Layne Staley: Get Born Again by Adriana Rubio
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Book Reviews of Layne Staley: Get Born Again
Book Review: The tragic story of a rock star's fall from grace
Summary: 4 Stars
Alice In Chains was one of the premier hard rock alternative bands of the last three decades. But lead singer Layne Staley couldn't handle many of the pressures that were associated with being a huge star on display to the world. He died an early and tragic death of an accidental overdose of heroin and crak in 2002.
Author Adriana Rubio, who also wrote Jim Morrison Ceremony, offers homage to Staley in Get Born Again, a book filled with interviews with family members, drawings and lyrics Layne did himself, his own words before he died, and photos of Layne as he grew up and became a rock singer frought with addiction and dysfunction. Rubio gets deep into the music and lyrics of Staley, interpreting his pain and struggle to find some groundedness in the world, even as the trappings of musical stardom continuously shook him loose.
There are letters and interviews with Layne's sister and mother, and some of his own comments to the author before his death, but a lot of the story of his life comes out in the images he drew, the lyrics he wrote, and the little things his family remembered about him that captured the depth of his pain.
This is ultimately a story of a tragic death due to drug addiction. Though the author at times seems a bit too much of a reverent fan, her passion for music and the artists who make the music comes through. She, like the reader, is seeking answers to the same questions and even when those answers aren't so clear and concise, she wonders along with us at the tragic outcome. When her journalistic objectivity does lean towards personal interpretation of events, we forgive her because we know she feels her subject's pain, because she is a fan. It makes for insightful reading.
Staley was a shining star for a short while, and his star still shines in the music he left behind, but this book serves as a warning that there will never be any solace or comfort to be found in drugs, no matter how much suffering is present. Rubio understands that, and she understands those who suffer and submit nonetheless.
Marie D. Jones, book reviewer, [..]
Book Review: My opinion
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book before it got the new name and cover, and i don't know why people are being negative. I don't see any of you going out and trying to find out who Layne was, all your doing is complaining. Or his final interview being "dissapointing"? He wasn't well, he was barly alive and you want more from him. Layne was more than a singer, he was a normal person who had demons he wasn't able to deal with. Do you know why it was only his family that got interviewed? Because his so called "friends" were using him, why do you think he withdrew from everyone. I admire Adriana for actually trying to change peoples perception of Layne. He was a caring, kind person, who fell into addiction. So unless one of you is going to write a book and try to do better, i suggest you don't slame peoples work.Book Review: Layne Staley; Get Born Again
Summary: 4 Stars
Book arrived before they said it would, decent price -happy with Amazon. As far as the book itself goes I enjoyed reading it. It gave me some real insight into AinC & some closure as a fan. Thank You Adriana Rubio!Book Review: Life of Layne
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an excellent read on the life of "Alice in Chains" vocalist Layne Staley. Any fan will enjoy this account of his trials and triumphs.Book Review: Interesting book...
Summary: 3 Stars
Layne's message through his music is transformative. He has helped so many addicts as well as others who suffer to recover and heal themselves in a way that he himself was never able to realize. That is the true beauty and tragedy of Layne Staley.
Through the testimonies of others, mostly Layne's Mom, Nancy, and his sister Liz, we see the hardworking, talented young man who was rising to the top, thanks to his God-given talent as well as loads of hard work. Rubio includes resumés that Layne made and also even a contract that he made for when he gave drum lessons. We also see some examples of his early artwork that he did, as well as some of his later art.
One part that I found particularly intriguing was Layne's original designs for Alice in Chains' staging.
Another interesting thing about the book is that in it Layne as well as his sister talk about how Alice in Chains broke up. The band wasn't simply on hiatus. It talks about how Jerry wanted to be the main singer, and Layne refused. We hear from Liz, Layne's sister, that the record label Columbia was always more supportive of Jerry than they ever were of Layne.
It is not well-known, nor is it mentioned in the book, that Layne worked on a solo album apart from Alice in Chains and Mad Season. He mentions this in a 1996 interview he recorded. He said that he was to play all of the instruments in the recording. In the same interview, he stated that he had finished half of it. I heard later (though this may be rumor) that Sony/Columbia did not permit him to pursue this project, using their contract against him. Yet, it is well-known that Jerry was able to do two solo albums. I hope someday that whatever he did produce towards this solo album will be released. I know I am eager to hear whatever might be there, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen.
Additionally, in the interview that Layne gives in the book, he speaks honestly about the abuse he received growing up. He also states that his mother is unwilling to face the truth, nor was she (or his father) ever willing to apologize. He said that it for her, it was always someone else's fault, never her own. Yet, in interviews in the book, Nancy actually admits to things that she did, but she said she could never apologize for them. Layne clearly loved his mother, but I can personally testify to how difficult it can be to deal with someone who can't face the truth. Layne puts it best when he quotes the song "I can't remember."
Let's face it, Layne's words didn't make the other Alice in Chains members look any good either. It doesn't bode well for a band trying wishing to use the same name to point out that the founder and essentially the soul of the band left it. Instead, we are fed the story that Layne just disappeared. Believe what you want to!
So, all in all, it's not surprising that this book should receive a lot of hate. Just consider where it may be coming from.
This book is worth reading even if only for the last interview, but to focus on that would be to miss out on the other treasures that the book chronicles and documents. I learned a lot about Layne is a short time.
I only wish that there could finally be a book that catalogues more, if not all or most, of his artwork and writings from childhood to death. Maybe that would be a colossal task! But it would be a task well worth pursuing. Rubio admitted that she had to be very selective in what she chose to include.
Unfortunately for us, people like Layne are rare indeed throughout human existence. R.I.P. Layne...You are sorely missed...