Questions
Who started Alice in Chains and when?
Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell formed the band in Seattle, Washington in 1987 after meeting at a party. The original lineup was Staley on vocals, Cantrell on guitar and vocals, Mike Starr on bass, and Sean Kinney on drums.
Where does the name Alice in Chains come from?
It traces back to Layne Staley’s earlier band, first called Sleze and then Alice N’ Chains. The name reportedly grew out of a joking conversation about backstage passes that referenced Alice in Wonderland.
What is Alice in Chains best known for musically?
Their distinctive sound is built on harmonized dual vocals, originally between Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, and later between Cantrell and William DuVall.
What was their breakthrough album?
Their 1990 debut Facelift is credited as one of the most important records in building an audience for grunge, especially after MTV put "Man in the Box" into rotation. It eventually went triple platinum.
Which album sold the most?
Their 1992 album Dirt is their highest seller, certified 5 times platinum in the US.
Did they really put out an EP that hit number one?
Yes. The 1994 EP Jar of Flies became the first EP to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Their 1995 self-titled album also debuted at No. 1.
What happened at their MTV Unplugged show?
Recorded on April 10, 1996, the acoustic set featured songs like "Would?" and "No Excuses." The live album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum, and that night was the only time they played as a five-piece with second guitarist Scott Olson.
How did Layne Staley die?
Staley died on April 5, 2002 (his body was discovered April 19) from a mix of heroin and cocaine, after struggling with addiction for over a decade.
Who replaced Layne Staley?
William DuVall officially joined in 2006. Cantrell had met him in 2000 through DuVall’s band Comes with the Fall, and DuVall had sung Staley’s parts at Cantrell’s solo shows. Cantrell said it reportedly took only one audition for DuVall to get the gig.
What happened to original bassist Mike Starr?
Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993 and later died on March 8, 2011, at age 44.
Is that really Elton John on their comeback album?
Yes. Elton John played piano on the title track of the 2009 album Black Gives Way to Blue, which Cantrell wrote as a tribute to Layne Staley. The album debuted at No. 5.
How successful has the band been overall?
They have sold more than 30 million RIAA-certified records in the US, earned 11 Grammy nominations, landed 18 Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks with 5 hitting No. 1, and ranked No. 34 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
Is there a wild story about how Layne Staley agreed to join?
Reportedly the band auditioned deliberately terrible singers in front of Staley to nudge him toward joining, including a male stripper, and that is when he finally agreed to become their vocalist.
Did anything strange happen while recording early on?
Reportedly a large cannabis raid shut down their intended studio just one day before a 1988 demo session, forcing the band to record elsewhere.
Did Layne Staley ever perform injured?
Reportedly, during the Dirt era Staley broke his foot in an ATV accident but still performed on crutches while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne.
