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The journals of late Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley will be collected in an upcoming book, with This Angry Pen to be released in November.
The 176-page volume will be officially released on Nov. 11 via publisher Weldon Owen, with its full title reading This Angry Pen: The Lost Journals of Layne Staley. According to a description of the book on the website of distributors Simon & Schuster, the book collects “handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes” and more.
“For the first time, this stunning collection unveils the deeply personal and creative side of the legendary Alice in Chains frontman,” it continues. “Through never-before-seen poetry, raw handwritten lyrics, intimate scribblings, and heartfelt notes, Layne’s inner thoughts and emotions come to life, offering a glimpse into the mind of a musical genius who defined a generation.”
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Staley began his musical journey in the ‘80s, performing in glam bands in the Seattle area such as Sleze, which changed its name in 1986 to Alice N’ Chains.
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In 1987, Staley – along with guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Starr and drummer Sean Kinney – formed a new band and renamed it Alice in Chains. The group would soon become one of the most influential grunge rock outfits of the ‘90s, with their 1995 self-titled album peaking atop the Billboard 200.
In addition to performing and recording with supergroups Mad Season and Class of ‘99 through the decade, Staley became largely reclusive in the latter half of the ‘90s, battling depression and drug addiction during those years. In April 17, 2002, Staley’s body was found in his Seattle apartment, with an autopsy ruling his death as an accidental overdose of cocaine and heroin from two weeks prior.
Alice in Chains would later reform in 2005, with vocalist William DuVall joining the following year. The band have since released three studio albums, with 2018’s Rainier Fog serving as their last record to date.
“Through Layne’s scribblings and heartfelt musings are a window into the emotional depths of a man who gave so much of himself to his art and his fans, even as he struggled with his own battles,” the description for This Angry Pen continued. “For fans new and old, this is an opportunity to connect with Layne’s artistry and humanity in a way that’s never been possible before. His story, told through his own words, creations, and the lives he forever changed, is a testament to the enduring power of music, art, and the human spirit.”
The publication of This Angry Pen also draws some comparisons to the 2002 book Journals, which collected the drawings and writings of late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Nirvana and Alice in Chains – along with fellow Seattle contemporaries Pearl Jam and Soundgarden – were often considered to make up the ‘Big Four’ of grunge music. Reaction to Cobain’s Journals was mixed upon its release, with Cobain’s daughter Frances Bean expressing her regret over its publication in 2018.
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has dismissed his bandmates’ decision to reform with Frank Carter on vocals, likening the whole endeavor to “karaoke”.
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News of a tour from the Sex Pistols emerged in 2024 when it was first announced that the band – featuring original members Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Glen Matlock – were to reunite for a two-night affair to benefit West London’s Bush Hall.
The reunion did not, however, feature Lydon, who served as the vocalist of the band under his Johnny Rotten moniker. Instead, the group was to be fronted by Carter, who has previously fronted acts such as Gallows, Pure Love and Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes.
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The initial shows soon led to further dates around the U.K. and Europe, with the band billed as Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter. Further shows have since been announced for Australia, New Zealand, and other European countries throughout 2025. In January, Jones confirmed U.S. dates would follow, though specifics are yet to arrive.
Lydon, however, had remained largely quiet in regard to the nascent shows from the band. On Thursday (Feb. 13), he spoke to British publication The i Paper about the tour, explaining that he largely felt “annoyed” by the whole affair and feared it would tarnish the group’s legacy.
“When I first heard that the Sex Pistols were touring this year without me it pissed me off,” he explained. “It annoyed me. I just thought, ‘they’re absolutely going to kill all that was good with the Pistols by eliminating the point and the purpose of it all.’ I didn’t write those words lightly. They’re trying to trivialise the whole show to get away with karaoke but in the long term I think you’ll see who has the value and who doesn’t. I’ve never sold my soul to make a dollar. It’s the Catholic in me – that guilt I don’t want to trip.
“Like Nancy Reagan, I’ve always found it easy to just say ‘no,’” he continued. “If something challenges your heart and your soul and your mind and your sense of purity of what is right and wrong in the world, then just say no. Which, according to the corporate thinking which riddles the music business earns me the title of ‘difficult to work with’ – a title of which I’m very proud.”
The new tour is not the first time, however, that Sex Pistols members have performed songs with a different vocalist. In recent years, Jones and Cook teamed up with Billy Idol and Tony James of Generation X to form the supergroup Generation Sex. Though initially a one-off occurrence in 2018, the group would later embark on a European tour in 2023.
Lydon touched on both the nascent iteration of the Sex Pistols and the Generation Sex group in another recent interview with the Classic Album Review podcast, claiming it’s his presence that makes for the genuine article.
“I wrote the fucking songs, didn’t I? I gave them the image,” he explained. ”I was the frontman. I am the voice what made the whole world sing. And now [they’re] going out, as they did the year before with Billy Idol. It’s just karaoke, really.
“I would love to be embarrassed by high-quality songwriting from them,” he continued. “They’ve had long enough to get that together now, haven’t they? But no. They profess their hatred for me, but they can’t live without me. I am the punishment that goes on giving.”
The Sex Pistols initially existed from 1975 until 1978, releasing their sole studio album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols in 1977. Lauded as a pioneering punk outfit despite their short initial tenure, the band would later reform in 1996 for a world tour, and undertook sporadic tours until 2008.
Famously, the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, though refused to attend the ceremony, labeling the institution a “piss stain.”
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Today, Goldenvoice announced the lineup for Cali Vibes, June 7 and 8 at Marina Green Park in Long Beach. The four-year festival had been held in February in previous years, but is making the move toward summer time to “fully embrace California’s renowned sunshine while keeping the party going all weekend long.”
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This year’s highly anticipated lineup features performances by the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning hip-hop icon Kid Cudi, multi-platinum SoCal legends Cypress Hill, rapper Ludacris, Steel Pulse, Billboard chart-topping reggae acts Collie Buddz, Dirty Heads, Iration, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, J Boog, as well as other stars of the reggae, hip-hop, ska, and punk genres including DENM, Rome, Shwayze, The Elovaters, YG Marley, and many more!
Goldenvoice Talent Buyer, Gaston Leone said “as we celebrate the fourth year of Cali Vibes, our goal remains the same—crafting a lineup that reflects this scene’s evolution while staying true to its essence, set against the stunning backdrop of Long Beach.”
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This year’s festival will be Stick Figure’s only Southern California performance of 2025. Slightly Stoopid will unite with their musical family and special guest performers for an unforgettable set with friends. Cypress Hill will take the stage and perform hits from their legendary, multi-platinum album Black Sunday alongside fan favorites from their extensive catalog.
Coming off an electric performance at Coachella 2024, YG Marley, the son of Lauryn Hill and grandson of Bob Marley, will showcase his unique musical talents while paying homage to his rich family heritage. In a highly anticipated moment, Rome, formerly of Sublime with Rome, will make his solo debut in his beloved hometown. Additionally, Landon McNamara, 11th all-time winner of the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational (“The Eddie”), will take the stage, bringing his passion for surfing and music to new heights.
Organizers encourage fans to register now for access to passes, which go on sale this Friday, February 21, at 11 a.m. Pacific. Payment plans are available for $49.99 or 50% down. A Past Purchaser Presale begins Thursday, February 20, at 11 a.m. PT for returning members of the Cali Vibes family who previously purchased passes to the festival. Organizers say $5 from every pass sold will be spent to support the festival’s sustainability goals and initiatives. Beach Club passes and GA 4-packs are also available.
To thank first responders for their life-saving efforts during Southern California’s recent fires, the festival is selling a limited-edition t-shirt, with 100% of the net proceeds donated to the California Fire Foundation. In addition, there is a special complimentary merch bundle exclusively available to those who purchase Cali Vibes passes via GovX. The first 500 attendees that show proof of their GovX pass at the festival merchandise booth at the event will receive this ‘Thank You Bundle.’
More at www.CaliVibesFest.com.
Rick Buckler, a longtime rocker best known as the drummer for legendary band The Jam, has died. He was 69 years old. The news of his death was announced on X via a heartfelt message from his bandmate, Paul Weller. “I’m shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing. I’m thinking back to us all rehearsing in […]
Six months ago, Ryan Tedder experienced a fortuitous full-circle moment.
His longtime friend, Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Savan Kotecha, texted him about an artist he thought Tedder should be aware of: pioneering Punjabi artist Karan Aujla. “He sends me a link and I was like, ‘Yeah, I already know who this guy is,’” recalls Tedder today, sitting in his West Hollywood home studio.
While performing with OneRepublic at the second edition of Lollapalooza India in January 2024, Tedder was asking locals and the band’s promoter “who’s popping” in India. They all mentioned Karan. “I went and listened to the music and I was like, ‘Oh, this is super tight. This is different,’” he says, explaining Punjabi as an Indian language that is emerging as its own subgenre and growing rapidly both locally and globally. At the time, Tedder mentally bookmarked Karan and carried on – until Kotecha came along and filled the gap.
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Kotecha introduced Tedder to Karan’s friend and producer, Ikky, “and that’s where the whole thing connected,” says Tedder. The two met in L.A. and Ikky played Tedder in-progress tracks, including one that was called “Dassde” at the time. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is crazy.’ I asked him what the phrase meant, and he said it means ‘tell me.’ I wish all sessions went that quick.”
“Before this collaboration, Ikky and I always used to talk about how we wanted to do something out here with our music,” says Karan, 28, who is seated next to Tedder while on a quick trip to Los Angeles to shoot the song’s music video. “And then he had mentioned you guys were talking and I thought he was just kidding. Like, it’s not gonna happen. And then I remember being on tour Ikky sends me a rough draft and the first thing I hear is [Ryan] singing. And then it’s me jumping in with my Punjabi verse. And I was like, ‘Oh shit, it’s a Punjabi-English track.’ I was so excited at that point.”
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And now, on Wednesday (Feb. 19), their historic collaboration finally arrives, marking both OneRepublic and Karan’s first English-Punjabi collaboration. The song’s music video, starring Indian actress Disha Patani, is out the same day.
“Sometimes,” Karan continues, “we feel like we manifested doing this with you, Ryan.”
You two just met in person for the first time – what brought you together?
Ryan: We were supposed to shoot the video, [when we] had enough of a finished version [of the song]. We just got back from Asia – we were in China and Vietnam and Japan and Korea, and we started in Bangkok for a few days. [Karan] wrapped his tour in India doing this massive sold out tour. And we were originally going to shoot the video in Little India, in Bangkok, and he got sick. It was the end of the tour. We punted and so we just now shot it this week.
Karan, you moved to Canada in your late teens. When did you become aware of OneRepublic as a music fan?
Karan: When I heard [hums “I Ain’t Worried”]. Ikky told me, because obviously I’m born in Punjab and I wasn’t aware of how the music worked out here. So, I came to Canada, met Ikky back in the days but before this collaboration me and Ikky always used to talk about how we wanted to do something out here with our music. But just being in Canada, that’s how I heard there’s this band called OneRepublic.
It only took six months for this song to arrive from the time Savan connected you, Ryan, with Ikky. Tell me about that timeline.
Ryan: Initially, we were racing: “Can we get it out in November, December?” I was like, what are we thinking? It’s Christmas. It’s a death trap, you’re gonna get smashed by Mariah [Carey], you’re gonna get smashed by Ariana [Grande], and just all the other stuff. So then we punted to February, which I’m really happy about because we’re going to be back in Asia a couple of times this year and India is going to be part of that. So the time is perfect and this is one of those where it’s like, I didn’t expect to love a bilingual record as much as this. I’ve probably listened to this demo more than anything, honestly, because it just feels good. And I think we’re even talking about doing an English language version as well. Most of our fans don’t speak Punjab.
Karan, why do you think Punjabi music is up next and, thanks to OneRepublic, catching on in the States?
Karan: I feel like people are more open now, even artists, to new languages, working with people, creating new ideas and it just helps artists like me to bring what they have [to] the table. This is the time for artists like me to actually experiment. My main thing is I just want to make the first Punjabi record that goes everywhere. My Spotify wasn’t like this always. It’s just happening over the last three-four years [of gradual growth]. We can see it happening in front of our eyes; if people want it, why don’t we just serve them what they want? Like, people in India want English on Indian records. They love these collaborations. They love when I’m singing in Hindi or Punjabi and then a verse in English comes. Even some rappers from India are rapping in English and Hindi. People are already into it. And we just need to do it more in a proper way.
Ryan: And one of the main reasons Punjabi music has exploded, including in cities and regions of India – because Punjabi is from the north – like Bombay, where five years ago, nobody knew what Punjabi music was…
Karan: They didn’t want to hear it, honestly.
Ryan: He’s the reason. Honestly, he’s one of the main reasons that Punjabi music has exploded. He was the right person at the right time. Anyone who’s not paying attention to India or Southeast Asia right now, on a cultural tip, is asleep at the wheel.
Karan: Our first thing was to actually take Punjabi all over India. And now, a few songs have blown up in India. And now this song is for the States or any place where they don’t care what language it’s in, it’s just a good song. And that’s all we’re trying to do here, man, and hopefully it’s going to work.
Ryan: Teach people some Punjabi too.
Karan: If Ryan understands it… it’s not that hard. Yesterday we made some content for social media and he’s speaking Punjabi fluently. Hopefully, in our next song, I’ll be singing a verse in English and you’ll be singing a verse in Punjabi.
What are the key production elements of a Punjabi song?
Ryan: In this record there was a learning curve for me. I’ve obviously heard Punjabi music and Hindi music, and musically there’s a lot of similarities in Punjabi and Hindi. The language is different, obviously. But you’re using a tabla. There’s hand drums that are being used, some of which exist in the States, some of which don’t. One of my favorite sections of the whole record Ikky did, which is a drum break in the bridge that’s just a jam, it’s just a dance moment. It’s so festive and full of life and it’s layers of tabla and Indian hand drums and Punjabi instruments. The only time I’ve ever used any of that was if I’m doing Timbaland style hip-hop stuff because he leaned heavy into East Indian and Punjabi instruments. It’s not a mandolin. It sounds like a mandolin to us, but it’s basically an Indian version of a mandolin that’s a key element throughout the whole song. We’re not using a sitar or anything like that, it’s a little too shtick. And then the cadence, it’s all swung. If you think about it, all their music is played by hand. So I used all live kicks when I did the drums. It’s weird to reference, but I was thinking of stuff from like, 10-12 years ago. I didn’t want it to feel too modern. I love Sabrina Carpenter, but we’re not making “Espresso.” It’s a different style. So I had to lean into the cadence of what his verses were and Ikky helped a ton because I was like, “I’m not going to be the white idiot that steps foot into a culture and misappropriates it.” It has to be exact.
Karan: And the way you did it, it doesn’t sound forced. It’s one of my favorite tracks that I’ve ever worked on.
Tell me about filming the music video together with the band.
Karan: It’s like a story of our concert that’s [hopefully] happening in the future, in India…
Ryan: That’s really what it is.
Karan: It was two days [of filming] in a row. Kind of tiring, but we made a lot of memories there. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.
Ryan: We were in a Hollywood backlot, which was pretty cool. I mean, from my perspective, I was like, this is a Bollywood video. There’s big time elements of Bollywood happening on camera.
Karan: It’s a mix.
What are your hopes for the song and video once they arrive?
Karan: Honestly, this is just the beginning and I’m just happy that we have this relationship now. I feel this big brother vibe from Ryan and I know if I need some guidance in the future…
Ryan: Just text.
Next summer, the goal is I want to go [to India] and be in a taxi cab or a Tuk Tuk and I want to hear this playing somewhere in the streets.
I’ve had things like this happen once in a blue moon. Everything happened so effortlessly and so seamlessly, including even now, the video getting cancelled and coming together and [getting] Disha who’s massive and just crushed it. All of those things threaded the needle for a multicultural record like this, it’s so exciting. I know people are going to love it.
Donnie Wahlberg is heading back to TV. CBS announced on Tuesday (Feb. 18) a new drama series with the working title Boston Blue, which will star the New Kids on the Block member, for the 2025-26 broadcast season. The show will expand on the popular, long-running show, Blue Bloods, in which Wahlberg appears as NYPD […]
Will Smith has a couple of eerie coincidences that he doesn’t like talking about too much. During a sit-down with the Broken Record podcast with co-host Justin Richmond, the entertainer revealed that he talked to The Notorious B.I.G. and Prince before their untimely deaths, with his run-in with Biggie being the first time he and […]