Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American grunge/ alternative metal band from Seattle,… Read Full Bio ↴Alice in Chains is an American grunge/ alternative metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who then recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who died in 2002. The band took its name from Staley's previous group, the glam metal band Alice N' Chains.
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.
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
''Love Song'' Love song, take one I love you and I'm coming back…
(Untitled) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM IRON..........GLAND!! HAHAHAH…
- Grind In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised Not to plan…
/ Bleed the Freak My cup runneth over Like blood from a stone These…
01 Angry Chair Sitting on an angry chair Angry walls that steal the air S…
03. No Excuses It's alright There comes a time Got no patience to search Fo…
04 bleed the freak My cup runneth over Like blood from a stone These…
04- Man in the Box I'm the man in the box Buried in my shit…
04. We Die Young Scary's on the wall Scary's on his way Watch where you spit…
06 Don't Follow Hey, I ain't never coming Home Hey, I'll just wander…
06 Sea Of Sorrow Mind, of destructive taste I choose...to stroll amongst th…
08 A Little Bitter How the mind does shout for rest When the bodies shaken,…
08~The Real Thing I messed around as a little boy I grew up,…
09-God Smack Care not for the men who wonder Straw that broke…
11 Am I Inside Loneliness it shadows me, quicker than darkness Crawls to …
A Little Bitter How the mind does shout for rest When the body is…
A Looking in View Hear footsteps creak the floor The shadows give away Someone…
Acid Bubble You tried to kill me off Surprised I remain A scale tips…
Again Hey, let 'em do it again, yeah Hey, you said you…
Again (Tattoo of Pain mix) Hey, let them do it again, yeah Hey, you said you…
Ain't Like That There I was I laid out on a table Screamin'…
Alice In Chains I'm the man in the box Buried in my shit Won't you…
All I Am Cannot recognize the face before me It's unfamiliar Time has…
All Secrets Known Hope, a new beginning Time, time to start living Like just b…
Alone Alice in Chains & Pearl Jam "Alone" It's been a long…
Am I Inside Loneliness it shadows me Quicker than darkness Crawls to th…
Am I Inside feat Chris Cornell Loneliness it shadows me, quicker than darkness Crawls to …
Angry Chair Sitting on an angry chair Angry walls that steal the air Sto…
Black Gives Way to Blue I don't want to feel no more It's easier to keep…
Bleed The Freak My cup runneth over Like blood from a stone These…
Bleed the Freak My cup runneth over Like blood from a stone These…
Bleed_The_Freak My cup runneth over Like blood from a stone These…
Blue I don't want to feel no more It's easier to keep…
Breath on a Window I mending fence along the road Barely holding together Maple…
Brother Frozen in the place I hide Not afraid to paint…
Brother (feat. Ann Wilson) Frozen in the place I hide Not afraid to paint my…
Brush I could use some time to curl away My aggression is…
Check My Brain So I found myself in the sun, oh yeah A hell…
Chemical Addiction I was only 15, standout on the Ave. You're chasing a…
Choke Before you ask for something better You should know I'm prac…
Confusion There's no time to give at all I cause you grief…
Dam That River I broke you in the canyon I drowned you in…
Dam the River I broke you in the canyon I drowned you in…
Deaf Ears Blind Eyes Sinking below view Time spent a wasting Alone in a full room…
Died I could climb until I reach where angels reside Ask around…
Dirt I have never felt such frustration Or lack of self…
Distance Aside Lost in your eyes, can't you find My intent to leave…
Don Hey, I ain't never coming home Hey, I'll just wander…
Don't Be Satisfied I was raised in a middle class family And I in…
Don't Follow Hey, I ain't never coming home Hey, I'll just wander…
Don’t Be Satisfied I was raised in a middle class family And I in…
Down in a Hole Bury me softly in this womb I give this part…
Drone In my eyes you are beautiful Not just bright, perfect spirit…
Fairytale Love Story Jill, came tumbling down At the bottom of the hill Jack bust…
Fat Girls Harry! Take the garbage out! Yes, poopsie (Fat girls) ooo, …
Fear The Voices Aww put our heads together Because a signature could change…
Fly Led out on a leash behind you, holding ground And I…
Foolish I can't believe that once again I can't believe I…
Football One, Two, Three hut one, hut two, hike! O-o-o-oo yeah! Who'…
Frogs What does friend mean to you? A word so wrongfully abused Ar…
Get Born Again Sat suffering, I knew him when Fair-weather friends of mine …
Glamorous Girls Oooo Whoa Na Na Na Na Na Na I want bring…
God Am "Sure God's all-powerful, but does he have lips? Whoa" Dea…
God Smack Care not for the men who wonder Straw that broke…
Godsmack Care not for the men who wonder Straw that broke…
Got me rong Yeah, it goes away All of this and more of…
Got Me Wrong Yeah, it goes away All of this and more of nothing…
Grind In the darkest hole, you'd be well advised Not to plan…
Hate to Feel Oh yeah What's gone wrong, I can't see straight Been too lo…
Head Creeps No more time Just one more time So crazy, beat…
Heaven 'N Hell I want to make myself complete I want to hold it…
Heaven Behind You Be what you want to be See what you came…
Hollow Turning in circles, slowing down Pulling against a closing o…
Hung on a Hook Hung on a hook I'm a mirror Cracked down the center…
Hush Hush Alice in chains she's had on all her life She hit…
I Am Inside Loneliness it shadows me, quicker than darkness Crawls to t…
I Can Turn around you say Excuse the 'tude but I haven't eaten…
I Can't Have You Blues I can't have you blues I got the I can't have…
I Can't Remember Turn around you say Excuse the 'tude but I haven't eaten…
I Cant Have You Blues I can't have you blues I got the I can't have…
I Cant Remember Turn around you say Excuse the 'tude but I haven't eaten…
I Can’t Have Your Blues I can't have you blues I got the I can't have…
I Can’t Remember Turn around you say 'Scuse the 'tude but I haven't…
I Don't Want Be A Soldier Well, I don't wanna be a soldier mama, I don't…
I Know Somethin Why can't I take it all okay? I like to dig…
I Know Somethin (Bout You) Why can't I take it all OK? I like to dig…
I Know Somethin' Why can't I take it all okay? I like to dig…
I Know Something Why can't I take it all OK? I like to dig…
I Stat Away Yeah, hey I want to travel south this year I won't Won't pre…
I've Seen All This World I Care To See i close my eyes and watch the darkness drawn to my…
Iron Gland Ha ha ha! I am Iron Gland! Ha ha ha! Oh Iron! Oh ha ha…
Iron Man I am iron god, iron Redrum…
Irongland Ha ha ha! I am Iron, Gland! Ha ha ha! Oh Oh ha ha…
It Ain There I was I laid out on a table Screamin'…
I_Cant_Remember Turn around you say 'Scuse the 'tude but I haven't…
I_Know_Somethin_ Why can't I take it all OK? I like to dig…
Junk Head A good night, the best in a long time A new…
Junkhead A good night, the best in a long time A new…
Killer Is Me Don't need a gun Pointed at me Don't need to…
Killer It's me Don't need a gun Pointed at me Don't need to…
Killing Yourself Move up from the table Stick her arm let her go Dropped…
King of the Kats Hot leather and sex All the things that I dress in…
Lab Monkey Anybody out there Anyone at all Can you finally hear this de…
Last of my Kind So young, so brazen, so unholy I come to you in…
Lesson Learned Just another lesson learned Wear a scar, a bore repeating Ta…
Lip Lock Rock Alright You look at me, the world in your eyes You say…
Little Bitter How the mind does shout for rest When the body is…
Look It's brought up without a clue Tied up in a cell Withdrew…
Love Hate Love Ooh I tried to love you I thought I could I…
Love Song Love song take one I love you, I'm not coming back…
Love, Hate, Love I tried to love you; I thought I could I tried…
Low Ceiling Old mister fun is back Wonder where he's been hiding at Hang…
Lying Season There's no reason To deny It's the season Of the lie Having…
man in a box I'm the man in the box Buried in my shit Won't you…
Maybe Long gone, the days of summer In L.A. it stretches longer Fa…
MTV Unplugged Yeah, it goes away All of this and more of…
Never Fade Silent grieve Suffocates the rumor Feel my breathing Speed u…
No Excuses It's alright There comes a time Got no patience to search Fo…
Nothin' Song Began this take at 7:38 Head hit the board, enough…
Nut Shell We chase misprinted lies We face the path of time…
Nutshell We chase misprinted lies We face the path of time…
Nutshell (unplugged) We chase misprinted lies We face the path of time And yet…
Over Now Yeah, it's over now But I can breathe somehow When…
Over the Edge OoooooooOh! I've had my share of one-night-stands And I've …
Phantom Limb No hope of rescue I'm trapped here alone If I don't dig…
Pretty Done So you got the thing you wanted Don't let it go Though…
Private Hell Give away a love And then remove another too Painted words a…
Put You Down Heartbreaker Feelin' alright Body over mind It's slower Re…
Queen of the Rodeo Alright, now seeing how Seeing how we're in Dallas We got a…
Queen Of The Rodeo(Unreleased My daddy was a trucker Left home when I was three He…
Rain When I Die Is she ready to know my frustration? What she slippin'…
Rainier Fog Some things last Sometimes you never get over Live in the pa…
Real Thing I messed around as a little boy I grew up,…
Red Giant I'm laid out, clown for you Entertaining, absurd you And of …
Right T Inside always trying to get back inside But it's so…
Right Turn feat Chris Cornell Inside always trying to get back inside But it's so…
Ring Them Bells Ring them bells, ye heathen From the city that dreams, Rin…
Rooster Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh, oo…
Rotten Apple Hey ah na na Innocence is over Hey ah na na, over Hey…
Scalpel Road narrows, pouring down I'm breaking without a sound Bits…
Sea of Sorrow Mind, of destructive taste I choose to stroll amongst the wa…
Sealed With a Kiss Yeah! Yeah! You left the lights on yeah! This is what you…
Shame in You When I waken, and I'm achin', time for sleepin', yeah When…
Sickman What the hell am I? Thousand eyes, a fly Lucky…
Sludge Factory Oh oh oh oh oh Oh yeah Oh oh oh oh oh Oh…
So Close "I'm serious, there's big money going on" "Big big money!"…
So Far Under I survive on the scraps you don't burn Maybe love's somethin…
Social Parasite You say you don't like the way we look Well fuck…
Stone I know you think I'm wrong, but I'm not your…
Suffragette City Hey man, oh leave me alone, you know Hey man, oh…
Sunshine One, a-one time, yeah Am I too contagious Full of…
Swing on This Mother said come home Father said come home Sisters said com…
Take Her Out Here I am again I feel time is dragging on Aren't you…
Tears All of the seasons And all of the days All of the…
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here Come to me, I'll fill the hole Why would I be…
The Killer Is Me Don't need a gun Pointed at me Don't need to…
The One You Know I'm a little alike You before things had changed In a compas…
The Real Thing I messed around as a little boy I grew up,…
Them Bones Ah, ah, ah, ah I believe Them bones are me Some say We're b…
Them Bones (feat. Maynard James Keenan) I believe, them bones are me Some say, we're born into…
Untitled HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM IRON..........GLAND!! HAHAHAH…
Voices Who am I, is this me? Am I one or thirteen? I've…
We Die Young Scary's on the wall Scary's on his way Watch where you spit…
What The Hell Have I The face before me flies Laughs at me inside Masks are made…
What The Hell Have I(Remix Unr The face before me flies Laughs at me inside Masks are mad…
Whatcha Gonna Do Hey now baby whatcha gonna do when I go? Hey now…
Whatcha Gonna Do (demo) Hey now baby whatcha gonna do when I go? Hey now…
When the Sun Rose Again Run, run 'til you drop Hide, everyone knows We all trade in…
Would Know me broken by my master Teach thee on child, love…
Would ? Know me broken by my master Teach thee on child of…
Would MTV Unplugged Yeah, it goes away All of this and more of…
Would? Know me broken by my master Teach thee on child, love…
Would? Know me broken by my master Teach thee on child of…
Ya Yeah Ya The way you move has got me yearning The way you…
Your Decision Time to change has come and gone Watched your fears become…
[Iron Gland] HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM IRON..........GLAND!! HAHAHAHAHA…
Josh
on Nutshell
Really would like some prayers guys.