Alice in Chains

Artist Image: Alice in Chains
Attribution
Image Credit: Jenya Campbell from Olympia, USA (Alice in Chains on tour), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Alice in Chains (often abbreviated as AIC) is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later 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. Often associated with grunge music, Alice in Chains' sound incorporates heavy metal elements. The band is known for its distinctive vocal style, which often included the harmonized vocals between Staley and Cantrell (and later Cantrell and 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. They achieved success during the era with the albums Facelift (1990), Dirt (1992), Alice in Chains (1995), as well as the EP Jar of Flies (1994). Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity from 1996 onward, due to Staley's substance abuse, which resulted in his death in 2002. The band toured in 2006, with DuVall taking over as lead vocalist full-time. The new line-up have released the albums Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013), and Rainier Fog (2018). Alice in Chains have sold over 30 million records worldwide, and over 14 million records in the US alone. The band has had 18 Top 10 songs on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, 5 No. 1 hits, and received 11 Grammy Award nominations. The band was ranked number 34 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and was ranked as the 15th greatest live band by Hit Parader. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released six studio albums, three EPs, three live albums, four compilations, two DVDs, 43 music videos, and 32 singles.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1987
Number of Albums 21
Record Label Columbia
Website aliceinchains.com
Wikipedia Alice in Chains on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

Who was the original drummer for Alice in Chains?

Sean Kinney

...The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney , and bassist Mike Starr (who was replaced in 1993 by Mike Inez). Although widely associated ...
Who replaced Mike Starr in 1993?

Mike Inez

...ummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr (who was replaced in 1993 by Mike Inez ). Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound inco...
How many studio albums has Alice In Chains released since it's formation?

five

...and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released five studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DV...
How many live albums has the band had?

two

...ts formation, Alice in Chains has released five studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DVDs. The band is known for its ...
Whose vocals did the band often include?

Staley and Cantrell

...istinct vocal style which often included the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell . Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grung...
How many of the band's albums have been sold in the US?

over 14 million

...ic acts of the 1990s, selling over 25 million albums worldwide, and over 14 million in the US alone. In 1992, the band released their album Dirt, whic...
What album did the band release in 1992?

Dirt

... over 14 million in the US alone. In 1992, the band released their album Dirt , which was critically acclaimed and has been certified quadruple platinu...
How many top ten songs did Alice in Chains have on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart?

16

...adruple platinum. The band has had two consecutive No. They have also had 16 top ten songs on theMainstream Rock Tracks chart and nine Grammy Award no...
How many Grammy nominations did Alice In Chains receive?

nine

...ey have also had 16 top ten songs on theMainstream Rock Tracks chart and nine Grammy Award nominations. Although never officially disbanding, Alice in...
What record label did Alice in Chains sign with in 1989?

Columbia Records

...e in Chains lyrics. Group formed in Seattle, WA, 1987; signed with Columbia Records , 1989; released debut EP, We Die Young, 1990; released first fulll...
When did the group release their debut EP, We Die Young?

1990

...87; signed with Columbia Records, 1989; released debut EP, We Die Young, 1990 ; released first fulllength album, Facelift, 1990; appeared in film Singl...
What was Alice's debut fulllength album called?

Facelift

...eleased debut EP, We Die Young, 1990; released first fulllength album, Facelift , 1990; appeared in film Singles, 1992; performed on Lollapalooza tour,...
When was the first full length album released?<extra_id_51> When did Layne Staley perform on the Lollapalooza tour?

1993

...t, 1990; appeared in film Singles, 1992; performed on Lollapalooza tour, 1993 . ''We don't stuff our personal demons inside ourselves, explained Alice ...
When did Alice break through with Dirt?

1992

...its heavy, brooding sound and angstridden lyrics, Alice broke through in 1992 with Dirt, an album preoccupied with addiction and other trials of the s...
Jerry Cantrella is a college dropout from what state?

Washington

...ction and other trials of the soul. Guitarist Jerry Cantrella Tacoma, Washington , college dropout who picked up the guitar at age 17, influenced prima...
When did Jerry cantrell learn to play the guitar?

17

...rella Tacoma, Washington, college dropout who picked up the guitar at age 17 , influenced primarily by heavy metal innovator Eddie Van Halenmet Staley ...
Who was the guitarist Jerry was influenced by?

Eddie Van Halen

...the guitar at age 17, influenced primarily by heavy metal innovator Eddie Van Halen met Staley in the late 1980s. The singer was working with other mus...
How long did the band play on the Northwest music circuit?

a year and a half

...r vocals. The band gigged on the Northwest music circuit for about a year and a half , just playing, and then we finally started gelling, as far as wha...
When was Alice in Chains formed?

1987

...ted as AIC) is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who la...
Who is the guitarist of AIC?

Jerry Cantrell

... from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and...
Who joined the band in 2006?

William DuVall

... later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as colead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, re...
When did Layne Staley die?

2002

...6 as colead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who died in 2002 . Often associated with grunge music, Alice in Chains' sound incorporates...
Who started to sing lead vocals on the 1992 acoustic EP Sap?

Cantrell

...ed vocals between Staley and Cantrell (and later Cantrell and DuVall). Cantrell started to sing lead vocals on the 1992 acoustic EP Sap, and his role ...
What was the name of the EP Alice in Chains released in 1994?

Jar of Flies

...elift (1990), Dirt (1992), Alice in Chains (1995), as well as the EP Jar of Flies (1994). Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was pl...
What was the name of the band that stood out from the grunge hordes in the 1990s?

Alice in Chains

... Alice in Chains both epitomized the solemn, heavy Seattle sound of the 1990s and stood apart from the grunge hordes. What separated Alice in Chains fr...
Where did Alice In Chains' roots lie?

Sleze

...ger than their original incarnation. The roots of Alice in Chains lay in Sleze , a Seattlebased hair metal band that featured Layne Staley as lead sing...
What genre did Alice in Chains thrive in?

grunge

...heir connections to metal, Alice in Chains thrived in the glory days of grunge , and it wasn't merely a question of timing, either. After the group sco...
Who invited Cantrell to crash with him at his rented unit at the Music Bank?

Staley

... that featured Layne Staley as lead singer. The pair became friends and Staley invited Cantrell to crash with him at his rented unit at the Music Bank...
What was Staley singing in at the time?

a funk band

... held out hope for Staley to join. At the time, Staley was singing in a funk band that also happened to need a guitarist, so Cantrell agreed to play o...
Who is the lead vocalist of Alice in chains?

Layne Staley

...Sean Kinney, who then recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley . William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as colead vocalist and rhyth...
When did William DuVall join the band as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist?

2006

... Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as colead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who died in 2...
How many studio albums has Alice in Chains released since it's formation?

six

...s heavy metal elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released six studio albums, three EPs, three live albums, four compilations, two DVDs...
How many live albums did the band release?

three

...ts formation, Alice in Chains has released six studio albums, three EPs, three live albums, four compilations, two DVDs, 31 music videos and 31 single...
What was Staley's name?

Layne

...mer Sean Kinney, who then recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as colead vocalist and r...
How many compilations has the band released?

four

...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 know...
How many singles have been released by the band?

29

... 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 i...
What is the band known for?

its distinctive vocal style

...o DVDs, 31 music videos and 29 singles. The band is known for its distinctive vocal style , which often included the harmonized vocals between Staley a...
In what city was Alice in Chains formed?

Seattle

... grunge and punk acts into the American music scene. Fall of that year, Seattle bore witness to the genesis of onesuch iconic grunge act, Alice in Cha...
What was the band's demo called?

The Treehouse Tapes

...at is now known as Alice in Chains. The band finished their demo, The Treehouse Tapes , in 1988, which earned them a place on the Columbia label. The 1...
When did Alice in Chains finish their demo?

1988

...s Alice in Chains. The band finished their demo, The Treehouse Tapes, in 1988 , which earned them a place on the Columbia label. The 1980s were also wi...
What was the name of the band that formed in 1990?

Nirvana

...hose remaining members went on to form Pearl Jam. With the formation of Nirvana in 1990, the grunge scene was really beginning to take off in Seattle....
What single was added to MTVs regular daytime rotation?

Man in the Box

...under 40,000 copies in the first six months. Only after the single, Man in the Box , was added to MTVs regular daytime rotation did the album take off,...
How many copies did Facelift sell in six weeks?

400,000

... added to MTVs regular daytime rotation did the album take off, selling 400,000 copies in the following six weeks. Facelift peaked at 42 on the US cha...
Facelift peaked at what number on the US charts?

42

...ff, selling 400,000 copies in the following six weeks. Facelift peaked at 42 on the US charts and is a 2x certified platinum album by the Recording In...
What organization certified Facelift platinum?

Recording Industry Association of America

...the following six weeks. Facelift peaked at 42 on the US charts and is a 2x certified platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America ....