87 - Alice In Chains forms in Seattle.

Apr 89 - After being pursued by several record companies, Alice signs with Columbia Records.

Jun 90 - Columbia Records releases band's first EP,

Aug 90 - Debut album, is released. "We Die Young" becomes top 5 metal track.

Sep 90 - First U.S. tour date at Marquee Club in Westminster, CA. An overflow crowd tries to elbow in.

Nov 90 - Alice tours with Iggy Pop, introduces songs
and "Rooster" to Audiences who don't give a flying f**k.

Dec 90 - Band sells out Moore Theater in Seattle. Concert is filmed by acclaimed director Josh Taft; later becomes Live Facelift, the band's debut home video release.

Jan 91 - Band nominated for American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal Artist. They Lose. "Man In The Box" is released, and makes an interminable 26 week climb into the top 20. Video on MTV for 16 weeks. No viewers report sewing their eyes shut.

Feb 91 - Alice tours Europe for the first time with Megadeth. Innocent discovery of stronger, more potent foreign beer forces band to re-evaluate their commitment to living in the United States. The guys are nominated for a Grammy for Best Heavy Metal Performance. They Lose Again.

Apr 91 - Alice films movie debut, playing the part of a sleazy bar band in Cameron Crowe's film, "Singles". They perform the song "Would?" which will later go on to win the band their first MTV Music Video Award in September of 93 for the best video from a film.

May 91 - "Clash Of The Titans" tour, with Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth, commences. Band debuts the song "Would" at the Starplex in Dallas- the crowd responds by tearing up the Grassy Knoll. The famed "Combo Pack", pairing the Facelift album with the Live Facelift video, is released. The album charts for the first time, nine months after its release.

Aug 91 through January 92 - Band tours with Van Halen. Eddie thinks the guys need some wardrobe tips, and buys everyone Doc Martens and Plaid shirts- including himself.

Aug 91 - Alice makes national network television debut on ABC TV's "In Concert" show. They rock. Several frightened viewers switch channels to the 700 club.

Sep 91 - Facelift certified Gold. Jerry blows his chance for rock immortality when, while skydiving with Megadeth's Dave Mustaine, his parachute opens, and he lands safely.

Nov 91 - Alice records SAP, their second EP. Album title comes from a dream Sean Kinney has in which, at a press conference, he announces the band's new album is titled SAP. Band declines to mess with fate, names EP SAP.

Dec 91 - Hunting in the woods with his brother, Jerry believes November has 31 days- he misses December 1st concert with Van Halen. Columbia buys him a pocket calendar for Christmas. Alice In Chains voted "Best New Band" in readers' polls in RIP Magazine and Guitar For The Practicing Musician.

Mar 92 - Alice plays congenial hosts to the nation as they take "Entertainment Tonight" on a visual tour of the Seattle music scene-pool halls, rock clubs, and other revered places of decadence. Mary Hart, John Tesh, and Leeza Gibbons will never be the same.

Apr 92 - Recording begins on the new album Dirt, with Dave Jerden and the band co-producing. They record through June.

Jun 92 - "Would" video is recorded with Cameron Crowe & Josh Taft in Seattle.

Aug 92 - "Would" becomes Alice's biggest AOR hit to date, setting the stage for the release of Dirt.

Sep 92 - Dirt is released, and debuts at #6 on the Billboard charts. "

Them Bones" video shoot with Rocky Schenck in Los Angeles. Band begins a three month stint opening for Ozzy Osbourne; develop a friendship with Mike Inez. (Stay Tuned).

Layne runs over himself while popping a wheelie on a four wheel ATV, breaking his foot in the process. Undaunted, he completes the Ozzy tour in a wheelchair and on crutches, never missing a date. Seeing a great opportunity to capitalize on someone else's pain, the band decides to release a T-shirt with the X-ray of Layne's broken foot on the front.

Dec 92 - "Angry Chair" video shoot with Matt Mahurin.

Jan 93 - Alice goes to Rio De Janeiro to play Brazil's Hollywood Festival. Mike Starr decides to leave the group after growing tired of the rigorous touring schedule.

Jan 93 - Alice get Mike Inez to take over bass duties on their European tour. Screaming Trees accompany as opening band.

Apr 93 - Alice becomes so enamored of Mike Inez that they decide to bring him into the studio to work on songs for an upcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger flick. Months of sucking up finally pay off for Inez when the band offers him the gig permanently.

Jun 93 - "Last Action Hero" soundtrack is released. Band shoots video for the song "What the Hell Have I ?" with director Sam Bayer. Alice join Lollapalooza '93, starting in Vancouver, Canada and ending in Los Angeles in August. Layne Staley takes to the stage in tailored suits, causing tens of thousands of young Americans to re-think this whole grunge look thing.

Aug 93 - "Down In A Hole" video shoot- dedicated to Inez's dog Chuck (RIP)- filmed outside steamy Palm Springs with Nigel Dick. (Quit giggling)

Sep 93 - In the time off between Lollapalooza and their upcoming tour, Alice enter London Bridge Studio to record some songs they have floating around in their heads. These sessions will develop into the EP "Jar Of Flies".

Oct 93 - Alice goes on a six week, six continent "Down In Your Hole" tour. The band plays the U.S., U.K., Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Nov 93 - "Last Action Hero" Soundtrack goes platinum. A jealous Arnold Schwarzenegger vows revenge on "Those skinny little punks from Seattle".

Dec 93 - Dirt album certified double platinum.

Jan 94 - Alice plays an acoustic benefit show in Los Angeles for Fishbone's Norwood.

Jan 18, 94 - Double package EP released featuring songs from SAP and Jar Of Flies.

Jan 25, 94 - Release of highly praised acoustic EP, seven songs recorded back in September of '93.

Jan 94 - Jar Of Flies debuts at #1 on the Billboard charts, the first time in history an EP has achieved such a feat.

Feb 94 - Video for "No Excuses" is filmed and released.

Mar 94 - Mike Inez makes the most of his time off by joining Slash in the studio to work on what will become Slash's Snakepit "It's Five O'clock Somewhere".

May 94 - Sean Kinney's childhood dream of being immortalized as a claymation doll is realized as "I Stay Away" is made into a video. MTV apparently doesn't share Sean's dream, and doesn't play the video too much.

Oct 94 - Layne Staley appears onstage at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe alongside friends Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), and Baker (?). They perform under the name The Gacy Bunch, play a few more shows, then change their name to Mad Season.

Nov-Dec 94 - Mad Season play a few more shows around town, enter the studio, and record the album Above.

Mar 95 - Alice are nominated for a Grammy for the song, "I Stay Away". They lose. Above is released. Jerry records the song "Care To See" for an upcoming Willie Nelson tribute album.

Apr 95 - Alice enter Bad Animals studio in Seattle, where they will record their third full length album for Columbia Records.

Jul 95 - Sean Kinney, heavily influenced by the King Of Pop (Michael Jackson), and the King Of Beers (Budweiser), decides to purchase a monkey. Sean joins Krist Novoselic, Kim Thayil, and Johnny Cash to record the song "Time Of The Preacher" for the Willie Nelson tribute album. For some strange reason, Cash keeps calling Sean "Sue".

Aug 95 - Alice wraps up recording album #3, and returns to their respective homes to take a long nap.

Sep 95 - To promote the upcoming album, the guys get together to film an EPK (Electronic Press Kit). Tightly held band secrets are revealed, including Jerry's alter ego, Nona Weisbaum.

Oct 95 - "Grind", the first single, is leaked to some radio stations prematurely, causing a feeding frenzy of radio programmers nationwide.

Oct 95 - Alice gathers in Los Angeles with director Rocky Schenck to shoot the video for "Grind".

Oct 31, 95 - A record release party is held on Halloween night in downtown Seattle, causing much confusion among attendees as to who is actually in costume, and who just naturally looks goofy.

Nov 7, 95 - "Alice In Chains" is released,
and President Clinton closes down the government for the day, declaring it "A day for the entire nation to gather as one around the stereo for a head shakin' good time. Sean Kinney reconsiders ever having voted for Ross Perot.

Nov 95 - "Alice In Chains" debuts at number one on the Billboard charts.

Nov 95 - "Grind" video debuts on MTV. Critics hail it as being the first video in history to successfully incorporate a three legged dog and an old man in his undies.

Dec 95 - In lieu of an actual tour, the guys decide to go Christmas caroling house to house in the Seattle area. City officials and local police shut the band down after several citizens complain about Sean Kinney's rendition of "Little Drummer Boy/Moby Dick".

Jan 96 - Sean and Jerry embark on a European and Australian promotional tour. Finding the European condiment and snack selection woefully lacking, Jerry has six jars of Farman's Hot Dill Pickles Fedexed to him.

Feb 96 - Ozzy Osbourne sends Mike Inez a heartfelt
and touching Valentine card, asking him not only to be his Valentine, but his substitute bass player too. Inez accepts, filling in for the departed Geezer Butler on the Japanese tour, and the first leg
of the North American tour.

Feb 28, 96 - The guys attend the 96 Grammy Awards, where they are nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance for "Grind". They lose again, and a heartbroken Layne Staley weeps uncontrollably on the shoulder of an understanding and sympathetic Coolio.

Mar 96 - The band begin rehearsals for three upcoming TV appearances.

Mar 96 - "Again" video; conceived and co-directed by Layne Staley, debuts. An awestruck Steven Speilberg phones the singer to express his admiration and ask for a few pointers.

Apr 96 - Alice In Chains performs the song "Again" on Roseanne's new Fox variety show "Saturday Night Special", airing April 20th, and they perform an acoustic set on MTV's Unplugged, to be broadcast on May 28th.

May 96 - Alice does Dave...(Letterman that is). Larry "Bud" Melman is rushed to the hospital after spraining his neck in a backstage mosh pit with local teamsters.

Jun 96 - Jerry Cantrell flies to Los Angeles to film a small role in the upcoming Tom Cruise film, "Jerry Maguire", directed by Cameron Crowe. Production is shut down for half a day when Jerry's powerful method acting technique reduces the crew to tears, rendering them unable to work.

Jun 96 - Alice in Chains open the first four shows of the Kiss Alive 96/97 World Tour, where they blast through an hourlong set of songs from their three full length albums.

Jul 96 - The band return home from the Kiss tour on the 4th of July. They decide to skip the local Seattle fireworks show, figuring it will pale in comparison to the massive display of pyro that Kiss blew off each night.

To be continued...