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Alice In Chains Biography
Review The Artist (34)
1987. The wonderful year marked with the birth of Alice in Chains. It all started in Seattle,WA at a party. It just so happened that an extremely talented guitarist named Jerry Cantrell was attending this party along with the man that sings like a lark, Layne Staley.
At that time, Layne was involved in a glam band which was growing stale. When he met and hit it off with Jerry that night, Jerry threw out the brilliant idea that they should start a band together. Layne agreed. Now there were two.
Jerry knew a man by the name of Mike Starr who agreed to play bass for the new band. Now all they needed was a drummer. (Layne could play of course, but as you know, he enjoys vocals) Luckily, Mike introduced the others to Sean Kinney, a crazy drummer who was dating Mike's sister. They decided to call their band Alice 'n Chains. (The name was supposedly spawed from a crazy idea about the group dressing in drag and playing). The monumental date of their first gig was on August 5, 1987.
After that, they were briefly known as Diamond Lie and played a few shows sparking the takeoff of their music. Of course they ended up calling themselves Alice In Chains. Later in 1987 they signed with Columbia Records. Their first EP titled "We Die Young" was released in 1990 and is currently a rare collectors item. A few months after that, they released their first full length album called "Facelift".The release of this album sent their debut song "We Die Young" to the top.
Westminister, CA was their first U.S. tour date which happened a few months after Facelift's release. In Seattle, the December 22 show sold out. It was, though, filmed and released as Live Facelift. Their first American Music Award nomination happened in January of 1991 when they were up for Favorite Heavy Metal Artist. Sadly, they lost."Man In The Box" was their first single which they released. This was their first exposure on MTV.
Alice In Chains made a movie debut in the film "Singles" where they played the song "Would?" in a bar. They then toured with Megadeth in Europe for the first time. They received a Grammy nomination for the "Best Heavy Metal Performance". Sadly, they lost again.
Next up for AIC was the "Clash of the Titans" tour with Slayer. They then had time to make their television debut with ABC for their "In Concert" show. After that they accompanied Van Halen on a 4 month tour.Facelift went gold around September of 1991. During their tour break in November, they recorded their second EP. The album was titled SAP, a name given to it by Sean Kinney. He had a dream about the group making an album and naming it SAP because it was "sappy".
Spring 1992 was some well deserved off-time for AIC. They soon began recording Dirt, though. It was released in September. "Would?" was the first single released. "Angry Chair" followed. At this point,Layne broke his foot, but completed the tour with Ozzy using a wheelchair or crutches. (He didn't miss a date!) A tour shirt had an X-ray of Layne's fractured foot on it.
Lollapalooza was the main focus of the summer 1993. After this, they recorded their new EP- Jar Of Flies.They then began the Down In Your Hole tour- a six week speedy tour. At this point, "Down In A Hole" was released as a single. A video was shot for this song as well. Finally, "Them Bones" was released as single number four from "Dirt". The cool film "Last Action Hero" was in theatres along with two unreleased Alice in Chains songs- "What The Hell Have I?" and "A Little Bitter". A video was shot for "What The Hell Have I?"
AIC recorded their third full length album in April of 1995. After nearly four months, the result was a harder heavier album originally named "Tripod". (third full length album, three legged dog and man) The dog on the cover was inspired from a dog that would chase Sean when he was delivering papers as a child. The album ended up self titled. It was released in November 1995 and debuted number one on the Billboard chart. They were nominated for a Grammy once again, and once again they lost.
1996 found AIC performing on Saturday Night Special, David Letterman, and a show for MTV Unplugged.They opened four shows for KISS on their reunion tour as well.
The Unforturnate Death of Lead Singer Layne Staley -- 1967-2002
By: Travis Gibson (nadawgy2k1@yahoo.com)
Alice in Chains' Layne Staley died from a mixture of heroin and cocaine, an autopsy and toxicology report revealed Monday.
Laboratory results determined the singer died April 5, according to a spokesperson for the King County medical examiner's office, the same day fellow grunge pioneer Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994. Staley was found dead two weeks later, surrounded by intravenous drug paraphernalia in his Seattle apartment.
The death certificate reads Staley's death resulted from "an acute intoxication due to the combined effects of opiate (heroin) and cocaine." The death was classified as "accidental."
The lethal combination goes by the name "speedball" in drug circles. The same ingredients contributed to the deaths of comedian John Belushi in 1982 and actor River Phoenix in 1993.
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Would you please submit the latest Alice In Chains biography to me? Thank You.
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Review about Alice In Chains
Black Gives Way to Blue | Reviewer: Misty | 10/2/09
All Secrets Known introduces you to the new album Black Gives Way to Blue. Check My Brain is an upbeat realization of years gone and heartache. Last of My Kind is a badass song! It’s right up their with Grind for me. I hope they play this one live on their tour! Your Decision is a cathardic mellow song. The chorus gets to the core of the message in a relaxing Alice in Chains way that no other band could pull off. Then, A Looking in View gets that dirty rock vibe pumping hard. Turn your speakers up on this one! Black Gives Way to Blue ends the CD with a haunting brillance! It’s a beautiful song with Elton John on piano. You’ll want to play this one over and over again for sure.
great release | Reviewer: edub | 8/14/09
I was running sound for a local band and the highlight of the night each weekend was when I got called up to do "man in the box". Now the band i work for now is learning "would?". Feels good to pour something out there at let everyone feel it.
wow | Reviewer: Joe halmagyi | 8/1/09
AIC awsome band Im sorry I missed out on most of there stuff only cause I was useing heavy amounts of crank through the 90's I did get to see one show in 91 or 92in yakima or spokane now that my head is clear I get to hear them 4 the first time allthough Ive been playing them 4 years say no to drugs
aic rocks | Reviewer: james | 7/21/09
Like many of the reviews, my life has been scared by addiction(currently am) and recent depression, shit speaks to me, really always has, but last really listened to AIC as a kid. Greatest band ever my opinion, laynes the greatest, yeah the new guy can sing his shit, but laynes dead, the creativity, the writing, the direction I feel of AIC. Realest cat ever!!!! R.I.P
AlicenChains 4-ever! | Reviewer: layla s. | 6/30/09
As long as i can rememer, every freakn time i listen to aic i get into a daze, that's so hard for me to get out of! Maybe it's b-cuz most of the things layne did in his life, i lived it too!
As an addict, and a fan its hard to see someone important go. It's like u never want to say goodbye. Hopefully the new band will bring good tunes like the old ones! We love u Layne!~RIP~
I lived it.. | Reviewer: Rooster.. | 5/26/09
Alice in chains are nothing without the vocals of Layne..That voice was remarkable and it stood out amongst such greats as..soundgarden and even the great Nirvana!!His death was sad..For someone to pour their soul into there music and lose ones life to a needle is heartbreaking! Just like kurt he gave us all he had and he had nothing left..Layne was a beautiful soul who was broken inside that is why he could so easily convey the deep dark and sometimes intoxicating sadness..A sorrow that anyone with a broken spirit would understand and know that they were not alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh... | Reviewer: Corpse | 5/5/09
This band is the most inspirational band I've ever listened to. I love Layne & Jerry to death, and although I'm fourteen (and therefore was seven when Staley died), I have all of their songs and really admire them. Alice in Chains (in my opinion) is THE greatest Seattle Grunge Band. (Though people would argue tons on that...)
I haven't heard William DuVall yet, but I'm anxious about it. Who knows...?
Keep Going | Reviewer: Geno | 4/9/09
Alice in Chains rocks!! They always have, and they always will! We miss you, Layne. You could never be replaced, but the music honors you. It is great hearing A.I.C. rock again. Keep rocking!!!
AIC is a very expressive band | Reviewer: albert jeffers | 1/21/09
As having had lifelong struggles with addiction, Alice In Chains really spoke to me. They addressed issues such as addiction and depression in such a real manner, no holds barred, they really struck a chord with me and I listen to them regularly and the music moves me just as much today as it did when it first came out.
live on AIC! | Reviewer: JD | 12/9/08
look im only 16 so i wasnt there for the great AIC era but i can say this thier music has helped me threw a lot and without AIC u people wouldnt have an excuse to bitch at each other so dont worry about wht is or wht might b but try to b like AIC and live in the now making every moment count
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Review the Artist Alice In Chains
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