Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell goes way back with Pantera. Indeed, he first met the Abbott brothers — a.k.a. Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul — in 1985, before he had even met his AIC bandmates.
The future-grunge icon had just dropped out of college and was working in Texas, removing asbestos from houses in the Dallas and Houston area. He’d work all day and then go to clubs at night and check out bands. One of those groups just so happened to be Pantera, and Cantrell was a fan from the first time he saw them. He talked to Darrell and Paul afterwards and hit it off. It was start to a long friendship.
Considering his history with Pantera, we asked the Alice in Chains singer-guitarist-songwriter to share his favorite song by the band. See below.
“A New Level”
“‘A New Level.’ No shit. I met Vinnie, Dime, and Rex in a club in Houston they were playing at called Cardi’s in 1985. They were amazing then, but after Phil joined the band, they seemed to really find themselves. I’ve always admired the ferocity and mastery they always put into their music. All teeth, bones, and muscle, not one ounce of fat. ‘Vulgar Display of Power’ is a landmark record that still echoes deafeningly today. This song has it all. Every gear is used to make that machine operate beyond full capacity.”