10 Hard Rock Musicians That Died Too Soon

Alice in Chains was the ideal bridge for metalheads to get into grunge. While bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana were writing songs that were more in line with pop and classic rock music, AOC provided a dark ambiance in their lyrics and riffs that gave them much more credibility as a legitimate metal act. Though the band thrived in the scene, only those closest to the band knew just how dark the band really was.

Across the band's classic output like Dirt and Jar of Flies, vocalist Layne Staley was dealing with a heroin habit that had started to consume him. Even though tracks like "Them Bones" and "Rain When I Die" are essential listening for any fan of 90's metal, it becomes all the more tragic when you realize just how much pain he's laying out in front of you.

By the time the band got around to making their self-titled 1995 release, Staley's health had deteriorated so much that his voice couldn't function in its proper state. After the band went on hiatus, everyone's worst fears were confirmed when Staley was found dead in his apartment after overdosing on a mix of heroin and cocaine. Alice in Chains may not have been the most popular grunge band, but the mark Staley made on the scene as a whole was nothing short of monumental.