Sammy Hagar sings with Jerry Cantrell
Over the weekend, Sammy Hagar and Puddle of Mudd both paid tribute to Alice In Chains. Sammy Hagar was joined by Jerry Cantrell at his birthday bash and sang “Man in the Box” with Cantrell as the Layne Staley classic celebrated its 25th anniversary. Cantrell also performed “Would” and “Rooster.” Cantrell was joined by Michael Anthony, who has experience harmonizing with great lead singers, much like Cantrell.
Perhaps Hagar would have been a good choice to replace Layne Staley in Alice In Chains, like he did David Lee Roth in Van Halen? We’ll never know what could have been! Hagar did just team up with Nickelback, who Cantrell toured with back in the day.
Puddle of Mudd’s Layne Staley and Chris Cornell tribute
This past Friday (Oct. 10), Puddle of Mudd unveiled the official music video for “Firefly,” a song from their latest studio album “Kiss the Machine,” which was released in May.
Speaking about the track, frontman Wes Scantlin revealed that he wrote “Firefly” in honor of several rock legends who passed away too soon.
“I wrote ‘Firefly’ as a tribute to Layne Staley [Alice in Chains], Chester Bennington [Linkin Park], Chris Cornell [Soundgarden] and all the fallen soldiers who gave their lives. Their voices and sacrifices lit a fire in me, and I wanted this song to be a way of keeping their light alive,” Scantlin said.
“They all struggled with demons most people couldn’t see, and the song is my way of recognizing that pain while keeping their light alive. I’ve been through my own battles too, and I’m in a better place now. I feel lucky to still be here. I’m a lucky dude. Music heals me, and I hope it heals others as well.”
For Scantlin, “Firefly” is not just a tribute to lost artists and an exercise in self-reflection, but also a song touched by elements of childhood nostalgia.
“I miss my grandma. She used to kick us kids out of the kitchen before supper and send us outside, where we’d catch fireflies in jars and turn them into makeshift lanterns. Those sweet, beautiful memories stayed with me and are woven into this song,” he explained. “I wanted that feeling of joy and light to live inside the song alongside the sadness. The Firefly is that spark of hope we hold onto, even in the darkest times.”
