William Du Vall joined American heavy metal band Alice In Chains in 2006 to replace original lead vocalist Layne Staley who died of a tragic drug overdose in 2002. The group parted ways after Staley’s passing, but have since made quite a comeback in their revived form, with their last three albums all climbing the charts and garnering several Grammy nominations.

While he remains a member of the band, Du Vall has since decided to explore a new path and released his first solo album One Alone last October through his record label DVL. After a series of Covid-related delays, he will finally be embarking on a solo tour in the UK and Ireland, performing at the Academy Green Room later this month.

“I'm really glad to finally have the opportunity to get across the pond and play these shows,” he says. “It was quite the transition because even prior to Alice In Chains, I had always worked with bands. Over many years, since I was fifteen-years-old, that was exclusively how I worked. I had to get to a place mentally and emotionally where I felt like I could release an album under my own name rather than under a band moniker. That was a challenge but I felt like it was time. I felt, and still feel, that if ever there was an album to begin such a transition it's the One Alone album.”

This new album is quite different from the titular minor-key riffs and heavy grunge-inspired sound of Alice In Chains.

“It is exactly what the title describes, it's one voice and one guitar. It's me completely by myself and there's no adornment of any kind. So the nature of the recording and the nature of the music itself really helped in my decision.”

Du Vall’s extensive experience as a producer has also helped him to be a skilled decision maker. “I've been the producer for a lot of records that I've made with different bands so I am used to being decisive in the studio,” he assures me.

Even before joining Alice in Chains, Du Vall worked as a lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist for several bands including Neon Christ and Comes with the Fall. In fact, it was his work in the latter that led to his current role in Alice In Chains.

“I've just tried to be who I am and to be myself,” he says on taking up the mantle of the late Layne Staley. “There was nothing other than that for me to do, and I think that’s why I was asked. I had a history of doing my own thing even when I was in different groups. Jerry Cantrell was a fan of my band Comes with the Fall so there was already a certain level of respect for what I could do and who I was. He liked what we were doing and the records that we made and I was a producer on those”

Du Vall and Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell toured together between 2000 and 2002. Comes with the Fall not only served as the opener for Cantrell's solo tour, but also backed Cantrell during his set as well. This led to Du Vall officially joining Cantrell for the regrouping of Alice in Chains in 2006.

In 2008, the band recorded their fourth album Black Gives Way to Blue at the Foo Fighters Los Angeles recording studio, Studio 606. They have also worked closely with Foo Fighters producer Nick Raskulinecz.

“Taylor Hawkins was a really nice guy and it's just awful what happened. It is a really awful situation to have to face for any band,” Du Vall says of the late drummer.

Alice In Chains is a band familiar with such tragedies, as they lost lead vocalist Layne Staley in 2002 and former drummer Mike Starr in 2011 - both to drug overdoses.

When asked if he has any insight or advice for the now grieving Foo Fighters, Du Vall remains hesitant out of respect for his fellow musicians.

“Well, that is just such a personal thing that I wouldn't want to dictate how anyone else should cope with that kind of situation. I just wish them well in whatever decision they make. All of the guys in that band are like brothers you know. I just wish them the best in whatever it is they decide to do separately or together”

“When we got back into shows, we were doing what we felt needed to be done. When we started playing again it had to be done and that spirit has carried through till now.”

Since hitting the road and the studio again, Alice In Chains has certainly had quite a renaissance. Their last three albums Black Gives Way to Blue, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, and Rainier Fog have all proved to be major hits and Du Vall’s new solo album looks set to do the same.

After his UK tour, Du Vall will return to the states to release a very unique new project. A live album that was recorded during an industry event at the Nashville studio 'Welcome to 1979'. Established in 2008 by husband and wife team Chris and Yoli Mara, 'Welcome to 1979' has grown to become a multi-faceted recording studio like no other.

“They are one of the few facilities in the world that can take you through the entire process of making a vinyl LP. From the recording to the plating, it's all done under one roof,” Du Vall explains.

During the studio's recording summit last year, Du Vall played a “Live To Vinyl” set.

He described the high stakes recording process: “When you're cutting a record in this fashion, you're cutting directly to the lacquer so everything is live and everyone is on the spot. From the recording engineers who are doing a live mix as it's occurring and the lacquer cutting engineer who has to drop the needle onto the lacquer. You’re not making a record that you tape. There is no opportunity for any kind of post production. It's a unique experience in music and there's nothing else like it. It's very live and raw and in-your-face.”

The new album titled 11.12.2: Live In Studio Nashville, is set for release in the US, UK, and Europe on June 10th.

William Du Vall plays The Academy Green Room on April 25th. Tickets are available here.

Listen to William Du Vall's new album One Alone below: