one of the thinggs that always stuck with me about layne was an early conversation we had about our past day jobs. he and i had both worked as carpenters, and we talked about our lives before and after musical success. we both agreed that music was, by far, a much more difficult profession that required a tremendous amount of discipline and physical fortitude. you could leave the tool belt at the job sight after a day's work, but you carried the music with you long after you left the studio or the stage. it WAS your life. he approached his "work" like a skilled craftsman and i think that is why any musician who has had to truly work for a living, can express themselves in that blue collar, working man kind of way, the way layne did.

when he was at his peak of greatness, he was awesome to behold. his command to his voice and natural charisma was a very rare combination indeed and those of us who toured with him and saw him onstage remember the power he held. his unique vocal style has been frequently imitated since the heyday of the seattle music scene, but none will ever really come close to his mastery. he was most certainly "a natural" and one couldn't have imagined a more perfect embodiment of a rock singer. surprisingly, behind this outer image, was a very intelligent, gracious and humble man.

when alice and the trees toured together over the course of 12 months and in as many countries, i saw a different side of layne. his guest list, for example was not for friends or elite patrons of the rock circuit; it was for the kids who couldn't afford to buy a ticket. i remember an argument he had with a tour manager who needed layne's share of list for some VIPs. layne refused to give it up saying "those people can afford to buy their own tickets, those kids out in front of the club cannot." he refused to budge on this and that's when i knew he really had backbone. because those kids were the ones he thought should really see his show, those of the dispossessed.

i remember wandering around european cities with him and talking about the age and history of the places we were in, marveling at the architecture, the differences in style. he really had a keen intellect and a wicked sense of humor and he always made us laugh at the profane.

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