30 years ago today (8/21/90), Alice in Chains released their debut LP Facelift – arguably the first “grunge” album to achieve mainstream success a year prior to Nevermind and Ten. With Jerry Cantrell’s heavy and melodic guitar riffs alongside Layne Stayley’s distinctive howl, Alice in Chains turned ears and earned opening slots from Van Halen and landed the opening slot for the Clash of the Titans with Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. The tracks “We Die Young”, “Man in the Box”, “Sea of Sorrow” and “Bleed the Freak” were released as singles and the album led the blueprint for future esteemed Alice in Chains recordings Dirt and Jar of Flies. Watch Alice in Chains perform “Man in the Box” live at the Moore Theatre in Seattle in 1990.
