The Metallica Album That Was a Tribute to Layne Staley

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Layne Staley‘s profound impact on music fans and artists alike can’t be understated. Multiple decades after his death, his legacy and the music he left behind still shine brighter than ever.

Among the many musical peers that he influenced before and after his death was none other than the metal titans themselves, Metallica.

From the album title and meaning to specific song lyrics, Metallica’s 2008 full-length ‘Death Magnetic’ was hugely inspired by the fallen Alice In Chains frontman.

Per a conversation with GuitarWorld around the time of the album’s initial release, James Hetfield revealed that the album actually took shape as a tribute to Layne, saying:

“The theme of our new album is that we’re all gonna die sometime. Just like the poles of a magnet, some people are drawn to death and others are repulsed by it, but we all have to deal with it.

Lyrically, it started as a bit of a tribute to Layne Staley and all those who’ve martyred themselves in the name of rock and roll. But it grew and evolved from there.”

Kirk Hammett also channeled Staley during the ‘Death Magnetic’ recording sessions, saying that he actually put a picture of Layne in the studio for inspiration: “that picture was there for a long time… I think it pervaded James’ psyche.”

Interestingly, Hetfield was a close friend of Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell while Layne was still alive, but never directly knew the late frontman. What he did know about Layne he learned by way of Jerry. Diving deeper in a conversation with Rolling Stone, Hetfield said:

“I did not know Layne… I met him a few times. I know Jerry Cantrell quite well and learned about Layne through him. And I could see some of the things Jerry went through to keep that band together.

Watch: When Layne Staley Sang 'Opiate' With Tool in 1993

After what I went through [with addiction], I started writing a song based around a Layne Staley type, a rock & roll martyr magnetized by death. Why did he choose that path, someone with such talent? Is it necessary for some people?”

The specific song James references didn’t end up making it on the final version of ‘Death Magnetic’ because it was “too long.”

However, it did see a release on the ‘Beyond Magnetic’ EP which contained tracks that didn’t end up making the final ‘Death Magnetic’ cut. The song about Layne is called ‘Just a Bullet Away’: