Normally, I’m a bit of a purist. I mean, I didn’t take it well when Van Halen brought in a red rocker to replace the charismatic David Lee Roth (although Gary loved that era for the band). I still can’t believe that Journey continually attempts to replace the golden voice of Steve Perry. And I’ve been shaking my head over the list of circus-like oddities that Aerosmith might hire for the recently-removed Steven Tyler. 

At the same time, however, I’m also obviously open to new versions of old favorites. Bands such as AC/DC and The Who have successfully persevered after the death of major bandmates. The Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to thrill their fans despite a revolving door of guitarists. And I don’t seem to mind at all that Styx carries on with a few new wayward sons. 

But, in 2002, when the world learned that Alice In Chains front man Layne Staley died of a drug overdose, most fans thought that we’d seen the end of one of the best bands out of the 1990s.   

Luckily, though, the driving force behind Alice In Chains – songwriter, singer, and phenomenal lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell – would not let the music die along with Layne. Instead, after a few years’ hiatus (and some solo projects and collaborations to keep the creative juices flowing), Alice In Chains has surprised us all and has brought the band back to life and out on the road – not as a comeback, but instead, as a new beginning. The band has a fresh lease on life, and a terrific new release on the charts – their first studio album in fourteen years – Black Gives Way To Blue.

The opening lyrics on the first song say it all: “Hope, a new beginning. Time, time to start living, like just before we died.”

No argument there! Although Gary and I have seen the new line-up several times since they got back to touring in 2006, this is the first time we’ve seen them performing new music, definitely breathing new life into the band and into their long-time fans.

Formed in 1987, Alice In Chains overtook the hair-band-saturated rock music scene only a few years later with their first album, Facelift. Not quite a part of the then-new Seattle grunge sound, they instead carved out their own niche – self-described as a cross between grunge, heavy metal, blues, and punk. The band never stopped charging from that point on, releasing two more studio albums and a host of EPs, live albums, compilations, and videos within only a few short years. But the departure of original bassist Mike Starr, who exited due to his own struggles with addiction, and ultimately the tragic loss of Staley, left the band in a state of limbo until 2005, when the surviving members reunited and brought in new co-vocalist and rhythm guitarist William DuVall.

Original members Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, and long-time bassist Mike Inez (Starr’s replacement since 1993), are embracing DuVall, who is artfully and gracefully stepping into the historical shoes he aptly fills with a style that is uniquely his own. 

And although, as I stated before, change is often hard to accept, it seems the fans are fully in support.  Our day at the recently-remodeled (yet still horribly overcrowded general admission floor) Hollywood Palladium began with our meeting a great group of "day-friends" (a concept similar to "single-serving friends” from the movie Fight Club) who are ardently in support of the band moving forward. These fans, who had come from points all over the globe, included a roving team of girls (fanatics just like me!) who'd flown 5,000 miles from the United Kingdom, some of them seeing more than ten shows on this world tour. My hats off to these girls for their tenacity and to their wonderfully kindred spirits. 

And from the moment Cantrell thrilled us gals by waving hello as he drove into the venue in his vintage white 1963 Corvette Stingray (a car so rare it was once on loan from Jerry's garage to the Petersen Automotive Museum), until hours later, when the last band member finished signing items for the fans who waited after the show, the entire night was electrifying!

The band played a good balance of both old and new material (music that is deeply embedded in my psyche – and also in my iTunes), performing such favorites as “Man In the Box” and “Would?” from their three multi-platinum discs, while introducing fans to tracks from their new album, including “Your Decision” and, my favorite, “Check My Brain”.

Standing at the railing that night in front of Cantrell as he ripped through his infamous solo to “Nutshell” literally right above my head, I closed my eyes and let my mind swim back to the first time I listened to the music of Alice In Chains, and it was as if time stood still. Layne, we miss you, Brother, but we are happy that your friends have decided on a new beginning.