According to Blabbermouth.net, MzHollyw00d conducted an interview with Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention which took place January 19-22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.
Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Rolling Stone magazine at this past December's Dimebash tribute in Los Angeles, the annual show in honor late guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, that the band is working on the follow-up to 2009's gold-certified "Black Gives Way To Blue", which debuted in the Top 10 of The Billboard 200 and scored multiple Grammy nominations.
"We started writing [in 2010]," Cantrell said. "[Then] I had shoulder surgery. I had to get some bone spurs and torn cartilage taken care of, so that put me back a little bit. But we've been writing through the whole process."
Following its self-titled record in 1995, the once-mighty Seattle-based act went into a long period of inactivity, partially due to the drug problems of singer Layne Staley. Staley died in 2002, but it was another four years until the three remaining members of the band, Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney, first regrouped for a benefit show and then officially returned with new frontman William DuVall.
Alice In Chains recruited pop legend Elton John to contribute piano to "Black Gives Way To Blue"'s title track, which is written in tribute to Staley.
Alice In Chains released "Black Gives Way To Blue" after a 14-year hiatus between full-length albums.
I'm glad to see that they had the balls to continue with the band and keep the name of the band. They chose the hard way, facing a lot of hate from some fans with their choices and decisions, but still they didn't care. That's badass.
(my english isn't good and I know that)
I'm glad to see that they had the balls to continue with the band and keep the name of the band. They chose the hard way, facing a lot of hate from some fans with their choices and decisions, but still they didn't care. That's badass.
(my english isn't good and I know that)
True, it was courageous. But there's a reason some fans can't stand listening to the new Alice, some of those who were closest to the band in their earlier days. I don't think it can easily be put into words, because Jerry definitely put the most work into AiC and it really payed off, to say the least...but for some it just doesn't feel the same without Layne. It's a sentimental thing, somehow the music feels hollow...i know very few agree with me but I've tried getting into BGWTB, and this is simply what I think.
I'm glad to see that they had the balls to continue with the band and keep the name of the band. They chose the hard way, facing a lot of hate from some fans with their choices and decisions, but still they didn't care. That's badass.
(my english isn't good and I know that)
True, it was courageous. But there's a reason some fans can't stand listening to the new Alice, some of those who were closest to the band in their earlier days. I don't think it can easily be put into words, because Jerry definitely put the most work into AiC and it really payed off, to say the least...but for some it just doesn't feel the same without Layne. It's a sentimental thing, somehow the music feels hollow...i know very few agree with me but I've tried getting into BGWTB, and this is simply what I think.
It's not a sentimental thing, BGWTB IS hollow. I didn't get into AIC until a few years after Layne was dead. Despite the fact that Jerry was the brains behind AiC, Layne wasn't JUST a singer, and we see this with BGWTB. It sounds soulless, whiney, and empty; Layne breathed life into AiC.
I'm glad to see that they had the balls to continue with the band and keep the name of the band. They chose the hard way, facing a lot of hate from some fans with their choices and decisions, but still they didn't care. That's badass.
(my english isn't good and I know that)
True, it was courageous. But there's a reason some fans can't stand listening to the new Alice, some of those who were closest to the band in their earlier days. I don't think it can easily be put into words, because Jerry definitely put the most work into AiC and it really payed off, to say the least...but for some it just doesn't feel the same without Layne. It's a sentimental thing, somehow the music feels hollow...i know very few agree with me but I've tried getting into BGWTB, and this is simply what I think.
It's not a sentimental thing, BGWTB IS hollow. I didn't get into AIC until a few years after Layne was dead. Despite the fact that Jerry was the brains behind AiC, Layne wasn't JUST a singer, and we see this with BGWTB. It sounds soulless, whiney, and empty; Layne breathed life into AiC.
Well, I was just saying they had some courage. Layne is untouchable, Duvall will never be Layne, but i don't think they are trying to replace him, and I don't think we should even compare them. I mean, when I hear the OLD Alice, I hear a different thing and I love it. When I hear Jerry's solo stuff, I hear a different thing and I love it. When I hear Mad Season I hear a different thing (obviously) and I love it, and when I hear the NEW Alice I hear a different thing and I love it. I might be alone in this, but it's just the way I see it.
Eifler121 wrote:
It's not a sentimental thing, BGWTB IS hollow. I didn't get into AIC until a few years after Layne was dead. Despite the fact that Jerry was the brains behind AiC, Layne wasn't JUST a singer, and we see this with BGWTB. It sounds soulless, whiney, and empty; Layne breathed life into AiC.
I didn't want to sound too extreme because often people get offended in defence of Jerry, but I agree with you. People keep saying how "Black Gives Way To Blue" (the song in particular) was hauntingly touching and beautiful. To me it doesn't ring sincere at all, it's just a fraction of the pain and soul that Layne poured into masterpieces like Jar Of Flies, or their Unplugged performance. Layne Staley sang about his interior struggles and he didn't care who listened, while Jerry allowed him to turn these into the incredible songs that they are thanks to his musicianship. They were the two fundamental halves of an unmatchable end product, which having fallen apart, in my humble opinion, can not deservedly carry the name of Alice in Chains.
Eifler121 wrote:
It's not a sentimental thing, BGWTB IS hollow. I didn't get into AIC until a few years after Layne was dead. Despite the fact that Jerry was the brains behind AiC, Layne wasn't JUST a singer, and we see this with BGWTB. It sounds soulless, whiney, and empty; Layne breathed life into AiC.
I didn't want to sound too extreme because often people get offended in defence of Jerry, but I agree with you. People keep saying how "Black Gives Way To Blue" (the song in particular) was hauntingly touching and beautiful. To me it doesn't ring sincere at all, it's just a fraction of the pain and soul that Layne poured into masterpieces like Jar Of Flies, or their Unplugged performance. Layne Staley sang about his interior struggles and he didn't care who listened, while Jerry allowed him to turn these into the incredible songs that they are thanks to his musicianship. They were the two fundamental halves of an unmatchable end product, which having fallen apart, in my humble opinion, can not deservedly carry the name of Alice in Chains.
I'm pretty sure its Jerry singing on the title track
Mike Inez is ****ing awesome. Plus, he seems to have radar for musicians, when I met him I hadn't even said "Hi" yet and he asked me what instrument I played right off the bat.
BGWTB was recorded 16 years later, it's a good album, but it's only been around a few years, the old stuff has attained the status of classic in many people's eyes (with good reason), BGWTB doesn't stand a chance of a fair comparison because everyone who listens to it is listening to it thinking of Layne's absence & the older albums. It'll be the same when the new Soundgarden album comes out, it would be the same if one were to directly compare Ten by Pearl Jam with Backspacer, it's not a fair comparison to pit a new album against a classic. AiC is now different to how they were, they're still good but it's harder to judge when there is so much love for the "Classic" AiC line-up & the earlier albums.
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