Thanks for this post, Duff! It's good to hear Alice In Chains is once again creating new music. I read recently the Crocodile Cafe is reopening in Spring 2009. Nothing could be more epic for Seattle than if Alice In Chains could play on it's opening night. We can only hope.

Thanks for the post Duff! It great to hear that Alice In Chains is once again creating new music. I read recently that the Crocodile Cafe is re-opening it's doors in Spring 2009. Nothing would be more epic for Seattle fans than if Alice In Chains could play at the Croc on it's opening night. We can only hope.

I loved this piece, Duff. I really fell in love with them in the Fall of '07 and was sad to learn that they wouldn't be playing with you guys for the extended dates you did. I was at the Edmonton show.

It's always sad to see band members pass, but a band like Alice in Chains simply shouldn't just quit, because they have way too much to offer. However, it just seems that whenever bands change lineups, people will rip the new member or the band that made the decision to change the lineup. They never give some new members a chance and I've always felt that attitude is so close minded and ridiculous.

Anyway, I'm ecstatic to hear that AIC are going to be recording their new album in October and I can't wait to read your next article, Duff!

~Carmen

It’s funny you mention non inspiring live rock shows because I got an advance CD of the Clash Live at Shea Stadium 10/13/82 and at first listen of the disc I thought to myself “what the fuck happened to rock and roll?” This CD is mind numbing it is so good.

And as I type this I am listening to Pearl Jam Live from Hartford, CT and they are just wailing away. No posing, no gimmicks... NOTHING… Just good rock and roll, just like Alice in Chains. I agree with you. As music fans we NEED AIC back in action.

TROY

For one reason or another, I never paid much attention to AIC when they first hit (or was it when I first heard them) in the 90's. However, I was very fortunate to see them when they toured with VR and I have to say, I was blown away. William Duvall's vocals are uncannily perfect for this band, and the energy around them at that concert was amazing. I distictly remember all they had to do was pose, not even play (although that was amazing too) and the entire crowd went nuts, and some guy kept yelling Jerry Cantrell is god (no joke, that really happened). Anyway, I can't wait to hear a new album now, currently checking out the old ones, and I say rock on William Duvall.

Hell yeah! Alice in Chains are amazing.

I hear ya, Duff! I say the hipsters can have their generic, wannabe rock (I'm looking directly at you, Nickelback, Hinder, etc.). Hopefully, when fans of such bands grow up, they'll learn that there's way more to great rock n' roll than stringing together the same three or four chords in 4/4 time, and vomiting up forced lyrics that the average sixth grader could piece together.

To many, GnR was the beginning of the end for the L.A. hair bands. No doubt some new movement will come along within the next few years that will put an end to so-called "post-grunge" (if that's really even a sub-genre) and bubblegum emo/"punk". We just have to wait and watch the current popular music scene gloriously implode. I, for one, can't wait to watch it all go down in flames.

I really like AIC and, as you put it, the "truly amazing song craftsmanship" that went into their songs. Is it true that once they tried to give Axl (or GNR) a tape with their music and they were ignored by Axl (or GNR) and they were pissed at Axl (or GNR)?

I really like AIC and, as you put it, the "truly amazing song craftsmanship" that went into their songs. Is it true that once they tried to give Axl (or GNR) a tape with their music and they were ignored by Axl (or GNR) and they were pissed at Axl (or GNR)?

is VR gonna tour with AIC again?

Layne was amazing period.No one can sound like him or repace what he brought to the this band. Having said that AIC belongs to the remaining members even though they said this would happen only under a different name,they have changed their mind and that's fine with me. Bring it on !

Alice in Chains needs to live again.

Being a Seattle grown rock and roller back in the early 90's, I can honestly say, without a doubt, that Alice in Chains helped produce my musical tastes. It would be a shame to let that go today.

It's tragic that Layne passed, certainly, but I fully stand by Jerry's decision to breathe new life into this band... and for those of you that have seen William play, I can honestly say he does the music justice without trying to 'copy' Layne's voice.

Looking forward to the new tunes. Long live The Cult! CFFC

Well said Duff. You're opinion is shared by most of the bands TRUE fans in that we just want to see them and hear them play. William is a great fit and he isn't trying to imitate anyone. I'm sure you know about them already Duff but I urge everyone reading this that hasn't to check out William's band Comes With The Fall - another example of what you wrote about - www.comeswiththefall.com

This is really odd. You don't know me whatsoever- I met you once, like, 15 years ago- but my aunt is married to your brother, and I'm John Roderick's niece, so I now have two relatives blogging on the Seattle Weekly.

Small friggin' world. Anyhow, cheers! I didn't notice this column until now, and I'm really enjoying it.

Bro, I love Alice in Chains. I think the new cd will rock, because it has Jerry Cantrell in it. He is truly a master of the 6 string.

Keep it up Duff.

(Oh, by the way, if you read this, get together with Slash, and get your asses down to New Zealand!)

Thanks for speaking your mind that frankly Duff, I really apreciate your opinions and it's great to hear all those great stories related by someone how lived that directly.

I liked the part where you stated that Layne would had supported his collegues decision of continuing AIC with a new singer.

Pretty sure he suffered a lot during his retirement and until his death for not being able to perform again with his former bandmates and AIC new incarnation showed a lot of respect towards Layne and his legacy

Despite the obvious emptiness the band exudes when playing without Layne, I definitely think they should go on and put out new material: if anything out of respect for him. They were deprived of showing off their work for so many years, it has to be somewhat of a relief for them to actually be on stage /as/ Alice in Chains, despite whatever guilt and sadness they still have over Layne. So, yeah... fuck it and rock that shit out. I'm sure Layne would want that if he hadn't been struggling for peace of mind, not to use Jerry's words.

I ran into William on the street in NOLA during one of the breaks on the VR tour. I didn't know his name at the time and said something akin to "you're the new front-man for AiC, right?"—my naivety hit me as I was saying it, but his girlfriend smiled and nodded graciously. It was an awkward moment and he kind of paused, unsure of what to say. I wanted to kick myself. It was a fleeting discomfort for him and he near immediately stuck out his hand and smiled. I feel he can own that front-man status if he wants it. In all fairness it will just take time and the realization that their fans will follow the music: particularly if the humility that William exhibited and is so much a part of their past work continues to influence them.

On an unrelated note, VR/AiC/Sparta at the Gorge blew me away. The VR sets really added a level of depth to my respect for the band members that I just hadn't gone there expecting (e.g. I have /just/ recently discovered Appetite). Sparta on the bill really sealed the deal for me as the gravity of AiC was already a given.

Thanks for the insight...

I agree with Duff 100%. I've seen them twice with William and he's done an amazing job. He's no Layne, and he shouldn't be compared to Layne. I think that will be apparent on the new album (which is no slight to William). It seems he is a competent musician and I am really looking forward to the new album.

Great writing Duff.

I am 14 and have been a GN'R fan since I was 8. I would defend guns n roses while everyone said," they suck, listen to rap and techno it's amazing." Then I would totally blow off there opinon. Last April something amazing happened. I was searching Alice cooper on youtube and in the box thing it said Alice In Chains. My first thought was, isnt that the band that had the amazing vocalist. So I listened too them. I am a musician and live in Franklin,TN. Ever since I was young I was able to mimic sounds and voices of friends and celebrerties. Since Guns N Roses were my favorite band for 5 years I've mastered Axl's Vocals. But now I've fallen into an AIC trap. I can now sound pretty damn close to Layne. I'm forming a band made of pure rock. Were a mix of Aic,Gn'r,Zeppelin,Rage against the machine,and some actually good modern rock groups. Im tired of my peers liking hip hop and Jonas Brothers. It's time for the world to go back to the rocking place it once was. God gave us rock n roll, it's time to use it. And when god gives you crap, destroy it. In the word of the beatles,"It's time for a revolution."

Good column. No, OUTSTANDING, and I agree with many of your points, Duff, especially regarding the pablum that Clearchannel passes off as Rock Radio. Jerry Cantrell is noted for having once said that every time he turned on the radio after about 1995, he heard another singer trying to sound like Layne, or like Eddie Vedder, with a backing band that was basically trying to mimic the tonal feeling of either "Dirt" or "Ten." "You know what?" he said, "There's already a Pearl Jam. They're doing fine. Do your own music."

As to the cloud over Alice following Layne's six year spiral into death, while I understand that he was an incredible talent, he was NOT the whole band. You mention Cantrell's long under-recognized status as an inventive and brilliant musician (that solo in the middle of "Them Bones" alone should qualify him), as well as Inez's inimitable rhythmic growl, but the problem is that we're trying to freeze an artistic collective because one figure within can no longer participate. AIC wasn't just Layne's incredible voice — it was a sound created by several.

We seem to have forgotten a very relevant analogue with an equally influential frontman — after six years with an increasingly popular and influential band, a young Australian singer passed out after a nightlong bender in London. On February 19, 1980, Bon Scott was pronounced dead, and AC/DC was presumed DOA. They decided that their music was more important than any one member and now, 28 years later, they're STILL pumping out solid rock music.

Anyway... great column. Thanks for your work.