12 Hard Rock Bands That Quit In Their Prime
9. Alice In Chains
As the end of 1994 gave way to a Cobain-less grunge scene, Alice in Chains still seemed to be doing what they do best. Though our spokesman for alternative rock may not have been with us anymore, these guys were bringing their signature darkness even further on their EP Jar of Flies. It may have been fun for fans, but no one could have predicted the band's fall would be so quick.
After their acoustic EP, the band got even heavier on their self-titled album, but the darkness had become too real to take for granted. By this point, Layne Staley was deep into his addiction to heroin and was clearly not winning against his demons. Though his contributions to the record were great for what they were, you could tell that he was a different animal than the pained beast we had heard on the band's opus Dirt.
As the band supported KISS on their comeback tour, it was clear that Staley didn't have much time left. After coming off the tour, the band went their separate ways and worked on solo projects until Staley eventually succumbed to his demons in 2002. The band could still deliver some amazing material, but the only thing holding them back seemed to be the cruel fate of mortality.