FYI: Alice in Chains
Seattle’s darkest and perhaps most underrated band, Alice in Chains, will be hitting the road with Velvet Revolver this summer and fall. Word is that they are also planning to record a new album.
- The band formed back in 1987, when guitarist Jerry Cantrell met singer Layne Staley . The band was soon rounded out by Cantrell’s friend, bassist Mike Starr, and drummer Sean Kinney who was dating Starr’s sister.
- Before settling on Alice in Chains, which was originally a band that Staley was in, however, it was spelled Alice N’ Chainz; AIC used the names Diamond Lie and F*ck.
- The band’s first release was the EP We Die Young in 1990.
- Facelift was their first full length album, also released in 1990. The band began touring with Iggy Pop and Van Halen.
- I heard that Van Halen gave AIC some fashion tips, which included getting the band Doc Martins.
- The band’s second EP, Sap, featured guest appearances by Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, Mudhoney’s Mark Arm and Heart’s Ann Wilson. Cornell and Arm were part of the song “Right Turn”, hence in the notes the song is performed by Alice Mudgarden.
- Susan Silver, ex-wife of Chris Cornell, was manager for Alice in Chains.
- AIC was featured in Cameron Crowe’s 1992 film Singles, which also featured Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
- Speaking of Pearl Jam and Mudhoney….Mark Arm and PJ’s Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were in a band called Green River…Sean Kinney’s (drummer for Alice) father was a detective that worked on the infamous Green River Killer case.
- 1992 ’s Dirt has gone 4x platinum.
- AIC was part of Lollapalooza in 1993, which also featured Primus, Dinosaur Jr. Fishbone, Rage Against The Machine, Tool, Arrested Development and more.
- Bassist Mike Starr left the band shortly after Dirt and was replaced by Mike Inez, who was bassist for Ozzy Osbourne.
- The band’s 3rd EP, Jar of Flies, debuted No. 1 on Billboard, this was the first EP to do so. It was also the only EP to do so until Jay- z/Linkin Park released Collision Course in 2004.
- In 1995 Alice in Chains released their final studio album (at least with Layne Staley). It was a self-titled release, but is commonly referred to as Tripod, because of the three legged dog on the cover, which happened to be Jerry Cantrell’s dog Sunshine.
- The band taped an episode of MTV Unplugged on April 10, 1996, which was released on July 31, 1996.
- In 1996 AIC played 4 shows opening up for KISS, these would be their final shows with Layne Staley.
- Jerry Cantrell’s first solo effort, 1998’s Boggy Depot, featured appearances by Sean Kinney and Mike Inez.
- The four members did get back together in 1998 to record the tracks “Get Born Again” and “Died” for their box set Music Bank. The Music Bank Hotel happens to be the place where Jerry and Layne lived together back in the late 80’s.
- On April 20, 2002 Layne Staley was found dead in his condo, although the official date of his death is April 5. This day also happens to be the same day that Kurt Cobain died and is the birthday of Mike McCready, guitarist from Pearl Jam and Mad Season, which was a project that featured Layne Staley on vocals.
- The remaining members of AIC reunited in 2005 for a benefit concert in Seattle for victims of the Tsunami in Asia. They would also appear at a taping of VH1’s Decades of Rock show for Heart in 2006.
- Alice is now fronted by William DuVall, formerly of Comes With The Fall. He has been playing with Jerry Cantrell since 2000.
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POSTED IN: Alice in Chains, FYI
4 opinions for FYI: Alice in Chains
Jennifer
Aug 11, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Is this 90s recall week? That’s cool though. AIC was the very first great show I saw as a kid. Way back when they were local and Layne had dreads past his waist. (I’m from Oregon — lucky, cause I got to see lots of the Seattle bands before they were big) If only I’d have appreciated it more back then. AIC was so good in concert but it seemed like on one at the show even liked them. It was nuts. Also, I have not thought of Mad Season in a very long time. Now I have to break it out today. I think that was a amazing album. I was shocked it wasn’t more popular. You know, I don’t think I’ve heard AIC without Layne (perform) do they have another album even?
acostill
Aug 11, 2007 at 10:56 pm
This site is supposed to be about mainly 90’s music, but the site name is deceiving, it’s being worked on though.
Anyways, you know I’m really jealous of you lving in the Northwest, I can’t even imagine all of the great shows that you’ve seen. I never had the opportunity to see Layne, but at least he left some great music for us. I agree that Mad Season is a great album, I mean it’s Layne and Sir Mike McCready. The opening track, “Wake Up” is one of my all time favorite songs.
So far, AIC hasn’t recorded any new material, but they’re supposed to be hitting the studio soon. If my memory is right, the whole reunion tour was a test to see if they could bring back AIC, and so far it looks good. Their new singer, William DuVall, isn’t that bad. He’s not Layne, but he can hold his on. I saw him with Jerry 3 times and once with AIC, and I think he’ll fit in. After all, he’s been playing with Jerry for the last 6 or 7 years.
Jennifer
Aug 12, 2007 at 12:04 am
Yeah, I’d change the site name. I would have spent more time here early on had I known it was 90s (Ah, fond memories). I thought it was more about how to produce your own music or something.
I like Wake Up a lot too but my favorite is Long Gone Day.
“I’m really jealous of you living in the Northwest”
As well you should be. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I lucked out and have seen so many amazing shows — for like $5. Plus I’m a Daddies freak. I’d never have been able to see them 20+ times if I lived anywhere else.
I like this blog though, I will have to link you to my personal blog so I don’t forget to visit. I’ll also have to check out the new AIC album when it comes out since you seem to think it’ll fly. Good luck with the name issue.
acostill
Aug 12, 2007 at 10:59 am
Yeah, it’s a long story, but originally that’s what the site was going to be, but then changed. I know that it’s getting fixed, I just have to be patient.
“Long Gone Day” is a great song, probably my 3rd favorite song from Mad Season. Did you ever hear their cover of Lennon’s “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier”? It’s awesome.
Man, I wish I had a time machine. That’s just insane seeing all those bands for so cheap.
I just checked online a bit and there’s rumors that a new album will be out late this year or (which I doubt) or sometime next year. I also read that Sean Kinney doesn’t want the band to release an album as AIC, but under a different name. If you have a chance, you should see them w/ Velvet Revolver this summer. It should be a good show.
Thanks for the kind words, you’ve got a good blog too!
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