The 20th anniversary of the death of late Alice In Chains frontman Layne Staley’s girlfriend Demri Parrott was over the weekend. Alice In Chains: The Untold Story author David de Sola shared some information with Alternative Nation about the wedding that never came to be between Staley and Parrott, and how the planned site of the wedding eventually was where a much sadder event took place.
“People who knew both of them well generally agree (and told me) that Layne never got over Demri’s death. He was already pretty reclusive in 1996, but after her death, there were only three recordings that I know of (Despiseley Brothers, 2 AIC songs, and a Pink Floyd cover for a movie soundtrack). He was supposed to record guest vocals for a song by Taproot, but his body was found shortly before a recording session was set to take place.
The last time Kathleen Austin – Demri’s mother – saw Layne was in 1997. He wanted a teddy bear that Demri had had with her in hospital. Austin got that bear back after it was found in Layne’s things after his death. She also has Demri’s engagement ring that Layne gave her. The engagement was called off, but she did pick out a dress. They had chosen Kiana Lodge on Bainbridge Island as the wedding venue, that’s why the private invitation-only memorial service for Layne’s family and close friends was held there in 2002.
Mike Starr said he was going to be best man at Layne and Demri’s wedding. Neither Demri’s mother nor Layne’s stepfather have been able to confirm that. Thinking about both of them yesterday and today, and what might have been. RIP Layne and Demri.”
Demri Parrott died on October 29, 1996. Layne Staley died on April 5, 2002.
