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"She then told me Alice in Chains would be filming there Unplugged session for MTV..."
Just wanted to share this with everyone. I remember joining the Alice in Chains fan club back when Facelift was out or Dirt had just come out; it was very early though. I sent in my buck or 2 and got some great stuff. Cool updates on the band, catalogs to order some great merch and those great Christmas cards.
Well as the years went by the mailings became fewer but I always looked forward to the Christmas cards. Then I got the phone call the first week in April 1996. "Hi", this female voice said, "Is Mark there?" I of course replied "Yes." I don't remember what her name was but she asked if I would be available to be in New York City in the next few days. Before she even finished I said "Yes." I live in Buffalo, New York so it's not super far.
She then told me Alice in Chains would be filming there Unplugged session for MTV and the group would like their fan club members to be a part of it. By this time my jaw had hit the floor and my mind was racing. She then stated that she would get back to me in a few days if I was selected or not. After I got off the phone all I could think about was I had to get selected. Couldn't sleep that night, it was all I could think about the whole next day.
My prayers were finally answered that next night. I got another call from the Alice in Chains fan club gods that I had been selected and they would be Fedexing me everything I needed. Well if you ever wondered how excited one person can get. I reached that point and beyond. I had 2 days until the show. My friend, who was coming with me, and I drove over to the train station got our times and we were ready to go. So next stop NYC!
Once we got there the adventure began. Trying to find a cabbie that knew where we wanted to go was a whole other problem. After going to a few other Brooklyn Academy of Music building that we were told was the Majestic Theater we finally made it to the correct place. There was a huge line outside already. Excitement was everywhere. We got in, got our seats and waited for the best show of our lives.
Everyone knows how amazing the show was so i won't get into repeating it. As I look up above my computer as I write this I still have both ticket stubs from the show, framed, looking back at me. I'd like to think Alice in Chains for all the years of enjoyment they've given me. All I can say is I still can't get over what I got for my buck or 2. You guys are the best.
Mark
Buffalo, New York
"Holy shit! I need to listen to more of this"
I first heard AiC when I was about 17; a late bloomer into the more raw rock sound of the early '90s. I was into Nirvana and Pearl jam, bands I still love but whom were very different to AiC. Then there it was.... "Would?" came on the TV.... "Holy shit! I need to listen to more of this" (proceed to record store and purchase Live album). AiC hadn't done a show in over half a decade, yet my friends and I yearned for a reunification, and saw this, from our viewpoint in the suburbia of South London as being realistic. At that point there was still hope for Layne to come back, and I had recently met a band (Flight 16?) who had supported Jerry's first solo tour in 1998, whose stories fuelled our imagination for the return of the glory days, days which we ourselves had missed out on, a bitterness which would be cured.
While it seemed like everyone who liked rock listened to Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach, we had this music we could actually relate to. I will never forget those feelings of listening to those songs for the first time. It was real and it felt fucking great listening to it.
Of course none of us really knew the plight of Layne, that's why it hit so hard when the bad news came; now with the benefit of hindsight it seems almost as though it was the inevitable, which is even harder to stomach.
I know I will never see Layne play, and it pisses me off, but AiC have returned, and for this I count my blessings. So thank you AiC for making my world, and that of many people I know infinitely better.
Love Harry
XXXX
"I lost my mom on 7/11, after caretaking her for nine months."
I am writing this letter in the hopes that at least some of the members of AiC get to see it. Long story short, AiC has been the one band who's music has fit with my tastes above all others. No matter what was up in my life, AiC's music would fit it perfectly. It was a huge loss to me when they stopped touring and recording.
In the present..... I lost my mom on 7/11, after caretaking her for nine months (payback for her carrying me for nine months, I suppose). Since the loss of Layne (Layne was my cousin by marriage, unbeknownst to me until a cousin said she was going to his funeral), I have lost two grandmothers, my father, now my mother. I have been an unsocial basket case....unable to go out in public without losing my shit. My sister said that she was going to force me to go to the AiC gig at the Warfield. I didn't want to go out in public, but she had the tix already, so I went.
Getting the chance to sing along for 2hrs at the top of my lungs was more of a healing than I think AiC will ever know. It was the 1st time in months that I actually had fun. It helped me to put some of my feelings to rest. It was exactly what I needed. The point of all of this is, I owe AiC a huge thanx. I appreciated the tribute to Layne, I thought the performance was stellar and honored the music (and Layne) well. Most importantly, it helped me to smile again. Thanx to the four of you, and all that you are. I hope I get the chance to sing along with ya again.
Peace-
Michael
"If I can't be on my own..."
...I'd feel better dead."
These words have been with me for so long now it's hard to remember almost anything before them.
I remember when I picked up your stuff in the States, it blew me away. I'd never heard anything like it. So much love, hate, fear, pain...All coming through every piece of the band and conveying one single voice.
A voice that I needed to find. That I found in Alice in Chains.
All the questions I was asking that weren't being answered in my world at that time in my life were now being given a resolution. And they still continue to help me.
I'm a long time sufferer of manic depression. It's so hard sometimes to just wake up in the morning and want to continue the day in one piece. It's an endless struggle that can be so hard to come to terms with. Almost impossible to continue breathing. Or even wanting to breath.
I'm at a low point right now. The anxiety is in my chest. The tears in my eyes. I'm struggling so hard to maintain any sense of composure.
And I've got Alice in Chains stuff on in the background. It's helping.
A lot.
There's a strange sense of comfort in certain things that you pick up on through life. Certain clothes feel good all the time. Certain drinks. Certain brands of cigarettes. These are all trivial things that comfort you.
Alice is one of mine.
And they're with me everywhere I go. The songs, the lyrics, even the people behind the music.
I know I don't know any of you. I would never claim to even pretend to understand where you all come from and who you are.
But I can thank you for helping me find a piece of my life. A piece of a bigger picture that I haven't managed to entirely focus on yet.
It's good to see you guys back out there doing what you do best.
You have been missed.
Cheers
H.
"...nothing compares to FINALLY getting to see Alice live!!"
Their wouldn't be enough words in the English language, to describe the news "Alice in Chains...in Kansas City!" My first thoughts were this must be a joke, but after checking into it, NO JOKE, Alice will be there.
I have been a life long AiC fan since the beginning. In fact, when I finally bought a CD player, the first disc I had to have was Dirt. I had Dirt on cassette, and surprisingly, to this day, it still plays. My friends and I listened to that tape everywhere we went, it was the soundtrack of our day to day lives, like a few others have stated. And as AiC came out with more stuff, my collection of their music grew right along with it.
Then along came Music Bank -The Videos, let me put it this way, like in the videos, Alice having fun, partying........so were we. Every night, after work, my roommate and I would play this so loud through the surround sound, the kids down across the street would be jamming right along with us. To us, it didn't matter the time of day, or day of the week, you just could not get enough. 2am, bars close, to my house we'd go, and first it was AiC, then if any of us were coherent enough, it was Alticity 3, a snowmobiling video.
I have had a lot of memorable moments in life, but nothing compares to FINALLY getting to see Alice live!! I never got the chance while the original crew was out touring, and I am saddened that I never got to see Layne, but the bands tribute to him at the UPTOWN THEATER in K.C., MO was very fitting and emotional for all. My buddy got the tickets, then it was a waiting game, or I should say, a I CANT WAIT GAME. It was too good to be true, we were finally going to see AiC.
Two weeks before the concert, a radio station here was having the "win it before u buy it" ALICE IN CHAINS....ESSENTIAL ALICE IN CHAINS 2 disc set. Unfortunately, I was caller 3 and 7, to my dismay, the same guy I was going to the concert with, was lucky caller 13. What are the chances of that, the other ticket holder, my best bud, and he got the goods........Disappointing.
Day of the show, we were amped up big time. The opening band, HURT, was really good. I have never heard them, but i was impressed. But bring on Alice, I've waited long enough to see them, lets get to it. To us, this was our pilgrimage, to see the band we have listened to for so many years, and now they are on stage in front of us. I JUST CANT BELIEVE IT!!So THANK YOU- JERRY, MIKE, SEAN, AND WILLIAM, you guys still ROCK! And nothing could ever compare to the show in Kansas City, unless, of course, you guys come around again, and believe me, we will be there. Come hell or high water, I will not let anything stop me from seeing you perform live. Again- simply amazing.
Your dedicated fan,
Bill
"...why not play AiC songs and jump on the bill?"
Hey guys,
Wanted to write just to say that your music has been such a huge influence on my own.
I am 36 and have been writing music since 1988. I first heard you when I watched a promo concert video prior to the release of Facelift. I was really into Slayer and heavy bands like that at the time. But when I heard the harmonies that Jerry and Layne were pulling off, it totally inspired me. You could actually play heavy and use melodic vocals and still get a dark sound. This was a turning point in my life as a musician.
I began experimenting with my vocals and found that I was a much better vocalist than I had ever known, warming up to the vocal lines on Dirt not only allowed me to strengthen and build my voice, but gave me a new direction.
In 1997, some friends in Portland, (a band called British Steele), started playing a lot of shows with other tribute bands like War Pigs. This gave me an idea, why not play AiC songs and jump on the bill? So, some friends of mine consisting of current and past band-mates, created a band called Facelift.
We opened for L.A. Guns on one occasion. The set started with "We Die Young" followed by "Them Bones" and "Dam that River" in order to play the drop tuned songs together, about 12 -15 songs total. Well, AiC weren't touring at the time, so people really got into it.
We played many shows at EJ's and Mt. Tabor Theater in PDX about 15 shows in all and always, the house was packed to capacity. I remember people telling me that we really did the music justice and that we sounded just like the records. I think it was due to the fact that every time I listen to AiC albums the emotion that is projected is so strong that I feel it to my soul, I felt connected to the music, so I would practice singing the songs all day, everyday, until I had them all down, note for note. But, needles to say, Layne Staley is a legend, and I have to say I don't even hold a candle to his talent. Furthermore,.. my heart broke the day I heard that Layne died. I guess that the ones that truly make you feel through their music are tortured to some degree, and people recognize and relate to that pain, you could truly almost understand his feelings when you listen to him sing, at least I think I do.
I don't now how I expect this little story to be received, but I guess the bottom line is this.
Thanks Jerry, Sean, Mike and Mike S. and especially to Layne for inspiring me in such a way that I was able to push myself to find my own voice, and learning to project emotion through inflection, tone and vibrato. This has enabled me to write original music that make people feel or connect to their emotions. I know it's only Rock-n-Roll but I love it.
Keep on Keeping on,
Sean
