Late Alice in Chains Vocalist Layne Staley’s ‘Journals’ on New York Time’s Best-Seller List
Such a beautiful, sad yet talented soul, lost too soon, like they all are. Layne Staley was the frontman of Alice in Chains who unfortunately left this mortal coil April 5, 2002, leaving behind such a big hole in literally everything. He had many journals filled with his personal musings, and those that weren’t turned into songs have now been turned into a book called This Angry Pen Of Mine: Recovering The Journals Of Layne Staley. The book, which released November 11, 2025, has now found itself sitting at the No. 14 spot on The New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction best-seller list. I’m not surprised.
Published by Weldon Owen in partnership with Primary Wave Music, This Angry Pen Of Mine offers a hella intimate look into Staley’s creative brain through his poetry, original artwork, handwritten lyrics, rare candid photos, tributes from fans, and more.
Staley’s mother Nancy McCallum wrote the forward for the book, which includes the hopeful line: “I hope this book gives you a glimpse of the son I knew, the one beyond the headlines, the one with a beautiful, creative, happy soul.”
Primary Wave Music’s James Janocha had this to comment about Staley’s writing: “Layne’s songwriting has left an unmistakable imprint on the music world, and its significance only grows with time. We’re honored to showcase his talents as a writer and to help ensure his legacy continues to shine.”
What’s even more beautiful is that proceeds from the sales of This Angry Pen Of Mine: Recovering The Journals Of Layne Staley will go to Layne Staley Memorial Fund, a charity dedicated to providing education, support, and treatment funds for heroin addiction recovery. Staley himself had passed from a speedball overdose, and had a long and troubled history with heroin addiction leading up to his death.
Proceeds from sales of “This Angry Pen Of Mine” will benefit the Layne Staley Memorial Fund, a charitable fund dedicated to providing hope, education, support and treatment funds for heroin addiction recovery.
This Angry Pen Of Mine: Recovering The Journals Of Layne Staley is available now wherever you can buy a damn book.
