I've been a fan of Alice in Chains since I met Layne & Mike at a couple parties in late 1987/early 1988. 

During the next few years I'd follow them at the Renton Musician's Hall or The Oz & some of the other local velnues they'd play at and I'd wave at them, hoping they'd remember me. 

 

After they'd been signed I still followed their success, by going to the concerts over the years. Then going to Mad Season at The Moore in 1995. 

 

Then after Layne passed away in April of 2002, I went on with my life and was actually lost because I myself was married to someone with a prescription drug addiction as he was a cancer survivor. In 2006 I separated from my husband and moved to an apartment close to my house so I could still check on him. 

 

In October 2010, I found my husband had died in his sleep and knew immediately what the cause was. My life couldn't have gotten any worse as I was in shock, but my dad then passed away 3 days later as he had early onset Parkinson's Disease & Alzheimer's. 

 

In 2012, I found myself pulling out my Alice CD's and listening to them constantly and remembering those years ago and also remembered what Layne went thru & same with my husband. I found the music to make sense to what was happening in my life at this moment, even though my CD's were 20 years old I listened again like it was the first time. I think because the music and the lyrics worked into my life & what I was going thru then. 

 

I started making friends in the community and I went to the first Mike Starr annual concert in March 2013. Then in August of 2013, I went to the Layne Staley vigil & then the concert. It was an amazing time for me and I knew after that, I'd attend ever year if it was all possible. I attended last year as well. 

 

It's an important event for me because we all connect together for the same purpose & for the same man. 

 

Here are the pictures from this last years vigil 2014. Layne Staley's mom Nancy McCallum is the one who plans the vigil every year. It's been at the Seattle Center Fountain on the Thursday before the weekend concert. 

 

 

Cindy Slade.

This is a collage I made for Nancy and presented to her this year.

Pino Foderero (from Italy) and Mike Spine, both talented musicians.

Then, on Christmas week I ran into Sean Kinney at the grocery store by where my work is. He was apparently shopping for a gathering. He was so cool with me and let me get this picture.