Jerry Cantrell
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Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. (born March 18, 1966, Tacoma, Washington) was the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the grunge band Alice in Chains from the group's formation in 1987 until the group's dissolution in the mid-1990s due to lead singer Layne Staley's recurrent drug addiction and eventual withdrawal from the recording industry. (Staley died of a drug overdose in April 2002).
Cantrell began a solo career following his tenure with Alice in Chains and in 1998 released the album Boggy Depot (Columbia), featuring Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney and bassist (one of four) Les Claypool of Primus. In June 2002 Cantrell issued his second album Degradation Trip (Roadrunner), with Mike Bordin (Faith No More) on drums and Robert Trujillo (Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies) as bassist; it was followed in November of that year by a re-release as a double album on the same label, featuring eleven additional tracks. The album was released shortly after Staley's death and is dedicated to him. The Degradation Trip song "She Was My Girl" was included on the soundtrack for the 2002 movie Spider-Man.
Cantrell is featured in the movie Singles along with the rest of Alice in Chains performing the songs "It Ain't Like That" and "Would?". He is also featured as an actor in the movie Jerry Maguire. He has homes in Los Angeles and in Oklahoma at the Double-J Ranch.
On 18 February 2005, Cantrell reunited with the surviving Alice in Chains members, performing at a benefit concert for the Tsunami Disaster at The Premier Club in Seattle, WA. Guest vocalists included Ann Wilson, Pat Lachman, Wes Scantlin, and Maynard James Keenan.
Cantrell and the surviving members of Alice In Chains were scheduled to perform together again for "Vh1's Decades Rock Live" on March 10, 2006.
In December 2005, Cantrell underwent shoulder surgery in order to remove bone spurs, which were likely caused from years of constant guitar playing.
Throughout his career Cantrell played G&L Guitars and Gibson Les Pauls with Mesa Boogie amps, however he has been endorsing Bogner amps more recently, and uses their Shiva live. He also has a Peavey 5150 head that was given to him by Eddie Van Halen.
Discography
- Boggy Depot (April 1998)
- Degradation Trip (June 2002)
- Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2 (November 2002)