Alongside Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, Alice in Chains was one of the leading acts of the Seattle grunge scene, which gained worldwide recognition in the early 1990s. With roots in heavy metal and hard rock, the band forged a unique identity marked by heavy riffs, dark atmospheres, and the striking vocal harmonies between Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. Their lyrics address heavy themes such as substance abuse, isolation, and personal conflicts.
Formed in 1987, the group initially consisted of Layne Staley (vocals), Jerry Cantrell (guitar and vocals), Mike Starr (bass), and Sean Kinney (drums). In 1989, they signed with Columbia Records and, the following year, released the EP We Die Young and their first studio album, Facelift. Driven primarily by the success of “Man in the Box,” the album introduced the band to a global audience.
In 1992, the group explored a more acoustic sound on the EP Sap and released Dirt, one of the most iconic works of their career. The album featured classics such as “Them Bones,” “Rooster,” “Down in a Hole,” and “Would?,” the latter of which was included on the soundtrack for the film Singles. In January 1993, the band performed in Brazil for the first time, as one of the headliners at the Hollywood Rock festival. Following that tour, Mike Starr left the group and was replaced by bassist Mike Inez.
Released in 1994, the EP Jar of Flies delved deeper into an acoustic sound and made history by becoming the first EP ever to debut at the top of the Billboard 200, the leading U.S. album chart. The following year saw the release of their third, self-titled album, Alice in Chains, featuring standout tracks such as “Grind,” “Heaven Beside You,” and “Again.” In 1996, the band recorded their acclaimed performance for MTV Unplugged, which was later released on CD and DVD.
After a few shows in 1996, the band entered a long hiatus while its members pursued side projects. In 1998, the group briefly returned to the studio with Staley to record the tracks “Get Born Again” and “Died,” which were included in the retrospective box set Music Bank (1999). These were the singer’s final studio recordings with the band.
On April 19, 2002, Layne Staley was found dead at his home in Seattle at the age of 34. The coroner’s report determined that his death had occurred on April 5 as a result of an accidental overdose of heroin and cocaine (a “speedball”).
The remaining members reunited in 2005 for a benefit concert featuring guest vocalists. The official reunion was solidified in 2006 with the permanent addition of singer and guitarist William DuVall. With this new lineup, the band released Black Gives Way to Blue in 2009, ending a 14-year hiatus without new albums and receiving widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike.
This new phase maintained a high level of consistency with the albums The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013) and Rainier Fog (2018). The latter, a Grammy-nominated album, was the band’s sixth studio album.
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