Layne Staley Tribute Show to Be Live-Streamed August 22nd

LAYNE STALEY TO BE REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED IN ANNUAL TRIBUTE SHOW LIVESTREAM FROM ICONIC LONDON BRIDGE STUDIO 

Local Alice in Chains tribute band Jar of Flies take to the web to raise money for the Layne Staley Memorial Fund and offer grunge fans the ultimate Alice in Chains experience. 

SEATTLE, WASH – The Emerald City is sharing grunge to the world through a free live stream event paying homage to Seattle’s Layne Staley, the original Alice in Chains front man. On Saturday August 22nd , local Seattle tribute band Jar of Flies (the ultimate AiC experience) MVK Music Group’s own Brendan Maier will give a special performance from the main room at the iconic London Bridge Studio to celebrate the life, music, and legacy of Layne Staley. Donations collected from the tribute event will go to the Layne Staley Memorial Fund which benefits the addiction recovery center Therapeutic Health Services (THS), and to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Layne Staley Tribute Show 2020 is presented by MVK Music Group and London Bridge Studio. 

The annual Layne Staley Tribute is a Seattle tradition for fans from all over the world to gather and celebrate the music, life and continued legacy of Layne Staley and all of the musicians who left this world too soon. During this time of COVID-19, this is not going to be the typical annual reunion. As shows and gatherings are canceled across the country, and music venues, artists, bands, and the entertainment industry face an uncertain future, we feel it is important to continue to fund-raise for these important causes, and to celebrate some of the good in world, if only virtually. The event will be free to access via a global live-stream with donations to THS and SAMHSA encouraged in place of the typical travel and attendance fees.

This year’s event falls directly on Layne’s birthday of Aug. 22nd . Fans and grunge-lovers can tune into the free livestream at London Bridge Studio, where Facelift, Sap, Jar of Flies EP and the Singles movie soundtrack were recorded, for a glimpse into the iconic studio, and a live performance by Seattle’s Jar of Flies – The Ultimate AIC Experience. The event is scheduled to begin at 5pm PST (UTC -7) from London Bridge Studio in Seattle, WA and will be streamed across multiple platforms for anyone and everyone who wishes to join in the celebration. 

MVK: How did the annual Layne Staley Tribute event get its start? How long has it been in existence?

JOF: The annual Layne Staley Tribute began shortly after Layne’s passing in 2002. The event was originally organized by Nancy, Layne’s mother, who headed the Layne Staley Foundation which was a non-profit set up in his name to benefit addiction recovery centers mainly Therapeutic Health Services (THS) which we still donate money to to this day. After a number of years (and I’m not sure exactly how many tributes years they organized, but I believe 6 or 7), in 2012 the event came to us as Nancy and the foundation had stepped aside from the task of organizing the tribute events and Jar of Flies (the ultimate AiC experience) took the reigns and have been organizing the tribute ever since. 

We continue the tradition of the original tributes and use the event to raise awareness and money for addiction recovery and invite Nancy to be able to participate in the event.

MVK: How has the event evolved over the years?

JOF: The original tributes, organized by the Layne Staley Foundation, featured a mix of local bands and national acts such as Gary Hoey in 2006, Daughtry in 2007, Tantric in 2008, and Seattle’s own My Sister’s Machine in 2010. Since 2012, Jar of Flies (the ultimate AiC experience) has been the main performance, keeping the focus on the music and giving the fans the chance to experience that amazing and powerful music in a live setting once again. We have continued to build the annual tribute into a weekend event that draws people from all around the world to Seattle each year. From surprise acoustic performances to other Seattle music tribute bands, the annual tribute weekend has grown into a destination weekend for fans of Alice in Chains and Seattle music in general. For Layne’s 50th birthday in 2017, we performed at the historic Moore Theater in Seattle, WA (location of Alice in Chain’s early live recording ‘Live Facelift VHS’ and the Mad Season ‘Live at the Moore’) and have also hosted the event at other great Seattle venues such as The Showbox, The Crocodile, and Nectar Lounge.

MVK: Can you tell us a little about the causes the event supports? 

JOF: The tribute has been committed to raising awareness and donations for addiction recovery. The opioid crisis, which has recently gained national attention, has been a sad part of Seattle music history and has been a constant point of emphasis for the tribute band. Layne Staley Memorial Fund has been set up at Therapeutic Health Services (THS), an addiction recovery center in the Pacific Northwest committed to offering help, counseling, and treatment for those in need. 

From Therapeutic Health Services website: https://ths-wa.org/about-ths/

“At Therapeutic Health Services (THS), we believe in treatment that deals with the whole person and every aspect of his or her life. Our approach includes mental health and family services, plus a wide range of chemical dependency treatments such as methadone and counseling. Years of working with the diverse community of Puget Sound has taught our staff the value of providing services that are culturally relevant and in line with each individual’s needs.” 

We are going further this year, because of the opportunity for viewers from across the country provided by the live stream, we are also planning on donating to a national cause as well and have chosen to donate to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a national helpline, referral center aimed at reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental health on America’s communities. www.Samhsa.gov

MVK: Originally, this year’s Tribute Show was supposed to take place at the iconic Showbox in Seattle, but with the pandemic, the possibility of a live event was not feasible. How did the decision to do a live streamed variation of the event come about?

JOF: Sadly we had to cancel the live in-person show, as with most other shows and venues across America, due to the pandemic and COVID-19. At the time of cancelation, we had no backup plan or other option until we were put in touch with the people at London Bridge Studio and were able to make this live stream event happen. London Bridge Studio has been managing through the pandemic, like so many businesses and entities in the arts and entertainment sector. Luckily they have been producing live stream events and incorporated with the studio, so they are perfectly equipped to host this event and that doesn’t take into account the vast amount of Seattle music history contained within the wall of London Bridge Studio. Alice in Chains recorded the albums and EPs, ‘Facelift’, ‘SAP’, and ‘Jar of Flies’ … Pearl Jam recorded ‘Ten’… Soundgarden recorded ‘Louder Than Love’… Temple of the Dog album was recorded there… and the list goes on. From the Layne Staley Tribute Show 2020, this is the single best spot for the live stream to happen. The history, the studio, the music and the fans’ love of the music will all come together for a memorable event.

MVK: MVK Music Group Artist Brendan Maier performed at last year’s tribute event in lead vocals, and is performing with Jar of Flies again at this year’s event. Can you tell us a little more about how Brendan got involved?

JOF: Brendan’s voice is amazing and how he can channel the energy to bring these songs to life is a wonderful thing to experience. Brendan had a video of the tribute band in Chicago go viral with their version of ‘Love, Hate, Love’ and it was because of that that people connected Brendan with Jar of Flies. Through Facebook and after a couple of years the opportunity arose to have him come to anchor the tribute event in 2019, a decision that proved to be a good one. Brendan not only has the vocals and stage presence to command the tribute performances but also fits in with the tribute band and how we approach our tribute. We have always placed the focus on the music and recreating it in the best way possible for the fans and those who come to the events for the music. We do not dress up, try to pretend to be the band or put the focus anywhere but on the music. That is what we love and why we choose to perform this music. Brendan shares that love of the music and the details that help bring it to life from the stage.

MVK: Being a hometown (to Seattle, the birthplace of Grunge & AIC) band what does this event mean to you guys?

JOF: [JT Phillips]: I personally am not a native Seattleite, but like many was drawn to Seattle because of the music. I have loved that music since I was struggling in my childhood bedroom to learn these songs on guitar. This music has a draw and a power to reach people, to impact their lives and to bring people together. Seattle was the birthplace of this music but it has become so much more. People travel from all across the country and even the world to come and listen to this music here in its hometown but it is the connection with the music and the other fans that love this music equally which is an amazing thing to see. Grunge left Seattle and for those that identify with that music, it brings them together. To perform this music for the fans who experience it and bring it to life, that is what I find most special about being in the tribute events.

[Kyyle Cort]: As a band member, it’s a privilege to help keep the memory of Layne alive year after year for the great fans of Alice in Chains. For a band I love and one that continues to flourish after the loss of their iconic singer, it’s an honor to pay tribute specifically to the Layne Staley era and remember, along with AiC lovers across the globe, just how special that time was.

As an individual, it gives me much pride to participate in this event alongside some of the most talented and dedicated musicians in the Pacific Northwest, not to mention some of my dearest friends.

As someone who has personally seen how drugs can tear lives apart and how key the music community can be in the healing process, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience to give back to those who were a safety net for my family while continuing to show appreciation for Mr. Staley and his art. My younger brother and band mate was given guidance and the initial tools for recovery from Layne’s mother, Nancy McCallum, at one of the 2008 tribute shows in Seattle. Now, after he’s been clean from heroin and opiates for over ten years, this annual event is a yearly reminder of how special this musical family is to our lives and many more just like us. Knowing that these resources were easily accessible by being in a hometown Seattle-area band and because of the message this event projects, it joys me to be a small cog in the machine that will inevitably, in turn, help someone else get through their battle.

[Lee Bruso]: The easy answer is that we do it to pay tribute to Layne’s life, and the music he had a hand in creating. Which is true, but far above that is that it brings people together to celebrate what he left behind, and that we get to do it walking in their footsteps takes it to another level. The energy in the room at this event in the past has been nothing short of magical! Everyone sings every word to every song, and not a single person wants to be anywhere else at that moment. It really is something special. It’s a shame that we all won’t be able to share in each other’s company this time around, but at the same time, it’s a blessing in that we get to share a slice of it with the rest of the world through the live stream.

MVK: Outside of tuning in to the live streamed event on the 22nd, what can fans do to help support?

JOF: Donate to addiction recovery centers in your area. Obviously, THS in the Pacific Northwest but there is no shortage of the need for support for addiction recovery centers across the country. The opioid crisis has swept the country and is still having a major impact on communities all across this country. And to those in the grips of addiction, there is help at these centers. Reach out and help others reach out to find the support, treatment, and care to stand up to the addiction.

MVK Music Group co-owners Brian Paul & Attila Czako, who both attended the live Tribute event last year in Seattle, added “Growing up as fans of the Seattle Grunge era music scene with Alice in Chains, this event is near and dear to our hearts. JT and the Jar of Flies Tribute Band are about the closest thing that you can get to actually experiencing a live Alice in Chains show with Layne [Staley] that you can get. Having Brendan [Maier] involved is the icing on the cake. We are so honored to be a part of this event and look forward to continuing to support and work with both JT and Jar of Flies (The Ultimate AiC Experience) on the Tribute event in the upcoming years as well as Nancy [Layne’s mother] and the Foundation and causes that she has set up in the Seattle Community. This event has a much greater impact than just bringing great AiC music and paying homage to one of the most talented and recognizable vocalists in rock history…proceeds do benefit some great causes as well.”

Livestream Links: LAYNE STALEY TRIBUTE SHOW 2020 – Livestream links:
Facebook – London Bridge Studio
YouTube – London Bridge Studio
Twitch.tv – London Bridge Studio 

Facebook Event Page: 
Layne Staley Tribute 2020 – Facebook Event

Websites: 
MVK Music Group
London Bridge Studio
Jar of Flies (the ultimate AIC experience)

About the Layne Staley Memorial Fund: Founded by Nancy Layne McCallum in 2002, The Layne Staley Fund has sought to turn the tragedy of Layne Staley’s death into hope for those that suffer. www.Layne-Staley.com provides links to support, education, and encouragement for heroin recovery; and it creates a place for family, friends, and fans to stay connected for the common goal of sharing information and resources for sustained recovery.

About Therapeutic Health Services (THS): At Therapeutic Health Services (THS), we believe in treatment that deals with the whole person and every aspect of his or her life. Our approach includes mental health and family services, plus a wide range of chemical dependency treatments such as methadone and counseling. Years of working with the diverse community of Puget Sound has taught our staff the value of providing services that are culturally relevant and in line with each individual’s needs. For more information, please visit the THS website. 

About Jar of Flies: Jar of Flies (the ultimate AIC experience) is a gathering of top Seattle musicians with a passion for live energy and true showmanship. In honor of Alice in Chains, the Seattle-based tribute band brings an authentic and powerful sonic experience. They do not try to look like the bands, act like the bands, or try to “be” the bands; they just painstakingly work to ensure that they sound exactly like the albums, and recreate those memories for fans like themselves. 

Media Contact: 
Quigley Music Productions
LayneStaleyTribute@outlook.com
(253) 256-3395