The surviving members of Alice In Chains are hitting the road this summer for the first time since frontman Layne Staley’s death from a drug overdose in 2002. With Staley, Alice In Chains’ last tour was in 1996. Since then, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney have only taken the stage together once, at a February 2005 tsunami benefit show in Seattle.

According to Cantrell’s official Web site, the lone reunion show confirmed at present is the Nova Rock Festival in Austria on June 28, alongside such heavy-hitters as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age and Massive Attack.

The trio will warm up for its summer dates with a March 10 performance in Atlantic City, N.J., as part of a VH1 “Decades Rock” episode devoted to Heart. For that show, Staley’s shoes will be filled by Call Of The Wild singer William DuVall, who also doubles as a member of Staley’s touring band.

It is understood that while DuVall is in consideration to sing on the summer dates, a final decision has not yet been made.

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Billboard.com