Jerry Cantrell on meeting Layne Staley, forming Alice In Chains

Watch Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains tell the full story of how he met Layne Staley and how Alice In Chains was formed, and how Layne ALMOST never joined the band. Learn more about the Jerry Cantrell Collection of Gibson and Epiphone guitars:  ▶ Epiphone Jerry Cantrell "Wino" Les Paul Custom Dark Wine Red: https://bit.ly/4g9bkDW Watch the FULL ICONS with Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains documentary HERE:    • Icons: Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains   What if we told you Alice In Chains almost never happened - or that a “male stripper/David Lee Roth Knock-off” as coined by Jerry Cantrell, was the final straw for Layne Staley joining Alice in Chains? Pretty wild! In this clip from ICONS on Gibson TV, hear how a chance meeting at a house party spelt the beginnings of one of grunge's most iconic bands, how Alice In Chains almost had a VERY different vocalist and how a band rehearsal room became the epicentre for Grunge. In this clip guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell recounts the early days of his friendship with Layne Staley and the formation of Alice In Chains and the numerous singers they auditioned specifically to goad Layne into joining the band. Jerry describes first meeting Layne at a house party in West Seattle and being immediately impressed by his voice and how their paths crossed again shortly after at the Music Bank, a 24/7 rehearsal space where Layne worked. Jerry shares the story of moving into the Music Bank with Layne, essentially living there while working shifts and jamming together, which would forge a strong bond between the musicians and lay the groundwork for the band as we kow it. Jerry also talks about the initial attempts to form a band with Layne, the search for other members, and finding the iconic Sean Kinney and Mike Starr, and the various musical influences that shaped their sound, from classic rock and metal to new wave and English metal. He describes how he and the other members tried to convince Layne to fully commit to their project, even resorting to holding auditions for other singers in their shared living space to finally get Layne to join. This led to Layne finally committing to the band and the official formation of Alice in Chains. If you’ve ever wanted to know the full story of how Alice In Chains was formed, and whether you’re a die-hard fan or just discovering the origins of grunge. In that case, this story offers a unique glimpse into the birth of a legendary band that should be on the “most iconic Grunge bands of all time” list. Chapters: 0:00 Meeting Layne Staley 2:53 Coming up with the name Alice In Chains 3:40 Living with Layne Staley & meeting Mike Starr & Sean Kinney 5:52 Convincing Layne to join Alice In Chains 📼 Related Videos To Watch Next: ▶ Watch the FULL Jerry Cantrell Icons episode HERE:    • Icons: Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains   ▶ Jerry Cantrell "Wino" Les Paul Custom :    • Jerry Cantrell "Wino" Les Paul Custom   ▶ The Collection with Kirk Hammett:    • The Collection: Kirk Hammett of Metallica   Find Your local Gibson Dealer: https://www.gibson.com/en-US 📩 Get Gibson guitar news before ANYONE else: https://bit.ly/GetGibsonNEWS 📱Follow Us On Social Media For The latest Guitar Gear! ▶   / gibsonguitar   ▶   / gibsonguitar   ▶   / gibson   🔔 Subscribe To Our Channel:    / @gibsonguitar   SHOP GIBSON BRANDS https://www.gibson.com/ https://www.epiphone.com/ http://www.kramerguitars.com/ http://www.steinberger.com/ https://www.krkmusic.com/ https://www.mesaboogie.com http://www.maestroelectronics.com ABOUT GIBSON BRANDS Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including    / @officialepiphone  , which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, and KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands.