Where the hell have people been?
A: His name is William DuVall
B: No, he isn't butchering anything.
C: This is OLD news. Man's been with the band since 2006.

keep in mind the first vid is actually LAyne, and the one below is the new guy...

I clicked the first video and went: "wow, the guy looks like shiat, but sings great...... oh, shiat"

SilentStrider: Where the hell have people been?
A: His name is William DuVall
B: No, he isn't butchering anything.
C: This is OLD news. Man's been with the band since 2006.

sorry dude, but if you compare the 2 vids, in my opinion he sucks really bad

and yes, it is clearly indicated that hes been there since 2006 in the article, but a lot of people didnt really care about it, until talks of an ACTUAL, NEW album

HappyHarryHardOn: and yes, it is clearly indicated that hes been there since 2006 in the article, but a lot of people didnt really care about it, until talks of an ACTUAL, NEW album

talks of the actual new album have been in the winds since the beginning of this year. this is still old news.

sorry dude, but if you compare the 2 vids, in my opinion he sucks really bad

then we're just going to have to disagree.

Ouch. He's not too good. Flat, scratchy, and cracking all over the place...Plus his diction sucks, and he's screwing up the melody in a coiple of spots. *I* could have done better than that. Have, actually, in a band or two. And I'm a way better drummer than I am a singer.

Sad. Seems like they could have spent a bit more time in auditions.

MaxxLarge: Ouch. He's not too good. Flat, scratchy, and cracking all over the place...Plus his diction sucks, and he's screwing up the melody in a coiple of spots. *I* could have done better than that. Have, actually, in a band or two. And I'm a way better drummer than I am a singer.

Sad. Seems like they could have spent a bit more time in auditions.

headin' to the studio in 26 mins?

SilentStrider: B: No, he isn't butchering anything.

Seriously? Do you have ears or just a couple of meat flaps on the sides of your head? Because that was butchering. He doesn't have the power or range to sing like Staley. Bad, just bad.

I wouldn't use "Man In the Box" for comparison.

Something like Sickman followed by Don't Follow.

mandingueiro: headin' to the studio in 26 mins?

Ha! Rehearsal, actually.

Nevertheless, touché.

...or better yet...Rooster.

wow. i had heard duvall was bad, but that sounds like some bad karaoke in a bar somewhere.

"last chance" meh.

personally, i prefer THIS (new window)

To be honest, he was singing better than Cantrell. No one will ever be Layne. I thought the dude did a decent job.

Sorry, he just sucks. For me, there's no quantifying the performance in terms of melody or diction or even voice quality, it just has to do with energy and stage presence. The guy looks like some schmo they plucked out of the audience to engage in some "fan participation." It looks like karaoke gone wrong.

I'm not even all that into Alice in Chains, only really liked Dirt; but the guy ain't selling it.

I think he could be the best singer on the planet, and it still wouldn't matter 'cause he's not Layne. I just can't listen to anyone else doing an Alice in Chains song without gritting my teeth.

BobtheFascist: What they should've done is looked for an AIC Tribute band. No, not a cover band. A tribute band. Then they could've found some obscure kid that sounded just like Staley to take the torch.

Worked for Journey.

MaxxLarge: Worked for Journey.

Twice, IIRC.

Seeing as how this band has been dead to me since Jar of Flies came out, I'm neutral in my opinion of this guy.

I'll reserve judgement until I hear new stuff or hear them with better quality audio than a youtube concert grab. Crosses fingers.

Alice in Chains can never be duplicated. They would have been better off doing a spinoff type band like Velvet Revolver or Audioslave.

BobtheFascist: What they should've done is looked for an AIC Tribute band. No, not a cover band. A tribute band. Then they could've found some obscure kid that sounded just like Staley to take the torch.

Ya, this probably would be a better option. In general, AIC songs (especially playing with the rest of the band) need to be done as they're done originally. You can't 'own' an AIC song like you can some other songs.

Cagey B: Seeing as how this band has been dead to me since Jar of Flies came out, I'm neutral in my opinion of this guy.

Word. That was my freshman year in college and I had to listen to that shiat 24/7. I thought I was the only one who hated it.

As long as this keeps Jerry from doing his solo stuff I'm all for it.

I loved jerry cantrells solo albums, they're a good change of pace from speed and thrash metal... I can't really be interested in this rehash of AIC though. I have had to many nights of chilling out with the guys listening to facelift and unplugged, this guy isnt HORRIBLE.. but its still a butchering in my book.

YA the new guy is a garage bander at best....when he does the beginning noise I wanna burn him alive...

You have to be completly different or better to fill someone who was so good's shoes. And this guy is neither.

Actually that guy was ugly. People assume Slash is ugly because he hid his face. Without the hair in the way Slash is a pretty good looking guy. Very pretty eyes.

Before judging, I'd prefer to see some 2008 footage of DuVall with AiC, rather than 2006 footage from right after he joined the band.

I can't say he could replicate Layne Staley's performance. Who could? Yes, DuVall makes me cringe when he opens the song. Otherwise it's kind of bland and doesn't stir any emotions other than a yearning to throw on the original. It's pretty common with someone covering a good original, and without Layne it's a cover no matter who else is still in the band.

I think the jury is still out on this one.

I'd like to give the kid a chance, but he'll never Layne.

/Farking Layne...just a damn farking shame. RIP man.

i saw an interview with the drummer after Staley had died where he said the band was created by record execs.
i believe he used the term "grunge boyband"
/posers.

MaxxLarge: BobtheFascist: What they should've done is looked for an AIC Tribute band. No, not a cover band. A tribute band. Then they could've found some obscure kid that sounded just like Staley to take the torch.

Worked for Journey.

Judas Priest too

And how many of you who are saying that Duvall sucks have actually seen him live with the rest of the band? Thought so. I was skeptical the first time but he totally won me over.

this guy is terrible.. he sounds just like I would expect a label mercenary session singer to sound. He probably went to Juliard or some shiat.. They don't sound filthy and slimey like they used to. And this dude looks like a deer in headlights on stage.. self consciously toying with his belt, reluctantly walking down near the audience.. meh... just meh..

that first vid is pretty intense.

1979 - That'd be funny, except they were all in a few hair bands, one even called Alice 'n chains...like everyone else in the late 80s... If a record exec brought them together to form a grunge band, he didn't really do all that much!

Link (new window)

As for DuVall, I went to their show in Boston shortly after he joined the band and they started touring again, and I thought he sounded fine. I'm a longtime fan of AIC and I didn't go in expecting the guy to hit every note Layne could hit - it's just not going to happen, as Layne was a one of a kind singer.

When AIC did the Seattle benefit show for the Tsunami victims in 2005, Phil Anselmo (among others) filled in on vocals for AIC and even he couldn't pull off Layne's parts.

I am excited to hear the new material they're working on, as DuVall can now sing his own style rather than Staley's.

Cagey B: Seeing as how this band has been dead to me since Jar of Flies came out, I'm neutral in my opinion of this guy.

What is wrong with Jar of Flies? Rotten Apple and Nutshell are two of my favorite AIC songs...

As for DuVall, he doesn't sound like Layne, but who does? He sounds good enough that I'd see them since I was too young when the original lineup was still around...

Wow, never realized Staley was so revered. His voice was cool and unique, but I don't think we'd be talking it up like this if he wasn't DEAD! His harmonies with Cantrell were, again, cool and unique, but by the 3rd album they were neither anymore.

So, I live in the sticks where no broadband will go, and I can't stream video on my phone, so tell me: how bad is this guy? I mean, are we talkin' Chuck-Mosely-with-Faith-No-More-bad or what?

Now if you'll excuse me, i'm gonna get a drink, take a table in the back, and piss myself.

Jeebus, listening to Layne howl out the chorus in that first clip gave me chills. DuVall's not bad, but there's not a man alive that can match that particular combination of raw emotion and power.

This is Cantrell's band, it always was. Just make sure this guy can hit all the notes in "Would?" and they'll be fine.

Should have gotten Maynard

Sanjaya?

I met the guy once (DuVall). Friend of a friend, and all that. He seemed ok.
I agree that no one will be Layne, but he did pretty well.


/Wouldn't pay to see them though.

Digital Artifacts: Should have gotten Maynard

Never say that again- ever! There is a huge difference between what Maynard has accomplished and what Layne did- die young like a dumbass druggie. Maynard is no saint by all accounts, but he's 43 and last time I saw him, he still belted out Lateralus in great form.

/realize you are talking about the time Maynard filled in with AIC/Camp Freddy, but still

I never got all the hype about Layne Staley. Jerry Cantrell runs the show and does half the damn vocals anyway.

/Not that I didn't like Layne
//New guy seems decent, if you can get over the fact no one can replicate Layne

tagjim: This is Cantrell's band, it always was. Just make sure this guy can hit all the notes in "Would?" and they'll be fine.

Cantrell is a huge part of AIC, it wasn't all Layne, though his (layne) voice is incredibly unique. The harmonization between the two just added to the composition of the music (i.e. Heaven beside you).
the new guy is not horrible but to replace the emotions that go into song writing such as the album Dirt, is much more difficult to do.

Jesus, Layne could do better on his biggest heroin bender than that guy ever could straight. Just go full solo already, Jerry.

My bud is actually pretty good friends with the guys in Alice in Chains nowdays....he's been hanging out with them listening to new tracks (they've actually been holed up in a mansion in Hollywood writing this record for 6 months or so).

He seems to think the new songs are pretty good....but then again he's pretty damn biased, so take that for what it's worth.

SilentStrider: Where the hell have people been?
A: His name is William DuVall
B: No, he isn't butchering anything.
C: This is OLD news. Man's been with the band since 2006.


This.
I saw them with Heart on Vh1 Classic earlier this year, and he;s not bad. He's no Layne, but he can pull it off.

Guys, stop putting Staley on a pedestal. He was not one who will go down in history as one of the great vocalists of the 90s. The replacement sounds just as good and frankly more in tune than Layne did live, if a bit soul less (must be the lack of heroin). I saw AIC back in 95 or so, and remember talking with friends after the show about how often Staley tried to sing out of his vocal range (to catastrophic ends) and was routinely flat...not to mention that Cantrell's mike was way, way too hot (as apparently is usually the case, judging from those two videos).

Now, singing in tune is not necessarily required to be an amazing vocal artist...just ask Bob Dillan. But Layne Staley was not any better or brighter than any of the other umpteen-thousand grunge vocalists during that era.

meehaw: Guys, stop putting Staley on a pedestal. He was not one who will go down in history as one of the great vocalists of the 90s.


I would name Staley as one of the greats of the 90's, so we can agree to disagree. I am curious though as to who would be on your list?

Alice in Chains kind'a blows... alot, Staley wasn't that good, Chris Cornell is 10X better (then, not now) and didn't have the heroin habit, hence he's still alive