ABOVE: Elton John caused a stir when he collaborated with Eminem at the Grammys (filling in for Dido). Will people be as impressed by his pairing with grunge has-beens Alice in Chains?
Ok, sometimes, you just see a headline and hope that it’s a joke–like this one from Spin online, explaining that inexplicably re-formed grunge band Alice in Chains has recruited a very special guest star to perform on its first album following the drug overdose death of singer Layne Staley in 2002.
That special guest? Elton John.
Um, really, guys? Who smells a tacky publicity stunt?
That’s right. It seems that somewhere in the twisted brains of this aged Seattle crew, the idea occurred to them, something like: “Hey! We’re already destroying whatever musical legacy we had by trying to cash-in with an album featuring a lame new singer, how can we make this more embarrassing? No, we won’t call Chris Cornell, that’s just silly…How about Elton John?”
So, will the Rocket Man’s collaboration with the band on the new album’s title track, “Black Gives Way to Blue,” sound like “Candle in the Wind: Grunge ‘97 Style”?
We hope not.
Do you think Alice in Chains should call it quits since Layne is Dead?
Tell us what you think in the comments section!
MORE:
Preview: New Alice in Chains CD: New Singer 7 Years after Staley’s Death
Still Standing: ’90s Bands You Thought Were Broken Up
Reunion: Stone Temple Pilots Reunion Tour
luis says...
08.11.09 4:15 pm
whoever you are u dont know anything about alice in chains legacy, u just wrote crap
Lee says...
08.11.09 11:50 pm
Wow…Could you be more cynical or shallow. Why do they have to be “cashing in” or “destroying the legacy” Pretty strong words from someone who hasn’t heard the album yet. That’s a bit premature to say don’t ya think. Why can’t they just admire the dude and thinks it’s cool that a musical influence on them would record with them. Man, people like you think way to much. Or maybe not at all, depending on how you look at it.
Karen added...
To be fair, it was sort of an exaggerated response, but it does seem sort of pointless for the band to keep making records at this point.
Why not just start a new band, and maybe include a few AinC songs in the concerts?
Keeping the name sort of sets high expectations from fans, and might make the band feel limited, creatively.
Or not.
Guess we’ll find out when the album drops.
08.12.09 7:57 am
Lee says...
08.12.09 5:12 pm
I understand some of your points, however, I don’t see how it is pointless for them to make music. I guess I’d have to ask “why” it’s pointless and not that you are the one saying this but to everyone saying they’re being disrespectful I’d have to ask “how” exactly especially given the fact that Staley had all but quit the group anyway. Any other band would have fired him in the late ’90s after being unable to tour or even make music at all because of his problems. The only reason it would be pointless is if they had nothing new to offer, or worse, only bad things to offer. Let’s hope it’s not pointless if you get my drift. And to the other suggestion you make about the AiC moniker-Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t; you can’t win for losing and all that crap. My point is this: If they come out unser a different name people will say they’re just trying to sound like AiC, which makes sense because it is, minus Layne. And If they do use the name then they’re being respectful to his memory and basically only a cover band. If people think about it logically and take emotion out of it, it’s a load of shit to say that and should be pretty clear that after everything these guys went through(Layne’s not the only one who’s suffered) their motives must be legit. They had to tour for 2 years just to pay for the record without a label no less. That along with them just having the courage to face all the criticism(unjustly imo) should show their legitimacy .
Lee says...
08.12.09 5:19 pm
“being DISrespectful to his memory” ooopsy
Lee says...
08.12.09 7:09 pm
And oh yeah, William isn’t Layne. That doesn’t mean he’s lame or for that matter not as good a singer as Layne. He’s just different, not better or worse. If he were with any other band people would be raving about him. He’s terrific.(on both vocals and guitar) You should hear “Nutshell” with him. It’s great. And if you ask me he’s got the testicular fortitude of Superman for doing this.
Danny Duchamp says...
09.5.09 7:31 pm
I personally can’t wait to hear what comes out of this. Elton’s last album was really good so I’m predicting that he’ll really bring something new and interesting to the band.
driver17 says...
10.22.09 12:21 pm
Or partisans may overcrowd fanships, resulting in too little privacy for stars and too few performances for the fans. ,