Coincidentally, two of the godfather's of grunge, Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley share the same death anniversary - 5th of April.
In 1994, Kurt, 27, took his own life. The Alice in Chains front man tragically passed eight years later, from a heroin overdose.
Both Layne and Kurt's music is timeless and their young faces, and tragic ends have been immortalised by pop culture. But today we want to remember them as the men they were, the lives they lead, and the words they spoke.
READ MORE: Are the 90s a cursed decade for rock?
"They laugh at me because I’m different; I laugh at them because they’re all the same." – Kurt Cobain
"I guess I can go anywhere I want. If only I knew where to go." -Layne Staley
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." – Kurt Cobain
"Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest, strongest, wisest person that I can be." - Layne Staley
"The duty of youth is to challenge corruption." – Kurt Cobain
"I've always looked for the perfect life to step into. I've taken all the paths to get where I wanted. But no matter where I go, I still come home." - Layne Staley
“If you die you’re completely happy and your soul somewhere lives on. I’m not afraid of dying. Total peace after death, becoming someone else is the best hope I’ve got.”
– Kurt Cobain
"Nobody dies a virgin. Life fucks us all." – Kurt Cobain
"My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title." - Layne Staley
"Drugs are not the way to the light. They won't lead to a fairy-tale life, they lead to suffering."
- Layne Staley
“Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and your self-respect and everything that goes along with with your self-esteem. They’re no good at all.”
– Kurt Cobain
"Kurt and I weren't the closest of friends, but I knew him well enough to be devastated by his death. For such a quiet person, he was so excited about having a child."
– Layne Staley
“Holding my baby is the best drug in the world.” – Kurt Cobain
"I saw all the suffering that Kurt Cobain went through. I saw this real vibrant person turn into a real shy, timid, withdrawn person."
- Layne Staley
I have to admit I’ve found myself doing the same things that a lot of other rock stars do or are forced to do. Which is not being able to respond to mail, not being able to keep up on current music, and I’m pretty much locked away a lot. The outside world is pretty foreign to me. ”
– Kurt Cobain
"I'd like to fly, but my wings have been so denied."
- Layne Staley
“If you ever need anything please don’t hesitate to ask someone else first.”
– Kurt Cobain
"It was all about music, about getting your friends to come and see you play. I don't see that same intimacy happening very much today."
- Layne Staley
"I’m a spokesman for myself. It just so happens that there’s a bunch of people that are concerned with what I have to say. I find that frightening at times because I’m just as confused as most people. I don’t have the answers for anything.” – Kurt Cobain
"We write about ourselves because we know about ourselves."
- Layne Staley
"I am not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off homophobes." – Kurt Cobain
"When everyone goes home, you're stuck with yourself." – Layne Staley
"Rape is one of the most terrible crimes on earth and it happens every few minutes. The problem with groups who deal with rape is that they try to educate women about how to defend themselves. What really needs to be done is teaching men not to rape. Go to the source and start there." – Kurt Cobain
The finest day I ever had was when tomorrow never came. – Kurt Cobain
"I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain
