AMS’s Russ and Ryan braved sub-zero temperatures in the arctic tundra (Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ) to interview the incredible Jerry Cantrell. You might know him as the co-founder, singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer, and a bunch of other stuff for a little band called Alice In Chains. Or perhaps you know him as a solo artist who wears just as many hats — and who recently released a new album ominously titled I Want Blood.
Either way, he’s an incredible musician who has had a massive influence on music over the past three decades, and you definitely want to hear what he has to say about figuring out who you are as an artist, keeping your “hand on the wheel,” and, of course, his favorite gear to rock. Check out the AMS Jerry Cantrell Interview now!
You Gotta Know Who You Are
You know Jerry Cantrell is at the helm the second the first guitar chord hits. And if that doesn’t clue you in, the double-vocal harmony on the first verse will certainly give it away. There’s no doubt that any project Jerry Cantrell is a part of has a definitive, unique sound. And that’s not by accident!
According to Cantrell, it’s essential for a band or artist to have a defined identity. You can’t want to be anyone else but yourself. Not only does it set your music up to be instantly recognizable, it also gives you freedom. No matter what you play, it’ll always sound like you. And that’s something that you can definitely hear from Jerry Cantrell and Alice In Chains.
Regardless of the producer, project, instrumentation, or even genre, Cantrell’s music ALWAYS sounds like him. It doesn’t matter if he’s working on the latest Alice In Chains album, a solo project, or even rocking an acoustic guitar, you know it’s him the minute he hits the first note.
In addition to building an identity, Cantrell says it’s also important to “not try to recreate anything.” Don’t go into a project thinking you’re going to make a heavy record or a soft record or an acoustic record. Just “tend the music.” Let it go where it needs to go and follow your own identity. It’s the best way to create something truly great.
Jerry Cantrell: A Man of Many Hats
There’s no rulebook in rock and roll — or any type of music for that matter. All you can do is look at the people who have done it before you and put your own spin on it. And many of Jerry Cantrell’s heroes, like Jimmy Page and Bruce Springsteen, were a huge part of both the musical side and the production side.
According to Cantrell, “You gotta be involved every step of the way. That’s part of the fun of it.”
Jerry Cantrell is a man of many hats. He writes the music, plays guitar, sings, records, produces, and even helps with the photos, album artwork, and filming videos along the way. You have to have your hand on the wheel. Otherwise, it won’t be your thing when it comes out.
Cantrell says to think of the studio like an instrument itself. Every little piece, like mic placement, EQ, effects, etc., all play a major role in the final sound. Why would that be any different than picking out your guitar or amp? If you want your music to sound like you, you need to learn how to “play” the studio just like you play your instrument.
However, Jerry Cantrell didn’t always wear so many hats. Some of them simply fell onto his head. He told Russ and Ryan that he initially didn’t want to be a singer. Alice In Chains already had Layne Staley; why the heck would Cantrell ever need to sing!?
According to Cantrell, he got a lot of support and encouragement from Staley. Staley, as amazing of a singer as he was, said that Cantrell should sing some of the songs. His argument was that Cantrell wrote most of the songs and adding that personal touch would make them even better.
So Cantrell grabbed the mic. At first it was just for some background vocals, but it eventually grew into the dual-lead vocal sound that Alice In Chains has become known for. Ever since, Jerry Cantrell has been able to add “lead singer” to his hard-rockin’ resume.
And as far as singing goes, Cantrell says he’s getting more and more confident in his singing abilities. Even after decades of practice, he’s still pushing himself to be better. On his new record, I Want Blood, in particular, he said he’s getting into territory that he’s never reached before. There’s more power, more control, more range, and more edge.
“It’s satisfying to keep pushing. You want to put yourself in an uncomfortable place that you don’t know you can pull off. That’s exactly where you want to be when you’re creating. You’re going to make some good s**t if that’s how you’re feeling.”
Basically, find hats, put them on, push yourself. And maybe someday you can be as cool as Jerry Cantrell.
Jerry Cantrell’s Favorite Guitars
It wouldn’t be an AMS interview if we didn’t ask Jerry Cantrell about his favorite gear! (We just can’t help ourselves…) This one was kind of an easy one, since Jerry Cantrell has played the same guitars basically since the beginning. But even according to Cantrell, gear is a major part of building a unique identity. It shapes not only your sound but also your style — both musically and physically. Or as Jerry puts it, “It’s part of the thing.”
Jerry Cantrell’s first love was a G&L Rampage. It might have been a cheap knockoff of Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat. It had the look and feel of a Stratocaster but with a darker sound that was more reminiscent of a Gibson Les Paul. Of course, it was also in his budget for only $600 at the Texas music store where he worked.
A little later on, Cantrell got a few extra bucks and finally bought himself a real Gibson Les Paul, which has been a major part of his tone for more than 30 years. His famous Les Paul Wino and D Trip joined the crew in the early ‘90s (along with a few other Les Pauls), and the Cantrell quiver was complete.
Between the G&L and his host of Gibson Les Pauls, Cantrell has created some of the most iconic guitar riffs and songs of a generation.
Thanks to Jerry Cantrell and Gibson Guitars
It’s never easy for a rockstar like Jerry Cantrell to find a moment to let two random guys from AMS fan all over him, but we’re super grateful that he found a few seconds to chat. A huge thanks to Jerry Cantrell for his time and Gibson Guitars for setting it all up.
Don’t forget to check out Jerry Cantrell’s latest album, I Want Blood, wherever you like to listen to music, and keep up with the latest tour dates for both Cantrell himself and Alice In Chains. And if you want to sound like Jerry Cantrell (or try?), check out the assortment of amazing Gibson guitars right here at American Musical Supply to see what the fuss is all about.
