I still get chills watching this.

Alice In Chains announced this morning that they’d be making a “special concert announcement” on Monday, April 11th. What could this special concert be? Allow me to recklessly speculate, ’cause that’s what we do here at MS:

• The first place my mind went was “Unplugged Redux.” Alice In Chains Unplugged is a definite Desert Island 5 album for me, and the accompanying video is absolutely chilling… to say it was a legendary performance would be an understatement. A second unplugged show would be a fitting tribute to Layne Staley, who died 9 years ago yesterday.
• Some other kind of tribute to Layne Staley and/or recently deceased original bassist Mike Starr. Good god, 50% of the original AIC lineup is dead. WTF?
• A premiere or announcement of the release of the 3D concert they filmed last October in Seattle.
• They’re headlining Lollapalooza 2011.

That’s all I got… any other ideas?

Share your memories of Layne in the comments.

-VN

Mike Starr, the original bass player for Alice in Chains, has been found dead, TMZ reports. He was just a month away from his 45th birthday.

Starr left Alice in Chains in 1993 after appearing on the albums Facelift and Dirt, as well as the Sap EP. Like the other members of the band, his struggles with drug addiction have been legendary — he even appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2009 (a show his former AIC bandmates Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney have called “disgusting”). Apparently his efforts to kick his habit were to no avail, however, as in February he was arrested for possession. So while the cause of Starr’s death has yet to be announced, one could reasonably assume that this is another tragic loss of a talented artist to drugs.

Assuming that’s correct, Starr would, of course, be the second founding member of Alice in Chains to fall to substance abuse, after vocalist Layne Staley. Lamentable though is, there is something undeniable about the fact that the band’s actual addictions are part of what gave them their power during their heyday — the textures and lyrics of those albums feel authentic because they are authentic. Unfortunately, it seems as though Starr and Staley were never able to get away from all that.

Our thoughts are with Starr’s family and friends. Here’s “Rain When I Die” — a song he co-wrote, and which features one of his most famous bass lines — in his honor. I wish it didn’t suddenly seem eerily fitting.

-AR

Until recently I didn’t realize this was filmed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a stone’s throw from the Vince Division of the Mansion. I still get chills every single time I watch this footage… I can’t help it. It’s just so… chilling… when Layne walks out on stage. Brrrr.

“Desert Island 5″ album for sure.

-VN

After tonight’s Mastodwho/Defwhats/AIC show at MSG, I’m feeling inspired to dust off an oldie-but-goodie…

Back when I was a 16 year-old pothead growing up in New York Fucking City, I used to put on this song, lean out my bedroom window, puff the fattest of bowls, and wonder what heroin felt like. I guess it had a lot to do with Layne Staley’s infamous addiction to the drug, and a little to do with my own self-destructive leanings, but more than all that, the song itself reeked of smack. And not just snorting or smoking heroin, but some serious needle-jabbin’ hijinx.

Now I ain’t never shot nothin’ into my veins, but after revisiting this song for the first time in over a decade, I would still put it on my perfect heroin mixtape (along with “Venus In Furs” by The Velvet Underground, “Riders On The Storm” by The Doors, and “My Favorite Things” by Coltrane). Y’know — if it ever comes to that.

Keep yr fingers crossed for me!

…and while I’m hyping this album, I find it very hard not to post its fiery opening track:

Okay, fine — let’s just go for the hat trick with Dirt closer “Would?” (although th’old-school among us may better remember this one from the Singles soundtrack…)

-KW

I could say that Alice in Chains’ Unplugged album is my favorite Unplugged album, but that wouldn’t be saying much. Higher praise comes from a declaration just as truthful: It’s one my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, live albums of all time, and possibly the only example of a live album I actually listen to more frequently than the band’s studio catalog. That’s not a knock on AiC’s studio albums, which are obviously brilliant; but their Unplugged performance is painfully beautiful and haunting, and made even more so by the fact that it was the last time Staley performed before he passed away. An Alice in Chains fan can ask for no greater farewell.

And I’d wager that Sully Erna agrees with me. Every time I write about how badly Godsuck wanna be Alice in Chains, some smart-ass defender of awful music comes around and argues that Erna and company sound nothing like AiC, despite the fact that Erna’s moose rock vocals obviously owe a huge debt to Staley, and that “Godsmack” is the title of an AiC song, and that, oh yeah, Godsuck started out as an AiC cover band. So, clearly, my comparison is completely wrong-headed and unfounded.

In all fairness, the Erna solo track in the below video, “Sinner’s Prayer,” sounds nothing like Alice in Chains; instead it just sounds pretentious and self-important. (Are these idiots literally singing the phrase “mumbo jumbo?” This feels like the gang from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia trying to compete in an African folk song competition. Not helping is that there isn’t a single minority face on that stage.) But the set seems so clearly modled on the one AiC used for Unplugged that it’s hard for me to believe it’s just a coincidence — I mean, even the lighting scheme is the same. The only discernable difference is that Erna’s set has twinkly lights in addition to all the candles. If you told me that Erna was deliberately trying to duplicate some of the Alice Unplugged magic, I would not be at all surprised.

Erna’s solo album is called blah blah blah and is blah blah blah who cares.

And here’s some of Alice in Chains’ Unplugged to wash the bad taste out of your mouth:

Click to read more…

At the Golden Gods thing back in April, I really perked up when Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell came down the press line. It was surprising and weird because I was not aware that his band remained significant to me. But there I was, rudely turning away from Zakk Wylde in mid-sentence to beam fanatically at Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez. The two seemed spot-lit and energetic; there was a sense of relief that the band had returned from the brink, and with a fucking awesome album to boot. I couldn’t take my eyes off them the whole night, not least of all during their innumerable trips to the stage to collect awards for Black Gives Way To Blue before a roomful of applause and well wishes. So deserved. Awesome.

This is a big turnaround for me after a decade of intense AIC fatigue, during which I suffered actual nausea from the harmonies of “Heaven Beside You,” and the opening chords of “Rooster” triggered an immediate lunge for the radio dial. (The latter is partially my fault, ‘cuz I remember a beer blast at which I stood guard over the stereo as that song stayed on repeat for like two hours.) I’ll never tire of Cantrell’s masterful solo in “Man In The Box” or the majesty of “Down In A Hole,” but otherwise it seemed that by 2000 we’d all gotten enough Alice In Chains for a lifetime. Not to mention the proliferate AIC clones complete with insta-Laynes — which really riled me cuz if anyone, it’s Cantrell whom a smart band would replicate. And, sadly, Staley himself was pretty much a super-bummer on two legs before long. Semi-consciously, I began to ignore their existence. Me and Alice In Chains were over. Such a great band, such a shame.

But, yes, some time apart and a tardiculous new album have healed the oft-rocky relationship between AIC and my ears. We’re back together, stronger than ever, and it’s no exagerration to state that I still can’t stop listening to BGW2B, a pop-doom metal masterpiece that finally brings some closure to the Staley situation (and it even impacted the new Soilwork record). Actually, I always think of Type O Negative’s Peter Steele when I hear the album’s big finale, “Private Hell.” Maybe you do, too.

-ADF

Alice In Chains embarks on the BlackDiamondSkye tour with Deftones and Mastodon starting September 16. Get dates here.

The reader known only as “Derrick” sent us a link to Dying 2 Meet You, a website that offers the “cheap gag gift” of selling customers a meeting with the dead celebrity of their choice (they even only have certain celebrities, so as to better sell the illusion that these are official meetings, I guess). Of course, there’s an entire package devoted to “Metal Legends,” including Chuck Schuldiner, Cliff Burton, and, naturally, Dimebag.

I get that this is a “gag gift” so I’m not too offended by the whole stupid idea – it’s not like you’re actually getting ripped off by, say, being so dumb you think you’re having a star named after a loved one – but taking five bucks and putting it towards a “meeting” with Layne Staley or Bon Scott or Randy Rhodes or whomever strikes me as… well… a complete and utter waste of five bucks. No, it’s not really a lot of money in the scheme of things, but it is money.

So purchasing one of these “gag gifts” is literally like wiping your ass with that Abe Lincoln. Somewhere, there’s a starving homeless person who would kill for a slice of pizza or two, but, no, that money would be better spent on a fake meeting with a dead person.

Swell.

-AR

This video is from ’94, but still… I’d never seen it before and found it, well, not funny, but, uh, interesting? Let’s say interesting.

I guess Cantrell and company weren’t too offended, though, ’cause in 2006, they performed with Hetfield:

Click to read more…

I think that William DuVall is ready for his close-up. Black Gives Way to Blue kills, and proves that Alice in Chains have done what even the most cynical of us (namely, me) thought was impossible: this band can carry on without Layne Staley. And, yes, Jerry Cantrell deserves a BJ or twelve for that fact, but this would be just a glorified make-over for Cantrell’s solo band if DuVall wasn’t a killer front man.

So. MetalSucks Maniac Amanda Dobbs has tipped us off to the fact that DuVall has made a list of ten songs that “blow him away” for AOL. And while there’s a goodly amount of rock on the list, it’s probably not what you expect. I don’t wanna spoil it here, but… the most recent song on the list was recorded in 1971. So if you were hoping for some metal… stop.

But they’re all great songs, and give some real insight into where DuVall is coming from. Check out the list here.

-AR

I had kind of a stunning realization last night as I watched Alice in Chains blow the roof off Irving Plaza/The Fillmore/whatever the fuck it’s called now. It was during the second song of the band’s ninety minute set, “Again.” (The show opener was “Rain When I Die,” in case you’re curious.) New vocalist William DuVall (well at this point he’s not really new anymore, but I guess he’s new-ish) didn’t just sing the phrase “Again and again and again” – he belted it, jumping up onto the monitors to give himself just a little extra boost in the rockstar god department. Then, as it came time for him to grunt and signal the start of the “Doo-doo, doo-doo” sing-along section (and sing along the crowd did), DuVall lept off the monitor and started pumping his fist in the air, prompting the audience to do the same. As he finally turned to face drummer Sean Kinney, Kinney started grinning; and then the grin spread across the stage like an infectious disease, and by the end of the song, guitarist Jerry Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez were smiling, too.

And that’s when it hit me. It was kind of a morbid epiphany, especially for someone who held deceased vocalist Layne Staley in as high regard as I did, but it was an important epiphany for a fan who hopes to follow this band into their future. Here it is:

Layne Staley did not want to be with us here tonight.

Click to read more…

What an awesome way to start the weekend.

Finally, after weeks and weeks of crappy bootlegs, we get some actual new music from Alice in Chains! Our friends at Metal Insider are streaming the band’s new single, “Check Your Brain.” And guess what? It is CLASSIC Alice. The guitars, the vocals, the hook, everything… I mean, swap out William DuVall for Layne Staley and the song would easily fit on the band’s self-titled album.

In short: we think it’s awesome. Listen to it here, then come back and let us know what you think.

Alice in Chains’ big comeback album, Black Gives Way to Blue, drops September 29.

-AR

According to Blabbermouth, Elton John plays on the title track to Alice in Chains’ forthcoming Black Gives Way to Blue, which is described as “a heart-stirring tribute” to late vocalist Layne Staley.

Apparently John’s contribution comes solely in the form of piano playing and not vocals, which must be why Vince made no note of it when he reported on the album’s listening party (although he did make note of the “melancholy piano” and the lyrics “I remember you,” which he suspected at the time was a tribute to Staley); at the same time, I can’t believe they’ve kept the collaboration with John a secret this long.

So… anyone wanna get pissy about this? Honestly, like our friend Eyal Levi, I need some non-metal sometimes, and vintage Elton John often hits the spot. Plus, this isn’t the first time he’s worked with a near-metal band:

Black Gives Way to Blue comes out September 29.

-AR

So there’s this new Alice in Chains song, and this morning I wrote and posted this whole long critique, and now shitty computer issue mean it’s gone forever, and I’m way too lazy to re-write it all. So here are the highlights of that now-departed piece:

• No one will ever be able to replace Layne Staley, but William DuVall does a good job and his harmonies Jerry Cantrell are great.
• The band brought the heavy, which makes me happy.
• At seven-plus minutes, I think it’s too long, especially since it’s kind of redundant.
• I’m excited to hear the whole record.
• Fuck Godsmack.
• Download the whole song for free here.
• Weigh in with your thoughts below.

-AR

As I’ve said before, I usually steer clear of posting “trailers” for upcoming music videos, but the below, for a new Alice in Chains song called “A Looking In View,” obviously deserves to be an exception. Besides the fact that the imagery is pretty kooky, it gives us our first taste, however brief, of the first new AIC music in fourteen (!!!) years. The full song will appear on the band’s forthcoming album, Black Gives Way to Blue, which Virgin will release September 29.

Of course, I can’t make any judgements based on what in this teeny tiny little clip, but if you’re an AIC nerd like me, you crave a listen to this new album like Layne Staley craved smack.

[crickets]

What? Too soon?

Alice in Chains – A Looking In View (Trailer)

-AR

Alice in Chains have officially announced Black Gives Way to Blue as the title of their new, Layne Staley-less album. It will be released on September 29.

I know a lot of people – myself included – are really, really, REALLY cynical about this record, but if done right, it really could be their Back in Black. For now, let’s just say that there is 200% no album I’m more curious to hear this year, for better or worse.

Here they are doing “Again” with their new vocalist, William DuVall, at Rock am Ring in 2006. Vince and I have seen this DuVall fellow live in concert twice, and I think he’s at least worth giving a shot.

-AR

I haven’t listened to Facelift in the longest time, but last week I gave it a spin and suddenly remembered how much more I like side-B (remember those?) than side-A. Not that side-A doesn’t rock, ’cause clearly it does, but goddamn, there are some under-appreciated gems on the flipside.

One of those is “Sunshine,” a song I always thought was fucking epic, even if I have no idea what the fuck Layne Staley thinks he’s singing about. “Then some dude came down to touch the mother/Mother touched, and dude ain’t here no more.” Uhhh… okay, Layne.

Here’s the band performing the song at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Michigan in ’91.

-AR

Thanks to The Deciblog for reminding me of two things I somehow forgot:

1. Sunday was the seventh (!) anniversary of Layne Staley’s death.
2. Opeth covered “Would?”

-AR

Sometimes I think it would be nice to go back and re-sleep with some of my ex-girlfriends. I’ve been fortunate in that some of them were really good in bed, and sometimes I just think, “Gosh, it would be nice to have one last night with so-and-so who did that thing I really liked.” Of course, the reality is, the sex would almost certainly be anti-climactic; it’s entirely possible you’re idealizing your past, but even if you’re not, things change, and the idea of once again getting head from the girl you thought gave the best blowjobs in the world when you were nineteen is probably way sexier than the actual head would be.

This is all a very long-winded way of saying that I don’t think a new Carcass album would be a very good idea.

Click to read more…

So, yes, Alice in Chains are recording a new album with new singer William DuVall. And, yes, it’s hard to accept the idea of AIC without Layne Staley. But in DuVall’s defense, Vince and I have seen him perform with the Men in the Box not once, not twice, but three times, and while he’s no Staley, he’s pretty frickin’ cool.

So. It would have been nice to see the band reunited with Dave Jerden, who produced their first two (and, in my not so humble opinion, their two best) albums, Facelift and Dirt. But they’ve gone with Nick Raskulinecz instead. Raskulinecz is “in” right now (he’s produced the Foo Fighters, Shadows Fall, Trivium, Death Angel, Velvet Relover, etc.), which is not to say he’s bad; in point of fact, the only thing I have against the dude is that I have to look up the proper way to spell his name each and every time I wanna write about him. If only this was the Sunset Strip in ’86 and he’d changed his name to Nikki Rakkett, life would be so much easier. Sigh.

And if these guys can still muster even an ounce of the magic they captured in their heyday, a 2009 Alice in Chains record could be this generation’s Back in Black.

Then again, it will probably suck.

-AR

Layne Staley died 6 years ago today of a heroin overdose and his rotting corpse was found 2 weeks later. What a sad way for a talented singer, frontman, and one of the most influential men of late ’80s / early ’90s metal and grunge to go. Meditate on that as you listen to these tracks and smoke your Saturday afternoon bowl.

R.I.P. Layne Staley. (August 22, 1967 – ca. April 5, 2002)

-VN

Alice in Chains – “Bleed the Freak” (Facelift)
Alice in Chains – “Dam That River” (Dirt)
Alice in Chains – “Rain When I Die” (Dirt)
Alice in Chains – “Sludge Factory” (Alice in Chains)