What kind of car(s) did Layne Staley have?

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Clarification of Question by rich4493-ga on 28 May 2004 18:40 PDT

before he died

Hello.

Prior to his death, Layne Staley had a 2000 Pontiac Trans-Am ("RAM-Air" model).

This fact was reported in a 1999 article in an online magazine called
Allstar.  The article is reproduced in a newsgroup post archived by
Google Groups:

"...Staley seemed in good spirits, joking about female fans camping on
his front lawn and waxing ecstatic about the new car he'd ordered -- a
2000 RAM-Air Trans-Am."
source: Google Groups, July 22, 1999
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=7n7gut%244be%241%40nntp2.atl.mindspring.net

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search strategy:
Newsgroup:alt.music.aliceinchains, car

I hope this helps.

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Request for Answer Clarification by rich4493-ga on 29 May 2004 04:19 PDT

Hello,

Is this actually verified information though? Is there anyway to
confirm that is the car he actually had before his death?

Thanks!

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 29 May 2004 11:11 PDT

Hi,

In 1996, there were false rumors that Layne Staley had died in "his
car." Fans immediately responded that Layne didn't own a car.

"At last check, Layne didn't have a car.  He bought a Harley last
year."
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=4keht1%24fkc%40news1.halcyon.com

"FYI, Layne doesn't have a car."
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=alt.music.aliceinchains&selm=4kf94o%24bvg%40dub-news-svc-6.compuserve.com&rnum=4

In my experience, the sort of fans who post to music newsgroups know
their stuff. Obviously, these folks had seen or read
interviews/articles where it was indicated that Layne Staley did not
own a car. Now, obviously, Layne Staley could have afforded to own a
car, but for whatever ever, he chose not to have one.

That was 1996.

Okay, three years later he goes on a radio show and says that he's
excited about the new 2000 Trans-Am he's buying.
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=7n7gut%244be%241%40nntp2.atl.mindspring.net

At some point, you have to take the man at his word.  Layne obviously
wasn't a "Jay Leno"-type car collector if he owned no car at all in
'96. Thus, when he bought the 2000 Trans-Am it was probably a fairly
big deal to him, as evidenced by his "waxing ecstatic" about it on a
radio show.  He died a couple years later.  I read through numerous
articles about Layne Staley, and the Trans-Am is the only car I've
seen Layne mention.

As for "verification" that he owned the car at the time of his death,
the only thing that I can suggest is that you consult probate records.
Unless Layne Staley's assets were in trust, there would have been a
probate case. The car could possibly be mentioned in the probate
records.  I suggest that you contact the King County Superior Court
and ask if there's a probate file for Layne Thomas Staley (date of
deach April 19, 2002). Call (206) 296-9300.
http://www.metrokc.gov/kcsc/FAQ.htm#obtain

Thanks again!

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Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 29 May 2004 11:13 PDT

Sorry for that typo:
"...date of death April..."

Layne did have a car although i do not know what it was. Layne's
mother has told me that his car was vandilized many times... and he
did own a Harley.