According to Blabbermouth.net, Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Rolling Stone magazine at last month'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.
"That's just the universe lining up right. I had nothing to do with that other than asking," Cantrell told Rolling Stone. "What he is, beyond anything else, is a fucking amazing musician. And he's the guy who inspired me to start playing music, so to have him play on one of our records - especially such a meaningful record, where we're restarting our musical careers and saying goodbye and honoring our buddy - it's a tremendous thing."
Alice In Chains released "Black Gives Way To Blue" after a 14-year hiatus between full-length albums.
Cantrell said about that period, "It kind of grew into something a lot larger than we anticipated... To recreate ourselves without losing our identity and having the fans support us through that and have the quality of music come out like it did. Transitioning from the old lineup of the band and moving on, it was a lot. It's a career worth of changes in six, seven years. It's nice to have a second life and we're in the midst of that."
Professionally filmed video footage of Alice In Chains' entire November 12, 2011 concert at the Maquinaria Festival in Santiago, Chile can be seen below.
Hell yeah! I love everything that got something to do with Jerry Cantrell - every Alice In Chains album that I've ever heard ('cause all I need is Tridog) and his solo career.
Black Gives Way To Blue is incredible! so much depth in one album...
I really can't wait to hear this upcoming album (along with Soundgarden's upcoming album), please come to Israel! the Israeli audience is one-of-a-kind and makes a very warm crowd...
New AIC, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden album for 2012? Wow, Grunge is well and truly making a comeback! Let's hope it inspires some young musiciansn to start rocking! I'm sure it will happen, but whether record companies will take a chance on actual musical talent rather than a quick buck autotune 3 minute pop song is another matter...
The fact that it sounded completely up to date while preserving the dark edge and those one of a kind harmonies made Black Gives Way To Blue into one of the great comeback albums of the decade imho
Alice in Chains are the AC/DC of Grunge/Alternative. They have managed to regroup and find success. This is going to be the year for rock.
Especially in the fact that their first singer was cooler.
And in terms of success, you'd have to reverse the careers. AC/DC was popular with Bon Scott, huge with Bryan Johnson; Alice in Chains is popular with William DuVall/Jerry Cantrell, but they were huge with Layne Staley/Jerry Cantrell.
God damn Mike Inez's bass tone on that video is ballsy!! And anyone who says Duvall is no good is full of shit. No one can replace what Layne was for them, but William Duvall is a hell of a singer and a great fit for them going forward.
How is this an update, or any kind of news for that matter? All he said was that they were working on the new album. We've known that for quite a while
Yes! Very exciting times for Rock! Soundgarden, AIC, Janes Addiction. Now all we need is RATM to drop a new album. Then I will be set for a very long time!
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