Alice in Chains: The Untold Story

As a huge Alice in Chains fan who grew up listening to them and bands from that era, this book was so good, I honestly couldn’t put it down. Reading this gave me an even deeper appreciation for their music and the people behind it. Alice in Chains: The Untold Story is a must-read for anyone who loves the band or is curious about the Seattle music scene. David de Sola does an incredible job digging into the band’s history, the personalities behind the music, and especially the complex and heartbreaking story of Layne Staley. It’s an emotional read, but also incredibly factual and well-balanced. What really stood out to me was how thoroughly researched the book is. It doesn’t shy away from the darker parts of their journey, but it also highlights their artistry, resilience, and influence. The interviews and behind-the-scenes details brought everything to life in a way that felt honest and respectful. There’s not a ton of information out there about Alice in Chains compared to other bands, so I was impressed by how much I learned. It gave me a much deeper understanding of who they were and the legacy they left behind. The book was also easy to read, well-paced and clear and it arrived in perfect condition. If you’re a fan, this book is a must read! Absolutely worth reading!

It's absolutely SHAMEFUL that there there are myriad books, reviews, shirts, stories, stickers, etc. written about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, but only ONE book - THIS book - written about one of the greatest rock bands that ever came out of Seattle! Even more shameful, David de Sola was the one to figure out that there was that hole in the genre of 'books about rock bands' and strove to fill that hole himself. And God bless him for it. Yet, it's not enough, IMHO. The story could have/should have gone much more in-depth, but no one was talking. De Sola did yeoman's work in putting out the best book he could with the pathetically small amount of information he was provided. The story really is one of the most harrowing in all of rock & roll: the demise of a shy, young, extremely gifted, very charismatic young man--Layne Staley--who, after rising to the top of the rock world, made the fatal mistake of choosing heroin over life, 'chasing the dragon' to his ultimate death--a long, slow, ugly death nearly 8 years in the making. A death 'self chosen' by him, the culmination of depression, early life traumas, and drug-induced emotional distress, all exacerbated by life in rainy, depressing Seattle, Layne simply could see no way out. Family, friends, medical professionals, and acquaintances all tried desperately to help him, but he would not be helped (he was in rehab 13 times, and died 5 times, brought back to life by emergency crews). In the end, no one knew how he passed the final years of his life; but he died all alone, ravaged by heroin, less than 90 lbs on his 6-foot frame, with the music world consequently barely acknowledging his greatness or even his life (completely overlooked by the Grammys during their 'those we lost' segment). After heading up both the brilliant and unique Alice in Chains and the equally brilliant side project, Mad Season, Layne Staley hadn't even hit his peak by the time he died. He left a vast hole in music--and a world wondering 'what if?'--after being one of the first Seattle bands to get a major record label, and helping to spawn the 'Seattle sound' of grunge in the early 90s. As well, his loss devastated his AIC band mates, who, years later, reconstituted what was left of the band, now with William Duvall as secondary vocalist, along with the remarkable Jerry Cantrell (whose vocal harmonies and sludgy guitar riffs created the Alice in Chains 'sound,' and who wrote nearly all of their lyrics; he's also done several amazing solo albums). It's truly a tragedy on par with those of a Greek nature. If you are a fan of Alice in Chains, Mad Season, rock & roll, or just music in general, this book is one you should not miss.

I'm a huge music fan and I had the good fortune of seeing Alice in Chains on the Clash of the Titans Tour in Pittsburgh. In fact, the "Facelift" album cover was my first ever concert shirt purchased. I love this band! I never enjoyed their third 3 legged dog album and this book gets into the details on how it turned out the way it did. Not only did the author interview friends and family, he gets into cool details with Evan Sheeley from Bass Northwest, on how the bass sound was created. They get into the details of money and politics as well as the tragedy of addiction. I would say this is the best untold story band book that I've read as it's not an authorized biography but a factual story that was very well researched. Even though the band had two major tragedies, they continued not as a money grubbing thing but if the three core guys play together pepole are going to want to hear Alice in Chains as opposed to them changing their name to Leather Snake and playing Leather Snake songs. It's still Alice in Chains. Anyway, this writes like a Hollywood movie except this is real s***!

As a metal head, AIC is the only grunge band I listen to, particularly due to their brooding,dark and melancholic songs and Layne Staley is without a doubt one of the most unique voices to have graced the grunge/rock scene. The book gives an unbiased look into the lives of the band, the fame they hit, the struggles they go through and of course.......... heroin. As dark as the book is, it doesn't paint false pictures of any of the band members and maintains a consistent neutral approach till the end (something I found gratifying). The chapters explaining Layne's relationship with Demri are especially revelatory. I only wish the author had been able to gather more interviews from Layne's musician friends (especially vocalists like Phil Anselmo,Sebastian Bach etc) but considering this is an 'unofficial' book, he deserves nothing but praise for all the effort. Verdict : Must Buy For Any AIC Fan.

È in lingua originale ma assolutamente leggibile per chi mastica un po’ di inglese. Libro completo e esaustivo sugli AIC. Triste nelle ultime 100 pagine da quando viene registrato il tripode in poi con Layne Staley che scende agli inferi e non ritornerà più. Per gli appassionati degli AIC e del grunge . Consiglio assolutamente

Great read for any A.I.C. fan.

Excelent! I totally recommend for all Alice in Chains' fans. It's unique. It's certainly the best book on the band.

De Sola writes a riveting, no-holds-barred account of an incredible band, with amazing talent and a chaotic and tragic history. His reporting style is unbiased and thoroughly researched, taking extreme caution not to bend the facts to sensationalize situations where it was not always clear, or agreed upon by those involved, what really happened. It is no doubt that Alice In Chains paved a lot of the way for the Seattle grunge movement and will always be remembered for their pioneering sound. Dave's book does the band justice in detailing their rise and ultimate achievement of stardom and all the roadblocks and heartbreak encountered along the way. It's truly an amazing story and, thankfully, is still developing now with a renewed vibrance that should only continue to enhance Alice In Chains great legacy! Great writing, David De Sola! I look forward to a future addition that brings us up to date on the bands future endeavours.