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New ALICE IN CHAINS Singer: 'I Don't Think I Could Sound Like LAYNE STALEY If I Tried'
- Nov. 22, 2009
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ThisIsNottingham.co.uk recently conducted an interview with ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall. A few excerpts from the chat follow below. On being chosen to sing for ALICE IN CHAINS: "It's a great honor and it's a great responsibility. But at the same time, it's a band, and in that respect I'm going to give my all no matter what I'm doing or what band I'm in. "This is obviously a really great thing but it's more about moving ahead than looking back. This is not about nostalgia; it's about building a new template for how to be ALICE IN CHAINS. It's a completely different band now to what it was." On the differences between old and new: "There's a lot of elements that make it different and despite what people say, I don't think I sound like Layne Staley. I don't think I could sound like Layne Staley if I tried. I'm not trying to imitate anybody to begin with, I'm just trying to go out there and do these songs my way. If there's a resemblance to what happened before that's purely because that's the song people have known for years." "I'm not going to take all of these extreme liberties with the melody and get all 'American Idol' on it. I'm going to do it the way it should be done and I'm going to sing it from my own experience. "It's going to be coming from my own place of truth. If that resonates with the listener then maybe that's what makes them think, 'He sounds like Layne!' It's because they're getting the same feeling of truth that they got when he sang it. In reality I don't sound any more like Layne than I look like Layne." "It's respect for Layne too. He was great because, in part, he was such an individual, and I'm an individual. I loved what he did so much that I'm going to put my own spin on it. That's the only respectful thing to do, for myself, for the fans, for Layne and for this band." On ALICE IN CHAINS' new album, "Black Gives Way To Blue": "The album is out because we thought it was worth putting out. We dig it. This was about proving something to ourselves first, and I think a by-product of that is that perhaps we might provide an example for possibilities for other people within their own lives. "We all experience tragedy at some point and what do you do? Do you lay down and die or do you get up and go with your head up and find a new way to be bad ass?" "Our story has a dimension to it that makes it quite different from any other. The list of bands that have had to bounce back and triumph over the adversity of losing a singer is pretty short." On ALICE IN CHAINS' future: "We're on a mission. We're proving something to ourselves and we're proving something to a lot of people." Read more from ThisIsNottingham.co.uk.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 4:08:41 PM
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Thats ok,you sound awsome.Layne was one of a kind.
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COMMENT | AIC
posted by : Yeti
11/22/2009 4:22:27 PM
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Saw them in Minnieapolis, a few month back. I was F'n awesome! I miss layne but I think William DuVall is soing a fine job!
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COMMENT | from the man himself
posted by : cliffburt
11/22/2009 4:23:27 PM
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His quote " I do not sound like Layne Staley " is bang on. The critics that say he does have their colective heads up their ass.
Layne was a top three singer in my opinion and cannot be copied.
It is a shame but it is what it is. This new line up sounds good and the record is okay so it is a good starting point. Maybe if they turned up Wills mike and turned down Jerry;s ego ... they would be better.
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COMMENT | err
posted by :
11/22/2009 4:29:51 PM
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the only people who have their heads up their collective asses are the ones that are denying this fellow sounds anything like Layne..of course he does, that's precisely why he's singing his songs and the old ones along side Jerry and why the new album is no departure from the previous stuff. This is all a good thing mind you...
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COMMENT | Minbari73
posted by : elpee
11/22/2009 4:39:04 PM
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He sounds as much like Layne as any decent singer would, but he doesn't copy him, he just sings the songs well.
William is an awesome singer, with a load of energy & great stage presence. Saw them in Manchester last week & they rocked my world. probably in the top 10 of my all time greatest gigs in the 18 years I've been seeing bands
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COMMENT |
posted by : BLT
11/22/2009 4:46:47 PM
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Bottom line is this dude sounds good.
Many times bands replace the original singer & either the singer sucks or he's not the right fit.
AIC IS BACK!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 4:49:56 PM
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as if they hired this guy to be unique. of course he sounds like, and tries to sound like, Layne. why else would they try to reform the sound of Alice In Chains.
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COMMENT |
posted by : Dee67
11/22/2009 5:00:36 PM
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I think it depends on the song.
IMO the song "Check My Brain" sounds like Layne era Alice.
Fucking brilliant song.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 5:11:59 PM
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The only reason the new album sounds like Layne era Alice In Chains is because Jerry is singing almost every single word of every single song alongside William. They are harmonizing every song. Jerry's almost completely alone on a few songs. Jerry was 45% of Alice In Chains' vocal sound - so of course it's going to sound like them. But William sounds nothing like Layne. Listen to "Last Of My Kind" - that's the only song that William sings by himself, and it sounds nothing like old AIC or Layne. Sounds GREAT though.
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COMMENT |
posted by : Mordack-
11/22/2009 5:58:35 PM
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I wish they would stop asking these kinds of questions. It must feel pretty weird to be DuVall right now.
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COMMENT |
posted by : YourDemise
11/22/2009 6:25:40 PM
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I think hes a great vocalist. Good find Jerry!!!!
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COMMENT | ..
posted by : Pod
11/22/2009 7:41:08 PM
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Someone else made the point but he doesn't copy Layne, he plays off Jerry's voice. He's a great singer.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 8:02:08 PM
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He's got a good voice and has done a fine job so far but some of his cock rock-esque posturing on stage is out of line with the lyrical content he's singing. On the other hand, if he imitated Layne on stage, he'd catch flak, so.
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COMMENT | Duvall is a great singer
posted by : RiotAct666
11/22/2009 8:13:15 PM
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Nuff said.
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COMMENT | |||
posted by : LanceManion1973
11/22/2009 8:18:09 PM
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I thought Black Gives Way To Blue was going suck but it's actually my favorite release of the year. Lots of good songs on it.
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COMMENT | huhph
posted by :
11/22/2009 8:41:36 PM
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I've only seen Ballsworth comment on a couple of posts previous to this I think, but everytime I read his comments, I think, "Gimme a break."
I like this guy. I don't think he sounds too much like Layne at all, I like his style. Good for him. Miss you lots Layne.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 8:55:11 PM
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I wish the media will start asking more varied questions. For example, why not ask him what Duvall thinks is what made Layne so special? Why does he think he's up to the job of filling in for Layne (which I think he does great!)? What was the funniest story about Layne that he's heard from the other guys in AIC?
God, I'd be a badass journalist.
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COMMENT | i'm with you lancemanion
posted by : dethryde
11/22/2009 9:25:07 PM
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never thought i'd be saying this back when it was announced AiC was "coming back". Boy was I ever wrong in my stance against it. AiC needs to go on to continue Layne's legacy. I've only seen a few t.v. appearances and in some parts Will may sound similar to Layne, but overall, he does not. As stated prior, Last of My Kind represents how Will sounds, nothing much like Layne.
It would indeed be difficult to be in Will's shoes. He'd catch shit if he was trying to sound/mimic Layne and it seems he still is getting some flack for being different.
The album is great, but if Will is indeed the new "lead" singer, he should be given more "lead" vocal parts on the next album. Maybe Jerry wanted to test the waters with the fans, be conservative, who knows.
Probably my fav of '09 along with Endgame.
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COMMENT |
posted by : Kovaks
11/22/2009 9:48:59 PM
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One of the most amazing comeback I had the chance to witness...
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 10:07:46 PM
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He's right. He doesn't sound like Layne.
Alice in Chains IS a completely different band, they now lack the emotion and energy that made me love them way back when.
New album was mediocre... just let AIC die with Layne
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 10:21:01 PM
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The new album had good riffs, but everything else felt manufactured.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/22/2009 11:03:05 PM
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It's hard to hear what the guy sounds like since he barely sings on the album. It just sounds like a Jerry Cantrell solo album.
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COMMENT |
posted by : mrsromek
11/22/2009 11:23:45 PM
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Some of you have your head's up your asses. It is 2009; Layne's not coming back. Move on. AIC obviously did, and kudos to them for creating new music and touring it. They lack whatever? It is not 1992 anymore. Metallica will never make another Master of Puppets, either. The put out a damn good album of new tunes. I could care less who is harmonizing. Take it for what it is-new music from a band who tragically lost their singer years ago. If Queen can tour without Freddie, ANY other band that has lost their singer can make new music and/or do some live shows.
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COMMENT | He's right!
posted by : Wile E Coyote Super Genius
11/23/2009 12:22:46 AM
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He doesn't sound anything like Layne. In fact, I hate his fucking voice! I wish they would have gotten someone a lot better. But at least Jerry is taking up the slack!
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COMMENT | I don't care
posted by :
11/23/2009 12:53:34 AM
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if he sounds like Layne or not.
I know this album sounds like an Alice in Chains one.
And I know this is a killer one !!!!!
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COMMENT | Duh
posted by : Ultimate Warrior
11/23/2009 1:56:11 AM
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Of course he doesn't sound much like Layne. He does harmonize with Jerry in a very similar way....and i'm sure that is why he is in the band......but he's a solid singer regardless. Rock on William.
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COMMENT | To me...
posted by :
11/23/2009 2:58:12 AM
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when Duval sings old Alice songs or when he dual harmonizes with Cantrell then he sounds similar to Layne. No one can match Staley's raw power and emotion. Same with Cobain. All the alternative bands that have come out after '94 have singers with high voices but no torture or angst. They're not angry young men like Cobain and Staley. Cantrell sounds like Staley on 'When The Sun Rose Again.'
I'd like to see Cantrell step out of his comfort zone a little bit more.
Any one who calls this a Cantrell solo album is way off. The new album is better by leaps and bounds to what Cantrell came out with his own. This is Alice in Chains at 75%.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/23/2009 8:35:56 AM
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i figured that most of the questions asked to the band would be about Layne. 1st album and such, so it's to be expected. I just hope that soon the questions start to be about the present and future rather than the past and somewhat the present. Let's face it, no Alice In Chains fan would ever forget about Layne, but it is time to brace the present and look to the future. William is a great addition to the band and who knows, maybe the next album with feature more of his vocals. I love how William and Jerry work together... esp Acid Bubble.
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COMMENT | this guy
posted by :
11/23/2009 8:36:10 AM
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rokks.
:)olc
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COMMENT | he doesnt sound like layne
posted by :
11/23/2009 8:57:18 AM
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he sounds like Jerry Cantrell
and he also sounds like Lenny Kravitz who is his biggest influence
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COMMENT | sieda666
posted by :
11/23/2009 10:40:20 AM
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Well said, I couldn't agree more.
Mediocre album at best. The AIC I loved no longer exists. I hope the guys do well, but I can't see becoming a fan of this new sound.
The best song on the disc is Last Of My Kind, and even that song is medicore.
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COMMENT | Great Album
posted by : Jack Bauer
11/23/2009 3:55:14 PM
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Best album in years and probably my favorite AIC album ever from cover to cover.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
11/23/2009 6:34:57 PM
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I love that new album. He's doing a great job. His voice is not as gritty as Layne's but I think he works well with them, and proves they can still make excellent music. How many bands from that era can you actually say are still in such good form?
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COMMENT | Alice in La-La land.....so sad.
posted by : justinohio72
12/17/2009 2:53:05 PM
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Well, I agree with william on one thing...the new alice is def. not the old one. the new album is flat...lacks any sort of vocal presence that any of the older albums had. it's almost like a band without a lead singer now. thank god we got a couple good albums out of them in the past. without layne, this band has no personality...who cares if the songs are decent...this is alice....we need more than just half an effort. lets hope the next album rocks.....
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