LOOKING BACK AT 1991′S RIP PARTY FEATURING PEARL JAM, ALICE IN CHAINS & SOUNDGARDEN
WRITTEN BY DAVID BRONSTEIN & EDITED BY BRETT BUCHANAN

Official media invitations to the fifth RIP PARTY to be held at the Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Boulevard read ‘Blowout, Massacre, Party, Whatever! And while thankfully there was no massacre, there was a blowout. There was even a rumor that Metallica would close the show as secret special guests.  The kings of metal had shared the stage with members of Guns N’ Roses and Skid Row a year previously at the same venue, but by the fall of 1991, Seattle musicians had invaded Los Angeles.

The party included Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, along with Thunder and the one and only Spinal Tap.  Jonathan Gold put it bluntly in his Los Angeles Times review that the bands from the Northwest did not add much to the Sunday night’s proceedings. Gold commented, “But for most people the highlight was probably Spinal Tap.”

The gathering in LA was the first public show that brought together three of the four heavyweight bands from the ‘grunge’ era, into a live setting.  Nirvana the missing piece, were over 2,000 miles away in Atlanta promoting Nevermind. Lonn Friend, who was the editor of RIP magazine at the time and a regular contributor to Headbangers Ball with his segment ‘Friend at Large’ recalls the organization of putting such a show together.  “I organized the gathering. I booked the talent for all seven RIP parties, personal calls and relationships and creative partners.  Columbia flew me up to Seattle with Kevin Kennedy PR and Nick Terzo A&R to see Alice in Chains at a theater, before the first LP (Facelift).”

Moments after Pearl Jam’s set, Eddie Vedder, along with Chris Cornell and Layne Staley, were whisked backstage for a short interview with Friend.  For many fans of this era, this segment, infamously archived now on YouTube, is the crème de la crème of footage documenting the Grunge scene. All in the same space at one timem and all in their prime. For the so called Generation X this was Jagger, Lennon and Morrison in one room.  “(That year) RIP covered Alice in Chains, they played our Seattle party with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, I did a brief interview for my MTV Headbanger’s Ball segment with all three singers backstage.  I was blessed to foster strong relationships and wear the ‘gatekeeper’ colors,” says Friend.

Staley stood behind Friend and proclaimed about the city that he loathed, “It’s the best thing that ever happened to LA,” concerning the Seattle bands that were playing that night.  Vedder seemed hesitant, even a little shy, whilst Cornell looked the most relaxed.  Immediately following the interview, Staley took to the stage with Alice in Chains and they opened up with ‘Sickman,’ which would appear a year later on Dirt. The only other song from that album played that night was ‘Would.’  Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses joined the band for set closer ‘Man in the Box.’  McKagan, who was born in Seattle, had hooked up with the band a few days earlier at a Pearl Jam gig, and thereafter members of Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains crashed at McKagan’s house.

Three hours later when Spinal Tap finished the show, and it was definite that there would not be an appearance from Metallica, the crowd dispersed.  But alas there would be one final special guest: Temple of the Dog!  By this time however only 500 of the 4,000 patrons were left in the building, underlining the saying that the show is never over until the fat lady sings.

Soon after the show, Alice in Chains joined back up with the Van Halen tour and the three singers would not be reunited until Pearl Jam’s pirate radio show over three years later in January, 1995. The RIP parties were indeed something unique, bringing the absolute best talent together for one memorable evening.  It is evident that in the early 1990’s, rock fans were spoilt for choice, but it all came at once and departed far too soon.

Lonn Friend who went onto write two books, Life on Planet Rock and the inspiring Sweet Demotion: How an Almost Famous Rock Journalist Lost Everything and Found Himself (Almost), reflects warmly about his time at RIP . “We chronicled the decade of decadence it was a group effort.  RIP was the best of its time.”

REMEMBERING LAYNE STALEY RETROSPECTIVE

PART 1: Alice In Chains’ Early Years

PART 2: Clash of the Titans Tour

PART 3: The Sap Sessions

PART 4: Lollapalooza 1993

PART 5: Mad Season

PART 6: The Final Years

PART 7: The High School Years