Alice in Chains

by David de Sola

    4. Seattle Times, “Mrs. Phillip B. Staley,” March 7, 1967. Phil’s age in relation to his three brothers is evident in an entry for the Staley household in the 1940 U.S. Census, in which Phil is the only child of his parents’ listed.

    5. For the family’s whereabouts and history, see the Staley household entry in the 1900 U.S. Census. Seattle Sunday Times, “Old Studebaker Shows Class in Speedy Races,” October 12, 1913; Seattle Sunday Times, “Success Marks First Season of New Automobile Association,” September 13, 1914; Seattle Sunday Times, “Staley Quits Vulcan,” July 31, 1921; Seattle Sunday Times, “Two Leases Negotiated,” October 2, 1921; Seattle Daily Times, “Earl B. Staley Will Move Shop on June 25,” June 19, 1927; Seattle Daily Times, “Incorporations,” December 20, 1927.

    6. Jon Wiederhorn, “Alice in Chains: To Hell and Back,” Rolling Stone, February 8, 1996, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alice-in-chains-to-hell-and-back-rolling-stones-1996-feature-20110405.

    7. Phil Staley–Nancy Staley divorce records, obtained by the author through public records.

    8. Phil Staley–Nancy Staley divorce records, obtained by the author through public records; Jim Elmer–Nancy Staley marriage certificate, obtained by the author through public records; Wiederhorn, “Alice.”

    9. For the dates and set lists of Elton John’s Seattle shows in October 1975, see http://www.eltonography.com/cgi-bin/show_concert.cgi?DATE=1975-10-16 and http://www.eltonography.com/cgi-bin/show_concert.cgi?DATE=1975-10-17.

  10. Jon Wiederhorn, “Famous Last Words,” Revolver, http://www.adbdesign.com/aic/articles/art114.html.

  11. Jamie Elmer’s birth date is taken from the Jim Elmer–Nancy Elmer divorce records, obtained by the author through public records. The ages of the siblings in relation to one another is from an author interview with Ken Elmer.

  12. Greg Prato, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 214; Wiederhorn, “To Hell and Back.”

  13. Wiederhorn, “Famous Last Words.”

  14. Wiederhorn, “Famous Last Words.”

  15. Tom Scanlon, “Alice in Chains Singer’s Legacy Lives On Through Music,” Seattle Times, August 24, 2007.

  16. Scanlon, “Legacy Lives On.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with Johnny Bacolas, James Bergstrom, Tim Branom, Jamie Elmer, Jim Elmer, Ken Elmer, Byron Hansen, Nick Pollock, Ed Semanate, and Rick Throm.

    1. Greg Prato, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 214.

    2. The date of Layne’s supposed graduation and the date his records were sent to the Chrysalis School are from a document viewed at Meadowdale High School.

    3. Tom Scanlon, “Alice in Chains Singer’s Legacy Lives on Through Music,” Seattle Times, August 24, 2007, http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2003850521_staley24.html.

    4. A transcript of the PMRC hearing can be read at http://www.joesapt.net/superlink/shrg99-529/; Gore, quoted in New York Times, “Tipper Gore Widens War on Rock,” January 4, 1988, http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/04/arts/tipper-gore-widens-war-on-rock.html.

    5. Paul Andrews, “Parents, Artists Disagree Over Rock-Labeling Issue,” Seattle Times, October 4, 1985.

    6. Drum Magazine, “Sean Kinney,” http://web.archive.org/web/20120325133557/http://www.drummagazine.com/drumpedia/post/sean-kinney/; Sean Kinney, interview for Alice in Chains Electronic Press Kit (EPK), 1996, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVsDKZL-0bc.

    7. Chris Gill, “Dirt,” Guitar Legends, issue 117; Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney, interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJW77uMEHdI.

    8. For Layne’s statement about having to hide his jacket, see Jon Wiederhorn, “Alice in Chains: To Hell and Back,” Rolling Stone, February 8, 1996, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alice-in-chains-to-hell-and-back-rolling-stones-1996-feature-20110405. The accuracy of this quote was confirmed by author interviews with Johnny Bacolas and James Bergstrom.

  CHAPTER 3

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with David Ballenger, Tim Branom, Scott Hunt, and Robert Lunte.

    1. From the lease signed by Bengt Von Haartman, Gabriel Marian, and Rosen Investment Company dated September 20, 1984, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian.

  CHAPTER 4

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with Johnny Bacolas, James Bergstrom, Tim Branom, Thad Byrd, Morgen Gallagher, Jeff Gilbert, Dave Hillis, Robert Lunte, and Nick Pollock.

    1. For the list of David Kyle’s former students, see Robert Lunte’s biography at http://seattlevoicetraining.com/bio/.

    2. The approximate timing for the Alice ’N Chains name change is based on three pieces of evidence: first, when Thad Byrd films the band in September 1986, they are still called Sleze; second, several of Tim Branom’s rough demo mixes from late 1986 already have the Alice ’N Chains name written on them; and third, by the time the demo is actually released in January 1987, the name change has already taken place.

    3. Greg Prato, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 216.

    4. The Rocket, June 1987, 10.

  CHAPTER 5

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with Johnny Bacolas, David Ballenger, James Bergstrom, Duane Lance Bodenheimer, Tim Branom, Morgen Gallagher, Jeff Gilbert, Dave Hillis, Ron Holt, Scott Hunt, Matt Muasau, Bobby Nesbitt, Scott Nutter, Nick Pollock, and Darrell Vernon.

    1. Mark Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge (New York: Crown Archetype, 2011), 168.

    2. Regarding the details of Rob Brustad’s death, see King County Medical Examiner’s report, obtained by the author through a public records request.

    3. A scan of the bill for the May 1, 1987, show featuring Slaughter Haus 5, Devol, and Alice ’N Chains was posted on the Music Bank Facebook page. The quotes from the show are from a bootleg recording available on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oePWygNmqLc.

    4. On Jerry’s knowing he wanted to be in a band with Layne after seeing him at the Tacoma Little Theatre show, see Greg Prato, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 217.

    5. Gloria Jean Cantrell’s maiden name is taken from her death certificate, obtained by the author through a public records request; Jon Wiederhorn, “Alice in Chains: To Hell and Back,” Rolling Stone, February 8, 1996, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alice-in-chains-to-hell-and-back-rolling-stones-1996-feature-20110405.

    6. Wiederhorn, “Alice.”

    7. Ibid.

    8. Alice in Chains, interview, Rockline, July 19, 1999, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwgIGhwlDeo&list=PL764A777926D8EF70.

    9. Wiederhorn, “Alice.”

  10. Marc Ramirez, “These Teachers Did More Than Make the Grade, They Made a Difference,” Seattle Times, September 1, 1991.

  11. Gene Stout, “Cantrell Seeks Out a Solo Identity on First Tour Away from Alice,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 30, 1998.

  12. Jerry Cantrell, interview with G&L Guitars, April 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6T9tY1ioKQ; Guitar World, “Alice Keepers,” June 2013, http://nemi72.tumblr.com/post/49303015723/jerry-cantrell-shares-the-tales-behind-some-of.

  13. For the name and pictures of Raze, see http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171&Itemid=39. To confirm Vinnie Chas’s real name, the author received a photo of his gravestone from Tim Branom, which also included his birth and death dates.

  14. Biographical details of Dorothy Krumpos taken from her obituary in the Tacoma News Tribune, October 10, 1986; Wiederhorn, “Alice”; Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 170.<
br />
  15. Wiederhorn, “Alice.”

  16. The information regarding Gloria Jean Cantrell’s date and cause of death is from her death certificate, obtained by the author through a public records request. Biographical details of Gloria Jean Cantrell taken from her obituary in the Tacoma News Tribune, April 15, 1987. Wiederhorn, “Alice.”

  17. Ticketmaster Capital Rock-Off ad, which appeared in the June 1987 edition of The Rocket.

  18. Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJW77uMEHdI.

  19. Mike Starr memorial service DVD, March 20, 2011 (a copy of the DVD was provided to the author by Gayle Starr).

  20. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 169.

  21. Mike Starr memorial service DVD; Hit Line Times, “Burien-Based SATO Wins the Latest Battle of the Bands,” December 1, 1982; Mark Ralston, “SATO: An Exciting Talent,” The Profile, May 3, 1983, provides details about SATO shows and recordings. Photographs, as well as audio and video recordings, are posted on the SATO Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/pages/SATO/143587999040388?fref=photo.

  22. Information about the Northwest Metalfest compilation is available at http://www.thecorroseum.com/comps/nwmetalfest.html.

  23. Layne Staley, interview for Alice in Chains Electronic Press Kit (EPK), 1996, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALAJkqgGgVM.

  24. Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney, interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOZjcOCrepk; Prato, Grunge Is Dead, 217–18.

  CHAPTER 6

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with Kathleen Austin, David Ballenger, James Bergstrom, Tim Branom, Ken Deans, Jamie Elmer, Jim Elmer, Randy Hauser, Ron Holt, Bobby Nesbitt, Scott Nutter, Nick Pollock, Sally Pricer Portillo, and Darrell Vernon.

    1. Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney, interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOZjcOCrepk; Music Bank liner notes; Jeffrey Ressner, “Alice in Chains: Through the Looking Glass,” Rolling Stone, November 26, 1992, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alice-in-chains-through-the-looking-glass-rolling-stones-1992-feature-20110309.

    2. Ressner, “Alice”; Cantrell and Kinney, interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009.

    3. Cantrell and Kinney, interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009.

    4. Music Bank liner notes; Greg Prato, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 221.

    5. A flyer from the January 15, 1988, Kane Hall show was auctioned off on the Mike Starr Facebook page. It is described as “flyer to their VERY 1ST SHOW!” and can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/mike.starr.forever /photos/a.10154115703020322.1073741856.498651025321/10154115703490322/?type=1&theater.

    6. Jenny Bendel, “Diamond Lie—The Show and Beyond,” City Heat, circa January/February 1988. A scanned copy of the article was provided to the author by Tim Branom. The origin of the “Suffragette City” cover was conveyed to the author in an interview with Scott Nutter.

    7. Diamond Lie submission packet to Columbia Records, May 17, 1988. Scans of the packet were provided to the author by Jacob McMurray, the EMP Museum’s senior curator.

    8. Jon R. Zulauf, “Defendant’s Sentencing Memorandum,” July 15, 1991; Randall Hauser, “Re: U.S. v. Hauser,” July 12, 1991. Both documents were obtained by the author through a public records request as part of the United States of America v. Randall C. Hauser case file.

    9. Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam Twenty (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011), 28.

  10. Mark Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge (New York: Crown Archetype, 2011), 173.

  11. Tim Branom’s history of Gypsy Rose, including photos and a flyer for the July 14, 1988, show, can be read at http://timbranom.tumblr.com/gypsyrose.

  12. Demri’s signature was seen by the author in a review of the Music Bank guest book, currently in possession of the former Music Bank manager, David Ballenger.

  13. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 178; Richard Bienstock, “Excerpt: Kim Thayil on the Secrets Behind His Tunings,” Guitar World, November 12, 2012, http://www.guitarworld.com/excerpt-kim-thayil-secrets-behind-his-tunings; Richard Bienstock, “Jerry Cantrell Tells How Alice in Chains Buried Their Past with ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here,’” Guitar World, June 18, 2013, http://www.guitarworld.com/jerry-cantrell-tells-how-alice-chains-buried-their-past-devil-put-dinosaurs-here.

  14. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 272.

  CHAPTER 7

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with Steve Alley, David Ballenger, Ken Deans, Jack Hamann, Randy Hauser, Scott Hunt, Dean Noble, George Stark, Darrell Vernon, and Diana Wilmar.

    1. On Jerry’s giving Axl Rose a copy of the band’s demo, see the Jerry Cantrell and Duff McKagan interview with Soundwave TV, March 3, 2014, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUKaLN8FcaA; for the date of the Iron Maiden and Guns n’ Roses show in Seattle, see http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/history/history88.php.

    2. King County Medical Examiner’s report, obtained by the author through a public records request.

    3. Ibid.

    4. Author review of Facelift liner notes.

    5. Marian and Von Haartman lease agreement, dated February 3, 1987, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle, where it is archived as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian.

    6. Mike McKay and Richard A. Jones, “Government’s Response to Defendant Marian’s Motions to Suppress,” April 19, 1991, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle, where it is archived as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian. For details about the power consumption, see Mac Gordon, “Affidavit for Search Warrant,” July 20, 1988, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle, where it is archived as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian.

    7. Unsigned, undated affidavit, possibly written by Mike Severance.

    8. Gordon, “Affidavit”; R. Joseph Wesley, “Search Warrant,” July 20, 1988, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle, where it is archived as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian.

    9. Mac Gordon, “Follow-Up Report,” July 26, 1988, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle, where it is archived as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian.

  10. Greg Prato, Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music (Toronto: ECW Press, 2009), 221–22. The quote about the band members sleeping in Layne’s VW Dasher appears in the Music Bank liner notes.

  11. Detective S. J. Ameden statement, date unknown, obtained by the author through a public records request; author interviews with Darrell Vernon and David Ballenger.

  12. Author review of police and court documents, obtained through public records requests; Bruce Sherman, “‘$30 Million-a-Year’ Pot Farm Found in Ballard,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 22, 1988.

  13. Sherman, “‘$30 Million-a-Year’ Pot Farm”; Terry J. Franklin, “Crime Laboratory Report,” August 8, 1988, obtained by the author through a public records request from Federal Archives in Seattle, where it is archived as part of the case file for U.S. v. Marian.

  14. Brad Fridell, “Pot Case Goes to Feds; No Arrest Made Yet,” Ballard Tribune, August 24, 1988.

  15. Music Bank liner notes.

  16. A scanned flyer for this show is on the Internet. Diana Wilmar confirmed to the author that this was the show she went to.

  17. Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney, interview, Faceculture.tv, 2009, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm511Gt3J0o.

  18. Transcript of Gabriel Marian guilty-plea hearing, May 30, 1991; transcript of Gabriel Marian sentencing hearing, August 28, 1991; Richard Jones, “Affidavit of Richard Jones in Support of Motion for Search Warrant,” March 5, 1991; Irwin H. Schwartz, “Defendant G
abriel Marian’s Motion to Conduct Depositions,” March 28, 1991. All of these documents were obtained by the author through a public records request.

  CHAPTER 8

  Sources for this chapter include author interviews with Krisha Augerot, James Burdyshaw, Thad Byrd, Ken Deans, and Randy Hauser.

    1. Jon R. Zulauf, “Defendant’s Sentencing Memorandum,” July 15, 1991. The filing is part of the U.S. v. Randall C. Hauser case file and was obtained by the author through a public records request.

    2. Mark Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge (New York: Crown Archetype, 2011), 177.

    3. On Susan’s family, see the Boulger Funeral Home obituary for William Silver, http://www.boulgerfuneralhome.com/obits/obit.php?id=1929; Susan Silver, “Silver’s Golden Touch,” Rip, January 1996, http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/articles/rip_1-96.shtml.

    4. Poki (Hugo) Piottin biography, http://pokibio.blogspot.com/; Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 47.

    5. Patrick MacDonald, “‘Dry’ Club Hopes That Music, Films Will Keep Place Afloat,” Seattle Times, July 29, 1983; Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 47.

    6. MacDonald, “‘Dry’ Club.”

    7. Silver, “Silver’s Golden Touch”; Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 47–48.

    8. Jacob McMurray, “The Metropolis: Birthplace of Grunge?” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 19, 2009, http://blog.seattlepi.com/emp/2009/11/19/the-metropolis-birthplace-of-grunge/.

    9. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 44–47; Jim Walsh and Dennis Pemu, The Replacements: Waxed-Up Hair and Painted Shoes: The Photographic History (Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2013), 61.

  10. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 48; the Fred Flintstone caricature can be seen in Walsh and Pernu, Replacements, 62.

  11. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 49.

  12. Yarm, Everybody Loves Our Town, 132–33.

  13. Silver, “Silver’s Golden Touch”; Dr. Martens Web site http://www.drmartens.com/us/history; Charles R. Cross, Here We Are Now: The Lasting Impact of Kurt Cobain (New York: It Books, 2014), 94–95.