From across the pond, and courtesy of NME, comes news that Seattle's own Alice in Chains will be recording their first record in 13 years.
Alice in Chains Without Layne Staley Isn't Alice in Chains
Symphony Legacy Rocks Benaroya for the Kids
The night's first piece paired the Northwest Symphony Orchestra with Michael Shrieve, a badass, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer who played with Santana at Woodstock. The combination of heavy percussion and hearty strings and brass had our knees bouncing. Next up was Messina, a funny, chatty guy with endless reserves of enthusiasm for the cause his symphonies support. The tango "Dance of the Rain" featured Dance Contemporary performers and Andre Feriante on acoustic guitar. The orchestra's string section paid perfect compliment to Feriante's deft fretwork.
Jerry Cantrell's Threads = Your Next Halloween Costume
So that paper Clay Bennett mask didn't score you the costume-contest office pool? Your Lewinsky dress was irredeemably soiled? It's not too early to think Haloween '08. And we've got the coolest outfit idea for you: Jerry Cantrell. The Alice in Chains guitarist/singer will even trade you his threads for a charity donation.
Layne Staley Would be 40 Today; the World Would be a Better Place
Alice in Chains’ former lead singer would be blowing out candles today had he not said yes, yes, yes to drugs. The Chains gang would likely still be making both crunchy (Dirt) and beautiful (Sap) music. Jerry Cantrell, who co-founded the band with Layne, probably would have written some lighter lyrics and cut his hair. Seattlest would have had the pleasure of seeing Alice in Chains—or the supergroup Mad Season—live.

