Skip to main content
 
  • Recording Academy
  • GRAMMYs
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
  • GRAMMYs
  • Latin GRAMMYs
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • MusiCares
  • Advocacy
  • Membership
  • Governance
  • Events
  • Press Room
  • Jobs
  • More
    • GRAMMYs
    • Latin GRAMMYs
    • GRAMMY Museum
    • MusiCares
    • Advocacy
    • Membership
    • Governance
    • Events
    • Press Room
    • Jobs

The GRAMMYs

  • Awards
  • News
  • Videos
  • Events
  • More
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events

Latin GRAMMYs

  • More

    GRAMMYs Museum

    • More

      MusiCares

      • About
      • Get Help
      • Give
      • News
      • Videos
      • Events
      • Person of the Year
      • More
        • About
        • Get Help
        • Give
        • News
        • Videos
        • Events
        • Person of the Year

      Advocacy

      • About
      • News
      • Issues & Policy
      • Act
      • More
        • About
        • News
        • Issues & Policy
        • Act

      Membership

      • More
        Log In Join
        • Stay Connected

        • Search
        Modal Open
        Subscribe Now

        Subscribe to Newsletters

        Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events. Privacy Policy
        GRAMMY Museum
        Advocacy
        Membership

        Join us on Social

        • Recording Academy
          • The Recording Academy: Facebook
          • The Recording Academy: Twitter
          • The Recording Academy: Instagram
          • The Recording Academy: YouTube
        • GRAMMYs
          • GRAMMYs: Facebook
          • GRAMMYs: Twitter
          • GRAMMYs: Instagram
          • GRAMMYs: YouTube
        • Latin GRAMMYs
          • Latin GRAMMYs: Facebook
          • Latin GRAMMYs: Twitter
          • Latin GRAMMYs: Instagram
          • Latin GRAMMYs: YouTube
        • GRAMMY Museum
          • GRAMMY Museum: Facebook
          • GRAMMY Museum: Twitter
          • GRAMMY Museum: Instagram
          • GRAMMY Museum: YouTube
        • MusiCares
          • MusiCares: Facebook
          • MusiCares: Twitter
          • MusiCares: Instagram
          • MusiCares: YouTube
        • Advocacy
          • Advocacy: Facebook
          • Advocacy: Twitter
        • Membership
          • Membership: Facebook
          • Membership: Twitter
          • Membership: Instagram
          • Membership: Youtube

        Drake

        Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

        News
        Drake Gives A Poignant GRAMMYs Speech drake-offers-perspective-best-rap-song-acceptance-speech-we-play-opinion-based-sport

        Drake Offers Perspective In Best Rap Song Acceptance Speech: "We Play In An Opinion-Based Sport"

        Facebook Twitter Email
        The Toronto rapper took home the Best Rap Song Grammy for "God's Plan" at the 61st GRAMMY Awards
        Bonnie Stiernberg 
        GRAMMYs
        Feb 10, 2019 - 7:30 pm

        Drake took home the Best Rap Song Grammy for "God's Plan" tonight, and he used his acceptance speech to offer fans and his fellow nominees a little perspective on the meaning of awards.

        "We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport,” he said, adding, "The point is, you’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown. Look, if there’s people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain and snow, spending money to buy tickets to your shows, you don’t need this right here. You already won."

        2019 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees And Winners List
         

        Dolly Parton, Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves

        Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

        News
        Stars Honor Dolly Parton At The 2019 GRAMMYs kacey-musgraves-miley-cyrus-maren-morris-and-more-pay-tribute-dolly-parton

        Kacey Musgraves, Miley Cyrus, Maren Morris And More Pay Tribute to Dolly Parton

        Facebook Twitter Email
        The Backwoods Barbie teamed up with a number of singers for a medley of career-spanning songs at the 61st GRAMMY Awards
        Bonnie Stiernberg
        GRAMMYs
        Feb 10, 2019 - 6:39 pm

        The GRAMMY tribute to MusiCares Person Of The Year and all-around legend Dolly Parton was a star-studded affair, featuring performances from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Little Big Town and more, but the real star of the segment was the Backwoods Barbie herself.

        Dolly Parton Medley: GRAMMY Performance

        Parton stunned with some excellent vocals, kicking things off with Kacey Musgraves and Perry on "Here You Come Again" before duetting with her goddaughter Cyrus on "Jolene."

        Cyrus and Parton were joined by Maren Morris for some gorgeous three-part harmony on "After the Gold Rush," which she recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on their classic Trio II album.

        Little Big Town appeared for new track "Red Shoes" from the Dumplin' soundtrack before Parton brought it home with a "9 to 5" finale.

        10 Must-Hear Songs By Dolly Parton

        Full Winners List: 61st GRAMMY Awards

        Camila Cabello

        Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

        News
        Camila Cabello Heats Up "Havana" At The GRAMMYs camila-cabello-young-thug-j-balvin-ricky-martin-arturo-sandoval-open-2019-grammys

        Camila Cabello, Young Thug, J Balvin, Ricky Martin, Arturo Sandoval Open The 2019 GRAMMYs With "Havana"

        Facebook Twitter Email
        The 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards are officially underway, and Camila Cabello kicked off the night's festivities with an infectious performance of "Havana" with some help from a few famous friends
        Bonnie Stiernberg
        GRAMMYs
        Feb 10, 2019 - 5:31 pm

        The 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards are officially underway, and Camila Cabello kicked off the night's festivities with an infectious performance of "Havana" with some help from a few famous friends.

        The singer was joined by Young Thug, J Balvin, Ricky Martin and the legendary trumpeter Arturo Sandoval on a vibrant set that allowed viewers to peer inside brightly colored apartment units a la Rear Window.

        Martin in particular comes full circle with the performance, appearing on the GRAMMY stage 20 years after his iconic 1999 GRAMMY performance of "The Cup of Life."

        61st GRAMMY Awards
        Prev
        Next
        Kacey Musgraves
        Kacey Musgraves
        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees & Winners List

        Photo: Alison Buck/Getty Images
        TLC 
        Photo: Alison Buck/Getty Images

        Relive GRAMMY Week 2019 In Pictures

        BTS
        BTS
        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        5 Ways BTS Won Our Hearts At The 2019 GRAMMYs

        Dua Lipa And St. Vincent

        2019 GRAMMY Awards Telecast | Photo Gallery

        John Mayer And Maren Morris

        Backstage At The 2019 GRAMMYs | Photo Gallery

        Jennifer Lopez And Lady Gaga

        2019 GRAMMY Awards Red Carpet

        Brandi Carlile

        2019 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony

        Cardi B
        Cardi B
        Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage

        Cardi B, Post Malone Among 2019 GRAMMYs Performers

        H.E.R._012319.jpg
        H.E.R.
        Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage

        Brandi Carlile, H.E.R. To Play The 61st GRAMMYs

        Record Of The Year 61st GRAMMY Award Nominees

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Album Of The Year Nominees | 61st GRAMMY Awards

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who's Nominated For Song Of The Year?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Best New Artist Nominees Revealed | 61st GRAMMYs

        Turntable playing a vinyl record

        Album Of The Year vs. Record Of The Year Explained

        Amy Winehouse
        Amy Winehouse Best New Artist winner for 2007 | Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

        Who Is Eligible For The Best New Artist GRAMMY?

        GRAMMYs
        Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

        Artists React To Their 2019 GRAMMY Nominations

        Apple Music
        Photo: studioEAST/Getty Images

        61st GRAMMYs: Here’s Your Apple Music Playlist

        John Billings
        John Billings
        Photo: Jesse Grant/WireImage/Getty Images

        Meet The GRAMMY Man: How GRAMMYs Are Made

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Pick For Best Pop Album?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Pick For Best Rap Performance?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Pick For Best Latin Pop Album?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Choose For Best Alternative Album?

        Poll: Who Will Voters Choose For Best Rap Album?

        Lady Gaga
        Lady Gaga
        Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

        Poll: Who Do You Want To See On The Red Carpet?

        61st GRAMMYs Gifting Suite-1128117283.jpg

        Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for NARAS

        News
        What’s Inside the 61st GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge? what%E2%80%99s-inside-61st-grammys-gifting-lounge

        What’s Inside the 61st GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge?

        Facebook Twitter Email
        From luxurious skincare products to a virtual-reality trip to Kyoto, here's a sneak peek at the high-end GRAMMY gifts performers and presenters will receive this year
        Tamara Palmer
        GRAMMYs
        Feb 8, 2019 - 1:15 pm

        Performing artists and presenters of the 61st GRAMMY Awards have the option of taking a stroll through the GRAMMYS Gifting Lounge to receive some fabulous (and fabulously free) items during rehearsal days.

        "We're thrilled to be a very small part of a very big show,” said Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets, which has produced the GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge for the past 20 years. "It’s something that the artists now, over the years, have grown accustomed to as a perk they are very well aware that they get for coming on the show, which is very cute."

        Fary noted that Distinctive Assets' GRAMMYs Gifting Lounges have won over some big names.

        What’s In The 2019 GRAMMY Gift Lounge?

        "In the past people like Mary J. Blige have shown up and said, 'Where’s the gift lounge?' And even when artists don't have the time or interest to come through the lounge, like Adele, the last time she was in LA and on the show she asked for some of the kids’ stuff. We had Hasbro Games here, so she asked that the kid stuff be brought to her dressing room so her son could play with them.

        “We have artists like Ricky Martin and Faith Hill, who don't do gift lounges typically but they’ll do ours because they know that we are here as a true artform of the GRAMMYS and we respect them," he revealed. "They know if we say we aren't doing photos then we won’t do photos, that we have great stuff, that we respect their time and get them in and out quickly. So it’s just great! These are my favorite three days of the year, GRAMMYS rehearsal days, and we've got amazing thank-you gifts for them. There’s something for everyone."

        refamassagers_020819.jpg

        ReFa Massager
        Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

        The Recording Academy took an exclusive spin through the Gifting Lounge when it opened on Thursday afternoon and got a peek at some of those perks that stars can take home. This year, there are a number of vendors focused on beauty and wellness, including ReFa's Japanese microcurrent beauty rollers and collagen-enhanced drink mixers, Source Naturals' vitamins and herbal supplements, Neoteny’s age-fighting kits (including a mask called Resting Bitch Face), It’s a 10's pro hair care tools and entertainment industry’s makeup that breathes and heals skin as it conceals, pitched as a smart choice for the entertainment industry's heavy makeup needs

        oxygenetix_021819

        Oxygenetix
        Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

        Guests are invited to experience ishiki, a Japanese sense of consciousness and well-being, via a virtual reality trip to Kyoto; stars will be gifted a pair of virtual reality glasses to take more transportive trips at home or while on the road.

        23 and Me will allow stars to dig deeper into their ancestry, teasing that they never know what they might discover. Truth Initiative packed backpacks full of Xbox games, hats, sunglasses and fanny packs from their forthcoming retail collection to say "don't get played" when it comes to vaping and smoking.

        Dr. Tabatha Carr flew from Oklahoma to California to showcase her gluten-free, dairy-free and naturally sweetened Good Girl Chocolate at the GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge. After showing us before and after pictures of her 100-pound weight loss, she offered us a taste of a lush vegan dark chocolate-encased agave and cashew butter filled caramel that could easily become a happy habit.

        ishiki1_021819.jpg

        Ishiki
        Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

        Grossé, a costume jewelry designer that designed collections for Dior for over 50 years, hopes to drip stars in convincing baubles, while Millianna is introducing "shoelery," chains meant to be draped around boots or stilettos. PRSVR, a Chicago lifestyle brand that recently opened a by-appointment showroom just blocks away, is hoping to gift Cardi B with a pair of fur sleeves—vegan or fox, her choice.

        "We've been fortunate to really use Instagram to connect with celebrities,” said PRSVR's Margaret Williamson. "So our client list includes Tank, Diddy, Ciara, Teyana Taylor, Meek Mill, Fabolous and Nicki Minaj."

        goodgirlchocolate2_020819.jpg

        Good Girl Chocolate
        Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

        Alpha Priority, a worldwide meet and greet airport concierge service, was looking forward to catching up with the stars planning on coming through the Gifting Lounge, many of whom a rep said are already clients. They’ll be gifted with a free meet and greet that will be arrange at their convenience.

        As the longtime GRAMMYS Gifting Lounge producer, Lash Fary certainly isn't one to get star-struck, but there is one particular luminary who he hopes to see in there this year.

        "Dolly Parton,” he said, name-checking the MusiCares Person of the Year without hesitation. "Just because she’s so nice! Dolly is one of my favorite people. I’ve met her at a few award shows so I love her and I’m hoping that we get to see her. There’s not a lovelier person on the planet than Dolly; she just makes you feel good about yourself."

        Watch the 61st GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS.

        61st GRAMMY Awards
        Prev
        Next
        Kacey Musgraves
        Kacey Musgraves
        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees & Winners List

        Photo: Alison Buck/Getty Images
        TLC 
        Photo: Alison Buck/Getty Images

        Relive GRAMMY Week 2019 In Pictures

        BTS
        BTS
        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        5 Ways BTS Won Our Hearts At The 2019 GRAMMYs

        Dua Lipa And St. Vincent

        2019 GRAMMY Awards Telecast | Photo Gallery

        John Mayer And Maren Morris

        Backstage At The 2019 GRAMMYs | Photo Gallery

        Jennifer Lopez And Lady Gaga

        2019 GRAMMY Awards Red Carpet

        Brandi Carlile

        2019 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony

        Cardi B
        Cardi B
        Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage

        Cardi B, Post Malone Among 2019 GRAMMYs Performers

        H.E.R._012319.jpg
        H.E.R.
        Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage

        Brandi Carlile, H.E.R. To Play The 61st GRAMMYs

        Record Of The Year 61st GRAMMY Award Nominees

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Album Of The Year Nominees | 61st GRAMMY Awards

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who's Nominated For Song Of The Year?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Best New Artist Nominees Revealed | 61st GRAMMYs

        Turntable playing a vinyl record

        Album Of The Year vs. Record Of The Year Explained

        Amy Winehouse
        Amy Winehouse Best New Artist winner for 2007 | Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

        Who Is Eligible For The Best New Artist GRAMMY?

        GRAMMYs
        Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

        Artists React To Their 2019 GRAMMY Nominations

        Apple Music
        Photo: studioEAST/Getty Images

        61st GRAMMYs: Here’s Your Apple Music Playlist

        John Billings
        John Billings
        Photo: Jesse Grant/WireImage/Getty Images

        Meet The GRAMMY Man: How GRAMMYs Are Made

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Pick For Best Pop Album?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Pick For Best Rap Performance?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Pick For Best Latin Pop Album?

        61st GRAMMY Awards

        Who Will Voters Choose For Best Alternative Album?

        Poll: Who Will Voters Choose For Best Rap Album?

        Lady Gaga
        Lady Gaga
        Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

        Poll: Who Do You Want To See On The Red Carpet?

        Alice In Chains
        News
        Interview: Jerry Cantrell Of Alice In Chains alice-chains-jerry-cantrell-just-happy-be-nominated-ninth-time

        Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell Is Just Happy To Be Nominated (For The Ninth Time)

        Facebook Twitter Email
        The singer/guitarist reflects on his many GRAMMY nominations, including this year's for Best Rock Album, living a sober—but still creative—lifestyle, and why any generation can eventually "turn into the old man yelling at the kids to get off your lawn"
        Rachel Brodsky
        GRAMMYs
        Feb 8, 2019 - 10:55 am

        Few active musicians sound as balanced over the phone as longtime Alice In Chains singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell does. When you've been through as much as he has—two eras of Alice In Chains, one with now-deceased original lead singer Layne Staley, the next with current singer William DuVall; a brief solo career; and countless collaborations with rock/metal royalty like Danzig, Ozzy Osbourne, Duff McKagan, just to name a few—you either come out the other side in one of two conditions: a mess, or really, really wise. 

        Cantrell, fortunately, embodies the latter. 

        Now more than three decades into his career, Cantrell has earned nine GRAMMY nominations for his work with Alice In Chains, starting in the early '90s with the gritty alt-metal wail "Man In A Box" leading up to now, with a Best Rock Album nod for the band's sixth studio album, Rainier Fog. The band's lack of actual awards doesn't bug Cantrell, though. He's just happy to be here. 

        If anything, he finds his always-the-bridesmaid status funny; the last time AIC attended the GRAMMYs, nine years ago, Cantrell says the band wore Susan Lucci buttons as a joke, in reference to the longtime soap actress who famously earned 19 Emmy nominations before finally winning in 1999. "We were like, 'If we lose we're going to put on our Susan Lucci buttons," he laughs. "And we did; we lost and we put on our buttons as we walked out." 

        Golden gramophone or no, Cantrell says he's never been in a better place. He's been on the road with Alice In Chains and basking in abundant appreciation from fans—just enjoying life. Below, the iconic guitarist continues to laugh about his GRAMMY (or lackthereof) status and opens up about his rock 'n' roll elder status, living a sober lifestyle and what's next for Alice In Chains.  

        Congrats on the GRAMMY nomination! Though, of course, I know this isn’t your first. 

        Oh, thank you.

        Going back to the first year Alice In Chains was nominated, in ‘90 for “Man In The Box,” what stands out to you about that time?

        Oh god. It's so long ago, I couldn't really give you any clear recollection. I mean everything was moving so fast. Most of us, the [Mother] Love Bone guys that turned into Pearl Jam, and used to be, some of them used to be Green River, and Soundgarden. Those guys have been around for a number of years. But I think Nirvana, and us, we were a little younger. 

        But it happened really quickly for all of us. And every step every one of us took helped the other. It was really cool to be a part of all that. The thing that means the most probably, is the music. Because the music is still being played. It still means something to people. You turn on any rock radio station and hear any of it at any time. 

        OK, here’s something I always wanted to know: Is it bizarre to you that that entire cross-section of bands is now referred to as "classic rock"? And spun on Classic Rock radio?

        It's great. I mean, it's a big long-term goal that you set for yourself: to be one of those bands that stands the test of time. And even maybe even the music can live on past the individuals in the band. And if it makes enough of an impact with people, and speaks to them in a way where they make it their own. 

        All we can do is satisfy ourselves personally, as friends, musicians and artists. To try to keep making the best music that we can. And from '91 til right now, every time we put a record out we've been very fortunate to be considered with our peers and get some attention for the effort laid down on the tracks. And we've been really lucky that way.

        We haven't been so lucky to win [a GRAMMY], but we've been nominated a bunch. I think this is our ninth nomination.

        We've got a couple of technical ones for our work, and production. As for the music, this is our ninth one. Yep. 0 in 9, baby. [Laughs.]

        I mean, Willem Dafoe is still waiting for his Oscar. 

        Well, of course. There's always those folks. We're like the Buffalo Bills, who go to the Super Bowl four years in a row, but just can't quite get it over the edge.

        It's the old cliché, it's just an honor to be nominated, and to have people in the community, and the fans care about your music. You can take a little validation from that. That you're still operating at the peak of your powers. We still feel like we're at the top of our game, musically. And our fans are still with us. We're still making rock ‘n’ roll that matters to us. And turns out it matters to other people too. It's f**king great.

        Yeah, absolutely. As someone who has rode out the ebbs and flows of rock’s popularity—or lack thereof—what do you make of where rock as a genre stands today? 

        Things are always changing, right? That is just the essence of existence, and life. There's always change happening. Nothing is f**king static. It's going somewhere. Where it's going to go, who the f**k knows. But as far as I've been alive, there's always been rock. And it's always spoke to me in a way that was really powerful, and visceral. And not just rock, just music in general. Being a recording artist, whatever your genre.

        I think any generation can turn into the old man yelling at the kids to get off your lawn. "They don't understand anymore." And I remember my parents didn't like my music too much either, so it's totally normal for that to be the case. I'm just lucky I still have something to focus on that I dig doing. And that I've got my friends around me to make that music with.

        Somehow, after 32 years, there's still millions of fans. That we get to stand in front of, and travel around the world, and play our music to. And new stuff is just as important as anything that we've putting out before. We've always been an in-the-moment, now-thinking band. We don't look too far back, and we don't look too far forward. We're always trying to forget about what we've done before.

        We don't need to worry about sounding like ourselves, because that's just how we sound. It's an established thing. So really it just comes down to pleasing yourself. I believe that this record is as strong as any record we've ever put out.

        "As a creative person, if you're lucky enough to have a creative catalog that we have, which may not be gigantic but it's potent as f**k." 

        Speaking of Rainier Fog, I read an interview you did with KEXP where you said that you were grateful to see that you “could still do it.” Was there was ever a time when you were seriously questioning that about yourself?

        I think everybody has questions. You have to question yourself occasionally. That's just part of life. That's what moves you forward from being in a place of fear, or of doubt. And if you've had some success like we’ve have, those thoughts can be kind of daunting, too. Oh sh*t, we've got to top that. Sh*t, there's another record. As a creative person, if you're lucky enough to have a creative catalog that we have, which may not be gigantic but it's potent as f**k. And it's really good work.

        It's also in two different eras of the existence of this band. It was four guys before, and it's four guys now. This era of the band is, we've done some amazing things. I think the band's playing better than we ever have. The work ethic of everybody is really evolved. And we're still making music that we care about, and other people do too. As long as that's the case, we will continue to continue our journey, and see where it goes.

        As someone who repeatedly pushes themselves to live in the current moment and, as you said, not look back, what is your relationship to AIC’s earliest hits? Are you amenable to playing them at most, if not all, of your shows?

        Well, they're still fun to play. And they're still really good songs. You see people light up when you play them. There's a reason why people connected to them. And one is not greater than the other.

        The fact that we did it, or the fact that people care about it, or the fact that it's so many years on... For whatever reason those songs, those songs are what they are. I think there would be a lot of pissed off people if we did a show, and we didn't play “Rooster,” or play “Man In The Box,” or play “Would?,” or “No Excuses.” 

        But it's a challenge too because we only play a certain amount every night. So we're trying to do a mix of things that are new, or trying to whip out some old stuff we haven't played before. Basically every tour we try to grab a couple of tunes that insert, and replace. But there's a good chunk of stuff that you know that you're going to play. And at this particular point of the band, with this being our third record, it's pretty much half and half.

        And everybody knows the new stuff as well as the old stuff. So it's cool. They care about it the same way. We made three full-length records before. We made three full-length records now.

        At some point I think you have to kind of take into account that there are just special things. I remember the Metallica guys, we've been really good friends with those guys for a long time. I remember they were going to do a, like an all-request tour, right? And they got all the input from their fans, and it ended up being pretty much what they play anyway. [Laughs.]

        Makes total sense. Switching gears for a moment, GQ recently spoke to musicians about thriving creatively while staying sober. As an artist who has spoken publicly about the friends you’ve lost to substance abuse—and staying sober yourself—how would you say that you mine your creativity in sobriety? 

        Getting f**ked up is fun, and that's why people do it. Especially when you're young. It's a part of life. It's a part of a lot of people's experience. But it comes with a price. It generally doesn't end good. 

        I've been super-creative f**ked up. I've been super-creative not f**ked up. It's been so many years for me that I just don't really think about that anymore. I think, at some point it becomes an impediment. It works until it doesn't. Let's put it that way.

        It worked for a while. And I think that's the case probably for most people. Maybe takes you and puts you in a different mind space, and kind of maybe opens your perception to some stuff, but the costs are so f**king high. You know what I mean?

        And hopefully, being on the other side of that. I don't miss it at all. But I'm also not ashamed of it. Nobody's perfect, and I certainly am not. You just kind of figure it out as you go. Life's pretty good right now. And has been for some time.

        Any idea what’s next for you and Alice In Chains?

        Still just trying to figure out what I want to do next, and what the band wants to do next. Right now we're kind of at halftime of this campaign. We toured from spring of last year, til November. And then we've taken a couple of months off. We're going to start up again in March, and go all the way until fall again. And then that'll be the end of the campaign. And we'll probably take some time to step away from the band for a little bit. And then figure out where we go from here. That's what we do. That's what we've been doing for the last three records. And that's been 12, 13 years now. And it seems to work pretty good.

        Well on a lighter note, is there anything in particular you really enjoy about going to the GRAMMYs? 

        I haven't been in a while, so it'll be a trip for me. I think the last time we went was probably on Black Gives Way To Blue, I guess.

        I'm sure it'll be a good show. I'm just happy to be nominated and just to have people react to the record that we're really proud of, that we worked our asses off on. And see where we go from here.

        Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: FEVER 333 Tackle The Tough Issues

        Top
        Logo
        • Recording Academy
          • About
          • Governance
          • Press Room
          • Jobs
          • Events
        • GRAMMYs
          • Awards
          • News
          • Videos
          • Events
          • Store
          • FAQ
        • Latin GRAMMYs
          • Awards
          • News
          • Photos
          • Videos
          • Cultural Foundation
          • Members
          • Press
        • GRAMMY Museum
          • Explore
          • Exhibits
          • Education
          • Support
          • Programs
          • Donate
        • MusiCares
          • About
          • Programs
          • Donate
          • News
          • Videos
          • Events
          • Person of the Year
        • Advocacy
          • About
          • News
          • Learn
          • Act
        • Membership
          • Chapters
          • Producers & Engineers Wing
          • GRAMMY U
          • Join

         
         
         
        Logo

        © 2019 - Recording Academy. All rights reserved.

        • Terms of Service
        • Privacy Policy
        • Cookie Policy
        • Copyright Notice
        • Contact Us

        Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.