Today is often remembered as the day Kurt Cobain died, but this day is also the day we lost another icon of grunge. RIP Layne Staley, 1967-2002

My whole life I have had to sit back and watch heroin take everything I love or care about from me. If it wasn't killing my friends, making my dad lie, cheat and steal, it was killing the musicians that made the music I love.

Just like Layne said in Junkhead: "Seems so sick to the hypocrite norm Running their boring drills But we are an elite race of our own The stoners, junkies, and freaks"

I, never being a user, will never truly understand what it's like.

I sit and think about this every day. This drug that ruined so many things for me also fueled that very music I love, made my dad nice and tolerable to be around and connected my friends.

Rock and roll/grunge/alternative whatever you want to call it is so very nostalgic and comforting to me. Probably because my dad was banging out to AIC, Nirvana, STP while whacked out of his fucking mind while I played with my barbies. But hey, this stuff was the sound track to my childhood. I still remember the shrill squawking and screeches from my dope sick dad as he was locked in the room next to me that faintly echoed over No Excuses while I played with my Legos.

It's fucked up. This drug has too much power. I send all the good vibes I have to anyone struggling to overcome this persuasive drug. It's hard to be addicted and probably even harder to beat. Once your clean anything is a fucking trigger. My dad can't even listen to AIC without getting urges... This guy's been clean for 13 years. He can't drive to certain parts of Detroit, can't watch certain movies, fuck when he hears the name Dennis (name of his old dealer) he has a mini panic attack.

Heaven beside you & RIP Layne.

/r/Music Thread Link - mtv.com