Alice in Chains

The Untold Story

By: David de Sola

Narrated by: Sebastian York

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Alice in Chains was the first of grunge's big four - ahead of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden - to get a gold record and achieve national recognition. With the charismatic Layne Staley behind the microphone, they became one of the most influential and successful bands to come out of the Seattle music scene. But as the band got bigger, so did its problems. Acclaimed journalist David de Sola follows the members from their inauspicious beginnings at a warehouse under the Ballard Bridge through the history of the band, charting:

The local hair metal scene in Seattle during the 1980s.

How drugs nearly destroyed the band and claimed the lives of Staley and founding bassist Mike Starr.

Jerry Cantrell's solo career and Mike Starr's life after being fired from the band.

The band's resurrection with William DuVall, the Atlanta singer/guitarist who stepped into Layne Staley's shoes.

Based on a wealth of interviews with people with direct knowledge of the band and its history, many of whom are speaking on the record for the first time, Alice in Chains will stand as the definitive Alice in Chains biography for years to come.

©2015 David de Sola (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Disappointing!!!!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I imagine someone who wasn't a real fan and doesn't mind a horrible narration filled with non sensical BS. The author reaches too far right past the real story but damn you'll learn the DOB of some inconsequential character. And for good measure the "voice" is annoying.

What was most disappointing about David de Sola’s story?

Too much information that has no merit being there. Scattered. Start stop Brake Pedal reverse, brake and pedal It's like riding with a 16 yo learning how to drive. I have heard the very members speak differently about the basics of the band's history.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Sebastian York?

Anyone who wasn't trying so very hard to come off as a badass. I really hope that's not how he talks in real life. I don't cast narrators

What character would you cut from Alice in Chains?

Really, Seriously come on that's a trick question. How about David de Sola. Start there. So much doesn't deserve or need to be in the book. Did he have to write a certain amount of words? He vomited all over the pages

Any additional comments?

Don't be teased into a let down

Kick ass

I do not care if this was unauthorized or not. You can tell that the author respects the band and the people discussed in the book.

Layne story- not AIC

Coming from an area infested by heroin addicts I have very little sympathy for them . I was very interested in Laynes story but I wanted to know more about the entire band . This book follows Layne 95% of the time . I want to point out that if my band mate was withering away because of a drug I would get physical with him. It seems like his “friends” wanted to be with Layne because of his popularity . The story is fuckin sad. If I was his friend he would have had my foot up his ass a ton of times . As a teenager I not only loved their music but their look was the coolest and Layne was the main reason why. I would have shown him pictures of himself when he was healthy and told him he could have been that again. It’s fuckin sad .

Depressing, sad listen but not the authors fault

Hard to listen through most of it, love Alice In Chains but what a waste of human life. Beyond Jerry they were all just throwing away their lives and couldn't fix it. Author did well, just can't make a good listen to people throwing away a life most dream of and literally killing themselves.

Repetitive and overly precious

As an AiC fan, I wanted to love this book, but the repetitive attention paid to pedestrian detail was frustrating.
This comment was not corroborated by the author but was not denied. The author said that he did not disagree with this comment but did not support it either. The author's publisher thought the comment was stated in late 2017 but could have been as early as September 2017.
Really?

Focused on the wrong things

The Writing was not great.... focused way too much on secondary figures while glossing over the making of the hit records and the processes behind them. Also spent time bashing another author that nobody cares about. An editor would have helped focus this author on the story of Alice.... not on the story of some random drug user in a random band.

Needs editing

I felt this was excessively long. Seemed to be lots of unnecessary detail that didn't need to be there. Just my opinion.

Couldn't listen any longer

Why write a biography without any input from the band? So hard to listen to. Sorry to the author, but I just couldn't get through more than a few chapters. Glad I didn't pay for this one.

Excellent!!

I would highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in Alice In Chains or the grunge music scene from the nineties.

It gives a very comprehensive overview of the band's career from the formation to the present day. It is mainly focussed on the Layne Staley era, which is when most of their recording career took place.

It shows that in spite of personal tragedy great art can still be created.

Inaccurate Account Without The Bands Input

I'm sure this book is partially accurate. But, without the approval or confirmation from the band, I take it as hearsay.
I love this band with every fiber of my being & will forever be sad over the loss of Layne & Mike.
R.I.P. L.S/M.S.