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DUFF MCKAGAN: 'ALICE IN CHAINS Is Back And I'm Finally Excited About Rock Again'
- July 23, 2009
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VELVET REVOLVER/ex- GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has penned the latest installment of his weeky column, which appears every Thursday on Reverb at SeattleWeekly.com. An excerpt follows below. " ALICE IN CHAINS overcoming Layne Staley's [vocals] tragic death has been something of an underdog story that needs to be applauded for the unimaginable heartbreak they live with and the sheer tenacity they had to put the band back on any stage AT ALL! Last Saturday [July 18] in Detroit, ALICE played their first gig in the campaign that will support the release of their first record this decade — a tour that I think will cement them as the premier rock band on this planet. They will have never before toured a record like they will this time around, because of past drink/drug issues rampant throughout their talented ranks. "When the new record comes out in two months (September 29), it will mark the 17th anniversary of the release of the heralded 'Dirt', which contains so many of the ALICE songs that became the soundtracks to so many of our lives. 'Dirt' should be, in my opinion, the cornerstone of anyone and everyone's rock CD collection. The new record will not take a back seat to 'Dirt' in any way — it is simply right up there with any ALICE music ever, and in my humble opinion, they have beat themselves with much of the new stuff. Is this a lofty remark from somebody who just wants to give these guys a 'leg up' from the soapbox of his own Seattle Weekly column? My reputation stands on what I say here, and I can't wait for the rest of you to hear what I have already been honored and trusted to hear. Do they know that I am writing this piece? No way in hell... they would wince, of that I am quite sure." Read McKagan's entire column at SeattleWeekly.com.
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COMMENT |
posted by : freddy66
7/23/2009 10:00:12 PM
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Hell yeah
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COMMENT | WTF???
posted by : ICON666
7/23/2009 10:05:05 PM
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He wasn't excited about rock when Chinese Democracy was released... haha! I feel you Duff. It's not like you can be excited about rock when you can't find a vocalist to fill your own band. Then again... Axl's a tough act to follow.
On another note... I have always been excited about rock and cannot wait for AIC...get born again!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by : madeinquebec
7/23/2009 10:24:59 PM
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It's not AIC it's a travesty.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/23/2009 10:41:05 PM
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I feel bad for those who will miss out on an amazing album just because Layne Staley isn't on it.
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COMMENT | madeinquebec
posted by : ICON666
7/23/2009 10:47:47 PM
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How is this a travesty? I was one of many who cried (balled like a bitch) when Layne died. Layne chose his fate and did not take into consideration the effect it would have on you, me, family, friends, his band or anyone else who were aching for a new AIC record. They have always wanted to do tour after tour and couldn't because of Layne. It has always been Jerry's book... next chapter.
RIP- Layne... you will be proud!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/23/2009 10:49:21 PM
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war duff and war alice in chains
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COMMENT | duff
posted by :
7/23/2009 11:05:01 PM
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Metallica album wasn't GREAT....was it great then lol. Death Magnetic is easily top 10 greatest metal albums in the last twenty years imo. I love alice in chains, there my second favorite band but i didn't like that comment. ac/dc's album wasnt great but no of there albums are better than metallica.
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COMMENT | AIC is my favorite band
posted by :
7/23/2009 11:24:40 PM
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I too, cried and got depressed when Layne passed away. But it felt like Duff was over-applauding AIC... rock 'n roll doesn't depend on just one band. AIC definitely has a relatively heavy input into awesomeness of rock 'n roll, but they aren't alone.
Also Dirt isn't my favorite. It has many of my favorite tracks, but I'd rather say Jar of Flies or Tripod is my favorite.
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COMMENT | I'm unsure....
posted by : brianca
7/24/2009 12:27:09 AM
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Don't get me wrong, I'm all for AIC continuing in some form. For me, it doesn't feel right to use the AIC name without Layne. I agree that Layne died for selfish reasons, but it still seems like the name AIC should have been buried with him. Why not continue under a new name? Well, I suppose you can make the comparison to AC/DC, so I'll keep an open mind.
Honestly, I'm hard-pressed to name an AIC song I don't like - I just love some more than others! Nice of Duff to give them props, too.
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COMMENT | Loaded "Sick" > ANY AIC garbage
posted by : JJJB
7/24/2009 12:32:42 AM
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COMMENT |
posted by : Expanded Consciousness
7/24/2009 12:37:43 AM
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I hate the notion of damning suicides as selfish.
It is so stupid.
You lost a new Layne album
Boo-hoo.
Uh ... he lost his 1 and only life!
Who's thinking selfishly?
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COMMENT | An Old Post, from Before the Release of the single
posted by : no remorse for killing
7/24/2009 1:16:12 AM
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These guys are proven at the craft, tried and true masters of the game, heavy as you need to be and sick as you wanna be ARTISANS.
I am so glad to see these guys in the studio making great tunes to blast into my fucking ears at some point in the future, sick music for a sicker world, with nothing but the finest in creative abilty, soul and musicianship. So fucking glad, I think I have become semi-erect.
These guys are some of the finest artists ever to step up to the "heavy" plate IMO, and the world as a whole will find itself all the luckier when Alice drops thier musical masterpiece into the public's domain.
So all you little bitches can keep right on bitchin' about what label these artisans, these elder statesmen of the genre, these bad ass muthah fuckers from Seattle Wash should go by. But you're missing the whole point.
The point will come on that day when you can finally send your speakers into full distress and send the neighbors to the phonebook for the local PD's telephone number as their furniture rearranges itself to the guitar musings of one of the greatest songwriters to come along in the last two decades.
Minus a few select standout artists, the world of heavy music stands in a puddle of its own piss, regurgitating its own rehashed discards over and over again down it's hot topix shirt with no one to lead a charge up to dry ground.
The world needs Jerry Fucking Cantrell. Right fucking now. This album cannot arrive a moment to soon. And for you small-dicks who want to sweat the little shit, I say start your own band and you can name it whatever the fuck you want. For the rest of us, BRING THE FUCKING HURT by way of Jerry's hand. Its been too long and I need a fix.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/24/2009 4:39:00 AM
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I think everyone, or almost everyone is overhyping this.
We only heard one song so far and you're already calling this a "masterpiece"... let's wait and see.
I welcome them back, although i think they should've changed the name. Ok, Jerry is the heart of the band, but Layne was the soul. This is Jerry Cantrell with the same guys who recorded Boggy Depot, plus a new guy. Still i'll hear it, then speak my mind. Didn't like A looking in view. The riff wasn't that great, the song was too long, and the production is too "clean"... but we'll see.
Now... there's other bands carrying rock right now. Mastodon released Crack The Skye this year. Down will release it's fourth disc next year, Baroness is releasing it's second disc, Opeth and other bands like Insomnium are still going strong. Not trying to put all these bands in the same category but you know where i'm getting at... there's alot of music out there worth listening to, not just one band whose last cd was in 1995...
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COMMENT |
posted by :
7/24/2009 4:43:52 AM
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Shit. I forgot Shrinebuilder. That's going to be AMAZING
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COMMENT | All
posted by :
7/24/2009 5:05:59 AM
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AIC records are good, it depends on the taste of anyone to pick its favorite, but nobody can say they put out a bad album. For me it's hard to say which is my favorite, but I would have to say that Facelift along with Dirt, as McKagan says, must have a well honored place in any records/cd collection (I have all of them on vinyl, sweet!). BTW, does any of you guys now if their last album will be released on vinyl too? AIC rocks!
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COMMENT | zerochance
posted by :
7/24/2009 8:01:41 AM
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you are partially correct. For Boggy Depot, Rex Brown played the majority of the bass parts. Les Claypool played on 2 tracks as did John Norwood Fisher. Mike Inez played on 3 tracks. I am not calling you out, just clarifying. I believe that most of the songs were written about his break-up with his long time love.
I think that Duff spoke well in this interview. With all the mainstreem garbage that is currently out there today..... *I* need Alice In Chains now more than ever. I think alot of us do. Will this be the album of the year? Doubt it. But I don't care, it's something that I need and that is album of the year in my book.
Rock on everyone!
Welcome back Alice In Chains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT | Steve_oz_49
posted by :
7/24/2009 8:32:38 AM
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I didn't know that. Always thought that the line up for that album was Cantrell, Kinney, Inez. Thanks.
And yes, if you're talking about mainstream rock i understand, and yeah it sucks really bad. But mainstream rock has sucked since 2000's so it's nothing new. Luckily we have good bands playing and making music in a more underground form.
But of course it's always a pleasure to have AIC back
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COMMENT | Get over it already!!!
posted by :
7/24/2009 8:55:30 AM
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The new AIC album will be decent (Hopefully) at the least. The caliber of musicianship that is in that band is admirable, so anything they do together will be pretty good. They created the atmosphere for Layne to be creative enough to lay down all of those great lyrics and voice over the groundbreaking music that has influenced or been ripped off since they emerged on the music scene. That being said none of us were in the band and to say stupid shit like "it just doesnt feel right" is a joke. None of us know what it was like to be in a creative enviroment with a junkie. They have every right to do something new. If they fall on their face, we will all buy Jerry Cantrells future solo albums because those were always good. Lighten the fuck up, you dont have to buy the album or see them live. They call themselves AIC again because it puts people in the seats and whether you hate the new stuff or love it you will notice it and probably buy it. More power to them for going forward.
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COMMENT |
posted by : Neil Young's Cocaine Booger
7/24/2009 1:11:59 PM
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While I am glad AIC have recorded new music, I just don't think DuVall is the guy to lead AIC into their next chapter.
I think he is a pop singer trying to front a rock band. Kinda like if Britney Spears took over for Joan Jett.
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COMMENT | Dirt = AIC's best album
posted by : RiotAct666
7/24/2009 2:40:23 PM
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Nothing can top that one. But who knows the new one just could. Can't wait for it
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COMMENT | first day downloader for the new....
posted by :
7/24/2009 7:03:21 PM
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Jerry Cantrell Band.
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