Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...

, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell

Jerry Cantrell

Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...

. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge

Grunge

Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...

 movement of the early 1990s. The band became known for its distinct vocal style, as well as the harmonized

Harmony

In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...

 vocals of Staley and Cantrell. Staley was also a member of the supergroups Mad Season

Mad Season

Mad Season was an American rock supergroup formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1994 by members of three popular Seattle-based bands: Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees. Mad Season only released one album, Above, and is best known for the single "River of Deceit"...

 and Class of '99

Class of '99

Class of '99 was a short-lived alternative rock band consisting solely of members from notable rock bands: Layne Staley of Alice in Chains as the vocalist, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine on guitar, Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction as the drummer, bassist Martyn LeNoble of Porno for...

.