ALICE IN CHAINS Singer Working On Documentary About Atlanta Hardcore Scene

According to CWG Magazine, ALICE IN CHAINS vocalist William DuVall — who cut his musical teeth in the '80s punk rock/hardcore scene with his former band NEON CHRIST — has teamed up with director Edgar Johnson to put together a documentary that shines the light on the inclusive and explosive punk scene in Atlanta, Georgia. The film, titled "All Alone Together: Neon Christ And Atlanta Hardcore", in the latter stages of production and the first phase of fundraising. A tentative 2012 release is expected.

When asked by CWG Magazine what the impetus was for him to help make this documentary and how he got involved, DuVall said, "I was first approached in 2005 by Edgar Johnson about making a NEON CHRIST documentary. However, while I always thought our story was interesting, I really questioned who else would care. It was a long time ago. Nostalgia is boring to me. Why would I want to foist that onto anyone else? 'Back in my day…' Whatever, fuck off! I want to know what kids are doing NOW. But when NEON CHRIST reunited for one show in February 2008 and all these 15- and 16-year-old kids were singing our songs back to us, it was very moving, and not just because it was a pleasantly surprising ego rush. It was more about what those kids and that club represented. The show took place at the Treehouse, a DIY all-ages storefront club in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville. The energy and enthusiasm of the entire scene there was electrifying. Those kids were taking what we started, the real outsider/all-ages/DIY/basement punk culture and making it their own. That's when I knew we had our movie: Take two generations of outsider kids, nearly 30 years apart, and tell both their stories concurrently — what's different, what remains the same, why it all still matters."

On the topic of his feelings on the punk scene in 2011 — from Hot Topic to corporate sponsorship at the Warped Tour to punk on Broadway — DuVall said, "I think punk/hardcore is experiencing the growing pains of any rebel culture that stands the test of time. You’re going to have commodification. Big business always steps in eventually. Some of the superficial cultural signifiers, like day-glo hair or moshing, become a little more acceptable by the masses, at least on the surface. That's inevitable. It happened with Fifties rock and roll, Sixties hippie culture, etc. But the real core values of all those cultures still represent a potent threat to the status quo and, as long as this world remains the way it is, they always will."

Read more from CWG Magazine.

(Thanks: Trish/dobegrrrl)