In this excerpt from Gibson TV’s Icons below, Jerry Cantrell shares how the early recording sessions for Alice In Chains’ iconic album, Dirt, were interrupted by the eruption of riots following the Rodney King verdict. Watch as he recounts the band facing a city in chaos, and how he and his bandmates made a harrowing escape through the streets of LA, navigating fires, looting, and unrest before retreating to Joshua Tree to continue writing and recording the album which solidified them as one of the most iconic bands of the grunge era and beyond.
Jerry reflects on how these tumultuous events marked the beginning of Dirt, blending the album's intense, raw energy with moments of what he said was real beauty. He describes the unique mix of heavy, ugly sounds with a softer, more melodic side that became the hallmark of Alice in Chains.
Cantrell's new solo album, I Want Blood, co-produced by Cantrell and Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins), was recorded at Barresi’s JHOC Studio in Pasadena, Calif. The album also features contributions from bass heavyweights Duff McKagan (Guns N’Roses) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica), drummers Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More), and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan).
Album orders, which include CD, digital and multiple 2LP variants are available here.
I Want Blood tracklisting:
"Vilified"
"Off The Rails"
"Afterglow"
"I Want Blood"
"Echoes Of Laughter"
"Throw Me A Line"
"Let It Lie"
"Held Your Tongue"
"It Comes"
"Vilified" visualizer:
"Off The Rails" visualizer:
"Afterglow" video:
"I Want Blood" visualizer:
As mentioned above, Cantrell has announced a North American tour in support of I Want Blood. The trek kicks off on January 31 in Niagara Falls and makes its way across the country, concluding in Cantrell’s home state of Washington. For ticket information, visit jerrycantrell.com/tour. Filter supports on all dates.
North American tour dates:
January
31 - Niagara Falls, ON - Fallsview Casino Resort
February
1 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
2 - Portland, ME - Aura
4 - Boston, MA - Citizens House of Blues Boston
5 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
7 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore – Silver Spring
8 - Bensalem, PA - Parx Xcite Center
11 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
12 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
14 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
15 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
16 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
18 - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone
19 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
22 - St. Louis, MO - The Hawthorn
23 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre
25 - Tulsa, OK - Tulsa Theater
26 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Houston
27 - San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theatre
March
1 - Mesa, AZ - The Nile Theater
2 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues Las Vegas
4 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco
5 - Ventura, CA - The Majestic Ventura Theater
7 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory - Spokane
8 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
9 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Jerry Cantrell is an iconic American troubadour, celebrated for his distinctive guitar playing, soulful vocals and profound songwriting. Known for his work in both Alice In Chains and as a solo artist, the Grammy-nominated musician has sold in excess of 30 million albums, has been named one of the greatest guitar players of all time by both Guitar World and Rolling Stone, and has been instrumental in shaping the sound of modern rock music. Over his career, he has released six studio albums with Alice In Chains, three solo full-lengths, has had his music featured in films from Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller and made cameos in “Deadwood” and “Jerry Maguire.”
(Photo - Darren Craig)
