Monday, April 13, 2009

AIC Record (and Beards) Finished!

As most of you who have been paying attention have already figured out, the new Alice In Chains album is finally complete. We've been in the studio since October, and since it all began we celebrated 6 major holidays, elected a new President of the United States, crowned new World Series and Super Bowl champs, endured fires, earthquakes, & blackouts in and around Los Angeles, took a 2 1/2 week break to go to Australia, and to cap it all off, William & Jerry finally euthanized their beards.



This long, arduous process is complete, and although there's still a lot of work to be done, the songs are in the can and that's the most important thing.

So what can I tell you when I look back on the last six months?

I can tell you that the monotony of 12 to 16 hour days in the studio can be broken up by multiple costumes & hair styles, hours and hours of dice games, any sort of dialogue delivered in a heavily accentuated southern drawl, and a slew of special guests dropping by the studio.

Most of all I can tell you that some amazing songs were written and recorded. From the heaviest riff-dripping gut puncher to the most sadly beautiful song I think this band has ever recorded, I honestly believe that this album will return Alice In Chains to the top of the hard rock heap.

So now the next few months are dedicated to things like album artwork, lining up interviews & press, shooting videos, planning tours, and figuring out whether to bury Jerry & William's beards at sea or donate them to science.

Hopefully these new songs will strike a chord and make a similar impact on all of you out there that were moved by this band in the first place. These songs have definitely done that with me, and frankly I'm getting pretty sick and tired of loving this stuff alone, so I can’t wait for it to be released so it'll become your favorite record of 2009 and we can discuss it at the shows.

So clear a slot in your CD shelf and schedule maternity leave from work in September, because the long drought will be over soon...

-Baldy

32 comments:

Unknown said...

Any idea on the date for the single release?

we're jonesin in the natti.

"Hey rock star got a cold beer? Sure you don't mind do you?"

Karen said...

YAY!!! Thanks for the update, and the photos. Nice to see those clean shaven faces again. :)

Unknown said...

thanks for the update & pictures its so nice to see that Jerry & William have got rid of those rotten beards can't wait to hear the album

Unknown said...

Love the photos very happy to see those horrid beards have gone I can't wait to get the album hope September comes real quick

Jerry said...

Hi there, thank ufor the update!!!
I can't wait to listen to your new songs guys!!!

אור זיו said...

Welcome back, we missed ya. Can't wait to put my hands on the album.

Hopefully more information will stream soon on stuff like song names and release date.

BTW, please come to Israel!!!

J.P. Gutièrrez said...

I've just can't wait.
This record is the reason to keep me alive this year.
Will I see you guys someday in Argentina? You've got a lot of fans here.
Please!!

Luke said...

Looking Good Fellas!

I love Summer and i hope it is a long one, but not too long because i cannot wait until september when i can get my paws on this highly anticipated album! COME TO MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL or FARGO!!

SEAN KINNEY FUCKING RULES!

Unknown said...

Great! A long-awaited record!
think on mexico for future concerts...

Unknown said...

thanks for the update glad those ugly beards have gone can't wait to hear the album

Unknown said...

Finally...
I cant wait to listen to the new stuff, hope the guys will preview it before the release. That solo riff in the Week 11 footage drove me crazy...man...it's still hard to believe that new shit's comin out from AIC...man...its awesome!!!

Unknown said...

Were Soundgarden fans always wishing Kim Thayil would shave?

Anonymous said...

Hey wasn't Elton amazing Tuesday night?????

Matthew Young said...

Man, that's a long five more months to weather. This is gonna be a bitch of a heavy album- I can't wait.

Also, is there a band called "Train Yard" that practices by you guys?

Inkompleto said...

Buenisimo!!!!!!! por fin lo que espraba!!!!


Great!!!! i was expecting this news!!!!

Jerry looks like a dwarf of lord of the rings whit that beards!!! ^^

Saby said...

ooh oooh, can't wait!!!

THE MOSER said...

I will stand by Alice for just about anything, but I have to say I think they lost a little something by shaving off those beautiful man beards. Im sure the new album is going to be amazing, but c'mon guys, do the right thing and grow the beards back. PLEASE! They were amazing.

Famous Hedgehog said...

just come TURKEY please.

Joseph Padalino said...

Ohhhh....That pic of William is supposed to CHAPLIN! I figured it was a Hitler mustache. And NOT the one you're thinking of!

Anonymous said...

Maybe this will be the force that will drive inspiration into young bands to actually play hard rock and lead a revolution. Cause the shit on the radio these days isnt cuttin it. Cant wait for the release.
JBROWN

Anonymous said...

WOOO HOOOO!!!

goyo said...

YEAHHHHHHH WOO OHHHHH
CHILE IS WATING FOR US!!!

Coops65 said...

I have to say Im disapointed you shaved those beards, thought they looked pretty badass. I cannot wait for the new album it's about time you came back to set the record straight with some balls to the wall riffery and theirs been a lot of imitators who have been getting their piece of the pie in your absence, time for you to reclaim the whole damn bakery!

hopefully ill see you down London way this year!

Anonymous said...

just discovered your coming to the UK and wanted to say - THANK YOU!!!! finally Ill get to see in action! Ive been waiting for this moment for over 10 years.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the update. Been waiting on the new album. Please try to hit New Orleans on the next tour.

Anonymous said...

Yeah!!! So happy to hear about the new release!!!! CAN'T WAIT!

Marcus said...

I just can't believe what I've just read! A new AIC album in stores in September... It's the BEST music news I have had in centuries, guys! I started listening to AIC back in 1993 when I was 14. Now I'm 30, and since I live in Buenos Aires (Argentina), I have never seen you live on stage. I'd almost lost my faith... Please, make my wish come true this time! Visit us down here. =)
I'm very glad to see that you've decided to go back to the road. You count with all my humble support, guys. Carry on!

Unknown said...

its gonna be so exiting to hear this record! AIC is indeed one my favorite band of all time.

i should have seen you as a starter to Metallica in stockholm 1993, but your show was cancelled :((( Metallica rocked but i actually wanted to see you more.

hopefully i will see you come back to Sweden some other time. it would be the coolest thing to ever happen =) Oslo and Kopenhagen would be OK to ;)

Tao

Luciano said...

VENGAN A ARGENTINA !!!!!

Ya no puedo esperar a que salga el disco, entro todos los dias desde que me enteré.

Tari Örs Lehel said...

Hey, I loved those beards!!!!
Waiting for the single,
Greeting from Hungary:)

Meg said...

Awesome update! Hey, what a coincidence, I'm scheduled to be on maternity leave in Sept. :-) Me and the little guy are chillin' on the couch as I type this listening to AIC on the ipod. He's already an AIC fan!

You guys look great beards or no beards.

Can't wait for the new stuff!!!!

Meg

Anonymous said...

AIC, you're a great band! but shame on you for still doing business with dirty EMI.. They sold the souls of the employee's and the manufacturing plant in Holland to 2 (even more dirty) investors for one euro. Those low life investors sold the buildings for more then 20 million euros right away and closed the plant 4 years later just as the financial crisis was taking place. Get yourselfs a decent record company (if it exists)!