Mad Season - River of Deceit (Live at the Moore, Seattle, 1995) 

Whenever you get depressed, just remember this one thing: We are lucky enough to hear Layne Staley's voice whenever we want to.

Still listening in 2024. Classic and forever live in our hearts, Layne.

Who's here missing and honoring Layne Staley today? 😢❤

This video makes me homesick for a place that doesn't exist.

"my pain is self chosen"...this is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Miss you Layne.

Mike McCready doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. His rifts with Pearl Jam, Mad Season, Temple of the dog and Even the rockfords are iconic. You can always tell when he is on guitar. Something about his sound is so passionate and memorable.

I love all music, but I always prefer to listen to studio-recorded versions.. The ONE exception is with Layne Staley.. All of his performances, including MTV Unplugged, for some reason, all sound better than his studio-recorded versions.. Something beautifully magical about his voice in the raw.. So filled with emotion that you can't capture in a studio performance.

Man I’m so lucky to have been raised in the 80’s and 90’s

One of the most beautiful and haunting songs of all time. Layne's self confession. Man just brilliant

Layne... still listening and loving your words and voice in 2024!!!! Ps- I’m updating this post every year until I die 🤘🏻🤘🏻

I'm 68 yrs old, music has been in my life since I was born , lived my young teenage yrs in the late 60's with my brother as a Marine ,in Vietnam War. Went to all rock concerts available. Honestly I think Layne has the most soulful voice I have ever heard. I listen to him often n will til I die. RIP 🙏

"My pain is self chosen" are words that changed my life. Thank you Layne RIP.

Holy shit, I was at this show me and a buddy drove straight from Central Texas to Seattle in 31 hours just to make it on time.

Im 69, found lane about 7 years ago, i had heard of AIC, but never actually heard them, if these lyrics don't touch your soul, you may not have one.

Man, if Layne could have seen himself the way we see him, I think he'd still be with us. One of the loudest, and quietest losses we've ever had in music 😢

It’s hard to admit I’m obsessed with someone who isn’t alive anymore. We love you Layne.♥️

Can't Believe No one Has Given him a Birthday Message on This Post! Happy Birthday you Timeless Soul

Layne's voice is like an angel talking about his sad life..

I dedicate this song to my younger brother, who passed away just ten days ago. He left a huge hole inside my chest when he decided to take his own life, but I understand, I have to. There was no amount of love capable enough to cure that pain he felt. Now just rest in peace, lil bro. Descansa em paz, maninho. 💔

I swear Layne's voice is my everyday dose of serotonine...so beautiful

AIC puts me in awe of Layne's power but Mad Season makes me think about how much great music we missed out on. His voice was so beautiful and versatile. I'm on such a kick right now and its hard to stop.

I always turn to Layne Staley or Chris Cornell when my soul needs to be rattled a bit.

The comment section on this video has to be one of the best on RU-vid. So many incredible thoughts and memories being shared here. It’s all making me so nostalgic for a time that I miss so bad.

This song was his confession. He fact he shared this with us all is overwhelming. I miss him.

Finally , Mad season is fucking awesome.

"My pain is self-chosen At least I believe it to be I could either drown Or pull off my skin and swim to shore Now I can grow a beautiful shell for all to see" ...what powerful, profound and moving lyrics! Layne was a genius, part of that all too talented and departed class!

How can this man's voice still be so hauntingly beautiful that I still get tears and chills?

If anybody dislikes this, they need to re-evaluate their lives💯🤘...

I was 15 years old here. I feel blessed to be a child in the 80’s and a teenager in the 90’s. Some of the best music ever created

According to Layne, The song, “River of Deceit,” was inspired by the following passage from the book, “The Prophet,” called “On Pain,” by Kahlil Gibran, and was originally published in 1923. Gibran was seen as a visionary and a genius who wrote several manuscripts, and the following is what inspired Layne to write this song. The rest of the book is excellent as well. Here it is, “On Pain”, from “The Prophet”: “A woman spoke, saying, “Tell us of Pain. And he said: Your Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know Pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief. Much of your pain is self-chosen. It is the bitter poison by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility; For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter himself has moistened with His own sacred tears. -“On Pain, by Kahlil Gibran, from “The Prophet”. This book has several other sub-sections on different issues, topics and situations, and it’s considered a masterpiece. It reads like a poetry book, and it’s sections are connected to one another and separated by topic in the table of contents. Gibran was a poet, philosopher and artist. Gibran, though born in Lebanon, lived in the United States for the last twenty years of his life. (1883-1931). He was also a “mystical artist,” and his drawings and paintings illustrate his books 📖, and are on exhibit at museums in the great capitals of the world, and “compared by Auguste Rodin to the work of William Blake”....”The Prophet” and his other books of poetry, illustrated with his mystical drawings, are known and loved by innumerable Americans, who find in them an expression of the deepest impulses of man’s heart and mind.” (From the back cover of “The Prophet,” 1972 reprint, New York, Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. -original copyright 1923 by Kahlil Gibran, Renewal Copyright 1951 by Administrators C.T.A. of Kahlil Gibran Estate, and Mary Gibran, 89th printing, 1972). His writings are incredibly spiritual and deal with the trials of humanity. The rest of the book also shows that it clearly influenced Layne’s musical writing, and incorporates other lines from the song “River of Deceit,” and is not quite a hundred pages long of poetry and philosophical inspiration. I think it was a book that definitely influenced Layne’s thinking, and he discussed it and the role it played in the song “River of Deceit” in an interview. I Hope you enjoyed it! R.I.P. Layne, 🌹✨🌈🕊🦋, we will never forget you, and we love you and your contributions to the music 🎶 you helped create, music that has helped so many of us through our lives. You live on in our hearts ♥️ always!

Mad Season is just so amazing. I feel like Layne had already established himself as the strongest rock vocalist of the moment, and yet here he is so clean and tender and raw. It is an incredible contrast. And music wise when monster fuzz was the "it" guitar sound, these guys delivered the goods so well with clean guitars and really almost tribal drum sounds. And of course the message is felt by a lot of us who came of age in the 80s and 90s. We know good people lost to drugs and alcohol.

He was so beautiful. I just wish he would have valued himself like the millions of fans he had.

Does ANYONE else See How Ironic It is that Layne & Mike McC Both after years each In successful band later Find themselves At the Moore in Seattle back on the Smaller Stage Where IT All Started for them both. That exact Same Stage.... And what Sounds Thy Make 2gether BOTH Of THEIR TALANT... What a Gift Thy Gave Us Again. Love U Layne & McCready 😍

Layne Staley -best male rock vocal ever. Even closed in a dying body his voice was pure, strong and so special. Such a gift from God, such a loss and a waste.

Who else is listening to this masterpiece, today July 4, 2024

Wow!.. Amazing how the echoes of Layne's beautiful voice and personality, still can be heard louder than most sounds of the present.

Such an incredible loss. I often wonder if Layne knows the impact he had on so many people. Does he know how much people loved him? Does he know how incredibly unique he was? Does he know we’re still talking about and missing him? I like to think so. I know he was such a tortured soul, but such a beautiful one. RIP

I was there. I think about this show a lot. My wonderful older brother took me. Both of them were gone way too soon.

Layne and Chris are getting me through the Covid19 isolation🤟

1:26 When he sings "Cut off my pride and buy some time" he literally does a scissor motion with his fingers lmao

In my opinion, this is the best live performance by a rock vocalist ever. I tear up watching it every time. The world was a better place when Layne Staley was singing in it. The pure talent he possessed still blows my mind 30 years later. Also I thank God I made it out of my opiate battle 16 years ago 🙏 But watching Layne sing like an angel while clearly losing his battle still breaks my heart all these years later. RIP to the 🐐

It amazes me that 25 years later this is still at the top of relevance. Probably my favorite album ever.

Best front man ever. No one is close to his voice. You can tell he is really into this performance. Such a shame he is gone. God I wish we all could have saved him

Such a haunting, deep song that resonates the 90s sound. Anyone that has dealt with addiction can relate to this song.

Layne wasn't able to help himself, but he has helped many of us who struggle with Depression. While his Life was short, he was very successfull.

I’ll never stop coming back to this live version. What a treat it must have been to witness it in person.

his voice is what pain would sound like. he could sing anything, and i'd still get choked up.

I shared Layne and AIC with my daughters. Left such a mark on their souls, that my grandson is named Layne.

Es increíble que, extrañe a una persona la cual nunca conocí ni nunca fuí a ninguno de sus conciertos. Lo que genera Layne Staley con su música va mucho más allá, es increíble.

From the greatest music generation of all time. The 90s will always be a musical monster of a decade. I'm so glad I got to live thru it as a teen.

Man I love this song.. I will never pass it up, without listening to it.. Layne is one of those singers that sound better live than on an album. His vocals carry so much power and emotion, it doesn't need amps and sound mixers to make him sound good. R.I.P. Layne 🙏 we miss you

im 44 years old and this song is the most influential song of my life, it speaks to my soul in sadness and in joy both. as I sit here reading the comments I cant help but cry knowing that this layne had found his purpose in the world with his voice and ability to touch so many. sadly it was cut short. there has always been a bit a comfort in sorrow.

As a boy I was mesmerized by Layne and this song by Mad Season. As a man, nothing changes. Sadly we didn’t get to see him grow older. A change I’m sure we all would have welcomed. I hope he found peace somewhere between all of this. Thanks for the memories.

Probably the greatest live performance I've had the pleasure of witnessing... April 29 1995 two days after I turned 21

"When I tried drugs, they were fucking great, and they worked for me for years, and now they’re turning against me - and now I’m walking through hell, and this sucks." -Layne Stayley(1996)

Perfection. McCready's blues touch, great chord progression, amazing little licks in there, and then the power of Staley's voice.

No matter how many times I’ve heard it or how long it’s been since I heard it, this song gets me every time. It’s a stellar song and this is a perfect performance of it.

The best voice in this genre of strange, relatable and artistic music. So truthful and vulnerable. RIP Layne.

This is like hearing a ghost from the past. I had no clue that Mad Season existed until two weeks ago, now I hear Laynes voice once again in material that is 100% new to me.

This song hits me so deep it almost hurts.

That voice is recognizable from anywhere ...RIP to one of the best gone too soon.

Well, I'm 77 now and back here again. So good. What a singer, what a band.

Been waiting for this all my life. Now please upload Wake Up!

We live in tough times, but we also lived in or around the 1990s AD. The renaissance of music, film, art, and culture. We also had the technology to preserve many of those memories. If you remember the 90s, count your blessings. If you don't, watch as much media from that time as you can, and imagine a more carefree world.

Layne the voice of Grunge

This is pure amazing!! Such a talent :(

Layne's voice touched me more than any other. Still does. At 46 I go to another dimension when I hear his voice. He takes me on HIS journey, and I can relate to it all. Thank you Layne for becoming my most honest friend, a safe place to be myself, and a lifetime of your transcendent voice that makes life seem perfect & pure. ✌❤😊peace, love, and happiness, to everyone.

Damn I wish he was still around, wish he had made it to shore but he had a beautiful shell for all of us to see anyway!

That little break in his voice at 1:09 / 1:10 . My goodness

i was 20 yrs old when this happened and i loved this album..... here i am 25+ yrs later and still feeling this mans pain. He was a true talent.

How did this even happen..??! Thanks for the upload. RIP Laynw

A MASTERPIECE. I love it! Layne was a Great singer. Such a loss...❤💔 ✊✌

Will never be another Layne. Totally irreplaceable. Love ya buddy. Hope you’re resting peacefully

Pull of my skin, swim to shore. Or create a beautiful shell for all to see. Thought about this line for years.

God I love this song! Layne is just a beast musically, no one can compare. There are many singers with great voices but Layne has this innate ability to reach into your soul and make you understand every word! I’ve never heard another singer that could do that. We miss you so much Layne!!

Im really truly sad that you could not keep swimming to shore... RIP Layne.

God I could listen to this on repeat for the rest of my life.

Omfg bruh.. what a voice. I could just listen to Layne's voice for the rest of my life and never get tired of hearing it. Such a unique and raw tone but so gentle and beautiful at the same time..

There's no telling how far this band could have gone.... R.I.P. Layne Staley 🖤 John Baker Saunders 🖤

So effortlessly amazing his voice he may have died young but he'll always be my favorite singer of all time..thats my opinion

And so... LAYNE... HE was HE IS And HE will be THE VOICE of me. ❤️❤️❤️

Unfortunately for our boy Staley...the river flows down. Remarkable how well this band sounds. Another reminder of the pure talent that was coming out of that time.

How anyone can make a thumbs down on this song/performance is beyond me... pure magic!

Layne, the absolute greatest singer of all time!

What a talent, what a voice, he went way too early. One of a kind

Damn this one takes me back. Layne’s voice so soulful, you can here the pain in his soul. An amazing artist gone way too soon. RIP.

My pain... is self-chosen At least so the prophet says I could either burn Or cut off my pride and buy some time A head full of lies is the weight Tied to my waist The river of deceit pulls down The only direction we flow is down Down, oh down My pain... is self-chosen At least I believe it to be I could either drown Or pull off my skin and swim to shore Now I can grow a beautiful Shell for all to see The river of deceit pulls down The only direction we flow is down Down, oh down

my pain is self chosen

Still listening daily in 2020. Ty Layne the 🐐

Look at the crowd: no fucking cell phones, snap chat, tik tok, facebook, instagram. Just the crowd and music. Miss these years every day.

Whats wild is there hasn't been one single human being born that has similar vocal chords as Layne's. Thats how unique his voice was, i hope God and Laynes blesses the Earth with that one day

Saw Layne live in 1992. Didn't really grasp what I was seeing at the time. Thought he would be around forever.

My parents always talked about these life altering moments where you remember everything about a day where you were what the weather was and how you felt they mentioned the Kennedy assassination. I'll always remember losing Chris and Layne.

Layne Staley, you lost the battle but you have helped so many to fight the same battle and win!

When I look at his gloves it’s like a painful dose of reality everywhere

What a recording. Definitely doesn't seem like it's 25 years old. Great time capsule of Layne and the band

Mike McCready, you know, the guy responsible for the music playing guitar, was not shown until 2:16. That’s insane.

I named my first born Layne, She is 8, and man do I miss that time and space.

I just keep playing this over and over been clean for 2 years after a 20 year battle damn the memories ! Layne my heart breaks for you wish you could have made it thru we miss you so bad! No one can ever replace Layne Thomas Staley! Your wings were not denied and now you fly high with Mike, Chris,Chester Kurt and Andy and all the other Legends we lost! But Layne I got to say you’re the one who really broke my heart,too beautiful and sensitive for this cruel world!

Always loved Laynes voice. This is my favorite song of his. By the way , who is that beautiful girl at 0:14