In the late 1980s and early 1990s, grunge music began to move from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest throughout the United States and the rest of the world. While bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Stone Temple Pilots integrated punk influences into their alternative grudge sound, Alice in Chains turned toward heavy metal as a primary influence, producing an entirely new and unique form of grunge music.

Like other leading grunge bands, Alice in Chains started in Seattle, Washington.

Alice in Chaisn was founded by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney in 1987 when they recruited Layne Staley as co-lead vocalists and Mike Starr on bass and backing vocals. The band released its first EP We Die Young in 1989.

Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney formed Alice in Chains in 1987.

Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley acted as co-lead vocalists between 1987 and 2002 when Staley died. William Duvall joined Cantrell as co-lead vocalist in 2006.

Layne Thomas Staley was a pioneer of the grunge movement in Seattle and a founding member of Alice in Chains. Because of heavy substance abuse, he stopped performing live in 1996 after the band’s performance on MTV Unplugged.

While he didn’t technically leave, the band was mostly inactive throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s as a result of Staley’s retreat from the public spotlight. After years of continued drug addiction, Staley passed away on April 5, 2002, leading to the official breakup of the band.

Alice In Chains reformed in 2006 with William Duvall taking Staley’s place as co-lead vocalist.

Alice in Chain’s performance on MTV Unplugged premiered on May 28, 1996.

The song “Man in the Box” has dual meanings. Initially, it was meant to be about censorship alone. However, after having dinner with several Columbia executives and learning a few were vegitarians, he inquired more. As a result of this conversation, the song’s focus shifted to animal cruelty caused by modern-day meat consumption as well.

Jerry Cantrell wrote the Alice in Chain song “Rooster” about his father’s experience in the Vietnam War and how they caused the devastation of his family. While there are many pro- and anti-war songs out there, “Rooster” doesn’t really fall on either side. Taken at its core, its more about the effects war has on a person and those they are closest to.

Alice In Chains has had 1,172 concerts.

Alice In Chains is most often considered to be Rock, Alternative Rock, Alternative, Metal, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal, Nu Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, Grunge, Glam Metal, Glam Rock, Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal, Acoustic Rock, Estados Unidos, and Glam.

The last Alice In Chains concert was on April 27, 2024 at Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The bands that performed were: System of a Down / Slipknot / Bring Me The Horizon / Danny Elfman / Alice In Chains / Drain / Kublai Khan TX / Loathe / Baby Metal / Lamb Of God / Gel / Zulu.

The songs that Alice In Chains performs live vary, but here's the latest setlist that we have from the April 27, 2024 concert at Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States:

1. Am I Inside
2. Again
3. Check My Brain
4. Hollow
5. Them Bones
6. Man in the Box
7. Nutshell
8. The One You Know
9. Would?
10. Rooster