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Alice in Chains

So I was bored this morning and decided I would go and check up on what, if any, news there might be to read about my favorite band ever, Alice In Chains. We all know that Layne is dead (God rest his soul... his heroin and cocaine soaked soul) and that AIC hasn't played a show together since 1995, but the former members are all still active in music and I like checking in to see what they're up to. This morning I was pleasently surprised by what I found and it has engulfed my thoughts and actions all day. It turns out that in February of this year, Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez and Sean Kinney played together on the same stage - the first time since '96 - at a benefit concert for some tsunami or other (175,000 dead asians? the world could use a few less asians, I say). A variety of front men filled in for Layne incuding the dude from Puddle of Mudd, Ann Wilson from Heart and most notably, Maynard James Keenan. It takes a special singer to be able to pull off some of Laynes songs but they all sounded fantastic...

Anyhoo, I've been searching all day to find a bootleg of this show or pictures or anything. And I'm proud to say that I did. I have the entire show in mp3 so if anybody wants it, you let me know and I'll get it to you. I'm not sure if any of you guys who read this blog (all 4 of you) are into AIC, but this show was just fucking awesome. A must have for even the most casual of fans.

For more details on the show, check out the extended entry of this post.

Alice in Chains owns stage in tsunami-relief show full of surprises

Monday, February 21, 2005

By TRAVIS HAY
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Who would've thought that Maynard James Keenan, the singer for Tool and A Perfect Circle, would have made a near perfect singer for Alice in Chains? That was one of many surprises Friday night when some of Seattle's musical stars came out for a cause at Premier nightclub.

The cause was a benefit concert for victims of last year's tsunamis, and the stars included Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, Supersuckers, Sir Mix-A-Lot, The Children of the Revolution and others. But the brightest stars were the remaining members of Alice in Chains -- drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and guitarist Jerry Cantrell -- who performed together for the first time in six years.

Novoselic acted as host for the show, which was put on by K-Rock (KRQI-FM/96.5). The show raised more than $100,000 for relief efforts.

The reformed Alice in Chains featured several big names filling the shoes of late vocalist Layne Staley, who died of a drug overdose in 2002. Wes Scantlin from Puddle of Mudd, Pat Lachman from metal band Damageplan, Ann Wilson and Keenan all shared microphone duties.

Each turned in remarkable performances that paid justice to the fallen singer. The band performed two sets, one acoustic the other plugged in, with Lachman taking the lion's share of the vocal duties.

The evening wasn't just about Alice in Chains. The Wilsons performed three Led Zeppelin covers along with "Barracuda" and "Crazy on You," Sir Mix-A-Lot offered up rap-metal versions of "Baby Got Back" and "My Posse's on Broadway," and Supersuckers played a blazing set.

Still, Alice in Chains owned the evening. The band's acoustic set started off with "The Killer Is Me," which was followed by "No Excuses." Later in the set, which closed with "Down in a Hole," Ann Wilson brought a soulful edge to "Brother."

For its second set of the night, Alice in Chains opened with "It Ain't Like That" from "Facelift." After the song, Cantrell introduced Scantlin, a surprise guest, who sang "Again" with Lachman and then took over vocal duties for "Would" and "Angry Chair."

But it was Keenan, another surprise performer, who proved the most natural fit at replacing Staley. He impressively nailed "Man in the Box" and "Them Bones."

For the last song, Wilson, Keenan, Lachman and Scantlin took turns trading verses and lines during "Rooster." The "We Are the World"-style rendition of the song was the perfect ending for a magical night.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Posted by Mike at April 22, 2005 01:17 PM