The group’s debut studio album “Facelift” was issued by Columbia in August 1990, peaking at No. The EP and lead single “We Die Young” both generated considerable success for the band, turning Alice in Chains into one of the label’s top priorities. By 1989 Alice in Chains were signed to Columbia’s roster, and released their debut promotional EP “We Die Young” in July 1990.
The band recorded an early demo tape, “The Treehouse Tapes”, aided by local promoter Randy Hauser, which caught the attentional of Columbia Records. It wasn’t long before Staley and Cantrell were playing live together, and alongside drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr, ultimately formed Alice in Chains. Staley subsequently met guitarist Jerry Cantrell at Music Bank rehearsal studios, while working with Alice N’ Chains, and the two began living together. Initially formed as Alice N’ Chains to dispel connotations of female bondage, the band’s early lineup included Layne Staley, guitarists Johnny Bacolas and Zoli Semanate, drummer James Bergstrom, and bassist Byron Hansen.
