Mike Starr, who played bass for rock group Alice in Chains and was later featured on the TV show "Celebrity Rehab," has died. He was 44. E! Online reports that Starr was found dead in Salt Lake City, Utah, and that the cause of his death remains unknown. Alice in Chains was formed in the mid 1980's under the original name of Diamond Lie, with Starr on bass, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and singer Layne Staley. more ›

Tonight legendary Seattle-bred alternative rockers Alice In Chains will be performing to a sold-out crowd at the Hollywood Palladium. Famed Québécois producer/musician Daniel Lanois is poised to take on Spaceland. And, lastly, local indie rock outfit Saint Motel (LAist Interview) will be gracing the Roxy in Hollyweird. But we strongly suggest heading over to the El Rey Theatre to catch San Diegan electronic act the Album Leaf, who will be celebrating their latest endeavor—2010's A Chorus Of Storytellers. LA-based indie rock outfit Sea Wolf (LAist Interview, Review, #2, #3, #4, #5) are slated to kick things off. more ›

In this 1992 video from the Hollywood Palladium, Alice in Chains performs their grunge classic "Man In The Box." Frontman Layne Staley shows what can occur when a lead singer is unencumbered by a guitar -- he's free to climb a massive stack of speakers and Superman onto adoring fans. In 2002 Staley lost a long battle with drug addiction. RIP Layne Staley. You're missed. The Layne Staley Fund aims to increase awareness of heroin addiction and its possible recovery. more ›

All photos © / Pesky Humans more ›

Alice in Chains @ Wiltern - You gotta take your hat off to a band who loses their irreplaceable singer and... replaces him. So you take your hat off, steal the shoe off of some passed-out fratboy soaking in his own puke, put the shoe in the hat, and throw it at the band. Fucking Zeppelin didn't regroup after they lost their fucking drummer, wtf is this shit? If the City employees who were striking yesterday still have their signs and feel like bitching, please congregate at the corner of Wilshire and Western tonight. more ›

We missed the Guns KROQ Inland Invasion metal fest. We're sure they were even better without all the guys whose names we know. We're sure Alice in Chains was better without their singer. But since we weren't there, we will remember Guns back in the day. This is GNR circa 1988 in Halifax Canada opening for Iron Maiden. Axl starts the tune by telling some fan to blow him, and then, almost in the... more ›

Guns N’ Roses, Alice in Chains, Muse, Papa Roach @ Inland Invasion Human League, Psychedelic Furs, ABC @ Hollywood Bowl Ani DiFranco @ Orpheum Asia @ The Canyon Brian Jonestown Massacre @ Safari Sam's Golden State, The Shore @ Viper Room Hed PE, Mower, The STD’s @ Key Club The Morlocks @ Little Pedro's The Section Quartet @ Largo Thee Mad Lovers, The Motives @ Mr. T's Bowl Sophie B. Hawkins @ The Vine... more ›

Looks like Inland Invasion is going to be a quasi-metal onslaught, nearly as meaty as Ozzfest, but just like most things KROQ these days, a tad watered-down and lacking. Guns N' Roses are the headliners of the Sept 23rd festival, and they're lacking a good chunk of Guns N' Roses. Hell, you don't even get Buckethead any more. Irony abounds as bassist Tommy Stinson now plays with Guns -- his first band was... The... more ›