Jerry Cantrell was born on March 18, 1966, in Tacoma, Washington. His parents divorced when he was seven years old. During his childhood, he was exposed primarily to country music, which played a significant role in shaping his early musical sensibilities. However, as he entered his mid-teens, Cantrell became increasingly drawn to rock music. He bought his first guitar around that time and became more dedicated to playing after the age of 17.
Cantrell cites several legendary guitarists as his primary influences, including Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Tony Iommi, and Ace Frehley. He attended high school in Spanaway, where he was an active member of the school choir. Notably talented, he rose to become president of the choir during his senior year. Under his leadership, the choir performed the national anthem at a basketball game, a performance that earned him the highest possible rating in state-level competitions.
In the mid-1980s, Jerry Cantrell formed a band named Diamond Lie, which gained popularity in the Seattle music scene. The group later evolved into the iconic grunge band Alice in Chains. Within the band, Cantrell served as co-vocalist, co-lyricist, lead guitarist, and principal composer. The band’s unique blend of heavy metal and grunge quickly established them as a pivotal force in the alternative rock movement of the 1990s.
Their debut album, Facelift, released in 1990, was certified gold and helped cement their place in the rock music landscape. Cantrell honored his artistic beginnings by sending gold records to his former drama and choir teachers.
Alice in Chains went on hiatus in the late 1990s, largely due to the health issues faced by lead singer Layne Staley, who sadly passed away in 2002. In 2005, the surviving members reunited and began performing again, collaborating with artists such as Mark Lanegan and Scott Weiland. In 2009, they released their first album since Staley’s death, Black Gives Way to Blue, featuring William DuVall as the new lead vocalist. The album marked the band’s successful return to recording and touring.
Though primarily known for his role in Alice in Chains, Cantrell has also carved out a respected solo career. He has released two solo albums and contributed to various film soundtracks. One of his most notable solo tracks, "Leave Me Alone," appeared on the soundtrack for The Cable Guy in 1996. The song, which also featured Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney, peaked at number 14 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and was accompanied by a music video.
He also wrote "Ashes to Ashes" for the 2004 film The Punisher and made a cameo appearance in the 2001 documentary Rising Low. As an actor, Cantrell had brief roles in films like Jerry Maguire and Singles, the latter of which featured a performance by Alice in Chains of the songs “Would?” and “It Ain’t Like That.”
| Birth Date: | 18 Mar, 1966 |
| Age: | 54 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Tacoma |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American rock musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist |
| Twitter Id: | JerryCantrell |
| Net Worth 2021: | 35 million |
