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DUFF MCKAGAN: 'ALICE IN CHAINS Is Back And I'm Finally Excited About Rock Again'

July 23, 2009

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has penned the latest installment of his weeky column, which appears every Thursday on Reverb at SeattleWeekly.com. An excerpt follows below.

"ALICE IN CHAINS overcoming Layne Staley's [vocals] tragic death has been something of an underdog story that needs to be applauded for the unimaginable heartbreak they live with and the sheer tenacity they had to put the band back on any stage AT ALL! Last Saturday [July 18] in Detroit, ALICE played their first gig in the campaign that will support the release of their first record this decade — a tour that I think will cement them as the premier rock band on this planet. They will have never before toured a record like they will this time around, because of past drink/drug issues rampant throughout their talented ranks.

"When the new record comes out in two months (September 29),it will mark the 17th anniversary of the release of the heralded 'Dirt', which contains so many of the ALICE songs that became the soundtracks to so many of our lives. 'Dirt' should be, in my opinion, the cornerstone of anyone and everyone's rock CD collection. The new record will not take a back seat to 'Dirt' in any way — it is simply right up there with any ALICE music ever, and in my humble opinion, they have beat themselves with much of the new stuff. Is this a lofty remark from somebody who just wants to give these guys a 'leg up' from the soapbox of his own Seattle Weekly column? My reputation stands on what I say here, and I can't wait for the rest of you to hear what I have already been honored and trusted to hear. Do they know that I am writing this piece? No way in hell... they would wince, of that I am quite sure."

Read McKagan's entire column at SeattleWeekly.com.

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