Because of its elusiveness, it’s a track that even a few Alice in Chains fans may not have heard, which is unfortunate. A non-album track, “What the Hell Have I” was originally issued as a single and released on the Last Action Hero soundtrack before appearing on the Music Bank collection.
The iconoclastic backstory of the band, notoriously private, and its late founding frontman, Staley, threatens to overshadow the true essence of their art.Īlthough there are a few Eastern-inspired guitar riffs in the Alice in Chains catalog worthy of inclusion here, “What the Hell Have I” narrowly edges “Dirt” for the best. In the three decades since Facelift, the history of Alice in Chains has been the subject of dubious conjecture, mystery, and sensationalism ( a la Rolling Stones’ infamous Layne Staley cover). Facelift would achieve widespread college radio airplay as well as mainstream chart success, a crossover few have achieved with such a flourish. Alice in Chains, maturing from their sincere glam metal origins, seemed to perfectly align these factors. Bands like Green River, Mother Love Bone, and the Melvins had laid the groundwork, combining the sonic textures of metal, the ethos of punk, and the honesty of what was then called “alternative” music. They were one of the first major Seattle bands to achieve such heights. Before the rise of Nirvana and the genre’s ubiquitous mainstream surge throughout the early ’90s, Alice in Chains already had a major label deal. Needless to say, the anniversary has us waxing nostalgic about the legendary grunge band. Alice in Chains’ debut album, Facelift, turns 30 this week.
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