13 Years Later~ Alice In Chains

[Banned]

Alice In Chains are set to record a new album this year, their first in 13 years.

The sessions will also be the band's first since frontman Layne Staley suffered a fatal drug overdose in 2002.

The band, joined by their new singer William DuVall, will head into the studio in the autumn.



Writing on the band's website, band associate Baldy said: "October will arrive and Alice In Chains will reconvene to record the new album.

"So, as 2008, winds down, band activity will be gearing up, and at some point in 2009 you'll finally hear what I've been raving about for the last several months."

The band's previous, self-titled, album was released in 1995.

[VENTGtr]

YES! That's awesome.

[Ron]

Fantastic. I loved Layne's vocals, but I still think that Cantrell is a genius, and that genius will show in anything he's involved with.

[Banned]

Wow, it doesn't seem like 13 years.

And this will still hit the shelves before Chinese Democracy.

(+1 to Jerry Cantrell being a genius.)

[edgecrush2003]

i heard them live with the new singer and it did not sound very good.But we will see.

[metalchurch]

Fantastic. I loved Layne's vocals, but I still think that Cantrell is a genius, and that genius will show in anything he's involved with.

Layne had one of the most recognizable voices in the world, but what's weird is that Cantrell sang alot of the main vocal parts to their songs, then Layne would double it or join in for the chorus.
So, Cantrell sounds eeirly the same as Staley for that reason. Similar to the Eagles,Beetles,CSNY etc..

I think Duvall has done a nice job stepping into Laynes' shoes, but of course he will never fill them.
On a side note, I thought that Anselmo did a nice job on "Would", and "Them Bones". It can be heard on youtube.

[FrigoRecording]

This is good news. I really liked Alice in Chains, and I hear their influence in a lot of music. I'll definitely have to check out the new incarnation of the band!

[MY_TURNING_POINT]

Alice In Chains is my favorite band period. Layne's mom and I email each other quite often. BUT, perhaps I'm the only one who thinks this is kind of wrong. Cantrell, Inez, and Kinney are amazing musicians but it was Layne's unique voice, lyrics, charisma (?) and real life pain that made (and unfortunately also destroyed) Alice In Chains. I think it's gonna be a tough sell especially since Duvall isn't half the singer Layne was. J

I can't blame the guys for wanting to jam again, but for fuck's sake this is not Alice. Name it something else and I'd gladly buy the disk, otherwise, no thanks. They're milking the name.

[Lifer]

Why doesn't Jerry Cantrell just do vox and play guitar? His back-ups sound relative to Layne. I don't really get why they felt a need to get a new singer because absolutely no one can replace Layne Staley.

[DirtySanchez]

Why doesn't Jerry Cantrell just do vox and play guitar? His back-ups sound relative to Layne. I don't really get why they felt a need to get a new singer because absolutely no one can replace Layne Staley.

I think this would be a better option too.

[bassist_25]

but I still think that Cantrell is a genius, and that genius will show in anything he's involved with.

I love Boggy Depot. It wasn't Alice In Chain-lite, which was nice because as many people know, solo albums often sound like weaker versions of the musician's primary project. There was some obvious AIC sound going on there (e.g., Jesus Hands), but some of it was just pure, good hard rock without any pretension.

As far as changing the frontman - Some bands can do it and be a success (e.g., Pink Floyd, Genesis); others fall flat on their faces. I'm skeptical, but I guess we'll see what happens with this change up.

[bassist4life2004]

Any vocalist can learn a lot from Alice In Chains. Layne and Cantrell were magical. I hope DuVall (sp?) can cut the mustard. But I won't judge until I hear.

[DMFJ03]

The sessions will also be the band's first since frontman Layne Staley suffered a fatal drug overdose in 2002.

I like Alice in Chains, but I am sorry, he didn't suffer from a fatal overdose, he suffered from sheer stupidity and paid the price for his ignorance.

[Banned]

The sessions will also be the band's first since frontman Layne Staley suffered a fatal drug overdose in 2002.

I like Alice in Chains, but I am sorry, he didn't suffer from a fatal overdose, he suffered from sheer stupidity and paid the price for his ignorance.

Oh Shit!! You have to be the most honest person on here lately. I mean that. Staley was who he was, yet chose to throw it away for a buzz. Which became his undoing. I loved Alice In Chains when, but even though they defined thier mark in the genre... I can't help being dissappointed that he joined the ranks of *"Fallen Stupidity." My words, anyone who looks down for that opinion, Fuck You. Period.

* Bon Scott
Jim Morrison
Janis Joplin
Jimi Hendrix
Keith Richards...wait, that corpse is still breathin'...Anyway, etc... Fuck it.

[DMFJ03]

The sessions will also be the band's first since frontman Layne Staley suffered a fatal drug overdose in 2002.

I like Alice in Chains, but I am sorry, he didn't suffer from a fatal overdose, he suffered from sheer stupidity and paid the price for his ignorance.

Oh Shit!! You have to be the most honest person on here lately. I mean that.

::Points to himself:: Uh, Deathmaster!

Seriously though - I wasn't trying to be mean, but, truth is truth and sometimes it stings.

[MY_TURNING_POINT]

I should have known it wouldn't take long for this to get ugly. If he suffered from sheer stupidity he wouldn't have written such good music, sold millions of albums, or created nationally reconized art.

He suffered from addiction. That has nothing to do with intellect.

RIP - Layne Staley.

[VENTGtr]

I can see where people'd have a problem with them keeping the name
and all. I guess, with the "industry" being the worthless thing it is nowadays,
they may have just decided to keep it to not have to have the uphill climb
that a "new" thing would entail. Not to mention, it is 3 of the 4 from the last
incarnation. I'd give them the slack and figure they deserve that option,
with all due respect to Staley's memory, and,f course, to JimBag.

As for why Cantrell doesn't sing the stuff..well...as a guitar player who's
also sang...prolly doesn't want to. I don't. If so, there have been times it'd
have made life a lot easier.

He probably figures he has the occasional solo tours where he gets to
do that when he wants.

Regardless of any of it, I am looking forward to the new stuff. Rare that I
find something new that I dig (Though my son did point me in the direction
of Epitaph. Like them). If I have to count on AIC and a few others from a
bit ago, nice to have the option.

[MY_TURNING_POINT]

Dave, no harm no foul man, although not thrilled even Layne's mother agrees that they have right to go on. I asked her opinion and she stated that starting over would just be too expensive now a days, with logo's merch, trademarks, etc. Not to mention the uphill struggle in a wrecked industry. (as you mentioned) AND they haven't even secured a deal yet so with a new name that would become even harder.

All this I reconize, I guess it's just hard to imagine a different lead voice.

What it will come down to is weather or not they can still write good songs and if DuVall, Deville, (whatever) can connect with people enough to make them want the product.

[metalchurch]

Losing a singer is no different than losing a guitarist,bassist, or a drummer, no one single person is any more important than another, because a bands' sound is a direct emulation of those members. They all play an important role in the sound and style of the music.

Sure some losses might be more apparent in the overall sound such as a vocalist, but I think that is the bands' decision whether or not to carry on with the name.

The way I look at it is that they are paying homage to the music that included Layne and they are exposing that great music to the fans both old and new.
I don't see Duvall as a replacement of any sort, just a member of the band.
Sure Cantrell could do it by himself and pull it off, which he has done many times. Cantrell wrote alot of the lyrics and sang a big percentage of them, so I'd say he is entitled to take them to the stages again.

Now if they went into the studio and rerecorded old songs, which I dont think they will, that would be a different story.

[MY_TURNING_POINT]

To metalchurch, I agree. (To an extent) It's all good man, and I'm not on here to argue. These guys are my over all fav. band so I get a bit emotional about it.

Not on here to argue though, you know what they say about opinions......

[bassist_25]

I think it comes down to whether you're a "faceless" band or not, so to speak. That not only goes for the image but also the actual vocal style and immediately recogizable timbre of the frontperson. I mentioned Pink Floyd earlier as someone who did the switch very easily. The band was largely unknown when Syd Barret left. Roger Waters and David Gilmour's vocals are very similar; though Gilmour is probably a little bit better of a vocalist from a technical standpoint. Plus, in the 70s, probably only the most die-hard Floyd fans actually knew what the guys looked like.

The bottom-line, however, is that you either have chemistry with people or you don't. There are a number of excellent musicians locally who are also great people, but I just don't click with them on a musical level. That's fine. The Alice in Chain guys clicked with Staley; either they click or don't click with the new cat.

[metalchurch]

To metalchurch, I agree. (To an extent) It's all good man, and I'm not on here to argue. These guys are my over all fav. band so I get a bit emotional about it.

Not on here to argue though, you know what they say about opinions......

Dude, it's ok, I'm not mad at you or anyone else who posted. I apologize if it appeared to be directed at you.
I absolutely love Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell and Alice in Chains as a band then and now. I talk about them a good bit on here from time to time. I do see your point and to an extent I agree with you, but on the other hand I don't.
I believe that Cantrell and Co. do not have ulterior motives to carry on w/ the name. But only to play those songs again that they've written together and played together all of these years.

Maybe they should change the name? Maybe not. But just because Layne died, does not mean that they should change the name. If anything I'd like to think that this is an homage to Layne and nothing more.

It is damn good music we can all attest to that right?

[MY_TURNING_POINT]

It's all good bro. Wouldn't it be cool though if the new shit did just destroy? It would be cool to see a band like that on top again instead of some of the other stuff coming out. They were the real deal, great vocals, great musicianship and excellent songwriting. You don't get that kind of total package band a lot anymore.

[metalchurch]

Agreed, in the early 90's they were it for me. In my opinion they were the best band to emerge from that era of cookie cutter psuedo grunge. I was big into thrash metal in my early teens, but for some reason Alice In Chains kind of caught my attention. I liked the eerie vocals, they were so dark and serene, but beautiful and full of life at the same time. Reminds me of Neil Young and Johnny Cash in that respect. The guitar work was second to none compared to their peers.
But yeah, it was AIC, and Guns N Roses' Appetite album, after that I was back into metal again and I haven't listened to much else since.

If there is a new album I'd say it has the potential to be a good one. Cantrell is a very talented lyricist and song writer.
We can only hope.

[MY_TURNING_POINT]

Lars once was quoted saying that AIC was the Sabbath of the 90's - nuff said! I agree, I never lumped them into that grunge thing, they were way more talented than that.