Alice in Chains epitomized the solemn, heavy Seattle sound of the 1990s, standing apart from the grunge hordes due to their heavy metal roots. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley, both with backgrounds in metal bands, formed Alice in Chains in 1987. Their debut album, Facelift, released in 1990 before Nirvana’s mainstream breakthrough, showcased a sound that blended heavy Seattle rock with a slick radio-ready edge. Alice in Chains’ versatility was evident as they transitioned from rock hits like ‘Man in the Box’ to acoustic-based songs such as ‘No Excuses’ and ‘I Stay Away.’ The band faced internal tensions during their peak, notably due to Staley’s drug addictions, impacting their trajectory in the late ’90s.
The roots of Alice in Chains trace back to Sleze, a Seattle hair metal band where Layne Staley was the lead singer. After Sleze transitioned to Alice N Chains in 1986, Staley met Cantrell at a party, leading to the formation of the band. Despite initial band reshuffles, Alice in Chains quickly gained attention in the Seattle scene and earned a record deal with Columbia in 1989. Their debut album, Facelift, and subsequent hits like ‘Man in the Box’ propelled them into the mainstream. Progressing into the early ’90s, the band’s acoustic EP and prominent presence in the Singles soundtrack solidified their position in the grunge era alongside bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden.
Dirt, Alice in Chains’ second album, solidified their place as one of the leading grunge acts of the early ’90s, with hits like ‘Would?’ and ‘Rooster’ dominating the charts. Despite commercial success, internal struggles plagued the band, leading to lineup changes and personal battles with addiction, particularly affecting Staley. The band’s hiatus in the mid-’90s saw individual projects and collaborations, but they reunited for sporadic performances and releases. Staley’s tragic death in 2002 marked the end of an era for Alice in Chains, eventually leading to their resurgence with new vocalist William DuVall and successful albums like Black Gives Way to Blue and The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, reaffirming their place in modern rock.