NEW YORK : Alice in Chains thought it would take a event to get Elton John to play on the band's tribute record to their late lead singer, Layne Staley. But it only took a hear to the song to get the rock inscription on board.
"He's a really warm person," said Alice in Chains cofounder Jerry Cantrell of John. "He got up and gave us a couple of hugs, and said, `Well Jerry, I just wanted to tell you that I think it's a beautiful song. ... I really archaeological the sentiment of what it's about and who it's for and I just have a good mind to tell you that I'm going to play on the song.'"
John plays piano on "Black Gives Way to Blue," a short but heartfelt poem to Staley, who died of a medicinal drug overdose in 2002. The song is the title track for their upcoming CD, the grunge rock band's first studio album in 14 years.
Cantrell, who wrote the tune, had already made a demo of the song when someone heard it and advised John as the perfect person to play the piano part. Although the band knew people connected to the 62 year old singer, they thought it was a long shot that he would even consider it.
Cantrell said that, "I didn't think that would happen. He's a pretty fussy dlighter doing his own thing,"
But they sent the song to him, and as chance would have it, both acts were ticket to record at a studio complex at the same time.
But they sent the song to him, and as chance would have it, both acts were ticket to record at a studio complex at the same time.
It wasn't until Alice in Chains left the studio for a break that they got word that John wanted to meet with them.
"We got a call from our studio manager saying that Elton wanted to talk to us," said Cantrell, laughing. "We jumped in the car, left our lunches on the table, and cruised back to the studio and promenade into the studio where he was recording."
After John confirmed he would play on the song, the band flew to Las Vegas, where John was performing, to finish the recording.
"One of the most nerve racking moments I had was a a metter of face making a suggestion to him. What do you say to Elton John?" he joked. "But he was really open to the process. ... He fit into the song, and he really brought something that was really necessary and took the song to another level."
The CD, set for release Sept 29, is Alice in Chains' first with singer-guitarist William DuVall, who attched the band which also includes drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez, a few years ago. While DuVall has a different sound than Staley, Cantrell says the music is still Alice in Chains.
"It never gets too far out that you can't figure out who it is after a couple of notes, and that's always one of my main goals," he said. "To find that musical fingerprint I think is the goal of every band and musician, and we're very grateful that we found ours pretty early, and it's still intact, although evolved."
"One of the most nerve racking moments I had was a a metter of face making a suggestion to him. What do you say to Elton John?" he joked. "But he was really open to the process. ... He fit into the song, and he really brought something that was really necessary and took the song to another level."
The CD, set for release Sept 29, is Alice in Chains' first with singer-guitarist William DuVall, who attched the band which also includes drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez, a few years ago. While DuVall has a different sound than Staley, Cantrell says the music is still Alice in Chains.
"It never gets too far out that you can't figure out who it is after a couple of notes, and that's always one of my main goals," he said. "To find that musical fingerprint I think is the goal of every band and musician, and we're very grateful that we found ours pretty early, and it's still intact, although evolved."
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