Alice in Chains formed in Seattle in 1987 and is one of the most important bands of the grunge movement — though their sound always moved fluidly between alternative rock and heavy metal, carving out a distinct identity within the scene. With Layne Staley on vocals, Jerry Cantrell on guitar, Mike Starr and later Mike Inez on bass, and Sean Kinney on drums, the band recorded albums like Facelift, Dirt, and Jar of Flies that remain among the most influential of the era.
Layne Staley died on April 5, 2002, at the age of 34. His loss left a deep mark on the Seattle scene and closed an important chapter in the band’s story. Alice in Chains eventually returned to recording and performing, with William DuVall taking over on vocals. But the locations on this guide are all tied to the period when Seattle was the center of the alternative rock world — and Alice in Chains was one of its defining reasons.
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Gas Works Park: Alice in Chains’ first official photo shoot in Seattle
2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle
In 1990, Alice in Chains chose Gas Works Park for their first official photo shoot.
The park combines open green space with the iron structures of a former gasification plant, still partially standing on the grounds. That visual contrast — rare among Seattle’s public spaces — was exactly what the band was looking for at the time.
For anyone tracing the band’s trajectory, the visit is worth making. The industrial equipment is now fenced off, so the exact framing of the original images can’t be replicated, but the atmosphere of the place still holds a direct connection to that early moment in the band’s story.
London Bridge Studio: the iconic grunge studio used by Alice in Chains
20021 Ballinger Way NE, Suite A, Shoreline
London Bridge Studio played a central role in the history of Alice in Chains — and of the broader Seattle scene at the same time, with Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam all passing through its rooms.
Alice in Chains returned to the studio at several different points, recording Facelift (1990), their debut album, as well as the Sap EP (1992) and Jar of Flies (1994).
The studio can be visited by appointment through its official website. Sessions generally take place on Saturdays, with producer-led tours available on other days of the week. Throughout the visit, commemorative plaques, photographs, and original flyers help piece together what that period actually looked and felt like.
Moore Theatre: the Live Facelift show and a defining night
1932 2nd Ave, Seattle
For Alice in Chains fans, the Moore Theatre is a mandatory stop on any Seattle itinerary.
It was here, in December 1990, that the band recorded Live Facelift. The night was a dense one: the opening act was Mookie Blaylock — the provisional name Pearl Jam used in its earliest days — and Chris Cornell took the stage to perform songs from Temple of the Dog.
Alice in Chains would return to the Moore at least three more times: in 1991, 2006, and 2009, the latter two already with William DuVall on vocals.
Mad Season — the side project that brought together Layne Staley and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready — also recorded here in August 1995, resulting in Live at the Moore.
The theater, which opened in 1907, offers free guided tours on the second Saturday of every month, from 10 a.m. to noon, with advance booking through the official website.
The Crocodile Seattle: surprise show and Alice in Chains tribute
2505 1st Ave, Seattle
The Crocodile has hosted many of the bands that defined Seattle and the 1990s — Nirvana, Candlebox, Tad, Mudhoney, Melvins among them.
But Alice in Chains has a direct connection to the venue that goes beyond the shows. When the club reopened in 2009 after two years of closure, band drummer Sean Kinney was among the new owners.
Then, on August 22, 2018, the space hosted an Alice in Chains pop-up: rare photographs, equipment used across the decades, limited-edition merchandise, and a surprise performance.
The Crocodile, now at 2505 1st Ave, originally opened in 1991 at 2200 2nd Avenue and remains active just steps from where it all started.
Layne Staley’s last home in Seattle (University District)
4528 8th Ave NE, Apt. 5C, Seattle
The University District, a neighborhood north of downtown Seattle, holds the address where Layne Staley spent his final years.
It was in apartment 5C at 4528 8th Ave NE that Layne lived from 1997 until his death on April 5, 2002, at the age of 34.
Inside the apartment, he kept a small recording setup; music remained part of his life even through the years of seclusion.
The building is private and residential — any visit is made from the outside, with discretion and respect for the people who live there.
Before this address, Layne had lived at 552 Ward Street, where Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready would visit him to make music together as a way of helping him find a path away from addiction. Those sessions gave rise to Mad Season, the project the two shared with Barrett Martin and John Baker Saunders, which produced the album Above (1995).
International Fountain: Layne Staley memorial and Layne Staley Day
Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle
The International Fountain at Seattle Center became a gathering point for Alice in Chains fans on April 20, 2002 — the day after Layne Staley’s death was confirmed — when fans came together there for a spontaneous memorial.
Years later, on August 22, 2019, then-Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan officially declared the date Layne Staley Day, chosen because it coincided with the singer’s birthday: he would have turned 52 that year.
Since then, the date has regularly been marked by candlelight vigils at the fountain and tribute shows at venues across the city.
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