Key Takeaways
- Tribute Songs: Numerous rock and metal songs honor late grunge musicians, showcasing their lasting impact.
- Community Loss: The Seattle music scene experienced profound grief following the deaths of influential figures like Andrew Wood and Kurt Cobain.
- Confirmed Inspirations: Only songs with confirmed tributes from artists are included, ensuring authenticity in the tributes.
- Enduring Influence: The legacy of grunge musicians continues to inspire new music and artists today.
Did you know there are at least 15 rock and metal songs that were written in tribute to late grunge musicians?
The Seattle music scene that formed in the late ’80s was a tight-knit community of bands from the Pacific Northwest that all went to each others’ shows and supported one another.
In 1990, that community suffered its first big loss — Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood.
It’s often said by key members of that scene that Wood would have become a huge star if he hadn’t died so young. His stage presence, his confidence and his musical talent influenced his peers and so his death affected them deeply. Many of them turned to music to channel their pain, thus a great deal of songs were written about Wood by musicians both inside and outside of the Seattle music scene.
The same thing happened a few years later with Kurt Cobain, whose tragic 1994 death was publicized on a much grander scale since Seattle was in the spotlight of the rock world at the time — and Nirvana were in the dead center of it.
It happened again in the early 2000s after Layne Staley lost his battle with addiction. And again later on.
READ MORE: The Best Ballad by 13 Big Grunge Artists
There is a lot of speculation about whether certain songs were written about certain musicians, thus we opted to only include songs where the performing artist confirmed they were written about someone. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Tearjerker” is widely believed to have been written about Cobain, but Anthony Kiedis hasn’t actually said that it was, for example.
Grunge may have only been at the forefront of the music scene for a couple of years, but the impact the icons from that scene had will last until the end of time. Keep reading to learn about songs that were written as tributes to late grunge musicians.
-
1
Temple of the Dog, ‘Say Hello 2 Heaven’
Chris Cornell was inspired to start the Temple of the Dog project after his close friend and roommate, Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood, died at the age of 24 in 1990 from a drug overdose. Therefore the entire album — which he worked on with Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder — was technically a tribute to Wood. “Say Hello 2 Heaven” and “Reach Down” are the two tracks that were actually written about Wood’s death, though.
The former references Wood’s fiancee Xana La Fuente in the lyrics, “Poor Stargazer / She’s got no tears in her eyes,” as “Stargazer” was a nickname Wood had given her and the title of a song he wrote about her for Mother Love Bone (which mentions her name in the lyrics).
“[Andrew] was kind of like this beam of light above [the Seattle scene]. To see him hooked up to machines, that was the death of the innocence of the scene,” Cornell once said in an interview.
-
2
Alice In Chains, ‘Would?’
Jerry Cantrell wrote Alice In Chains’ hit “Would?” after Cameron Crowe asked him to write a song for a movie he was working on at the time about Seattle. The track was inspired by the death of Wood, as several others on this list were, because the late singer had also been good friends with Cantrell.
“I was thinking a lot about Andrew Wood at the time. We always had a great time when we did hang out, much like Chris Cornell and I do,” the guitarist wrote in the liner notes for Alice’s 1999 compilation Music Bank.
“There was never really a serious moment or conversation; it was all fun. Andy was a hilarious guy, full of life and it was really sad to lose him. But I always hate people who judge the decisions others make. So it was also directed towards people who pass judgments.”
The song appeared on the soundtrack for Crowe’s film Singles and also on Alice’s 1992 album Dirt, though Cantrell later revealed in another interview that they didn’t initially intend to include it on the album because it wasn’t recorded during the sessions for it.
-
3
Faster Pussycat, ‘Mr. Lovedog’
Wood’s death impacted people outside of the Pacific Northwest too — Faster Pussycat’s “Mr. Lovedog” from their 1992 album Whipped! was written as a tribute to the late singer.
The song features lyrics such as, “The star dog left the mother bone” and “This is goodbye to Captain Hi-Top /
Hope your Pearl Jam can keep it strong.”Although the media often paints hair metal and grunge as having a rivalry back in the early ’90s, that wasn’t necessarily the case.
“I met Andrew a few times,” Faster Pussycat vocalist Taime Downe told Alabama publication Al.com.
“[I] was friends with Chris Cornell, Layne from Alice in Chains, Mike Starr the bass player; a lot of people that are gone. I’m friends with Jerry, with all the Chains guys. Mike and Layne, I knew the best.”
-
4
Candlebox, ‘Far Behind’
Candlebox were a few years younger than the core grunge bands; which is why they’re often categorized as post-grunge. Regardless, frontman Kevin Martin had developed a friendship with Wood, Cornell and many of the other musicians from the early grunge scene once he moved to Seattle. His band’s smash hit “Far Behind” was actually written about Wood’s death.
“Andy is the guy who inspired the songs. Every night I sing ‘Far Behind,’ it’s about him. It will always be that way for me. Andy was massive inspiration for me. He actually gave me the time of day,” Martin told Medium in 2017.
“I wasn’t on speed dial on his phone but we were friends. Like [David] Bowie or Elton John are for some people; Andy was that way for me. There was something really special about him; the way he sang and wrote songs keeps me going back to who he was.”
-
5
R.E.M., ‘Let Me In’
Like Wood, quite a few songs were written about Cobain’s death in 1994. One of them was by R.E.M., as Michael Stipe was close friends with Nirvana frontman. He wrote “Let Me In” in response to Cobain’s death.
“It’s all Kurt and it was completely unedited. It fell out of me so quickly,” Stipe recalled to SiriusXM. “It’s about wanting so desperately to help someone who’s in such a dark place and feeling completely helpless and feeling that hopelessness of ‘No matter how much I can offer up myself; it’s not going to be enough.’
-
6
Neil Young + Crazy Horse, ‘Sleeps With Angels’
Neil Young never met Cobain but praised each other’s music in interviews in the ’90s. Young told The Guardian in 2002 that he tried to reach out to Cobain during the week that he died in April ’94 but never got ahold of him.
“I read something and someone told me a few things that made me think he was in trouble that week,” Young remembered.
Cobain quoted Young’s lyrics “It’s better to burn out than to fade away” from “Hey Hey, My My” in his suicide note. Young was deeply affected by it and wrote “Sleeps With Angels” in response.
“I like to think that I possibly could have done something,” Young told The Guardian.
“I was just trying to reach him; trying to connect up with him. It’s just too bad I didn’t get a shot. I didn’t get a shot. I had an impulse to connect; only when he used my song in that suicide note did our connection get made; then I felt it was really unfortunate that I didn’t get through to him; I might’ve been able to make things a little lighter for him; that’s all — just lighten it up a little bit.”
-
7
Pearl Jam, ‘4/20/02’
Pearl Jam’s tribute to Layne Staley is a hidden track within “Bee Girl,” which appears on their 2003 compilation album Lost Dogs.The tribute is titled “4/20/02” because that’s when Vedder heard about Staley’s death. The vocalist performs this track alone with an acoustic guitar.
“It was a real personal song Vedder wrote on the night we all found out Staley died,” Gossard told Billboard. “He stayed there; didn’t work on anything else and worked this song up.”
“He wrote it in ukulele tuning so it had this weird vibe to it; it was sad,” McCready added.
-
8
Cold, ‘The Day Seattle Died’
Scooter Ward from Cold wrote “The Day Seattle Died” about both Cobain and Staley as they died on April 5 eight years apart. He told Song Facts that he chose this title because those losses represented what he felt was “the day Seattle died.”
“I had met Layne Staley before when he was really sick; we were on tour with Jerry Cantrell who knew I was a giant fan of Alice In Chains,” Ward remembered.
“He came backstage with me; it impacted me deeply seeing him like this because he was one of my biggest idols ever; we opened up some Jack Daniel’s together; I talked with him for hours; but seeing him look years older than what I thought he would be affected me deeply — I knew when he left that night it would be over — I’m thankful I got those moments with him.”
This song is dedicated not only to Cobain but also because Nirvana’s vocalist influenced Ward greatly throughout his life.
-
9
Mark Lanegan, ‘Way to Tomorrow’
Mark Lanegan worked with Staley during sessions for Mad Season’s sole album Above , appearing on several tracks together where they developed close friendship leading Lanegan writing two songs about Staley’s struggles.
The first song titled “Last One In The World” came out four years before Staley’s passing; its lyrics served as an early tribute: “I hear you whisper see you soon / Within your lonely room / I watch you falling through dark.”
A few years later Lanegan penned another track called “Way To Tomorrow”; recorded for his demo album Houston Publishing Demos 2002 , released later in 2015 after Staley’s passing.
Lamenting over “Way To Tomorrow,” Lanegan stated: “A song I wrote upon receiving devastating news Layne had died” [via Unmask.us].
Sadly Lanegan has also passed away recently too;
-
10
Staind, ‘Layne’
Aaron Lewis penned “Layne” featured on Staind’s 2003 album 14 Shades Of Grey , honoring Staley posthumously due influence from Alice In Chains’ works throughout Lewis’ career;
“The perspective taken seemed like nothing much happened regarding his passing,” Lewis remarked back then [via Blabbermouth];
“It’s simply ‘I won’t forget who you were’ regarding what you did for me during tough times even if not using heroin while relating through your words helping me cope through struggles faced like many others.”;
-
11
Black Label Society, ‘Layne’
Zakk Wylde composed another track titled “Layne” dedicated towards Alice In Chains’ singer reflecting upon life/death experiences surrounding him;
“I wrote this tribute wondering what thoughts crossed his mind during struggles faced throughout life,” Wylde commented while discussing inspirations behind writing lyrics;
“Never having done heroin myself while enjoying drinks socially made me reflect deeply into Layne’s mindset while crafting those lyrics.”;
-
12
Alice In Chains, ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’
Alice In Chains released Black Gives Way To Blue seven years post-Staley’s passing featuring vocalist William DuVall where Cantrell expressed grief felt after losing their dear friend;
Cantrell shared how prior writing process led towards illness experienced months before creating this heartfelt track;
“They never could find anything wrong with me while feeling sick until starting writing process which alleviated symptoms experienced previously,” Cantrell shared regarding emotional weight behind composition;
This song became one among heaviest pieces crafted during career described by Cantrell himself saying “And that’s fucking heavy.”;
Cantrell sent demo version over Elton John asking if willing play piano alongside honoring Layne which Rocket Man agreed upon playing piano during recording session afterwards!
-
13
Metallica,’Just A Bullet Away’
The entirety surrounding Staley’s passing inspired Metallica’s entire album released back then titled Death Magnetic yet one specific track named “Just A Bullet Away” focused directly onto Alice In Chains’ singer life/death experiences;
This particular piece wasn’t included within original release but saw light later around year 2011 where Hetfield expressed thoughts surrounding writing process stating how learned through Jerry Cantrell regarding Layne’s journey throughout struggles faced together leading towards creating this piece!
“Started crafting song around type character resembling Layne Staley — magnetized towards darkness despite immense talent possessed,” Hetfield shared reflecting upon inspiration behind creation!
-
Tagged:link in biolistsnewsrock
14
Alice In Chains,’Never Fade’
Alice In Chains transformed pain/grief into beautiful melodies such as “Never Fade” released within their latest album titled Rainier Fog where DuVall expressed thoughts surrounding multiple individuals lost during writing process including memories shared alongside Layne Staley;
“Thoughts surrounded grandmother who passed away months earlier while reflecting upon Layne along Chris Cornell whom departed shortly before — allowing emotions wash over leading towards significant spiritual experience felt afterwards!”
