Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released five studio albums, three EPs, three live albums, four compilations, two DVDs, 31 music videos and 29 singles. The band is known for its distinctive vocal style, which often included the harmonized vocals between Staley and Cantrell (and later between Cantrell and William DuVall). Cantrell started to sing lead vocals on the 1992 acoustic EP Sap, and his role continued to grow in the following albums, making Alice in Chains a two-vocal band.
Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with other Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. The band was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s, selling over 20 million records worldwide, and over 14 million records in the US alone, with two No. 1 albums and six Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. The band has had 16 Top 10 songs on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, 5 No. 1 hits, and nine Grammy Award nominations. Their debut album, Facelift, featuring the hit single "Man In The Box", was released in 1990 and has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA, selling over two million copies. In 1992, the band's second album, Dirt, was released to critical acclaim and was certified quadruple platinum. Their second acoustic EP, Jar of Flies, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1994, becoming the first ever EP and first Alice in Chains release to top the charts, and it has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA. The band's third album, Alice in Chains debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1995 and has been certified double platinum.
Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity from 1996 onwards due to Staley's substance abuse, which resulted in his death in 2002. The band reunited in 2005 for a live benefit show, performing with a number of guest vocalists. They toured in 2006, with William DuVall taking over as lead vocalist full-time. The new line-up released the band's fourth studio album, Black Gives Way to Blue, in 2009, which received gold certification by the RIAA and two Grammy nominations. Their fifth studio album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, was released in 2013 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The band toured extensively and released several videos in support of these albums.
Their sixth studio album, Rainier Fog, would be released in 2018, through BMG records, making it their first big release on the new label. Rainier Fog would end up debuting at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, making it yet another powerful addition to the band's already impressive discography.
Although Alice in Chains has been labeled grunge by the mainstream media, Jerry Cantrell identifies the band as primarily heavy metal. He told Guitar World in 1996, "We're a lot of different things ... I don't quite know what the mixture is, but there's definitely metal, blues, rock and roll, maybe a touch of punk. The metal part will never leave, and I never want it to". The Edmonton Journal has stated, "Living and playing in Seattle might have got them the grunge tag, but they've always pretty much been a classic metal band to the core."
Over the course of their career, the band's sound has also been described as alternative metal, sludge metal, doom metal,drone rock, hard rock, and alternative rock. Regarding the band's constant categorization by the media, Cantrell stated "When we first came out we were metal. Then we started being called alternative metal. Then grunge came out and then we were hard rock. And now, since we've started doing this again I've seen us listed as: hard rock, alternative, alternative metal and just straight metal. I walked into an HMV the other day to check out the placement and see what's on and they've got us relegated back into the metal section. Right back where we started!". Drummer Sean Kinney rejects the grunge label, stating in a 2013 interview "I mean, before we first came out there was no grunge, they hadn’t invented that word. Before they invented the word grunge we were alternative rock and alternative metal and metal and rock, and we didn’t give a shit whatever, we were a rock and roll band!". According to Mike Inez, they were always the metal stepchildren of the Seattle scene.
Jerry Cantrell's guitar style combines "pummeling riffs and expansive guitar textures" to create "slow, brooding minor-key grinds". He is also recognized for his natural ability to blend acoustic and electric guitars. While down-tuned, distorted guitars mixed with Staley's distinctive "snarl-to-a-scream" vocals appealed to heavy metal fans, the band also had "a sense of melody that was undeniable", which introduced Alice in Chains to a much wider audience outside of the heavy metal underground.
According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, Alice in Chains' sound has a "Black Sabbath-style riffing and an unconventional vocal style". The band has been described by Erlewine as "hard enough for metal fans, yet their dark subject matter and punky attack placed them among the front ranks of the Seattle-based grunge bands". Three of the band's releases feature acoustic music, and while the band initially kept these releases separate, Alice in Chains' self-titled album combined the styles to form "a bleak, nihilistic sound that balanced grinding hard rock with subtly textured acoustic numbers".
Alice in Chains is also noted for the unique vocal harmonies of Staley (or DuVall) and Cantrell, which included overlapping passages, dual lead vocals, and trademark harmonies typically separated by a major third. Cantrell said it was Staley who gave him the self-assurance to sing his own songs. Alyssa Burrows said the band's distinctive sound "came from Staley's vocal style and his lyrics dealing with personal struggles and addiction". Staley's songs were often considered "dark", with themes such as drug abuse, depression, and suicide, while Cantrell's lyrics often dealt with personal relationships.
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Alice in Chains Lyrics
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Hey, I'll just wander my own road
Hey, I can't meet you here tomorrow
No, say goodbye don't follow
Misery so hollow
Hey you, you're livin' life full throttle
Hey you, pass me down that bottle, yeah
I get so lost and don't know how
And it hurts to care, so I won't now
Forgot my woman, lost my friends
Things I'd done and where I've been
Sleep in sweat, the mirrors cold
See my face, it's growin' old
Scared to death, no reason why
Do whatever to get me by
Think about the things I've said
Read the page, it's cold and dead
Take me home
Yeah, take me home
Take me home
Take me home, yeah
Take me home
Say goodbye, don't follow
The lyrics of "Don't Follow" by Alice in Chains explore themes of loneliness, addiction, and self-destructive behaviors. The song begins with the singer expressing his refusal to return home, indicating a desire to escape from his current situation. He chooses to wander his own road, distancing himself from others and possibly from society as a whole. This refusal to go back home might suggest a rebellion against societal norms and expectations.
The lyrics also touch upon the singer's struggle with addiction. He asks someone to pass him a bottle, suggesting his dependency on substances, possibly alcohol. The bottle symbolizes a coping mechanism, something he turns to in order to numb his pain and escape from reality. This reliance on substances becomes intertwined with his sense of self, as he admits feeling lost and not knowing how to navigate his life without it.
The singer reflects on the consequences of his actions and choices. He mentions forgetting his woman and losing his friends, implying that his addictive behavior has caused him to neglect and lose meaningful relationships. The line about sleep in sweat and a cold mirror suggests a deteriorating physical and mental state due to substance abuse. He also expresses a sense of fear and being scared to death, despite not understanding the reasons behind it. This could imply a constant state of anxiety and unease brought on by his destructive habits.
As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the singer has reached a point of resignation. He no longer wants to care because it hurts too much. This demonstrates the toll that addiction and self-destructive behavior can take on a person's emotional well-being. The concluding lines, "Say goodbye, don't follow," could be interpreted as a final plea for others to not follow his path, perhaps out of concern for their own well-being or as a proclamation of self-isolation.
Overall, "Don't Follow" paints a picture of a person trapped in a cycle of addiction, loneliness, and self-destruction. The lyrics capture the desperation, confusion, and resignation that can accompany such a lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, I ain't never coming home
I have no intention of returning to where I once was
Hey, I'll just wander my own road
I will forge my own path and follow my own journey
Hey, I can't meet you here tomorrow
I won't be able to meet you in the future
No, say goodbye don't follow
Instead of trying to follow or understand, just say goodbye and let go
Misery so hollow
The emptiness and suffering is profound
Hey you, you're livin' life full throttle
You are living life with great intensity and enthusiasm
Hey you, pass me down that bottle, yeah
Hand me that bottle so I can momentarily forget my troubles
Hey you, you can't shake me round now
You can't easily influence or manipulate me anymore
I get so lost and don't know how
I become deeply confused and have no idea how to find my way
And it hurts to care, so I won't now
The pain of caring is overwhelming, so I choose not to care anymore
Forgot my woman, lost my friends
I have neglected or pushed away the person I loved and lost my friendships
Things I'd done and where I've been
I reflect on my past actions and the places I have been
Sleep in sweat, the mirrors cold
I rest uncomfortably, feeling perspiration, and the reflection in the mirror feels chilling
See my face, it's growin' old
I observe my aging face, realizing the passing of time
Scared to death, no reason why
I am terrified without any clear explanation
Do whatever to get me by
I will do anything necessary to survive or cope
Think about the things I've said
I reflect on the words I have spoken
Read the page, it's cold and dead
I examine a written page that feels lifeless and devoid of warmth
Take me home
I yearn to be brought back to a place of comfort and safety
Yeah, take me home
Yes, lead me back to where I belong
Take me home
Guide me back to a familiar and comforting environment
Take me home, yeah
Bring me back to where I feel at ease and at peace
Take me home
Transport me to a place I can call home
Say goodbye, don't follow
Bid farewell, don't try to pursue or accompany me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh
on Nutshell
Really would like some prayers guys.