In a deeply insightful new interview, Alice In Chains guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell has shared his profound philosophy on the art of guitar, explaining that a truly unique tone comes not from gear, but from the connection between a player’s “soul” and their instrument. He also singled out Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and Randy Rhoads as the rare few who qualify as “otherworldly beings.”
Speaking on the KLOS radio show Whiplash, the influential songwriter and guitarist offered what amounts to a masterclass in his approach to the instrument. He argued that a guitarist’s sound is a unique quality that goes beyond the gear they use.
“Tone’s a really unusual thing, because you can line up 50 guys with the same guitar on the same amp and plug them in, and they’re all gonna sound a little bit different,” Cantrell explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “It’s the relationship between the flesh and the wood and the metal, with the electricity running through it, and soul of the individual flowing through it. So it’s so unique, and it’s like a fingerprint — it really is.”
Cantrell cited a diversity of musicians who shaped his own distinctive sound, a list that stretches from the classic rock melodicism of Davey Johnstone (Elton John) and Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) to the hard rock power of Tony Iommi, Billy Gibbons, and the Young brothers.
However, he elevated a select few to an almost supernatural status. “There’s standouts that are just like aliens to me,” he said. “[Jimi] Hendrix was one. Eddie Van Halen is another. I think Randy Rhoads might qualify as an otherworldly being.”
These “otherworldly” players inspired the same goal that drives Cantrell to this day. “The dream then is the same as it is today,” he reflected. “I wanna make something that makes somebody else feel… like that record made me feel when I was a kid, made me want to become a musician and make music myself.”
The interview comes during a period of downtime for Alice In Chains. The band was forced to cancel its previously announced spring tour dates after drummer Sean Kinney experienced undisclosed health complications. Kinney had recovered by July, however, in time for the band to participate in the historic “Back To The Beginning” tribute concert for the late Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham, UK.
