ALICE IN CHAINS To Play U.S. Club Dates In Late May

Launch Radio Networks reports: ALICE IN CHAINS made only its second live appearance in a decade on Friday night (March 10),when the surviving members of the group performed at a taping of the VH1 Classic series "Decades Rock Live!" The event kicked off a new round of activity for the band, which plans to tour both the U.S. and Europe this year. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Launch that one of the main reasons for the group's return is to honor the memory of its late lead singer, Layne Staley. "It hurt enough to lose the guy, but to have him just totally swept under the carpet when he died was an insult," he said. "But, you know, we don't have any control over that, and we were lucky enough to spend time with the guy and call him our friend, you know, and we lived and we built this thing, and it's totally about honoring Layne and honoring the music and celebrating, and it's also about celebrating us being alive and being together."

ALICE IN CHAINS performed five songs on Friday night as part of a "Decades Rock Live!" tribute to HEART. The episode will premiere on May 5.

PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo sang two songs with the group, while COMES WITH THE FALL frontman William DuVall performed another two and dueted with HEART vocalist Ann Wilson on "Rooster".

ALICE IN CHAINS frontman Layne Staley died in April of 2002.

The band members told Launch that they will probably play a handful of U.S. club dates in late May, followed by European festival appearances over the summer and a full North American tour in the fall. Guest vocalists will most likely be used throughout the entire schedule.