I've always wondered what causes AIC in me that makes me go and do things I never thought I would do, not even for just one second.

 

Since I was a child I used to see my uncles enjoying this kind of music, it was a pleasure for them to listen good Rock, I started to learn that originality is highly valued by my ears, I began to realize that in a specific musical style there is always someone that makes the difference and dazzles a certain people. Alice in Chains is very original and special, they have lyrics full of feelings and varied riffs, I take for granted we would never hear one riff similar to another.

 

By the way, my dog´s name is Layne, his wife is called Demri , and from the 5 little puppies they have , there´s a little Mike out there . My Layne won some time ago, the chance to appear in a video commemorating another year without our dear singer. The contest was about submitting stories and pictures related to Layne Staley. Stories from all over the world were selected, baby pictures with the name of Layne, Layne Tattoo’s, Framed Posters, t-shirts, etc. The story of my puppy, was basically that we found him on the street when he was just 2 months old, it was in April and had rained recently, he was full of cart´s grease all over his body, and had no hair because he had scabies, so we took him home, we gave him food, water , we bathe him and realized he was in really bad condition , we took him to the vet and he told us that his time was going to be short . We continued with the treatment anyway, with the idea of giving the puppy to someone because we could not have it. Eventually, the dog recovered 100% and made us laugh and was very grateful , so it was impossible to give this beautiful puppy Layne , and stayed until today ,with his large and extended family…they are 7 ... dogs now !

 

I always wanted to see Alice in Chains live, especially wanted to share experiences with them and asking them questions and stuff. Unfortunately I don´t know how to speak English, the little I know it´s really bad, but that doesn´t stop me to express myself in anyway. After the first time the band came to Chile to "Maquinaria Festival", I crossed my fingers to see them in a new tour and enjoy the band outside my country.

 

When it was announced that the first show would be in Miami, my hair dropped down of joy and I remember that the following day I went to Central Station and bought a Chilean flag to carry to Miami, with nothing but just faith , because I had to work to save money to go.

 

I sent money to my aunt who lives there to buy the tickets before they run out, I just thought things were like here in Chile, where you buy tickets like 3 months before, and when the day comes there are rows full of people like 10 hours before. American people are very cold cold and quiet there. So my aunt bought the tickets and I just had to wait for the happy day ... What makes me laugh is that I always do things thinking that everything will be alright, and everyone tells me I'm crazy and it´s not going to happen.

 

In 2011, nobody trusted I would welcome the band when they get off the plane, my wife told me I wouldn´t have the chance to see them and we were going to waste our time, until we saw them and had the chance to share with them. This second time I painted the Chilean flag with the sun logo AIC and I wrote a letter for the band, which mentioned the desire of the Chilean fans to have them back, but not in a festival, in a show of just them!

 

We arrived 5 hours before the show to be in the first places and get a good position inside the venue, we got off the bus and there was absolutely no one, I told my wife that maybe we were mistaken, so we asked someone if we were in the right place and told us it was there, so we were the first in line!I was so happy because I could enjoy the show where I wanted. Suddenly we realized that in front of us there was another row and it was even larger than ours, so we we asked why there was so many people on that row, and they told us those people had paid USD 15 additional, just to enter the venue 45 minutes before the rest of the people. Fuck!

 

I was so angry that I was going to be watching the show from the back and wouldn´t be able to give the flag and the letter to the band. But, Layne and Mike touched the heart of some beautiful human beings and they asked us if we were in the first in line.

 

A friend of us worked as a translator and he told them that we were the first ones. They gave us two tickets to be in the other row, wow! My wife looked at me and laughed, and she told me : “I don´t know how you do it, but you're very lucky!”

 

We got into the venue, and we stayed in the second row near the center of the stage, more on Jerry´s side. Ahead of us there were two Peruvian girls, and they allowed us to put the flag on the fence and well, it was worth the wait.

 

Monstro was the opening act. And then, AIC appeared. The beginning was brutal, I had Goosebumps and the whole theater was jumping, giving the band a very good welcome to this new tour. The band was full of energy and they wanted to do something big that day.

 

Mike put his eyes on our flag and was saying hello through the distance. I was looking for the opportunity to achieve my goals at all costs. Suddenly, I saw a chance to throw the letter to Will, but my wife stopped me and told me “be quiet”, because I could be thrown out of the venue for throwing a "projectile". Obiously, they didn´t know it was a letter.

 

When they were playing Would? the right time came, I shouted and called Will, I told him “it's from Chile”, and he stretched his hand, I was happy, First mission: accomplished. People around greeted me for doing that. Would? ends and Jerry is watching a doll of himself that my friend Michelle Sausedo made. Sean comes and laughs at Jerry, then look at our flag and says "Chili" Oooh thank you! He asked us for the flag and put it at the top of stage (It seems I´m living that moment again!), and everyone around me was really happy, the Peruvian girls were super happy for this achievement. After the interlude, Jerry appears and relocates the flag, in order to show everyone what it said; "Alice In Chains in Chile". I thought to myself “what the hell is doing a chilean flag in a concert in Miami? I have never seen AIC have put another country´s flag in a concert of another country. Do I make myself clear?

 

At the end of the show, the band approached to the crowd, they gave guitar picks, drumsticks, Jerry was very close to where I was and said good bye to us, so he gave me his hand the end.

 

Our flag?, Well it was on stage while we were looking for guitar picks on the floor (we found two by the way) but another astute Chilean guy asked the event staff for our flag. They gave it to him. I was frozen and I did nothing, but my wife without thinking went and told them it was our flag, they struggled with her, and I woke up and went to struggle too! The Chilean guy told me he has a restaurant of Chilean food in Miami and says that flag would look perfect there. I told him “this flag has no price, I'm sorry “and I took it.

 

Outside the venue I even forgot to buy souvenirs but we left happy, some Chileans were very happy and told me if they could be photographed with the flag, it was really an amazing night.

 

When we got home, we were kind of famous, our story appeared in local radio stations like “Futuro”, “Sonar”, etc.

 

Our goals were achieved. A few weeks later, Alice In Chains confirmed a show in Chile. I don´t know whether if we influenced or not, but what I do know, is that at least we were there and they received the message in a clear way! Mike told me when they landed in Chile in September 2013, that the Miami show was a great one and it really rocked!

 

Well it was a kind of long story, but I tried to remember everything I lived those days.I hope you like this story!

 

Link del video de la carta y la bandera: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151625320200281

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSQ60e4g_9s

 

Link del video conmemorativo de Layne Staley, min 7:40 aproximadamente: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgdBbrrra4M