10 Replacement Hard Rock Singers That NAILED It (Or Just Didn't Fit)

Alice In Chains exploded out of the Seattle music scene with their hit Man In The Box, lifted from their debut album Facelift in 1990. They were led by Layne Staley, somewhat of an enigma of a front man, while guitarist and principle songwriter Jerry Cantrell was undoubtedly the heartbeat of the band.

Their followup album Dirt in 1992 took their success to the next level, but was a dark heavy and melancholic collection of songs, largely lyrically based around Staley’s drug use.

Over the following few years Layne dived deeper into addiction until he could no longer function with the band, and in 1996 they went on an indefinite hiatus.

Ever the creative, Jerry Cantell pursued a solo career, writing songs he always hoped would see the light day with AIC, before Layne Staley - by this time a virtual recluse - sadly succumbed to his sickness and passed away in 2002. It came as a surprise to many some years later when Cantrell announced that Alice In Chains would be reforming and releasing new music once again, this time with little known singer/guitarist William DuVall taking the place of Layne.

The album Black Gives Way To Blue was released in 2009 and was a superb collection of songs that almost sounded as if Staley’s ghost was all over the record. Although he could never be truly replaced, DuVall had slipped perfectly into the unique sound of the band, and together they have gone onto release a further two albums while experiencing a highly successful second run.