Alice In Chains

Alice in Chains carved out a unique space in the 1990s Seattle music scene by drawing from heavy metal rather than punk. Formed in 1987, their debut album Facelift (1990) arrived before Nirvana’s Nevermind brought grunge into the mainstream. Despite their metal roots, their sound—heavy, minor-key riffs paired with dark, introspective lyrics—resonated within the alternative rock wave. Hits like "Man in the Box" and "Would?" defined their grunge presence, while "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away" showed their acoustic versatility. Following the release of the Jar of Flies EP (1994), which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, Alice in Chains continued to build their legacy with their self-titled album (1995) and a notable MTV Unplugged performance in 1996. However, the band faced challenges after the passing of original frontman Layne Staley in 2002. The band reunited in 2005 for a benefit concert and, with new lead singer William DuVall released Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), marking their comeback. Their follow-up album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013) solidified their resurgence, and they continue to be a dominant force in rock music, having released Rainier Fog in 2018.