The Return of Alice In Chains

I can still remember walking into school a few days after the passing of Layne Staley in April of 2002 and knowing that the music community just lost a great.  Even though his passing was probably never looked upon the same as music legends Buddy Holly or Michael Jackson, he still left the music world way too early.  Layne was a visionary of his time, fronting rock, grunge band Alice In Chains in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  Alice In Chains’ distinct sound and variations of musical styles instantaneously created a fan base loyal to their messages.  Albums Facelift, Dirt, and Alice In Chains and EP’s Sap and Jar of Flies became classics the moment they were released, and even more so on the day Layne passed.

Since 2002, members of Alice In Chains have been on their own, playing with other artists and releasing their own material.  Alice In Chains reformed for a benefit concert to raise money for tsunami victims in 2005, and had guest artists sit in for vocals.  In 2006, Alice In Chains again started playing together, but on the premise of playing their originals and not writing new music.  One of the guest artists that had been singing with Alice In Chains, William DuVall, reported that the band had been talking about writing new material and that he would be interested in helping AIC do so.  In late 2008, they officially report that they would be re-entering the studio to record a new album that would come out in 2009, followed by their first new music tour since the late 90’s.

Their new album, Black Gives Way to Blue, will be released on September 29, 2009, but their U.S. tour is already going on.  Alice In Chains will make stops in the Midwest in mid-September:

September 19: Chicago, IL at the House of Blues (On Sale July 11th)
September 20: Milwaukee, WI at The Rave (On Sale July 11th)
September 21: Minneapolis, MN at First Ave (On Sale July 11th)

“A Looking In View” is their first released single since “Fear the Voices” in 1999 and their first music video since “Again” filmed in 1996, watch the “A Looking In View” video here.

Alice In Chains may never be the band they once were with Layne Staley, but they still are one of the greatest bands to change the face of rock and they will start again with Black Gives Way to Blue.