Former DAMAGEPLAN and current THE MERCY CLINIC singer Patrick Lachman joined ALICE IN CHAINS on stage for renditions of "Rooster" and "Would?" at the group's May 19 concert at the House of Blues in San Diego, California. Also guesting at the gig was VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan, who performed with the band on second guitar.

Lachman had previously performed with the surviving ALICE IN CHAINS members — guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney — at a benefit for victims of the Indonesian tsunami in February 2005. At that show, which took place in Seattle, four vocalists — Lachman, TOOL's Maynard James Keenan, PUDDLE OF MUDD's Wes Scantlin and HEART's Ann Wilson — stepped in for the late Layne Staley, who died of a drug overdose in 2002.

ALICE IN CHAINS — Cantrell, Kinney, Inez and William DuVall (who will handle lead vocals for the group) — will next hit the stage at the Metro in Chicago on Sunday (May 21) before continuing with the U.S. club dates: Boston, Avalon Ballroom, May 22 and New York, Bowery Ballroom, May 23. Following the U.S. dates, the band will head overseas for a series of club dates and festival appearances.

As previously reported, a half-hour interview with ALICE IN CHAINS members Cantrell, Kinney and Inez — which aired earlier in the month on the HDNet (High Definition TV) channel as part of the "Sound Off" program with host Matt Pinfield — has been posted online at this location.