Alice in Chains Biography
Provided By Susan Silver Management
Typed By Mike Coleman (mcoleman@proaxis.com)
Edited and put here by me, Sorry Mike.
"What the Hell Have I" is available in MIDI format here.

{Lyrics} {More lyrics} {A Timeline}

There are quite a few pics on the bottom, just wait if you want them to load
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Seattle has become the vibrant hub and touchstone of 90's rock music. And within the Seattle hierarchy, no-one is more in tune with the heartbeat of the generation, than Alice In Chains. Their music has a dark force and momentum that is charismatically unique, yet also symptomatic of truly classic music.
In the eight years since their formation, Alice In Chains have established a remarkable rapport - with millions of fans world-wide, with the media fascinated by their every move and through the huge influence they have had on many younger acts. They have infused many of the great traditions of legendary rock names such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin with a post-modern approach, providing a bridgehead to make the music feel and smell like the most contemporary thing in your life - as relevant to the 90's as it was to the 80's, 70's and 60's.

So, to a brief history lesson.

The band was formed in 1987, signing to Columbia records two years later. And in August 1990, AIC released their debut album, Facelift, in the process earning rave reviews in the press on both sides of the Atlantic for their melodic and rhythmic intensity. One Track, "We Die Young", became instantly popular, becoming a top five metal track in the U.S..
Touring with the likes of Iggy Pop towards the end of '90 introduced AIC to a wider audience. A sell out headlining date at the Moore Theater in Seattle not only showed just how far they'd come, but also allowed them to let loose director Josh Taft to film them for what was to become the first home video release, "Live Facelift".
It was the track "Man In The Box" that catapulted the band to international fame, becoming a top 20 hit in the States subsequent to its release in January 1991. Their presence in the film 'Singles' later helped their progress into mainstream consciousness. In addition, the video for the song "Would?" from the movie won an Mtv Music Video Award in September 1993 as Best Video from a Film.
The band made their debut on the European live scene during the spring of '91, touring with Megadeth and The Almight to great acclaim. In the States, the AIC legend continued to grow. By September '91, Facelift, had been certified gold in America - having sold more than 500,000 copies.
By the beginning of 1993, bassist, Mike Starr, had enough of the band's rigorous touring schedule. Into the breach stepped Ozzy bassist Mike Inez, to join the remaining trio of vocalist Layne Staley, guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney.
The new line up gelled immediately, as was seen not only when the band toured Europe, supported by fellow Seattle stars Screaming Trees, but also from the presence of new new numbers "What the Hell Have I"(you can download it here!!) and "A Little Bitter" included in the hit Arnold Schwarzanegger movie Last Action Hero. The band also proved a huge success on the 1993 Lollapalooza trek across America.
By early 1994, the band had become an unstoppable force. Dirt had sold more than two million copies in the States. A double package record, featuring songs from two Ep's (the acoustic Jar of Flies and 1991's SAP) was put out in 1994. The full Jar of Flies ep had debuted at number one in the States. This release quickly gained multi-platinum status in the U.S..
But the pressure of constant touring and recording eventually persuaded the band to take some time off. Not that Staley and Inez stopped working. They teamed up with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready and Screaming Trees drummer Barrent Martin to record and album under the name Mad Season (original ed. note: Inez was not in Mad Season, the bassist was John Baker Saunders), while Inez worked with Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash on his Snakepit project.
Now, however, the band is back together, with arguably their finest album to date (simply called Alice In Chains and co-produced by Toby Write who worked on the Jar of Flies sessions with the band) and a future that now stretches out before them with enormous possibilities.
Each succeeding Alice In Chains release has taken them to fresh heights and seen them explore new musical dimensions. Alice In Chains isn't just a new album from one of the world's most exciting bands, it's a statement of intent.

Taken from an E-mail sent to me by Sickman666:

Forwarded Message: 
Subj:	Sludge
Date:	97-04-25 22:53:55 EDT
From:	DrwingFlys
To:	JBurik3, Sickman666

Here's what Layne says in Sludge Factory...thanx again Johnnie for telling
me	

I bear true and existing witness to this barrel of monkeys.  A self
proclaimed immoral success prefected by each whereof individually
deadly and equally so and spread about the surrendered troops.  For
even thousands of miles will not tear apart their communtication or the
lack thereof.  Vultures, Liars, theives each proclaim their innocence in no
suggestion or rhyme, your weapon is contained in the wrecking of
keeping the desired effect.  The breaking of the spirit of what was once a
whole being Your weapon is guilt

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