TRIBUTES TO ALICE IN CHAINS SINGER

The stars speak of their loss after Layne Staley's body is discovered in his Seattle home...

BILLY CORGAN and TOM MORELLO are amongst the friends and family who have paid tribute to the late ALICE IN CHAINS singer, LAYNE STALEY.

As previously reported on NME.COM, the body of Staley, who was 34, was discovered at his apartment in the University district of Seattle on Friday evening (April 19). A cause of death has not been announced, although it is possible that Staley could have been dead for up to two weeks before being found.

A police spokesperson said that the likely cause of death is either natural causes or a drug overdose. He had a well-documented battle with heroin addiction, and drugs equipment were reportedly found near to his body.

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Since the announcement of his passing, friends and colleagues have been speaking of their sense of loss. The remaining members of Alice In Chains issued a joint statement to the US media.

It read: “It’s good to be with friends and family as we struggle to deal with this immense loss and try to celebrate this immense life. We are looking for all the usual things: comfort, purpose, answers, something to hold on to, a way to let him go in peace.

“Mostly, we are feeling heartbroken over the death of our beautiful friend. He was a sweet man with a keen sense of humour and a deep sense of humanity. He was an amazing musician, an inspiration, and a comfort to so many. He made great music and gifted it to the world. We are proud to have known him, to be his friend, and to create music with him. For the past decade, Layne struggled greatly — we can only hope that he has at last found some peace. We love you, Layne. Dearly. And we will miss you … endlessly.”

Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello reminisced about the singer. In a statement, he said: “Layne and I became good friends on the 1993 Lollapalooza tour. I will always remember him as the bright, funny and amazingly talented singer who got up there every hot summer day in a gorgeous suit and sang like an angry angel. We would laugh until we split our sides arguing about who was ‘more metal.’ I hope now he is at peace.”

Ex-Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan added: “Layne had an amazing voice that had such a beautiful, sad, haunting quality about it. He was different because his heaviness was in that voice. I saw Alice In Chains at one of their final performances, opening for Kiss. They played outside in the sunshine, and they were awesome. I think that’s a good way to remember someone who will be missed.”

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