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JUNE
"I'm still recuperating from the experience."
I became a fan some six years ago. At that time, Chains was inactive to say the least. With the death of Layne, my hope of ever seeing them perform live or reunite was well, squashed. However, last Saturday the unthinkable happened. I got to see them perform live at the Graspop Festival in Dessel, Belgium, not even 10 km from my home.
I'm still recuperating from the experience. Just seeing some of my all-time favourite songs performed live ("Would?" "Down In A Hole," "Rain When I Die," "Rooster,".......) was a dream come true. Although the performance was hampered due to the bad sound (the voices
were mixed waaaay to soft), I enjoyed every second of it.
My congratulations also to William: I never thought they would find a decent singer who could even start to think of replacing Layne. But, I think William's awesome voice is simply a perfect match for the Chains-sound. I especially liked that he doesn't try to be the best copy of Layne, he definitely adds his own touch to the music.
Thank you, Jerry, Mike,Sean & William and I truly hope this is a new beginning for Chains, not an end...
Marnix
Geel, Belgium
"But it wasn’t just any band… this was Alice in Chains..."
Alice in Chains were definitely the heaviest band to come out of Seattle in the '90s and had their own unique sound. As for me, I became an Alice fan only a little bit after Layne had passed away. For years, my brother had listened to Alice. I always recalled when he would play "Man In The Box." He wore his AiC shirt and I always asked about the "band with the sun." My brother popped in the Unplugged DVD and played "Nutshell" one day, telling me I was going to learn the song it on guitar. After studying Jerry Cantrell and how smoothly he played it, I finally learned to play 'Nutshell', the first full song and the first Alice song I learned to play. That song has such a big place in my heart. One day he put on Music Bank the DVD. After watching all their videos and seeing their home movies, I realized that this was definitely my favorite band. I fell in love with Alice, and bonded much more with my brother through their music. From then on I wanted to know everything about the band, borrowing my brother's CDs, and learning every word to all their songs.
I saw Mike, Sean, and Jerry in Atlantic City on March 10, 2006. That was my first time since becoming an Alice fan that I got to see a little bit of the band play live. After the show, I ran into Sean Kinney and Jerry Cantrell and briefly said ‘hey’ to Jerry. I later met/took pictures with Mike Inez. All of them were real down-to-earth guys, which I absolutely respected. I was very star-struck meeting Mike as well as Jerry, since he was the person who inspired me to play guitar.
Last month, I saw Alice In Chains in San Diego. Although I live in New York City I couldn’t go to the show here because there was an age limit, so I flew out to the House Of Blues just to see them. But it wasn’t just any band… this was Alice in Chains, my favorite band. I enjoyed the show immensely. I also saw in the crowd Duff McKagan’s wife. I saw this as an opportunity to perhaps give her the scrapbook I made the band. She was very nice and told me she’d give the book to the band. After the show, I saw Duff first. I asked him about the scrapbook. To think Duff McKagan recognized me from my picture was something, but to hear him say he appreciated my ‘kind words’ was something else. Jerry came out after and signed my ticket. I asked him as well about the scrapbook and he said thank you. Mike and William came out after and I got a picture with William. Sean came out last but not least and we took pictures, chatted and signed my ticket as well. Sean talked to me for a while. I told him what a great show it was and how Alice was my favorite band. He told me he appreciated it and that William "does Layne justice." To hear Sean say that to me was something I know I’ll never forget. Sean being the jokester he is had a couple of laughs with my brother and I too. Before he left, I asked him if he saw the scrapbook. He said he did and thanks. I asked who had it, and he said "We do." It was fun to see Duff play and awesome to hear William, who really "does Layne justice."
Mike, Sean, and Jerry… If you ever read this I want you to know what an inspiration you guys are, what you mean to the world, and it was an honor and pleasure meeting all of you. I hope to see them again whether it's in the U.S., Europe, or possibly anywhere else in the world…
Keep on rockin' guys!
Gianella *aka the scrapbook chick*
"...I can just chill out to the awesome melodies..."
To begin with, I am very young, in fact I am 15 years old. I was influenced a lot by my brother as he started playing me Alice in Chains and other grunge bands. I just love Alice in Chains so much, they mean a lot too me.
Many people my age just want to be gangsters or think that fashion and their reputation is the only important thing. So Alice in Chains have given me an escape to get away from this and I can just chill out to the awesome melodies and just realise how better musicians you are than all these fucking idiots around today. You guys have also helped me get out of situations like when my grandfather died. I put on some AiC, and got through it. AiC is also helping me get through the tough time I am going through at the moment. I have very important exams and Alice in Chains just makes everything seem alright and makes me strive forward to do my best.
Finally, AiC have made me take a look at the world in a different way, which is to make to try and make the world a better place. And on April the 5th, I wore my Layne Staley dedication t-shirt, and then played MTV Unplugged, the same I did last year. So R.I.P buddy!
Hope to see you guys at Download - England!!!
AIC Forever!
Thanks for your time
Ed
"AiC is still very much alive"
Alice in Chains has a huge place in my heart. They made a rocker out of me in the 5th grade when most kids my age didn't know who they were yet. I'm 24 now and I still think AiC is phenomenal. A part of me died when Layne did in 2002. Music isn't just something you listen to. It's what helps create you. It complements who you are. Layne's passing was most definitely a tragedy but it is also a rebirth of other things to come. AiC is still very much alive and not only is their fan base among people like me but also within other musicians. AiC's performance at the HOB in San Diego was indescribable. There was an energy there that I haven't felt at a show in a long time. I am very much looking forward to seeing AiC again (hint, hint) and all the talent that Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney still take hold to this day. Thanks for the memories and looking forward to the new ones!
Michelle
Redlands, CA
"The healing power of music is universal."
You don't know me, but your music has travelled to the ends of the world with me as a witness to many significant events in my life. You were there with "Would?" when the grunge revolution hit Finland with Singles, and influenced me into stocking up my high school wardrobe with flannel shirts. You were there when important 'grown up' issues were discussed with my first love ("Down in the Whole"). And you were still there at times of love gone sour and new-found hope ("Jar of Flies"). No matter what the occasion, your songs have provided words to situations in which words were sometimes hard to find.
The most significant association I have with your music, however, comes through my little brother. He has always been one of your biggest fans with the dream of one day seeing you live in concert. The band being put on hold after Layne’s death didn't mean that your music was put on hold in his life, however. In fact, your tunes, and music in general, was to play the biggest role in his life to date.Just over a year ago, my brother lost his darling baby boy to brain cancer. During the year and a half that this little sunshine was with us, the times spent worrying and being frightened were accompanied by music as a coping mechanism. As the baby was mainly looked after at home, in his short but such meaningful, precious life, he got to experience the best that music had to offer – his father made sure of this.
After the death of the baby, music played an even bigger role. While many of us found some peace to our sorrow through therapy or spirituality, my brother found some refuge and comfort in music — both through listening to it and writing it. For something so big, there are no words anyway. But your often melancholy tunes offered a lot to relate to. While his journey to recovery is long, perhaps even never-ending, you have been and remain to be by my brother's side all through this journey of his. And I thank you for it.
The healing power of music is universal. It has the power of performing miracles — offering hope when there's no hope to be found otherwise. Music is embedded in the memories we have of our loved ones during the most special moments in our lives. It’s comforting, transforming, uplifting. It touches one's soul like no other. Your music is capable of doing just this, and so much more. The Layne Staley Fund is a beautiful example of great things being able to come out of tragedies.
I am so excited about your reunion, and even more so about the chance of being able to see you live in my hometown’s Provinssirock festival this June. I will be there to be entranced by your music alongside my brother for whom this really is a dream come true. Your reunion may be a second chance for Alice in Chains, much like what my brother now has with a new baby and a second chance at fatherhood. I will be seeing you on June
16th, for which I thank you in advance.
TR
