Layne Staley

photo by Rex Aran Emrick

Birth Name: Layne Thomas Staley

Date of Birth: August 22, 1967

Place of Birth: Kirkland, Washington, U.S.

Date of Death: April 5, 2002

Place of Death: Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Ethnicity: Danish (paternal great-grandmother), English, Scottish, German, Swiss-German, remote Italian/Venetian, possibly Irish

Layne Staley was an American musician. He was the lead singer and co-songwriter of rock band Alice in Chains, and a member of grunge rock supergroup Mad Season. Jerry Cantrell, William DuVall, Mike Inez, Sean Kinney, and Mike Starr also are/have been members of Alice in Chains. Mark Lanegan, Barrett Martin, Mike McCready, and John Baker Saunders were also members of Mad Season.

Layne was the son of Nancy Elizabeth (Layne) and Phillip Blair “Phil” Staley. Layne was engaged to model Demri Parrott.

Layne’s paternal grandfather was Earl Rutharland Staley (the son of Earl Blair Staley and Johanna “Hanna” Marie Anderson). Layne’s great-grandfather Earl was the son of John Arthur Staley and Martha Webb. Johanna was born in Huntsville, Utah, to Danish immigrants Peder/Peter Christian Andersen, from Gabs, and Birte Christine Thomassen/Thompsen, from Vejlby.

Layne’s paternal grandmother was Audrey Pearl McQuillin (the daughter of Harry Leo McQuillin and Erma I. Miller). Harry was the son of Thomas M. McQuillin and Lillie Estelle Markward. Erma’s parents, William Hugh Miller and Minnie Reaman, were Canadian. She had German and Swiss-German ancestry.

Layne’s maternal grandfather was Robert Laverne Layne (the son of Edward Leroy Layne and Esther Loretta McKibben). Edward was the son of Samuel Elbert Layne and Mary Jane Roughton. Esther was the daughter of John Lemen McKibben and Loretta E. Salisbury.

Layne’s maternal grandmother was Ann Janett Munro Becker (the daughter of Fredrick Charles “Fred” Becker and Ann Janet Munro). Fredrick was the son of Paul F. G. Becker and Emma M., who was born in Germany. Ann was the daughter of Alexander McKenzie Munro and Ann Janet Montgomery, who were both Scottish.

Sources: Genealogy of Layne Staley –

Layne’s paternal grandparents, Earl Rutharland Staley and Audrey Pearl McQuillin, on the 1940 Census –

Obituary of Layne’s paternal grandfather, Earl Rutharland Staley –

Layne’s paternal great-grandparents, Earl Blair Staley and Johanna Marie Anderson, on the 1930 Census –

Layne’s paternal grandmother, Audrey Pearl McQuillin, on the 1930 U.S. Census –

Obituary of Layne’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Lillie Estelle (Markward) McQuillin –