Alice In Chains

Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band. The band is famous for its grunge music, however, they also incorporates heavy metal and acoustic elements.

The band was started with Jerry Cantrell as guitarist and Layne Staley as vocalist. However, after Staley's death in 2002 the band included new vocalist William DuVall after years of inactivation.

Alice in Chains was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 as Alice N' Chainz. The band initially performed around the Seattle area. They later became Alice In Chains and promoter Lenner signed them to Columbia in 1989.

The band released its first official recording in July 1990. It was a promotional EP titled We Die Young. The lead single "Man in the Box" became a hit the first full fledge production of the band came in the form of Facelift that was released on August 21, 1990.

Although it was not an instant success but was critically acclaimed and now regarded as one of the most important records in establishing audience for grunge and alternative rock. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America by the end of 1990.

Alice in Chains made many sold out tours and also released many successful albums. They released their second EP, Sap on March 21, 1992.

The album featured guest vocals by Ann Wilson from the band Heart, who joined Staley and Cantrell for the choruses of "Brother", "Am I Inside" and "Love Song".

It also featured Mark Arm of Mudhoney and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. They appeared together on the song "Right Turn", credited to "Alice Mudgarden" in the liner notes. The album became an instant hit and was soon certified gold.

In the same year, Alice in Chains appeared in the Cameron Crowe film Singles where they performed as a bar band. The band contributed the song "Would?" to the film's soundtrack. The song later received MTV Video Music for Best Video from a Film.

The band rose to international fame in early 1990s. This was the era when grunge music was becoming widely popular with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden.

Alice In Chains was one of the most successful music acts of this era. It sold over 14 million albums in the United States alone. Two of band's albums, Jar of Flies and Alice in Chains, reached two number-one Billboard 200 albums.

They have 11 top ten singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts and several other tracks in all popular charts worldwide. The band also got six Grammy Award nominations for their musical acts.

Alice in Chains has till now released three studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DVDs. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often includes the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell.

After Staley's death in 2002, the band reunited in 2005 are now working on their first studio album in 14 years with new lead vocalist William DuVall. The band has influenced many bands especially those who followed the grauge path.

This include Godsmack whose lead singer Sully Erna has cited Layne Staley as his primary influence. Even Metallica, who originally influenced Alice in Chains, said that they've always wanted to tour with the band.

Alice In Chains has a wholesome appeal in their music. They play with metal, blues, rock and roll, and a touch of punk and of course, grunge music.

The band was honored in VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. Their fans are now eagerly waiting for their new work as the magic and aura of Alice In Chains can never faint.