Many used to say during the last years that rock is dead, punk is dead, grunge is dead, etc. And most of these statements proved to be false in the end. The same might happen with Alice in Chains. Literally speaking, the frontman of Alice in Chains is dead, but the band refuses to get out of the musical scenery for good.

Four years ago, Layne Staley followed the route of other famous vocals such as Jim Morrisson or Kurt Cobain, dieing because of an overdose. Since then, the three surviving members of the band couldn't make up their mind to find someone to replace him.

This year though, they turn courageous and hit the road for a U.S. and European tour. William Duvall, yet unknown to the large public, will be the vocalist. Besides him, there will be some "other special guests and musical friends", as declarations go.

This tour will be the first since 1996. Even when still alive, Staley's addiction caused a ceasing of touring period for Alice in Chains. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell released a solo album, so the public eye furthered away from the band and its frontman. That much it furthered, that Staley has been found in his house about two weeks after death having occurred.
Probably everybody felt guilty and nothing has been heard since then about Alice in Chains until 2005. Last year, Cantrell, drummer Kinney and bassist Mike Inez played at a tsunami benefit show.


This year's tour is going to be the possible come-back of the grunge riot generation, if we also consider Pearl Jam hitting the road. From May 18th in Los Angeles until July 2nd in Netherlands, fans are to decide whether or not Alice in Chains can still be Alice in Chains even without Layne Staley. The remaining band members take it as an experiment, it might turn out to be a successful one, or not.