Alice N' Chains
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Demo No. 1, Demo No. 2 |
Alice N' Chains (initially known as Sleze) was a glam metal group originating from Seattle, Washington, established in 1984. This ensemble marked the debut of vocalist Layne Staley. Following several personnel shifts, the band adopted a new name in 1986 and produced two demo recordings. The group ultimately dissolved in 1987, after which Staley went on to create the acclaimed grunge band Alice in Chains.
Formation and early period
In 1984, guitarists Johnny Bacolas and Zoli Semanate, drummer James Bergstrom, and bassist Byron Hansen—students at Shorewood High School—came together to form Sleze.[1] Bergstrom introduced Ken Elmer to the band, whose stepbrother Layne Staley was persuaded to try out as the lead singer despite initial reluctance. The audition occurred in Bergstrom’s basement, where Staley impressed with his soulful and distinctive vocal style despite being reserved.[1][2]
Their first track performed with Staley was reportedly Mötley Crüe's "Looks That Kill," which effectively displayed his vocal capabilities. Band members immediately recognized his exceptional talent.[1] Bacolas emphasized that Staley's singular voice was a defining feature that distinguished the group.
Sleze experienced numerous lineup revisions: Semanate exited and was succeeded by guitarist Chris Markham; subsequently, both Markham and Hansen left, with Jim Sheppard assuming bass duties. Bacolas temporarily departed to join another project before returning, during which Nick Pollock was added on guitar and Mike Mitchell took over on bass for a period.[1]
In 1985, both Staley and Bacolas appeared on KOMO 4 Seattle’s Town Meeting program to oppose censorship efforts by the PMRC. During a dialogue involving Frank Zappa, Staley emphasized the band's autonomy over their music and their prerogative to self-rate their material.[3]
Renaming and demo productions
In 1986, soon after Bacolas rejoined, the band adopted the name Alice N' Chains following discussions about backstage pass ideas. They preferred this moniker for its appeal but altered it from "Alice in Chains" to avoid concerns from parents about bondage connotations. Initially, Staley’s mother expressed reservations, fearing it might deter female listeners.
Johnny Bacolas clarified that the apostrophe-N was not influenced by Guns N' Roses since their renaming occurred before Guns N' Roses released their debut album in 1987. Staley noted that the chosen name reflected their humorous intent to perform heavy metal while dressed in drag.
During 1987, Alice N' Chains recorded two demos titled "Demo No. 1" and "Demo No. 2," with only a hundred copies of the first demo made, rendering them quite rare. The pre-production phase for "Demo No. 1" began under the Sleze name featuring bassist Mike Mitchell on tracks like "Fat Girls" and "Over the Edge." Recording sessions were held at London Bridge Studio with engineers Rick and Raj Parashar.
Disbandment and subsequent developments
Following the dissolution of Alice N' Chains, Layne Staley joined guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s new ensemble that evolved into Alice in Chains. This band gained worldwide recognition during the early 1990s grunge era alongside other Seattle-based groups such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Additionally, Staley co-founded the supergroup Mad Season with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, drummer Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees, and bassist John Baker Saunders.
Nick Pollock went on to establish My Sister's Machine, where he served as lead singer and chief lyricist. He later joined Soulbender, which included Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton.
Staley also lent his vocals to Second Coming’s debut album L.O.V.Evil. Signed by Capitol Records in 1998, Second Coming released two studio albums along with an EP before disbanding in 2008.
Zoli Semanate became part of the punk outfit The Dehumanizers, recognized in Seattle for their 1986 track "Kill Lou Guzzo." Jim Sheppard continued playing bass with Sanctuary until their breakup in 1992 and later co-founded the group Nevermore.
Members
- Layne Staley – lead vocals
- Johnny Bacolas – guitar, bass guitar
- Zoli Semanate – guitarist
- Byron Hansen – bass guitarist
- James Bergstrom – drummer
- Chris Markham – guitarist
- Jim Sheppard – bass guitar
- Nick Pollock – guitarist
- Mike Mitchell – bass guitar
Demo No. 1 Track List
- "Lip Lock Rock" – 4:24
- "Fat Girls" – 3:39
- "Over the Edge" – 2:44
Demo No. 2 Track List
- "Sealed with a Kiss" – 2:49
- "Ya Yeah Ya" – 3:11
- "Glamorous Girls" – 2:48
- "Don't Be Satisfied" – 3:27
- "Hush, Hush" – 2:29
- "Football" – 2:01