Alice in Chains: The story of Would? Tribute to Andrew Wood

Fans would get an early sneak peek of Dirt when the band recorded Would? For the Cameron Crowe film Singles. The song was penned as a tribute to former Mother love bone frontman and friend of the group Andrew Wood who passed away due to a drug overdose. The band used the money they got from the movie studio to record Would? To demo a number of other songs most of which made their way onto their EP Sap. Also demoed during these sessions was Rooster

In the liner notes on AIC’s 1999 box set Music Bank, Cantrell would look back at the song would recalling, “I was thinking a lot about Andrew Wood at the time. We always had a great time when we did hang out, much like Chris Cornell and I do. There was never really a serious moment or conversation, it was all fun. Andy was a hilarious guy, full of life and it was really sad to lose him. But I always hate people who judge the decisions others make. So it was also directed towards people who pass judgments.” The shoot for the video foreshadowed the band’s future.

Would?’s director Director Josh Traft would tell David De sola “it was hard to get it done and we got it done and it was good in the end. But that wasn’t the experience of the time Live Facelift and it was all kind of just the innocence was starting to unravel and get a little more complicated and you could see it in that room kind of happening. I considered Jerry my friend and i could sort of see what he was going through to try and keep it going. . ”

[zerdeaths]

Kinda hard to imagine what bands we would have today had Andrew Wood not died.

[danerowe]

I feel for Cantrell. So much death around him. Amazing he's been able to keep it together all these years. Great man.

[MyBrothersKeeper]

I couldn't give a fuk where they place on the charts Alice In Chains is easily one of the greatest bands of my lifetime

[brandon]

Jerry Cantrell is one of my all-time favorite guitarists, and Layne's voice was something special!

[infernicide]

Of all the Behind the music episodes THIS is the one band that should have gotten an episode but never did as well as STP

[jasondavis]

This makes me wanna cry. That pic of Jerry, he looks so old n I can still him as in unplugged. Makes me realize how past n old this all is. I mean, makes me feel old. Like our time then that was so great is almost gone.

[hi-nqqh]

Dirt is one of the best albums ever. The. End.

[HildeAzul]

Dirt was such an amazing piece of art. So layered. When I am listening today, now thirty years later, I am still discovering nuanced sounds here and that that I hadn’t before picked up on. The complexities of the album are amazing and it’s sound just gets better with age. Most records that at one time were good start to sound cheesy with time, none of Layne Era AIC’s do. This is especially applicable to Dirt. Every song is a turn it up banger.

[brickedupgranny]

dirt is such a personal album to me so many dark memories.

[TheSuperhuman]

Jerry has been through so much losing so many friends too drug addictions

[JamesBullock-flly]

“Would”… one of the GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME!

[TravisBrady-wnfr]

Didn't know how good I had it back then. I was young, the music was popping, all my friends were here

[jimboramen]

The bridge/outtro of Would is the best thing ever. It will make you listen to it twice just to hear it again.

[abramworley]

I'm from Seattle, the 90s was my era. Dirt is my all time favorite album.

[brandonbelongstocharlottef]

One of my favorite songs from that era...when it came on the radio or mtv the hair on my arms stood up and i had to sing along

[hunterdavis]

One of the greatest songs ever written

[justinwilliams]

Would not getting number 1 own charts is one of the biggest crimes in music history

[jsampedro]

Would is on my top 10 songs of all time. Deep song. Many local bands have would on set list's.

[AndyMedin]

Someone should start a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan sign up list whatever you want to call it. Simply my favorites, 65 years old and loving every second of it!

[ireneprobonas-kwll]

My heart still breaks when I think of Layne, so gifted, so talented, so young, so freaking tragic!!! R.I.P. sweet Layne!❤️