Alice in Chains: The Untold Story Hardcover – August 4, 2015

I loved the very detailed, old journalism way this was done. Very factual. I felt like I was almost "there" at times. And there was certainly a lot of emotion and drama. But only by way of the story itself playing out. I never felt like anything was forcefully "heightened" or judged in any way shape or form. Instead, it was very much, "here is what happened, when." And I *greatly* appreciate this. I'd absolutely recommend this book to anyone who also loves Alice In Chains. Or grunge. Or is into this kind of metal history. There is so much missing detail I didn't know before. And it's just really well done.

Great book and great read. Well written and obviously well researched. Amazing new insights on an otherwise oft written about band. A++

I’m a HUGE Alice in Chains fan and have been since I was in college, when they first blew up. I saw them in concert the first time in 1992 and many times since. This book is written like a story and is a well researched and well documented biography. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend…most especially to those who are fans of the post-hair metal metamorphosis of hard rock.

I learned a lot about Alice in Chains reading this book. I wish the author had gone into more detail about Mike Starr, Sean Kinney, and Jerry Cantrell. Definitely the focus is on Layne Staley, and while he was arguably the face of the band, the other original members have stories to tell as well.It is a bit hard to read at times, as the author jumps around in time a LOT. It is not entirely written in chronological order, so there were many times I had to stop reading and go back to make some sense. Further, the author introduces so many names in wave after wave, and so that becomes a challenge to keep them straight. I'm a quick and strong reader, but I did find the writing style to require more focus.

Ever since I heard Man in the Box and wore out my Facelift and Dirt CDs in the early 90s, AIC has held a significant space in the musical pleasure section of my brain. From this book, which is researched with discipline and integrity, I learned so much about the history of the band. As someone who does research and reads research and research methodology papers, I appreciate and value the trustworthiness of the writing. Bravo to the author.

Wow, what an emotional read. Being born in 1984, I have essentially grown up with AiC and the Seattle (plus STP) music scene. With that being said, I was not prepared for the story of AiC. David De Sola did a phenomenal job with the little resources he had available to tell the story of AiC. It's crazy reading about how little info there truly is about this band, because you assume with how popular they were there would be ample information.Like most people who are going to get this book (I doubt it will bring in any new AiC fans), I had a general idea of what happened to the band and specifically Layne. But I was not prepared for all the information that I was going to read, in regards to Layne's personality, addiction and just outright downfall. I wish Jerry, Sean and Mike Inez contributed more to the book and it would have been great if there was more from Mike Starr before his ultimate demise. I have read a lot of musician biographies/autobiographies and this is easily one of the top in terms of research, my interest level and how much it has stuck with me since finishing. One of the gauges of a truly great book is how long it sticks with me after reading. There is a lot of reflection in this book, so much so, you get to know the band, specifically Layne, to where you want to travel back in time and slap sense into him.With that being said, I think David did a great job making Layne out to be a troubled soul, but a gentle soul. After reading this, your thoughts of AiC and Layne will not be tarnished. They should be re-affirmed and uplifted, especially those of Jerry. It was re-assuring to see that in Layne's last 5 years, he was surrounded by friends and family as much as possible. All in all, this is a fantastic read for anyone interested in AiC. Just be prepared for it to make you sad, even if you know the story. This is one of those books where it will make you happy to be alive, healthy and tell those around you you are thankful and love them.

Un libro veramente ben fatto che ripercorre la storia della band. Imprescindibile per ogni fan degli Alice in Chains.

Uno de los mejores libros sobre bandas que he leído. Muy bien escrito y documentado. La historia detrás de la banda hace aún más interesante lo que estas personas consiguieron hacer durante el tiempo que compartieron.

As an AIC fan from the beginning this is a great and nostalgic read. Really enjoyed it and learnt some things I didn't know.

Excelent! I totally recommend for all Alice in Chains' fans. It's unique. It's certainly the best book on the band.

As a metal head, AIC is the only grunge band I listen to, particularly due to their brooding,dark and melancholic songs and Layne Staley is without a doubt one of the most unique voices to have graced the grunge/rock scene. The book gives an unbiased look into the lives of the band, the fame they hit, the struggles they go through and of course.......... heroin. As dark as the book is, it doesn't paint false pictures of any of the band members and maintains a consistent neutral approach till the end (something I found gratifying). The chapters explaining Layne's relationship with Demri are especially revelatory. I only wish the author had been able to gather more interviews from Layne's musician friends (especially vocalists like Phil Anselmo,Sebastian Bach etc) but considering this is an 'unofficial' book, he deserves nothing but praise for all the effort.Verdict : Must Buy For Any AIC Fan.