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Biography
Initially formed as Alice N’ Chains to dispel connotations of female bondage, the band’s early lineup included Layne Staley, guitarists Johnny Bacolas and Zoli Semanate, drummer James Bergstrom, and bassist Byron Hansen. Staley subsequently met guitarist Jerry Cantrell at Music Bank rehearsal studios, while working with Alice N’ Chains, and the two began living together. It wasn’t long before Staley and Cantrell were playing live together, and alongside drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr, ultimately formed Alice in Chains.
The band recorded an early demo tape, “The Treehouse Tapes”, aided by local promoter Randy Hauser, which caught the attentional of Columbia Records. By 1989 Alice in Chains were signed to Columbia’s roster, and released their debut promotional EP “We Die Young” in July 1990. The EP and lead single “We Die Young” both generated considerable success for the band, turning Alice in Chains into one of the label’s top priorities.
The group’s debut studio album “Facelift” was issued by Columbia in August 1990, peaking at No. 42 on the Billboard 200. Bridging the musical gap between grunge/alt-rock and heavy metal, the record proved a huge success aided by the singles “Man in the Box” and “Sea of Sorrow”. In support of the LP Alice in Chains toured extensively in support of Iggy Pop, Van Halen, Poison, and Extreme, before opening on the Clash of the Titans Tour.
Alice in Chain’s subsequent release was the acoustic EP “Sap” inspired by a dream drummer Sean Kinney had. Popularised by fellow Seattle-based band Nirvana, whose album “Nevermind” was at the top of the charts, Alice in Chain’s recognition was growing at an increasing rate. Focusing on the subject of addiction, with songs written on the road, the band’s sophomore full-length “Dirt” was released in September 1992. Rising to No. 6 on the Billboard 200, the record earned widespread critical acclaim, later being certified four-times platinum. Spawning the Top 30 singles “Would?”, “Rooster”, “Them Bones”, “Angry Chair”, and “Down in a Hole”, the record was supported by an opening slot for Ozzy Osbourne and on the 1993 Lollapalooza tour.
A second acoustic EP followed in 1994 entitled “Jar of Flies”, which subsequently became the first-ever EP to top the Billboard 200. Hauntingly sorrowful, the EP was written and recorded in one week and spawned the singles “No Excuses” and “I Stay Away”. Following a hiatus in which Staley entered rehab for his heroin addiction and joined the supergroup Mad Season, Alice In Chains released their self-titled, third album in November 1995. Once again topping the U.S. Billboard 200, the record earned a wave of esteemed reviews, following which the group recorded and released an MTV Unplugged session in 1996.
Following two years of struggles for Staley in 1998 he reunited with Alice in Chains to record two new songs “Get Born Again” and “Died”. The band went on to release a string of box-sets and compilation albums including “Nothing Safe: Best of the Box” and “Greatest Hits”, before in April 2002, Layne Staley was found dead in his condominium. The remaining members of Alice in Chains, including new vocalist William DuVall, returned in 2005 to play a benefit concert in aid of the tsunami disaster. Four years later, ahead of their fourth studio album, Alice in Chains released the single “A Looking in View” in June 2009. The full-length “Black Gives Way to Blue” followed in September, featuring Elton John on the title track. In 2013 Alice in Chains release their fifth studio album “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Her”, led by the singles “Hollow”, “Stone”, and “Voices”.
Live reviews
For a band of such iconic status, many people do not realise that Alice In Chains have only released five studio albums in their vast career that spans back to the late 80's. They are very much a group that believes in the mentality of quality over quantity. The quartet is known for having an anthemic live show and despite not relying on tricks and gimmicks of the stage, they still manage to entertain the crowds with vast sets of crippling instrumentals and thumping beats.
Demonstrating the highlights of their discography for anybody who may not know, going all the way back to the debut to air the likes of 'Dam The River' and 'Rooster'. These are of course received well and with extended instrumentals and new arrangements they seem fresh and classic all at once. The group really does enjoy showing off their musical prowess and they have turned 'We Die Young' into a sheer wall of sonar which the crowd really responds well to. By the final tones of 'Would?', the audience knows that the band clearly do not need more than five albums.
sean-ward
Alice in Chains is a band that strongly believes in quality over quantity. Their career has spanned several decades, they formed in the 80s, but they have only released five studio albums to date as a result of their incredible determination to produce music of the best quality only. Their fans are extremely appreciative of this fact and the band has garnered a whole legion of dedicated and devoted fans over the years as a result of this. The amount of lighting and stage gimmicks was minimal but this barely mattered because the music and quality of the band was so good. The thumping beats, bass and melodic instrumentals all worked together perfectly and stirred the loving crowd into a frenzy. This frenzy only increased in madness as the band played more and more of their biggest hits, including a brilliant rendition of ‘Nutshell’. They even paid homage to their beginnings with old singles such as ‘Rooster’ and ‘Dam the River’. Overall, it was a fantastic night and the atmosphere could not have been better.
sabraziz
Excited was an understatement. Countdown on Facebook started past Monday. So why did we leave early? Bass overpowered rest of band. Sound generally distorted. So badly, that we often lost track of where the lyrics were. Band could have been making up lyrics and we wouldn't have known due to the overwhelming bass and horrid acoustic set up. Not sure who ok'd final sound check, but they must have had ear plugs in during operation.
Leaving early allowed us the plus of avoiding traffic. Would have preferred staying till last encore with our hands numb from clapping, and ears mildly deaf. Ears were still numb. Too bad they didn't begin that way.
The opening band was terrible. Unaware of there even being one until I looked at this website.
Poorly promoted. Badly presented. Generally awful.
Hope rest of tour goes better for Alice In Chains. The diversity of age and ethnicity speaks to the staying power of such a fantastic and unusual band. Fans, such as ourselves, were horribly disappointed.
RuthWilford
Alice in Chains sounded phenomenal! I will start with that! Jerry Cantrell did not miss a chord, and sounded incredible. It was awesome to hear them sound as good as their CD. I was VERY disappointed that they started late, and only played an hour and 45 minutes. I payed for "an evening with Alice in Chains" and didn't even get 2 hours for the $80 a ticket I paid. I was also EXTREMELY" disappointed that they ended the show with 2 songs that weren't highlight songs to end with. Also, they just left the stage, NO ENCORE! I left the venue feeling like I got robbed, and didn't get to hear some key songs! "Don't follow", "Rotten Apple", "I stay Away" to just name a few. I hoped to hear Jerry sing "my song" from his solo album as well. All in all, they sounded INCREDIBLE, but really left you hanging the end, feeling like you didn't get what you paid for.
fireitdwn
The first time I saw Alice in Chains was without a doubt the best concert I've been to that far in my life. They played all their best stuff, including 'Nutshell'. Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall's vocal duos are a worthy inheritor for the one and only Layne Staley. Then I saw them a second time later that year at an open-air festival, which was nearly as good as the first time. Despite all the drunk douchebags, I still managed to sing along to every single song. Because, after all, AIC is the best thing to ever happen to anything ever. I am so glad they finally played 'Angry Chair', but I have yet to hear 'Last of My Kind'. Or any Mad Season songs, I hoped I could get them to play one. Because of how powerful their rendition was, I had 'Your Decision' stuck in my head on nonstop loop for months afterwards.
Dechtakaar
Alice in Chains played for just under 2 hours at the Grey Eagle Event Centre in Calgary last night and everyone went home happy. The band rocked the place with their sludgy, doom metal, minor chord, disharmonies to the delight of their fans. They mixed their new and old material to good effect. Highlights included Rainier Fog and Red Giant from their latest album Rainier Fog and old classics Man in the Box and Rooster, which closed out a four song encore. If you are worried these guys might be too long in the tooth to really bring it don't be. Ironically, the loss of their iconic front man Lane Stayley in 2002 forced them through a refresh that may keep them relevant for years to come.
ryan.fowler
I saw the last 4 songs by Underoath. I thought they had one good song.
Alice in Chains was next. I was surprised at how many people were still sitting for this. THeir performance was good but I thought they played too many songs from Dirt. Last of my Kind and The One you Know were the only recent tracks that I recall hearing. Voices, Take her out and All Secrets known would have been nice to hear.
Korn pretty much put them away with their set. Maybe if it had been a 3 band bill instead of 4 bands, Alice would have had more playing time. The show was well worth it in any case but overall I thought Alice's set was too soft for me.
jeff-schneberk
Man AWESOME SHOW!!!!! u saw them 2 years ago and point fest and walked out I was so cold and burned out and the singer seemed to put his own jimi hendrix style to the songs and it sucked but this time if you closed your eyes you could imagine lane up there belting out these songs nothing short of AMAZING!!! Jerry looking super old like Eric clapton but playing his ass of like a warrior and to top it off the bass player was rocking a Amarillo Cooper raiders jersey in arrowhead mad cuddos there coming from a raiders fan here
joe-miller-2
OK, guys don't if you will post this or not but the truth is. I had never heard either of the bands playing before the night of the show. I went to the concert for my husband who is a big fan (I expected to pray for a quick death)! The truth is I loved it! I had never listened to this style of music however, haven't stopped talking about it. Can't wait for the next one! I was shocked to hear the bass line. A great time! I was impressed with the concert venue and purchased tickets for the following weekend! A win win!
rosalindavelilla63
This was an AWESOME concert i try to never mis any of their shows when they're around here in birmingham Alabama. This is my second time I've seen them live but my third time I've seen Jerry Cantrel live couse of one time when he went solo back in 1997 i saw him live in WPB Florida. They're awesome and by the way, the openning band were awesome too, The Pink Slips they rock big time their female vocalist was a hottie. i am very satisfied with the show. Would go see Alice in Chains again and again, keep ROCKING
juanlopez-1
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