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.
Killing Yourself
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stick her arm let her go
Dropped dime on me last time
By morning his blood turned bold
Runnin from the law since Monday
'Cause Suzy went down on time
Got enough to last till Sunday
So I'm burning on down that line
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
K-K-K-Killing Yourself
Move up from the table
Fat man going down
Some run from the big gun
Some just run from the sound
Runnin from the law since Monday
'Cause Suzy went down on time
Got enough to last till Sunday
So I'm burning on down that line
Suzy was a bad child
Always on the wrong side
Ah, she was no good
She was bad, bad, bad with the bad cats
Always punching the needle in her arm
Ah, but when she's good, she's so damn good
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
K-K-K-Killing Yourself
You're just killing yourself
The lyrics of "Killing Yourself" by Alice in Chains describes the self-destructive behavior of characters who are running away from the law while abusing drugs. The song is structured around two different scenarios, with the common theme of drug abuse and its effects on the characters. The first scenario describes a drug user who is on the run, burning down the line, and killing themselves in the process. The second scenario describes a female character named Suzy, who the lyrics portray as a "bad child" who has been punching the needle in her arm. The lyrics state that Suzy was bad with the bad cats, always on the wrong side, and that she was no good.
The song's lyrics are dark and raw, expressing the self-destructive tendencies of those addicted to drugs. The reference to Suzy and her drug abuse offer a sense of loss and despair, with the music complementing the lyrics' intensity and message. The metaphors used in the song suggest that drug abuse is equivalent to killing oneself, providing a sad commentary on the destructive power of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Move up from the table
It’s time to move on and stop dwelling on something.
Stick her arm let her go
Suzy was injecting drugs and not taking heed of the risk.
Dropped dime on me last time
Someone informed the authorities of Susie's drug activities leading to trouble for those involved.
By morning his blood turned bold
Someone got hurt badly and they were soaked in their own blood.
Runnin from the law since Monday
Living in fear of getting caught since the start of the week.
'Cause Suzy went down on time
Being caught due to Susie's drug use activities.
Got enough to last till Sunday
Burning through their supply of drugs with a goal to last until the end of the week.
So I'm burning on down that line
Continuing to use drugs despite the consequences and repercussions.
Killing Yourself
Realizing the self-destructive behavior, there is a need to stop or risk hurting themselves permanently.
Move up from the table
Repeating the need to move on and away from old habits or behaviors.
Fat man going down
Someone will suffer or face the consequences of their actions soon.
Some run from the big gun
People are scared of the law and what it can do to them.
Some just run from the sound
People are afraid of the noises, sounds and commotion around them and what it represents.
Suzy was a bad child
Susie wasn't someone to be idolized or emulated, tending to choose risky decisions or do things that could harm them.
Always on the wrong side
Choosing the negative or self-destructive path repeatedly despite the consequences.
Ah, she was no good
Despite possible appeals, Susie was not a wholesome or beneficial character.
She was bad, bad, bad with the bad cats
Describing Susie and others like her, as people who delight in being a bit of a rebel or breaking the rules.
Always punching the needle in her arm
Highlighting the self-destructive ways of drug use and its harmful effects.
Ah, but when she's good, she's so damn good
Describing Susie and others who may have a good side/benefit with their bad behavior.
Killing Yourself
Reiterating once again the necessary need for self-reflection and to do away with something that could be irrevocably harmful.
Killing Yourself
Emphasizing that without taking action to change, there's a high chance of dire consequences.
Killing Yourself
Repeating once again the disastrous consequences of harmful habits.
K-K-K-Killing Yourself
Adding emphasis to how self-destructive behavior could have a long-lasting impact on life.
You're just killing yourself
Summarizing the message that carrying on with self-destructive habits could lead to devastating consequences.
Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Limits98
Lyrics
Whoa
Move up from the table
Stick her arm let her go
Dropped dime on me last time
By morning his blood turned bold
Running from the law since Monday
Cause Suzy went down on time
Got enough to last till Sunday
So I'm burning on down that line
Yeah
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
K-K-K-Killing Yourself
Move up from the table
Fat man going down
Some run from the big gun
Some just run from the sound
Running from the law since Monday
Cause Suzy went down on time
Got enough to last till Sunday
So I'm burning on down that line
Yeah
[Guitar Solo]
Suzy was a bad child
Always on the wrong side
Ah, she was no good
Ooh
She was bad, bad, bad with the bad cats
Always punching the needle in her arm
Ah, but when she's good,
She's so damn good
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
Killing Yourself
K-K-K-Killing Yourself
You're just killing yourself
Alalu
Mike Starr's tone on this is everything lol - I love this version
HinjuRock
Mike was bad-ass.
SalandFindles
+Alalu Music Very true, bro.
Kayla Caulfield
too good. this band is too good.
Kayla Caulfield
if only they put it on Facelift...i hope to see a 25th anniversary version of Facelift coming soon with this and all the awesome demos they recorded but never released. Queen Of The Rodeo alone needs more attention!
One in a million
@HinjuRock thanks!
HinjuRock
You need more attention too - you're sexy 😎
Alice In Chains Dirtbag
I know I'm 7 years late on this reply but that would be awesome! I'd love to hear a better quality mastering of this song as a bonus track of a remastered Facelift album. Based on the quality, I think this recording here is from a cassette transfer, rather than a reel-to-reel. And since this EP was only released on cassette and vinyl as part of a promo in 1990, it's no wonder that it's so rare. I love the original 1988 demo for its speed, but this version is heavier.
Blues Pupil
If only!! Maybe the music gods (and greedy music execs) will see all of these cuts for the historic and revenue producers they can be!
Alexander Kohlhepp
100%! more of a 30th anniversary now xD