Layne Staley died at the age of 34 in April 2002, four years after making his last appearance on Halloween at a Jerry Cantrell solo concert in Seattle. A photo taken with Jimmy Shoaf at the event circulated online as his last known shot for years though his mother, Nancy McCallum, revealed there was another one that was kept from the public.
What’s In The Actual Photo?
Staley’s stepfather, Jim Elmer, gave details about the true final photo of the Alice in Chains singer in David de Sola’s book, ‘Alice in Chains: The Untold Story.’ He said it was taken in February 2002, showing the rocker holding his newborn nephew, Oscar.
“We hadn’t seen Layne for awhile, and he looked pretty good. He certainly was shy about his teeth issue, but he looked good, and you could tell that he had a little spark in his eyes when he saw Oscar, because he hadn’t been through this before,” Jim said (via Alternative Nation). “So it was kind of like he knows what life is and he knows what the next generation is and he can be a part of it or maybe not be a part of it, but it was a touching moment, and it didn’t last very long, but it was touching to see that next generation come up.”
His sister, Jamie Elmer, who was not there but saw the photograph, noted, “He looked like I remember him looking when I had seen him last. He was smiling and looked like Layne, but he looked older than he really was, and he looked like he was sick. He did not look well. He looked sweet, and he looked happy.”
Why Is It Kept Hidden?
A sketch inspired by the description of the photograph has been circulating online, but the original image remains unseen. Staley’s family never gave a reason for keeping the photo private. Many think it is because of Staley’s poor health at the time.
According to Seattle Weekly, Layne died of an accidental drug overdose. When his body was found two weeks after his death, he weighed only 86 pounds. People believe this was also his condition in the February 2002 photo with his nephew.
Some also think the family, especially his mother, wants to protect his privacy and preserve his memory as a family matter. Either way, it seems unlikely that the photo will be released anytime soon.
