As guitarist and co-lead vocalist of Alice In Chains, Jerry Cantrell is likely one of the most iconic musicians to emerge from Seattle. His band have overcome the dying of their frontman, Layne Staley, to proceed making grunge greatness, whereas Jerry additionally sustains a solo profession, and has simply launched fourth album I Need Blood.
So what higher time to make him face down your questions on movie scores, childhood idols and his decades-long friendship with Metallica?
Is it true you as soon as locked your self in a storage and wrote songs in there? Sabrina Salerno, Instagram
“Ha ha ha! That’s a bit of little bit of an exaggeration. Once I write, I have a tendency to remain in the identical location, often my home – it’s not a storage! Ha ha ha!”
Hammer: Do you write the identical manner for Alice and your solo albums?
“Just about, as a result of Alice In Chains can do any type of report or any type of tune we would like. We did Facelift and Sap. We did Dust and Jar Of Flies. We will put out any type of music. If I’m working with Alice, making a report, and the fellows just like the music, it may possibly grow to be an Alice tune. I’ve made 4 uniquely totally different solo data. Boggy Depot doesn’t sound like Degradation Journey.”
What number of guitars do you personal?
Edward Glory, Fb
“Perhaps 100. I feel the final guitar I received was from Gibson. They gave me a pink champagne sparkle Flying V. I nonetheless purchase guitars however I’m not like Joe Bonamassa or Kirk [Hammett]. Kirk will spend a quarter-million, half-million {dollars} on a guitar. He’s received [legendary blues singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac founder] Peter Inexperienced’s guitar; Slash has a number of of them too: some fairly spendy ’59 Les Pauls. I feel 12 or 15 grand will be the most I’ve ever spent on a guitar.”
How is Nona Weisbaum [a character Jerry played in 1995 Alice mockumentary The Nona Tapes]?
Kirstenrhianti, Instagram
“She’s doing effectively, and residing in Scottsdale, Arizona.”
As one of the vital steel 90s alt acts, did you ever get into something extra excessive like dying steel, black, and so forth.?
Sam Nicholson, Fb
“I wasn’t into that a lot, however Layne was. Layne was a Slayer, King Diamond and Venom fan. Layne preferred the tougher stuff, I used to be extra into the New Wave Of British Heavy Steel, like Judas Priest. Layne’s favorite vocalists of all time have been King Diamond and Ian Gillan.”
Which bands did you hearken to as a child?
Richard Wilson, Fb
“The primary music I related to was in all probability nation music and AM pop radio stuff, which I’d hearken to in my aunt or uncle’s automobiles. Once I began to search out music for myself, it was Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, the Bee Gees. Saturday Night time Fever was one in every of my favorite data. Once I began choosing up the guitar, I found Kiss, AC/DC, ZZ High, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Van Halen, plus all these English steel bands. There’s plenty of funk and soul in there too: Marvin Gaye is badass! A various combine.”
What riff do you suppose will outline Alice In Chains?
Reigning_Ting, Instagram
“That’s a troublesome one. The primary huge one was Man In The Field and that appears to be one in every of our instant, common riffs. Rooster’s one other however I don’t know if it’s essentially a ‘riff’. So Man In The Field.”
Hammer: After taking part in that tune for practically 35 years, have you ever ever received bored of it?
“When you hit that first observe and get into the groove, and also you hear the roar from the gang, any emotions of tiredness or no matter, I don’t actually get. You’re fortunate if in case you have a tune that individuals need to hear, so that you’ve received to play it for them. We’ve been fortunate sufficient to have a great handful of songs all through the years, so the problem turns into, what do you chop out? Any person’s at all times going to be bummed out. Ha ha!”
What’s your favorite Seattle album of all time?
Thegazzolo, Instagram
“Are You Skilled. It’s Hendrix, come on, man! He was our first huge rock dude.”
Did the movie Singles [which featured Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and members of Pearl Jam] really feel essential to the Seattle scene on the time?
Eddie Marshall, Fb
“It did. Cameron [Crowe, director] was a artistic man and a giant supporter of music. Music and movie, for him, have been intermingled. He was actually on an arc and taking off, and so have been all of us, and we have been doing one thing cool collectively. I feel I learn a quote the place he known as that film ‘my love letter to Seattle’, and that’s what it’s.”
Would you reasonably be remembered as an important songwriter or an important guitarist? Duncan Kerr, Fb
“I feel I’m in all probability within the dialog for each. I feel I’ve carried out fairly effectively with each. I’ve received a novel method and an identifiable sound that I’ve developed, together with my associates and my band. That’s what you need as an artist: to be any person that most individuals can hear and inside a few notes go, ‘That’s them!’ I feel we’ve earned that, and I’m grateful.”
What was the band’s response when Mike Inez wrote, ‘Mates don’t let associates get Mates haircuts,’ on his bass earlier than you all did on MTV Unplugged?
Yk.Wav, Instagram
“That was concerning the time Metallica reduce their hair. They have been going for a brand new look, and perhaps some hair was beginning to go, so that they made the sensible resolution to not maintain onto it too lengthy. Ha ha! They’re shut associates of ours, there was no disrespect, and I feel Mike was simply taking the piss. They laughed about it.”
Will you ever do a collaboration album with James Hetfield?
Leandro Ignacio, Fb
“James and I’ve talked about it, type of. We by no means had a proper dialog however I’ve jammed with him at Kirk’s place. I’ve even spent an evening or two at his home, and we’ve ended up with guitars within the kitchen and on the porch. It’s one thing I’d be actually interested in, even to simply write a tune with him. As for whether or not it’d flip into one thing greater than that, he’s received a fairly demanding day job. Ha ha! So I’d perceive if it by no means involves be.”
You’ve been co-singer of Alice In Chains because the band began. Do you suppose you’re underrated as a vocalist?
Sharon Jane Davies, Fb
“I don’t know. I’ve been doing it for thus lengthy however perhaps there’s a portion of those that aren’t as conscious as a result of I’m not centre stage within the band. That’s high quality, I don’t thoughts. It’s extra about if you happen to’re regarding the tune, so I attempt to be interchangeable. I’ve at all times been a fan of bands which have a number of lead singers, beginning with The Beatles. Layne was at all times into concord as effectively. Generally, one plus one equals three: two voices can come collectively to make one thing even greater.”
Ever been approached to attain a movie?
Alan Buettel, Fb
“I’ve carried out little bits of scoring. I labored with Michael Kamen on Final Motion Hero, that not-so-stellar Arnold Schwarzenegger film.”
Hammer: We’ll defend that movie to the dying!
“It had a extremely cool soundtrack. Alice contributed the songs A Little Bitter and What The Hell Have I, and it was nice working with Michael, who’s carried out so many nice movies, on some automobile chase scenes and stuff like that. That was cool, watching the scenes and taking part in alongside to them whereas he’s directing me.”
Will you ever report with Mike Patton?
Emil Intestine, Fb
“Oh yeah! Patton’s a supreme weirdo. That’s the highest praise.”
How did you meet Duff Mckagan?
Astilla Dominguez, Fb
“I feel Duff remembers higher than I do. Whereas I survived the 90s, not all of me did.”
Hammer: What did you permit behind?
“A number of mind cells, for positive. I feel it was in LA and we ended up at his home one evening. We have been taking part in pool, listening to music, getting numerous phases of fucked up and having a great time.”
Did Alice check out any well-known vocalists earlier than reforming?
Adam Oakes, Fb
“I don’t suppose we actually ‘tried’ anyone. We have been simply making an attempt to determine if we wished to jam. We have been jamming as associates, and we invited a number of associates down to return play these songs. The thought was to perhaps simply do a handful of reveals and have fun the music. I feel we did that with Phil Anselmo and Pat Lachman from Damageplan at a gig. However I knew William [DuVall] and he was a part of my touring band for Degradation Journey. We have been already good associates and had carried out plenty of the Alice stuff.”
If I might, might you?
Omar Garcia, Fb
“Clearly, I did.”
I Need Blood is out now through Double J. Jerry Cantrell performs Obtain Pageant in June and London’s Kentish City Discussion board on June 17.
