Alice In Chains singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell was asked in a new SoundLounge if bandwagoners trying to mimic the Seattle Grunge sound pissed him off in the 1990’s. Cantrell seemed fine with it.
“I think that happens a bit with anything that kind of comes out and is new. If it makes an impact, somebody wants to emulate it, that’s cool, that’s how I started, by emulating stuff I liked until I found my own voice, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
Alice In Chains tour blogger The Baldy recently wrote about Jerry Cantrell’s guitars, which created his signature 90’s guitar sound.
“I don’t know what Jerry’s guitars are worth, collectively or individually, but I’m sure it’s a lot.
So every night at the end of the show when he takes off what he’s been playing and chucks it through the air across the stage to his tech, I pee my pants just a little.
The craziest part about it is that his tech catches it with one hand.
ONE HAND!
If it were me on the receiving end, I’d set up a foam rubber encampment, coat both hands in tree sap, check the internet for weather and wind patterns, and hire current Pittsburgh Steeler All-Pro Antonio Brown as a consultant.
Over the years, I’ve seen Jerry toss his guitar from distances that range from a few feet all the way up to about 20 feet, and I get nauseous every time he does it.
Jerry’s had several techs over that period of time, and all of them have employed the standard two-handed catching technique.
Until now.
Jerry’s current tech is a man of distinct talent and fashion.
He’s a large teddy bear of a man who adorns himself in overalls every day and can fix everything from an amplifier to a 747 engine.
He can also pluck an expensive, custom-built guitar out of the air with one hand, and I wish he wouldn’t.
I’ve seen him come close to dropping it on a couple of occasions, and he nearly did it again a couple nights ago when Jerry launched it off target a bit, and it glanced a light stand just as he wrapped his big mitt around it.
A few years ago William threw his guitar to his tech, and the strap caught his arm, halting the trajectory and sending the guitar dive-bombing into the stage.
And just like that, a new, pristine guitar had a snapped neck and was off to Germany to be repaired.
I’m hoping that none of Jerry’s guitars suffer a similar fate.
Until something like that happens though, Jerry will keep tossing his guitars, his tech will continue making one-handed catches, and I’ll keep peeing in my pants.”
