point their guns at the newly appointed black sheriff. If you havn't seen this movie duck, YOU MUST! It's a cult classic and is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Highly, highly recommended.

[duck]

Ahhhhh I thought I recognized it....don't know how I forgot that, I used to love that movie.

[GOLD N DIEMONDS]

Thanks, duck! Much appreciated. It's from a scene in Blazing Saddles where all the racist white folks point their guns at the newly appointed black sheriff. If you havn't seen this movie duck, YOU MUST! It's a cult classic and is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Highly, highly recommended.

+1
BLAZING SADDLES

An olden golden
Is that not the one with scene of huge dude (football star?) punches a horse and knocks horse out and down for the count?

:D

[blackman]

+1
BLAZING SADDLES

An olden golden
Is that not the one with scene of huge dude (football star?) punches a horse and knocks horse out and down for the count?

:D



I do believe it is. I'm not sure who the dude was or if he was famous or not, but he did knock the fuck out of that horse!

[Uncle Wiggly]

It was Alex Karras. (sp) He played Mongo. Mel Brooks has made some of the funniest movies imo. Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Producers (I think), The History of the World Part I, A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum. and of course now my mind has went blankly blank.

I've got Young Frankenstein on DVD and no matter how many times I see it I still get big belly-laughs out of it.

[Thanat0s]

em, saying that heroin addicts make kickass tunes
is like saying that heroin addicts are thieves
two seperate groups of people, just happen to overlap occasionally, doesn't make them one and the same
i mean, listen to kurt cobains whining shitfest :p

damn girl, this is like the first time ive ever really really not been in some agreement, 'whining shitfest?'
what?!
i mean maybe some whining sometimes but its was the fucking nth wave of punkrock and the kids(and adults) finally bought it. even MTV.

breaks my heart shelley. dang.

[GOLD N DIEMONDS]

It was Alex Karras.
YES ME MAN!!!!!


AND YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN -GREAT!

FAVORITE SCENE IS WITH IGOR
DR F. TO IGOR- "I AM A DOCTOR, A SURGEON, I CAM REMOVE THAT HUMP "(from back)
IGOR - " HUMP - WHAT HUMP?"


:D

[Thanat0s]

and punk rock is fucking punk fucking heroin rock since day fucking one and do not ever forget that.

puts the cool in heroin and heroin puts the cool in rock music,

fucking facts.

[GOLD N DIEMONDS]

damn girl, this is like the first time ive ever really really not been in some agreement, 'whining shitfest?'
what?!

breaks my heart shelley. dang.

WORD +1
COBAIN WAS POETRY IN MOTION

not his fault He was made into what he NEVER what to be.
poured out his heart blood and true soul

why da ya think he killed himself
DRUGS/HEROIN
NOT!!!!!



:(

[Thanat0s]

heroin jazz as well...
authors,

dope is the fucking muse. classic.

[OpiateQueen]

I like James Taylor - he was a smackie for decades wasnt he?? Pretty certain he not anymore...

And u guys talkin of 'summerof 69' isn't that Bryan Adams, not Ryan Adams?? or am i missing some joke?? not unusual for me... i've never even heard of Ryan Adams..:confused:

[Dhedmo]

Thanks, duck! Much appreciated. It's from a scene in Blazing Saddles where all the racist white folks point their guns at the newly appointed black sheriff. If you havn't seen this movie duck, YOU MUST! It's a cult classic and is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Highly, highly recommended.
The late, great Cleavon Little. Died of colon cancer in 92. I often thought of him as opportunities expanded for black actors since his death, wishing he'd had a chance to be a part of the scene.

He beat out Richard Pryor for the role of Sheriff Bart in BS; Pryor co-wrote the movie with Mel Brooks, and intended to play the part himself, but the WB was nervous, and Little got the part. (He acted with Richard in a movie called Greased Lightning.)

I don't know if he did heroin or composed music, though.
:rolleyes:

[mac]

and punk rock is fucking punk fucking heroin rock since day fucking one and do not ever forget that.

puts the cool in heroin and heroin puts the cool in rock music,

fucking facts.

I second that. Much of the music that I listen to was composed by musicians who used heroin at one point or another. Nirvana, Alice in Chains, The Velvet Underground, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, The Rolling Stones, Sublime, The Sex Pistols and many others all had one or more band members who used heroin. Even John Lennon went through a short period of heroin addiction (listen to the song "Cold Turkey").

Junk has had an indelible and undeniable influence on music throughout the years. No junk, no soul - right?:git:

[cactus31]

+1 for Blazing Saddles - that's one of my all-time faves. Good stuff, for sure :)


I caught "Alice in Chains" in the title of this thread and it got my attention. Ever since I heard "Check My Brain" from the new 'Chains CD on the radio, it's been like falling in love with them all over again...

...but not so much with the new CD or 'the new guy', but with AIC as a whole - all over again. They're a band that's always deeply resonated with me since I first heard them...I don't remember how old I was, but I was a teenager. Their sound, their lyrics, the harmony between Jerry and Layne...For me, it's just as amazing still to this day, just as much as it ever was.

I truly love this band, and they're in my personal top 3.

By the way, I wanted to add that unlike some people I've talked to, etc: I seriously do like the new guy, William DuVall. Shit, we all know that nobody can ever replace Layne, but I give this dude hella props for 1). Having the balls to try and fill Layne's shoes. 2). Harmonizing with Jerry the way he does. and 3). Working as hard as he has with AIC...most of you will have to admit the new CD is pretty fucking awesome!

I've always liked AIC's first few CDs the best...I just hopped on YouTube and found "Hate To Feel", and listened to it three times in a row.

Well, I saw the title and thought I'd come in here and add my two cents...I'm always happy to talk to other AIC fans too.

RIP, Layne :(

[mac]

+1 for Blazing Saddles - that's one of my all-time faves. Good stuff, for sure :)


I caught "Alice in Chains" in the title of this thread and it got my attention. Ever since I heard "Check My Brain" from the new 'Chains CD on the radio, it's been like falling in love with them all over again...

...but not so much with the new CD or 'the new guy', but with AIC as a whole - all over again. They're a band that's always deeply resonated with me since I first heard them...I don't remember how old I was, but I was a teenager. Their sound, their lyrics, the harmony between Jerry and Layne...For me, it's just as amazing still to this day, just as much as it ever was.

I truly love this band, and they're in my personal top 3.

By the way, I wanted to add that unlike some people I've talked to, etc: I seriously do like the new guy, William DuVall. Shit, we all know that nobody can ever replace Layne, but I give this dude hella props for 1). Having the balls to try and fill Layne's shoes. 2). Harmonizing with Jerry the way he does. and 3). Working as hard as he has with AIC...most of you will have to admit the new CD is pretty fucking awesome!

I've always liked AIC's first few CDs the best...I just hopped on YouTube and found "Hate To Feel", and listened to it three times in a row.

Well, I saw the title and thought I'd come in here and add my two cents...I'm always happy to talk to other AIC fans too.

RIP, Layne :(

I agree, you can't replace Layne but the new stuff is still good. Jerry Cantrell can sing, too, ever hear the song "Heaven Beside You?" It's a great song written and sang by Jerry, one of my favorites.

[justonefix]

All this talk about Alice In Chains, I had to go throw SAP in...


What a great fucking EP and BIG contrast with Facelift

[Citricburn]

ha blazing saddles is a classic,

"Do we spare the women and children?

No we rape the shit out of em' haha

[mikey5string]

I like James Taylor - he was a smackie for decades wasnt he?? Pretty certain he not anymore...

And u guys talkin of 'summerof 69' isn't that Bryan Adams, not Ryan Adams?? or am i missing some joke?? not unusual for me... i've never even heard of Ryan Adams..:confused:


no, its RYAN Adams. i can remember a time when i thought people meant Bryan Adams, and i couldnt figure out what all the fuss was about. then i was set straight. heard i think "oh my sweet caroline" first and was hooked. this guy is a phenomenal songwriter. im not going to say too much about it, you can listen for yourself. id recommend these tunes...

Oh My Sweet Caroline
Answering Bell
Chin Up, Cheer Up
English Girls Approximately
Come Pick Me Up <----this is a GREAT fucking song. but theyre all good. so you cant really go wrong.

you could prob read about his drug use online somewhere. he was/is a real deal junky.

dating mandy moore though. cant quite understand that. doesnt seem like his type but the man can do little wrong in my book so fuck it.

[Uncle Wiggly]

"The Summer of 69" ~ BRYAN ADAMS! Google it

[mikey5string]

"The Summer of 69" ~ BRYAN ADAMS! Google it


i know that tune is BRIAN Adams but i was talking about RYAN Adams in my original post. he is infinitely cooler. and a junky. and a phenomenal songwriter.

i confused them at first too.

although i can fondly getting to second base to that BRIAN Adams song from the movie robin hood w kevin costner in my friends walk in closet. it was so exciting to touch the boobies. even OVER the bra!!

that was brain adams right? "everything i do, i do it for you"
now i dont know if he was talking about dope here but i dont think so.



i HIGHLY recommend Ryan Adams to ANYONE. check out the tunes i listed on itunes!

[dharma bum]

I love summer of '69. Haven't heard much from him since that obscene robin hood movie. No really, Ryan Adams is really, really talented. English Girls Approximately, Come Pick Me Up, and my favorite.....Political Scientists. And he puts out more shit than 'lil Wayne.

.

Yes. I made a bad joke. I did not mean to cause any confusion.

[BlueMajick]

Sooo i'm pretty sure i saw Alice in Chains with Tommy Lee guest drumming for them (opening for a band) when i was younger and had no clue who they were :o

No that tommy ever got big into heroin like nikki sixx but... another one... and... ya jealous?

[The_Highwayman]

I love AIC and even though Layne was the lead singer Jerry really was the creative force in the band...usually the lead singer is the creative force as in Nirvana and Sublime, but JErry is in AIC and he is an awesome writer, singer and guitarist...

As for heroin addicts and kick ass tunes go there is a book called Touched With Fire, and it is a study looking at the correlation of bipolar disorder and artisitc merit..al thouhg bipolar disoder does not lead to heroin addiction or even addiction, or that addicts have bipolar disorder, it is safe to say that most addicts do some suffer from type of mental illness to some degree