How did Alice In Chains get their Name?

January 10, 2025
9:50 am

The Birth of a Grunge Legend

Let’s break down the evolution of one of the most iconic names in rock history to ever come out of the Seattle grunge scene not named Nirvana… —Alice in Chains. Now, the name might sound like it came from some dark, twisted place (and, well, it kinda did), but the story behind it is actually pretty interesting.

The story of how this legendary grunge band got its name is a weird ride through glam rock, name changes, and a whole lot of creative clashes. Initially, Layne Staley fronted a glam rock band called Alice N’ Chains, formed with some of his bandmates. The group was looking for a name that had a “hard word and a soft word,” which is why they chose Alice (soft) and Chains (hard), giving them that perfect mix of sweetness and grit. You can hear a bit about this from Jerry Cantrell himself in interviews, and see early footage of the band performing under their glam name. The name Alice in Chains was inspired by a mix of things: part of it came from the fact that they were looking for a name that represented the kind of music they were playing, which was grungy, intense, and full of inner turmoil. Plus, it had this cool duality to it—Alice, a name that sounds almost sweet, and Chains, which gives it that heavy, suffocating vibe. It perfectly encapsulated their music, which was a mix of dark, brooding themes and haunting melodies.

Rumor was that Layne used “n”chains instead of in chains because he was still a teen when in the band and his mom disapproved of the bondage imagery!

Wait, there were 2 bands?

So how did Alice In Chains get the name? But things were about to change. After Alice N’ Chains broke up, Layne joined Jerry’s band, which was originally called Diamond Lie. However, Jerry absolutely hated the name, and the band went through a few more name changes before landing on Alice In Chains. The “in” part of the name was Jerry’s decision—he didn’t want to be mistaken for Guns N’ Roses, which was a huge influence at the time. He talks about this decision in his interview with Jay Mohr, explaining that it was about creating something unique and distinct. Eventually, Layne’s old band’s name, now changed to Alice In Chains, stuck, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What started as a glam rock band with a name that fit their sound evolved into something darker and more powerful, perfectly reflecting the band’s transformation into one of the biggest names in grunge. The new name, Alice In Chains, captured the band’s signature blend of haunting melodies and hard-hitting riffs. So, the next time you hear one of their iconic tracks, remember that this name wasn’t just chosen—it was crafted with purpose, blending the grit of the grunge era with the haunting vibe that only Alice In Chains could deliver.

Today, that name’s synonymous with some of the most powerful music to ever come out of the ’90s. It represents the heart of grunge—the anguish, the struggles, and the beauty that came from it.

Stay heavy,

Sam