I’m only 28, but it makes me feel old to find out bands like Alice In Chains (below) and Sublime (right) – which enjoyed their heyday when I was a teenager – have reunited. Back then, I clearly remember not giving a shit when various pop-culture purveyors made a big deal about reconciliations of groups like The Eagles, Page & Plant, and KISS. I was too young to have lost a favorite band to a nasty breakup. Since then I’ve witnessed bands I love (Iron Maiden and Pixies to name a few) reunite in the best possible way – with their core lineups and legacies mostly intact.
Alice In Chains and Sublime are among the biggest alt-rock bands to come out of the 1990s. Both sold millions of albums and lost a frontman to drugs (not necessarily in that order). Both bands have recently re-formed with new singers. Alice In Chains is even set to drop a new record at the end of the month.
These two bands have so much in common – including this very passionate debate: are their reunions bullshit? (Video after the jump)
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2009.