Published: January 6, 2009
Alice In Chains guitarist reflects on returning to the stage, honoring Layne Staley’s legacy, and the band’s rebirth ahead of their first studio album in over a decade.
Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell was recently interviewed by Neala Johnson of Herald Sun while promoting the band’s upcoming appearance at Australia’s Soundwave Festival. Speaking candidly about the group’s unexpected return and the emotional path forward after the loss of Layne Staley, Cantrell shared some of his most honest reflections on the band’s rebirth.
“None of us expected to be where we are now,” Cantrell explained. “We started in a good place, Sean [Kinney, drums] organized a benefit show in our hometown to raise money for the victims of the tsunami, and that’s where everything began again.”
The performance marked Alice In Chains’ first time back on stage following Staley’s passing, a moment Cantrell describes as both difficult and inspiring.
“It was a pretty tough moment, playing for the first time since we lost Layne,” he admitted. “But it was also incredible to see the reaction from the fans. They were the ones who inspired us. After that, we thought, ‘That was fun, why not get together and play in a room again?’ So we did.”
Those early rehearsals eventually led to working with longtime friend William DuVall, who would go on to join the band as vocalist and guitarist. “That led to touring, which led to writing,” Cantrell continued. “The material we’ve created is really good… and here we are today.”
Despite inevitable comparisons and public scrutiny surrounding the band’s return, Cantrell made it clear that outside opinions have never dictated Alice In Chains’ direction.
“Am I worried about embarrassing ourselves? About tarnishing our legacy? About what people might think? No. I don’t worry about any of that at all,” he said. “If we didn’t believe in what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, we wouldn’t be doing it.”
He also addressed the sensitive topic of moving forward without Layne Staley, emphasizing that the band never intended to replace him.
“There’s no replacement for Layne, and that’s not our intention,” Cantrell stated. “William performs the older material with respect, he’s not trying to be Layne. We don’t see him as a replacement singer. We see him as a talented member who joined us, and together we’re growing. This chapter is just as important as any other chapter in the book of Alice In Chains.”
Reflecting on the loss of their friend and bandmate, Cantrell spoke with quiet honesty about the healing process. “Of course it was a devastating blow to lose our best friend and brother,” he said. “But it’s part of the human experience. At some point, you understand the old proverb: once you’ve healed your wounds, it’s time to get up and keep living.”
At the time of the interview, Alice In Chains had entered a Los Angeles studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Stone Sour, Trivium, Shadows Fall, Death Angel) to begin recording their first studio album since 1995, a record that would mark a significant new chapter in the band’s history.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
