Tribute Weekend Review
Issue 3 · August 2026
A record-breaking weekend. The biggest turnout in tribute history, a mobile clinic parked out front, merchandise sold clean out — and next year, Layne turns sixty.
A Weekend for the Books
This year’s Layne Staley Tribute Weekend set a new record. We nearly doubled our attendance from last year — more people gathered at the Showbox and the International Fountain than ever before in the history of this event.
Both Layne Staley Tribute on Saturday and Grunge Night on Friday were nearly sold out. The energy in that room — people who travel from across the country and around the world to be in Seattle for Layne’s birthday — was something none of us will forget.
Thank You, Jar of Flies
None of this happens without the music. We want to thank JT Phillips and Jar of Flies — the Alice in Chains tribute band that has anchored the Saturday night show year after year — for delivering a performance that left the room shaking. They gave everything they had, and the crowd gave it right back.
Our deepest thanks also to every guest musician who took the stage across the weekend. The artists who came out to perform the songs of Alice in Chains, Mad Season, and the Seattle bands that shaped a generation — your generosity and talent are what make this tribute what it is. You honored Layne, and you honored everyone who came to remember him.
The Merch Table
We sold out. Every piece of show merchandise — every tribute T-shirt, poster, and event item — was gone by the end of Saturday night. On top of that, we sold over a dozen new items from the online store during the weekend, with attendees grabbing hoodies, beanies, mugs, and candles to take home.
The Flannel
The standout: the Layne Staley Unisex Flannel Shirt. It was the talk of the merch table — people were picking it up, feeling the weight, and wearing it out of the venue. If you didn’t get yours at the show, they’re available online now.
The Mobile Unit, Parked Out Front
If you walked up to the Showbox on Saturday, you saw it before you saw the marquee. The Layne Staley Mobile Medical Unit — Layne’s image on the side, “Hope Starts Here” across the front — parked right there at the box office. Not as a display. As a statement.
Everything this community has built — every ticket bought, every candle lit, every shirt sold, every dollar donated to the Memorial Fund — led to that bus being there. Through your contributions to Therapeutic Health Services (THS), the mobile unit is now on the road in Seattle, bringing 12 step treatment to patients in low income housing and tiny home villages. Three sites daily. Monday through Saturday.
It carries Layne’s image on its exterior. THS was one of the organizations that supported Layne during his own struggle. That history isn’t lost on anyone involved.
Having it in front of the show box this weekend was a testament to everyone who has contributed to the cause. People walked past it on their way in to hear the music. Some stopped. Some took photos. Some just stood there for a minute. That bus is what the tribute is actually for.
And this year, with nearly double the attendance, our contribution to the charity nearly doubled with it. The bigger this gets, the more people it reaches.
Book Signing at the Fountain
On Thursday night, at the International Fountain, Layne’s parents — Nancy McCallum and Phil Staley — signed copies of This Angry Pen of Mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley for fans who had gathered with their candles.
The book is Layne’s journals — handwritten lyrics, personal poetry, original artwork, rare photographs, and fan tributes. An intimate look at the private life behind the public voice.
This Angry Pen of Mine is available at any bookstore or can be ordered, on Amazon, and at Barnes & Noble.
Next Year: Layne’s 60th
August 22, 2027 would have been Layne’s 60th birthday.
That number carries weight. And what happened this year — the record turnout, the near-sellout shows, the mobile unit parked at the door, the charity contribution nearly doubled — sets the precedent for what next year needs to be. The biggest tribute this community has ever put together, for a milestone birthday that demands it.
If you were there this year, you already know what it felt like. If you weren’t — start planning. We’ll see you in Seattle.
See you next year. Bring a candle.
All proceeds benefit the Layne Staley Memorial Fund — Therapeutic Health Services
My name is Sam, I’m here from Nashville. and Layne Staley is 1 of 1. His music will go on and on..
Amen!