William Bradley DuVall[1] (born September 6, 1967)[2] is an American musician best known as the current co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Alice in Chains. He joined Alice in Chains in 2006, replacing the band's original lead singer, Layne Staley, who died in 2002, and shares vocal duties with guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell. DuVall has recorded three albums with the band: 2009's Black Gives Way to Blue, 2013's The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, and 2018's Rainier Fog.[3] DuVall won an ASCAP Pop Music Award for co-writing the song "I Know" for Dionne Farris in 1996, and has earned three Grammy Award nominations as a member of Alice in Chains.[4]
William DuVall | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | William Bradley DuVall |
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | September 6, 1967
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instruments |
|
Years active | 1983–present |
Member of | |
Formerly of |
|
Website | williamduvall |
DuVall is also co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist for Comes with the Fall. Since 2016, he has been the lead vocalist for the supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra. In his long musical career, he has played a role in many bands, playing in a variety of genres, an example being the punk rock group Neon Christ.
DuVall's first solo album, One Alone, was released in 2019.
Biography
editEarly life and career (1983–1992)
editWilliam Bradley DuVall was born in Washington, D.C., on September 6, 1967.[1][5] His maternal grandmother was of Dutch and North African descent.[6] When DuVall was fourteen years old, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his mother and stepfather, who had taken a job in the city.[6]
DuVall has cited Jimi Hendrix as an early influence after listening to his cousin's copy of Band of Gypsys when he was eight years old and becoming impressed by Hendrix's guitar.[6]
DuVall's music career started in the early 1980s Atlanta hardcore punk scene. His first band was Awareness Void of Chaos.[7]
In 1983, DuVall helped found the controversial Atlanta-based hardcore punk band Neon Christ, contributing guitars and lyrics to the band's albums.[8] Other members of this band were vocalist Randy DuTeau, bassist Danny Lankford, and drummer Jimmy Demer. With a couple of short East Coast tours and two albums, the politically pointed band started gaining popularity. The band used its popularity to support many charitable causes, including working to free Fela Anikulapo Kuti.[citation needed]
Neon Christ disbanded in 1986, reuniting for a one-time show featuring the original members on December 24, 2004.[citation needed] The members were later said to be filming a documentary, which concludes with a February 2, 2008, show at Lawrenceville, Georgia's punk haunt The Treehouse.[9]
After Neon Christ originally broke up, DuVall was briefly the second guitarist in the northern California hardcore punk band Bl'ast,[8] contributing a small bit of writing to their second album, It's in My Blood,[10] released on the hardcore punk–alternative label SST Records, founded by Greg Ginn of hardcore punk band Black Flag. DuVall did not, however, stay with the band long enough to record on the album.
In 1987, DuVall formed the Final Offering with vocalist Randy Gue (a former Neon Christ roadie),[11] Corrosion of Conformity bassist Mike Dean, and drummer Greg Psomas.[12] However, Psomas's heroin habit hindered them from working consistently.[8] Dean would go back to work with Corrosion of Conformity; Psomas died of an overdose in 1994.[8]
DuVall spent the late 1980s with a Hendrix-inspired band, No Walls.[13] Other members of this band were jazz bassist Hank Schroy and drummer Matthew Cowley.[12] DuVall gave a demo tape to Living Colour lead guitarist Vernon Reid backstage at a show on their tour with the Rolling Stones in 1989.[14] Subsequently, Reid brought No Walls into the Black Rock Coalition fold and helped arrange some shows for them in New York.[14] They also recorded a demo at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios in New York under Reid's mentorship.[15] No Walls released one self-titled album in 1992 and disbanded the same year.[8][12]
In the late 1980s, DuVall earned a degree in philosophy with an emphasis on religion from Georgia State University.[16]
Madfly, Comes with the Fall, and Jerry Cantrell (1992–2007)
editIn 1994, DuVall, along with Milton Davis, co-wrote the song "I Know" for fellow Atlanta musician Dionne Farris.[8] The track stayed on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for 38 weeks, peaking at No. 4[17] and earning Farris a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[18] DuVall won an ASCAP Pop Music Award for it in 1996.[19]
In the late 1990s, DuVall founded the band Madfly with Nico Constantine, Bevan Davies, and Jeffery Blount. He served as guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Their efforts included two albums: Get the Silver and White Hot in the Black. The former was released on Killing Floor Recordings and the latter through Blackheart Records.[12]
In 1999, DuVall, Bevan, and Nico moved on to form Comes with the Fall, adding Adam Stanger as their bassist. CWTF released their first album, Comes with the Fall, in 2000, and their second, The Year Is One, in 2001.
In early 2000, Comes with the Fall moved to Los Angeles.[12] Within a week of moving to the city,[12] DuVall met Alice in Chains guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell through a mutual acquaintance, who introduced Cantrell to Comes with the Fall's self-titled debut album.[20] Cantrell started hanging out with the band and occasionally joining them onstage.[12] The following year, Comes with the Fall was both the opening act on Cantrell's tour for his second solo album, Degradation Trip, and also the singer's backing band,[20][21] with DuVall singing Layne Staley's parts at the concerts from 2001 to 2002.[22] While DuVall's band was on tour with Cantrell,[21] Staley died of a drug overdose on April 5, 2002.[12]
Alice in Chains and Giraffe Tongue Orchestra (2006–present)
editDuVall joined Alice in Chains as lead singer during the band's reunion concerts in 2006[23][24] and made his first public performance with the band at VH1's Decades Rock Live concert honoring Heart, in which he sang Alice in Chains' "Rooster".[25] According to Cantrell, it only took one audition for DuVall to get the gig.[26] For his first rehearsal with the band, DuVall sang Alice in Chains' "Love, Hate, Love". After they finished, drummer Sean Kinney looked at his bandmates and said, "I think the search is pretty much over".[27] According to bassist Mike Inez, DuVall didn't try to emulate Staley, and that's what drew them to him.[28] DuVall revealed that Ann Wilson of Heart was supposed to sing "Rooster" at the show, but during the camera blocking rehearsals, he was on stage and Ann hadn't made it downstairs yet, so they said, "Would you sing 'Rooster' for the camera blocking?", and he did.[25] DuVall credits Ann Wilson for giving him a spot on the TV show, because that moment served as the coming-out party for the new incarnation of Alice in Chains.[25]
Initially, Cantrell, and the other veteran members of the band had said the reunion didn't necessarily foretell a future for the band, and that it was just a tribute to Staley and their fans. Kinney went further, saying he would have liked to change the band's name and adding, "I don't see continuing as Alice and replacing somebody."[29] DuVall expressed similar sentiments with regards to the task of filling in for Staley.[12] However, the reformed Alice in Chains generated enthusiasm from fans and convinced the four to keep the name.[21]
In 2007, Alice in Chains began touring with Velvet Revolver and Kill Hannah. The ReEvolution tour was in two parts. The first took in many European cities and the eastern United States. The second part, also referred to as "The Libertad Tour", was primarily a cross-country tour that spread into three cities in Canada. For the first time in fifteen years, Alice in Chains toured Australia as second headliner under Nine Inch Nails on the Soundwave Festival. Around this time, the Alice in Chains website stated that the band—now with DuVall officially noted as lead singer—was working on new material with an album, later known as Black Gives Way to Blue, to be released on September 29, 2009.[30] The recording process was completed on Cantrell's 43rd birthday, which was also the day that DuVall's son was born, on March 18, 2009.[31] On the album, DuVall shares vocal duties with Cantrell, who sings lead vocals on most of the songs.[32][33][34] "Last of My Kind" is the only song on the album that features DuVall on lead vocals, without harmonizing with Cantrell.[35] DuVall also wrote the lyrics to the song.[33][32] DuVall wrote a song called "Tongue Tied" about his friend Sean Costello, who died in 2008,[36] but the track was cut from the album.[37]
In 2011, Alice in Chains took time off after touring more than thirty countries and mourning the death of their original bass player, Mike Starr.[38] However, DuVall stated that there was a possibility of another album in the near future, commenting, "It would be fairly safe to say that you don't come this far and do all this work just to stop for another 15 years."[39]
In March 2011, it was announced that Alice in Chains would begin recording a new album at the tail end of 2011.[40] In May 2013, the album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here was released.[41] DuVall sings lead vocals on the songs "Hung on a Hook" and "Phantom Limb".[42] He also wrote the lyrics and the guitar solo for the track,[43][44] the first solo he composed for Alice in Chains.[43]
Cantrell is the primary lead singer of Alice in Chains' post-Staley albums, while DuVall takes Staley's role while performing the band's old songs live.[45]
In 2016, DuVall released the album Broken Lines with the supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, founded by lead guitarist Ben Weinman of the Dillinger Escape Plan, and also featuring guitarist Brent Hinds of Mastodon, drummer Thomas Pridgen of the Mars Volta, and bassist Wielbert Collinson of Dethklok and Zappa Plays Zappa.[46]
Alice in Chains' sixth studio album (and the third with DuVall),[47] titled Rainier Fog, was released on August 24, 2018.[3] The second single, "So Far Under", was written by DuVall,[48] who also played the guitar solo on the track.[49] The third single, "Never Fade", was co-written by DuVall and Cantrell, who also share lead vocals, with DuVall singing the verses and the pre-chorus, while Cantrell sings the chorus.[50] The song was inspired by the deaths of DuVall's grandmother and the vocalist of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell.[51]
In December 2018, DuVall and Jerry Cantrell were tied at No. 10 on Total Guitar/MusicRadar's "15 best rock guitarists in the world right now" poll.[52]
On January 16, 2019, DuVall, along with Cantrell, Pearl Jam's guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, and drummer Josh Freese, performed Soundgarden's "Hunted Down" at the Chris Cornell tribute concert "I Am the Highway".[53]
Solo career
editDuVall released his first solo album, One Alone, on October 4, 2019, through his label DVL.[54] The lead single, "Til The Light Guides Me Home", had its world premiere on BBC Radio 1's Rock Show on July 21, 2019.[55] The second single, "White Hot", was released on October 1, 2019.[56]
The U.S. tour to promote the album started on October 21, 2019, in Atlanta.[57] DuVall also announced a European tour for March and April 2020.[58]
In 2023, DuVall contributed vocals to a new version of the song "This Is Mongol" from the second album by Mongolian folk metal band the Hu, titled Rumble of Thunder.[59] The song is included on the deluxe edition of Rumble of Thunder, released on June 30, 2023.[60]
Other ventures
editDuVall was an extra in the 2001 science fiction film Mimic 2 and had a non-speaking uncredited role in the 2003 film Confidence, starring Ed Burns and Rachel Weisz. He played a bar patron in the opening scene.[61]
DuVall directed a documentary about jazz drummer Milford Graves, titled Ancient to Future: The Wisdom of Milford Graves. As of 2022, the film is listed as being in post-production.[61][62]
In 2011, the artist reunited with his former Neon Christ bandmates to do a documentary film called All Alone Together: Neon Christ and Atlanta Hardcore, which he said director Edgar Johnson had first pitched to him back in 2005.[11][63]
In 2008, DuVall performed vocal duties with MC5/DTK at the Meltdown Festival, curated by Massive Attack.[64]
In February 2018, Framus Guitars released the "William DuVall Talisman Signature" model,[65] designed by DuVall himself.[66]
Personal life
editDuVall has a son, born on March 18, 2009, the same day he finished recording his first studio album with Alice in Chains, Black Gives Way to Blue.[31]
Discography
editTitle | Release | Label | Band |
---|---|---|---|
Parental Suppression (EP) | 1984 | Social Crisis Records | Neon Christ |
The Knife That Cuts So Deep (EP) | 1990 | F-King Records | |
No Walls (EP) | 1992 | Third Eye Records | No Walls |
Get the Silver | 1996 | Killing Floor Records | Madfly |
White Hot in the Black | 1998 | Blackheart | |
Comes with the Fall | 2000 | DVL | Comes with the Fall |
The Year Is One | 2001 | ||
Live 2002 (live album) | 2002 | ||
The Reckoning (EP) | 2006 | ||
Beyond the Last Light | 2007 | ||
Black Gives Way to Blue | 2009 | Virgin/EMI | Alice in Chains |
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here | 2013 | ||
Broken Lines | 2016 | Cooking Vinyl | Giraffe Tongue Orchestra |
Rainier Fog | 2018 | BMG | Alice in Chains |
One Alone | 2019 | DVL | William DuVall |
11.12.21 Live-in-Studio Nashville | 2022 | DVL | William Duvall |
Videography
editRelease date | Title | Label | Band |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Live Underground 2002 | DVL | Comes with the Fall |
2011 | Black to Comm | Easy Action | MC5 DTK |
TBA | All Alone Together: Neon Christ and Atlanta Hardcore | Social Crisis Films | Neon Christ |
References
edit- ^ a b "American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers". ASCAP. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- ^ "William DuVall". BBC.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ a b "Rainier Fog". aliceinchains.com. June 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "GRAMMY Award Results for William DuVall". Grammy.com. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "Playoff time in Alice in Chains league". ESPN.com. December 9, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c Ramanand, Liz (October 17, 2019). "Heavy Culture: William DuVall on Roots, Race, Solo Album, Jimi Hendrix, and Alice in Chains". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ Dean, Mark (September 12, 2019). "Interview: William DuVall of Alice in Chains". Antihero Magazine.
- ^ a b c d e f Duteau, Randy (February 6, 2008). "Kip DuVall". Introverted Loudmouth. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ Ratlanta.com "Ratlanta.com", Retrieved July 8, 2009
- ^ "It's In My Blood". Discogs.com. October 25, 1990. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "All Alone Together: Neon Christ and Atlanta Hardcore". Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Radford, Chad (February 23, 2010). "With Alice in Chains, Atlanta punk icon William DuVall finds his audience". Atlanta Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ Rosen, Steven (September 9, 2019). "William DuVall Names Acoustic Guitar He Fell in Love With, Explains Why He Was 'Never a Les Paul Guy'". Ultimate Guitar.
- ^ a b Fricke, David (November 1, 1990). "Living Colour's Time Is Now". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ Toto, Anthony (October 18, 2019). "William DuVall on New Album, Acoustic Songwriting, Neon Christ, & Alice in Chains". The Pop Break. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ Dickens, Tad (May 12, 2014). "In 2nd incarnation, rockers Alice in Chains embrace the differences". The Roanoke Times.
- ^ "Dionne Farris "I Know" - Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "List of Grammy nominees". CNN. January 4, 1996. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ Borzillo, Carrie (June 1, 1996). "Petty, EMI Lead ASCAP Pop Awards". Billboard. p. 102. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Culpan, Troy (October 9, 2009). "William DuVall of Alice In Chains". maytherockbewithyou.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Banged Up But Still Unbreakable: Comes With the Fall". PopMatters. September 25, 2003. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Interview with Jerry Cantrell: Alice In Chains, Too Long On The Outside". The Aquarian. September 28, 2009. Archived from the original on January 22, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "ALICE IN CHAINS Tap COMES WITH THE FALL's DUVALL For European Tour". Blabbermouth. April 5, 2006. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Interview with Alice in Chains: The Return". The Aquarian. March 8, 2006. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c "William Duvall on How He Came to Be In Alice in Chains". YouTube. July 8, 2016. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Scott Weiland Wanted to Sing in Alice in Chains, Jerry Cantrell Explains". Ultimate Guitar. March 7, 2014. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Sonisphere 09: Alice In Chains". YouTube. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "After tragedy, Alice in Chains celebrates a new chapter". PopMatters. February 23, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ Harris, Chris (February 23, 2006). "Remaining Alice In Chains Members Reuniting". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ Benson, John (July 3, 2009). "Alice in Chains reunion "Gives Way" to album, tour"". Reuters. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ a b "Alice In Chains Set To Release First Album In 14 Years". YouTube. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue". MusicFeeds. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue". Consequence of Sound. September 29, 2009. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Album Review of Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice in Chains". Alternative Addiction. Archived from the original on November 25, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alice in Chains ▶ Black Gives Way to Blue". All Access Magazine. November 19, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Interview Alice in Chains – William DuVall and Sean Kinney (part 5)". YouTube. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021.
- ^ "A studio visit with Alice in Chains". Los Angeles Times. April 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "ESPN Music's 2011 bass-ball preview Mike Inez". ESPN. March 31, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ "Alice In Chains finds its voice". Theweekender.com. April 13, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
- ^ "Alice In Chains To Begin Work On New Album". Metalhammer.co.uk. March 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ "Alice in Chains: New Album Title Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. February 14, 2013. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ "Alice In Chains Enter AC/DC Mode With 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here'". Antiquiet. May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Alice In Chains: It's Evolution, Baby". Magnet Magazine. May 20, 2013. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "Alice In Chains". Recoil. April 29, 2014. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ Waterman, Cole (May 27, 2013). "Alice in Chains: The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here". PopMatters. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA Feat. ALICE IN CHAINS, MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN Members: 'Crucifixion' Song". Blabbermouth.net. June 19, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ^ Bienstock, Richard (April 11, 2018). "Jerry Cantrell Offers More Details on Alice in Chains' New Album". Guitar World. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alice In Chains Announce New Album, Debut New Track". Kerrang!. June 27, 2018. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Alice in Chains Talk Honoring Seattle Comrades With New Album 'Rainier Fog'". Rolling Stone. June 27, 2018. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Jerry Cantrell in studio on Jonesy's Jukebox!". YouTube. August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Luke Morton (July 19, 2018). "The Music Lives. That Was The Goal". Metal Hammer. No. 312. p. 47. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ "The 15 best rock guitarists in the world right now". MusicRadar. December 24, 2018. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Grow, Kory (January 17, 2019). "Chris Cornell's Passion Dominates Star-Studded Tribute Show". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ "ALICE IN CHAINS Vocalist/Guitarist WILLIAM DUVALL To Release 'One Alone' Solo Album In October". Blabbermouth.net. July 21, 2019. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ^ "William DuVall - 'Til The Light Guides Me Home". July 17, 2019.
- ^ DuVall, William (September 30, 2019). ""White Hot," the second single from "One Alone," out tomorrow". Twitter.
- ^ "ALICE IN CHAINS' WILLIAM DUVALL Announces Solo Acoustic Tour". Blabbermouth. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ "Alice In Chains Vocalist William DuVall Announces UK And European Dates". Kerrang!. October 7, 2019. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ "Alice in Chains' William Duvall Guests on New Version of The Hu's 'This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)'". Blabbermouth. February 10, 2023.
- ^ "The Hu announce 'Rumble of Thunder' deluxe edition". themusicuniverse.com. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Christopher, Michael (August 13, 2013). "Interview: William DuVall of Alice in Chains on getting out of the box, moving forward, and respecting a legacy". Vanyaland. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ "Ancient to Future: The Wisdom of Milford Graves". imdb.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ Carr, David (February 11, 2011). "William DuVall Sheds Light on Neon Christ and Atlanta Hardcore". CWG Magazine. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ "MC5/Primal Scream, Royal Festival Hall, London". The Independent. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "NAMM 2018: Framus unveils William DuVall Talisman, Devin Townsend Stormbender and more affordable D Series electric guitars". MusicRadar. February 2, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "I designed the Framus Talisman for every type of player". Twitter William DuVall. January 20, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.