"Alice in Chains" (occasionally informally referred to as Three-Legged Dog or Tripod) is the third studio album by American rock band Alice in Chains, released on November 7, 1995, by Columbia Records. It followed the success of their previous album, Dirt (1992), and was the band's first album to feature bassist Mike Inez. It was also the last studio album to feature original lead vocalist Layne Staley and their final album with Columbia Records.
The period leading up to the album’s creation was marked by band inactivity due to Staley’s health issues, primarily stemming from his heroin addiction. During this time, rumors circulated about his possible death, and the band was also dealing with internal tensions. After Staley joined the supergroup Mad Season, which released the album Above in 1995, the future of Alice in Chains was uncertain. However, the band eventually reunited to record their third studio album, partially to address the rumors and to create new music.
The album was recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, and its content touches on heavy emotional subjects such as drug addiction, depression, religion, and broken relationships. Musically, it departs from the more metallic riffs of their earlier work and incorporates more melody and acoustic textures, blending elements from the band’s previous EPs.
Despite being released towards the end of the grunge era, Alice in Chains debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 189,000 copies. It remained on the chart for 46 weeks and was certified double platinum by the RIAA, having sold over three million copies worldwide. The singles “Grind,” “Heaven Beside You,” and “Again” were released from the album, with “Grind” and “Again” earning Grammy nominations for Best Hard Rock Performance.
After the release of Jar of Flies, Layne Staley entered rehab for his heroin addiction, and drummer Sean Kinney struggled with alcoholism. The band was scheduled to tour in 1994 with Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, and others, but when Staley showed up to a rehearsal high, the band canceled their tour. This led to rumors of the band breaking up, and some speculated that Staley had died from AIDS. The band's manager, Susan Silver, issued a statement citing health issues among the band members, and the group largely stopped communicating with the press.
During this time, the band members focused on side projects. Mike Inez played on Slash’s solo album It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, while Jerry Cantrell and Kinney contributed to the Twisted Willie album. Cantrell began working on material he initially intended for a solo album but decided to refocus on Alice in Chains when Staley’s involvement in Mad Season became public.
Mad Season’s formation was intended to be a group of musicians recovering from addiction, and Staley joined the band as their vocalist. Despite reports that Staley had left Alice in Chains, Cantrell was motivated to revive the band. By early 1995, Cantrell, Inez, and Kinney reunited to work on new material. After several months, Staley was invited back to the studio in May.
Cantrell initially began working on his solo album in 1994, recording demos with various drummers, including Norman Scott of Gruntruck. Some of these demos, including “Grind” and “Again,” would later be reworked into Alice in Chains songs. The band then attempted to record at Bear Creek Studios in Woodinville, Washington, but the sessions were unproductive. After spending $10,000 for a week of studio time with no substantial progress, the band members agreed to reunite and move forward with creating a new Alice in Chains album.
The band’s relationship with their label, Columbia, was fraught during this period. Columbia executives considered replacing Staley and keeping Mad Season active, but ultimately allowed him to focus on Alice in Chains. Toby Wright was brought in as the album’s producer, and the band was given creative control, without a specific budget or deadline.
Recording began in April 1995 at Bad Animals Studio, and many of the songs were still in demo form when the band started recording. Cantrell’s material provided a foundation for the album, and Staley wrote lyrics to the demos. The album was completed in August 1995, though the recording process was challenging due to Staley's ongoing addiction. At times, Staley was late or absent from recording sessions, and his health issues were difficult for the band to witness.
Cantrell described the album's music as a blend of darkness and beauty, saying, "Our music's kind of about taking something ugly and making it beautiful." Staley wrote the majority of the lyrics, which were often loose and reflective of his state of mind during the recording process. In an interview, Staley revealed that many of the lyrics were personal and not necessarily intended to convey deep messages, but rather to express the feelings he was experiencing at the time.
“Sludge Factory” was inspired by a phone call from Columbia executives, who gave the band a deadline to complete the album. Three of the four singles—“Grind,” “Heaven Beside You,” and “Over Now”—feature Cantrell on lead vocals, while “Again” is sung by Staley. “Grind” was written in response to the media’s invasive coverage of the band’s personal struggles, while “Heaven Beside You” was inspired by the end of a long-term relationship Cantrell had with his girlfriend. Cantrell described “Over Now” as a long, epic song that encapsulated deep emotions, fitting for the album’s closer.
Reflecting on the album later, Cantrell said that it was a "beautiful" but "sad" record. He noted that the album's sound was a little more meandering and exploratory than the band's previous work, marking a shift in the band's dynamic.
The album’s cover features a three-legged dog, which led to the informal nickname Tripod or Three-Legged Dog Album. The image of the dog was inspired by a real dog named Tripod, who had a reputation for chasing Kinney when he was a child. The dog on the cover was photographed by Rocky Schenck in Los Angeles in August 1995, but the band ultimately chose a faxed image of a three-legged dog over the photoshoot images, as they thought it looked grittier. Kinney was reportedly frustrated that the photoshoot did not result in the cover image the band had hoped for.
In addition to the standard version of the album, several editions were released, including a limited edition with a transparent purple jewel case and a vinyl release with a unique color scheme. The Japanese version of the album featured a completely different cover design.
To promote the album, Columbia requested the band produce an EPK (Electronic Press Kit), but the band chose instead to create The Nona Tapes, a mockumentary that parodied traditional band interviews. Directed by Schenck, the film features Cantrell dressed as a female journalist interviewing his bandmates, who play fictionalized versions of themselves. The Nona Tapes was not initially well received by Columbia, but it later became a cult hit. It was released on VHS in December 1995 and later as a DVD in 2006 as part of The Essential Alice in Chains compilation.
