Expert: Brett Collins - 4/27/2006

Question
Hi:)

I think i have one of those personal questions you may not be able to answer, lol. But i just have to ask...

I have always loved Layne's voice, pretty much from the time they started...I however, was a Soundgarden fan and though i was in awe everytime i heard Layne sing, i was too rapped up in my fanhood & Chris's voice to allow Layne and AIC in, so to speak...

I regret that terribly, for i may have missed the chance to see Layne live while he still graced this earth.

My adoration for him goes so far beyond any adoration i have ever had for anyone...And I am not ashamed to say i love him and that after the loss of my Husband, Layne's voice and words saved my life.

I have made contact with his Mother Nancy, through e-mail after she thanked me for a donation made to the LS Tribute Fund, and i look so forward to being apart of the show this year for the first time.

I have also stored up alot of knowledge about AIC and Layne, but as hard as i try to find out more than i know about Layne and Demri, i cannot seem to get past the basic info.

All i am after is a timeline...For i am trying to figure out when they actually met and started going out (my guess is 1988/89) to the time they broke up (1993)...And how long they may have been engaged for. I would love to have your thoughts on this and anything else you may know or just your feelings on their relationship (from what you have read.)

A bonus would be to know why you think or perhaps know their reson for breaking up...I get the feeling Layne continued to care very much for her after this, for Mad Season's, Above, definately has Layne singing about her. I also would love to know if they continued to stay close or even got back together. Layne's reaction to her death was like that of a husband losing his wife ( or in my case, a wife losing her husband, for i felt suicidal too)

It is hard to ask Nancy anything, though she did say she felt Layne and Demri would always be a couple...Perhaps this is her reference to them in Heaven or how she has always seen them when they were still on this earth.

It is hard to believe that she died as a (possible) result of drugs...She was so beautiful and seemed so sweet. I have the feeling Layne may have felt responsible and i am thinking that is because he may have possibly introduced her to drugs, though of course he ment her no harm, like he did not mean it for himself.

Lastly, I also have a hard time with the fact that Layne was gone for two weeks before anyone noticed...I know he closed himself off, but what about Nancy and his Sister, both seemed so close to him...I swear if it was me just being the lowly fan i am...I would have knocked down his damn door and held a gun to his head, telling him to move his ass out of the hellhole he was in and to a hospital for some help long before it was too late!!!
Just your feelings on this would be great, if you have no actual knowledge.

Sorry i went on, and i could probably continue, but i will stop here, LOL

Thank you for reading and hopfully you will have the time to respond.

Carolyn

Answer
Carolyn:

One thing I love about AIC fans, especially those who were touched by Layne is the love there for the person and music.  

I don't think alot of people know the details on Demri and why they broke up. Common sense tells me that it had most likely a little bit to do with being on the road and the way the lifestyle was up until 93 or 94. Then even Layne realized that he had to at least slow down. I know Nancy has spoke about them hangin out at her place in the early 90's but not much else.

I'm not sure if even Nancy knows why they broke up. I'm thinking Layne didn't share everything with his mom as that's normal for guys to keep some things in. But I haven't heard of any specific reason why Layne and Demri broke up. I can imagine his sister knows they had a real closeness according the book. You are right they were at one point engaged but for how long I don't know.


The point you bring up about him being inside the condo for two weeks. Until they realized because there was no money being taken out of his account, and the accountant called his mom to say this is kinda odd. Again according to the book which I don't feel completely right acknowledging. Because it was written badly but has alot of great info from a big fan like yourself or me. Anyhoo other than leaving his condo to go see his new baby niece or something like that in 2000. Otherwise that was the last time anyone saw him. Layne didn't answer his phone or door unless it was someone he was expecting or a delivery. Sean Kinney even has mentioned when he was up north in that university area. He would throw stones and yell Layne it's me let me in, and well nothin!

So as you can tell Layne wanted to be left alone, he although started giving into the author of the angry chair book near the end. In fact she had talked with him on the phone three months before he died. It could have been less because Nancy emailed her telling her they found Layne and thanks for your time and interest.

It's hard to tell but I think Nancy and the sister just checked up on him as you would think. But he pretty much wanted to be left alone and had given up. He says in the book again that he was shitting his pants and getting sick even on the phone while talking to the author. Health was deterorating quickly and the heroin was just to live and get by. I believe that's why he began taking the cocaine mixed in as well. But by then he probably just couldn't care less.

It's just friggen sad and sometimes I actaully have thought of just once taking some heroin to see what it feels like. Of course I haven't and don't think I would inject it. But yeah I have tried to go to the tribute show for the last two years even far back east. Now I am in Alberta, Canada, so I was going to drive down this August but just found out that someone had already booked that last two weeks off. It friggen sucks..Can you do me a favor?

When your there, when you meet Nancy can you tell her that "Brett" from Edmonton Alberta says hi and wishes he could be here. Hopefully she remembers me, usually does whenever I have emailed her.


You know I so want someone like the guy who wrote the cobain book to do something on Layne. Something proper in fitting to him, but Charles Cross who I have bugged in the past to write about Layne simply says now no one will talk, they can't yet at least. Guess he's not ready for that much darkness.

Good talkin with you..Carolyn