He’s the guitarist for Alice in Chains, has performed on albums by Danzig and Metallica and appeared in Jerry Maguire. However what Guitar World readers actually wish to know is …
Black Provides Technique to Blue has obtained a lot reward from followers and critics alike. Did you ever count on that it might be obtained so effectively? — Riley Thompson
Boy, , it’s actually laborious to count on one thing to do effectively. I feel it’s a must to begin by ensuring it’s created from a superb place for you, and you hope for the best from the others. My strategy is to all the time attempt to write and make music that I’d like to listen to, even when I wasn’t in this band.
I’ve all the time questioned the way you ended up in Pantera’s Vulgar Movies subsequent to a hand dryer, holding a dildo. Was {that a} tough evening? — Kevin
Oh, yeah. We had been all the time jacking round. The humorousness and sarcasm in the Alice and Pantera camps was fucking extraordinarily excessive. [laughs] Plus, we had been fairly younger. We simply preferred to have enjoyable, and we spent lots of time collectively. And Dime and Vinnie [Paul] all the time had a fucking video digital camera going.
I don’t precisely know the circumstances of the dildo factor, nevertheless it was round, and I simply grabbed it and began, effectively, fucking round. [laughs]
It’s well-known that you simply and Dimebag Darrell had been pals. Acquired any good tales about him? — Jim G.
I used to be going out of city one time, and I had given my GMC Yukon truck to a good friend to deal with. He dropped me off at the airport, and in some way Dime acquired a maintain of my truck for the weekend and took it to a detailer place.
He put all types of decals on it, flames, massive fucking steer horns on the entrance, sirens and little cube issues for the tires. He in all probability spent three or 4 grand simply placing the most ridiculous shit on it. [laughs] Once I got here again from the journey, which was, if I bear in mind accurately, not an excellent one, I wasn’t in a superb temper.
So I’m ready there like, “The place’s my fucking automobile?” [laughs] He knew I used to be gonna be pissed about it, so he really referred to as me and had me meet him someplace. Once I arrived and noticed the automobile, which was all accomplished up by Dime, I wasn’t joyful in any respect.
However I acquired the joke about 10 or 15 minutes later. I assume they’ve the entire truck transformation on videotape, too. I’ve by no means seen that, however I’d wish to. I wager it was fucking hilarious.
What turned you on to the G&L Rampage mannequin and made it your No. 1 guitar for the final 20-plus years? — Kyle Mullins
I used to be enjoying in a bit of band with a buddy of mine that labored at a music retailer in Dallas, Texas. The G&L was there in the retailer, and I simply preferred how the neck felt. The again was unfinished sanded wooden, so it was very simple to maneuver up and down. It was additionally skinny however huge, and the fret areas had been sort of massive.
The guitar’s single-humbucker, tremolo system and single-volume-knob design closely influenced me at the time, too. It simply felt proper. So I labored fairly laborious for some time, and I acquired a pair paycheck advances so I might put that factor on layaway.
I bear in mind the day I acquired it: I performed that guitar a lot that I actually slept with it. That factor’s been with me for many of my musical life. And it’s acquired a ton of soul and vitality.
One unhappy notice about that guitar is that I’ve only in the near past needed to retire it. I’ve by no means gone on tour with out it. Nevertheless it began to develop a hairline crack from the neck all the manner by the again of the physique to the butt. It’s just about accomplished, which is a bummer. It would nonetheless be usable in the studio, however its stay days are over.
Layne [Staley, deceased Alice in Chains singer] all the time appeared to have a depraved humorousness. The Headbangers Ball waterpark episode involves thoughts. [The band confirmed up sporting goofy swimming fits, and Layne solid a fishing line into an aquarium, an act that acquired the group kicked out of the park.] Are there any sensible jokes or actually humorous tales that stand out in your reminiscence? — Dave V.
Layne was fucking hilarious! He was all the time up for a superb prank or a superb joke. Ah, that waterpark factor… [laughs] We knew we had been gonna do that factor for MTV, and, traditionally, we had been all the time fucking round with these guys, particularly [host] Riki Rachtman. We stopped at a Wal-Mart and Layne and Sean [Kinney, drums] went in and purchased their outfits, that little fishing pole and a Speedo for me.
That’s all I had! [laughs] However Layne was only a nice man with a superb humorousness. He actually cared about all people, and he saved issues fairly mild. That’s, till we made music, which was when all the heavy shit got here out. And that was one thing we had in frequent as effectively. We took that actually severely, and we had fun doing the whole lot else.
I discover your soloing extraordinarily tasteful. You by no means drag out a solo, and they’re full of lovely harmonies. Who would you say impressed you to develop this fashion? — Mark Franks
I feel the purpose I fell into what I do is perhaps I’m just a bit lazy. [laughs] I’ve positively gotten lazier over the years, so far as my technical potential goes when throwing out solos. I’ve all the time dug really feel extra.
On the subject of guys that play with simplicity and really feel there are three gamers that I look as much as: Davey Johnstone [of Elton John and Alice Cooper fame], [Fleetwood Mac’s] Lindsey Buckingham and Billy Gibbons. Gibbons is fucking wonderful. He can have an actual minimalist strategy, however he also can throw it down. Plus Billy can create a solo that’s extra like one other vocal a part of a track.
What are your favourite strings and what’s your favourite fast-food place? — Kayne
I used to make use of Dean Markley strings, however I lately modified to Dunlop as a result of I work with these guys on my signature [JC-95] Cry Child, picks and results and stuff. I take advantage of 10 by 46 gauges.
My favourite fast-food place has gotta be Irv’s Burgers in West Hollywood. It’s fucking superior. It’s a bit of shack that’s been round since 1950. The latest homeowners are a Korean household, and they’re simply actually pleasant and cool, and they make good, stable burgers and fries. It’s nothing fancy, nevertheless it actually satisfies. I’ve gotta hit that place about as soon as per week. [laughs]
You’ve toured a lot over the years. For those who needed to choose, who’ve been your high five favourite bands to tour with and why? — Carrick
1. Van Halen
We performed with Van Halen fairly early on in our profession, and at the first gig we really rolled in late. We rushed to the stage, and I’m on the point of go on, and Eddie [Van Halen] is in my pit. He’s warming up and sort of smiling at me, and I’m like, Fuck! Dude, go some other place and do this. [laughs]
It’s my first present and Eddie Van Halen’s eight toes away and watching me. That was one in all the worst reveals I ever performed in my life, or at the least it felt prefer it as a result of I respect the man a lot.
2. Fishbone
We performed with them at Lollapalooza, and they’re a kind of bands you by no means wish to play after. Ever. [laughs] Fishbone had such a musical drive and vitality coming off of the stage.
3. Metallica
We had been alleged to do an Alice tour with Metallica, nevertheless it by no means materialized. However they took me and Sean [Kinney, Alice in Chains’ drummer] out on my solo file, attempting to satisfy that dedication. No less than half of it anyway. [laughs] These guys have all the time been actual supportive and simply nice individuals to be round.
4. Ozzy
Ozzy and Black Sabbath are two of my largest influences. They’ve even grow to be fashions for dealing with all the modifications we’ve gone by as a band, too. Additionally, we met [bassist] Mike Inez [who was in Ozzy’s band] on that tour, and he ultimately grew to become part of Alice in Chains. Ozzy’s all the time been actually cool to us, too. He means quite a bit.
5. Slayer
We performed with Slayer on Conflict of the Titans in ’91, which was one other early tour for us. We spent a summer time with Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer. I used to be by no means actually a fan of Slayer earlier than that. All I knew was that they had been the Devil-worshipping unhealthy guys. [laughs]
However I actually grew to understand their music on that tour. They usually turned out to be a few of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in my life. They’re additionally one other band you don’t wish to observe. [laughs]