Alice In Chains in Studio to Record New Album
Profile and Latest News of Iconic Seattle Hard Rockers
May 18, 2009
The band made a groundbreaking comeback in 2006, just four years after their front man Layne Staley was found dead after a long lasting heroin addiction. A string of tours and festival appearances with new singer William DuVall have since then put Alice in Chains firmly back on the radar, and following unexpected appraisal from fans and critics, a bright future is set for a band once thought to have laid to rest after years of tragedy and turmoil.
Band History
Alice in Chains first formed in 1986 with singer Layne Staley, guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney. But it wasn't until 1989 that they received their first big break. On the merit of their first demo recording, The Treehouse Tapes, they were signed to Columbia Records and in 1990, they released their first album, Facelift.
The bands music was a combination of hard rock heavy metal, country, blues and funk, and was an original and engaging sound that ran synonymous with the escalating grunge scene based in Seattle during that era. Their pounding riffs combined with Layne Staley's electrifying vocal talents and Jerry Cantrell's harmonious backing singing gave them a strong cemented spot in both rock and metal, and the band found themselves swiftly touring with the likes of Van Halen, Slayer, Metallica and Pantera.
Drug Addiction
Unfortunately, AIC's ongoing career was tarnished with their copious drug use. Their 1992 follow up album Dirt was predominately themed around the bands personal battles with heroin, particularly with singer Layne Staley.
Dirt was a darker, better put together and more emotionally charged record than Facelift, and contained some of their most well known songs- Would, Angry Chair and Them Bones being just a few. Its melodies and lyrical content were a clear reflection of the bands struggle with personal demons, such were they that caused the replacement of their bass player Mike Starr and the eventual death of Staley himself.
In 1995 they released their last album, self-titled Alice In Chains. The record contained something of a refreshed sound from the band, with slower drum beats, lower tuned sludgy guitar riffs and a darker less uplifting vocal display from Staley.
Although the album was an admirable piece of work in it's own right, things weren't going well for the band. After a string of tour cancellations following the release of Dirt, they declined the prospect of hitting the road altogether for this latest album. One of the few notable live shows after its release was the MTV Live and Unplugged session, which was performed in 1996. Though it was claimed by fans and band members alike to be one of their best ever performances, Alice In Chains were to never again play live with Layne Staley.
In Layne Staley’s autobiography Angry Chair, written by Ariana Rubio and published in 2003, Staley quotes “I know I’m near death. I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way. I know I have no choice. It’s too late…”
The Band's Uncertain Future
After Staley's death due to an overdose in 2002, band mate Jerry Cantrell released his second solo album Degradation Trip in dedication to Layne Staley. It showcased Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin, and also Metallica bassist-to-be Rob Trujillo. With Alice In Chains members now gone their separate ways, it was presumed that the bands life was over once and for all.
Miraculously, Alice in Chains took to the stage once again, playing as part of a Tsunami benefit concert in 2005. Following a year of similar charity performances, featuring guest vocals ranging from Tool's Maynard James Keenan and Pantera's Phil Anselmo, the band finally settled on relatively unknown singer William DuVall, who had worked with Jerry Cantrell during his solo tours.
Though at first sceptical, fans found themselves quickly warming to the bands revitalised chemistry, as DuValls incentive was to breathe new life into AIC's old songs rather than present himself was a copycat to Layne Staley's vocal talents. Soon after, Alice In Chains embarked on a series of successful highly energetic live shows, acting almost as compensation for their early bad track record of cancellations and pullouts. Their recent comeback gigs were memorable and well apprised, particularly during their performance at Download Festival UK in 2006.
Album Number 4
With Alice in Chains' dynamic as optimistic as it was back in the early 90's and with the worst years of their drug abuse behind them, the band have finally set to work on a new album, their first with William DuVall's vocals.
It is given an expected release in September this year. Having not recorded anything new for more than a decade, and with a new and miraculous bout of charisma illuminating their existence, Alice in Chains are an outfit proven to have survived some of the darkest aspects of Rock 'n Roll, and with only good things ahead, it's easier now than before to expect good success and great music from this iconic name in the many years to come.
Alice In Chains will also play at Sonisphere in the UK August 1-2.
uk.sonispherefestival.net/line-up/
