On December 4, 2012, Cantrell confirmed that the new album had been completed.
The band’s only concert in 2012 was a five-song acoustic set on May 31 at the eighth annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert honoring Jerry Cantrell.
In an interview published in May 2012, Cantrell explained, “The thing that set me back is I had some bone spurs [and] cartilage issues in my shoulders. I had the same issue in the other shoulder about six years ago so I’ve had them both done now. It’s a repetitive…
Read More
Alice in Chains played their first concert in nearly 10 months and their first concert after Cantrell’s shoulder surgery at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma on August 13, 2011.
On March 21, 2011, Alice in Chains announced that they were working on a fifth studio album, and both Cantrell and Inez later made statements that they had begun the recording process.
A public memorial was held for Starr at the Seattle Center’s International Fountain on March 20, 2011.
On March 8, 2011, former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr was found dead at his home in Salt Lake City.
Reflecting on the band’s hiatus in a 2011 interview, Kinney said that Staley wasn’t the only one battling addiction.
While Alice in Chains were writing for the album in 2011, Cantrell underwent surgery on his right shoulder, which delayed recording the new material.
The last single from the album was ” Lesson Learned “, and it was released to rock radio on June 22, 2010.