Alice Bows Out; Metallica Still On

Concert preview

etallica and Suicidal Tendencies, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Stadium ($25; 628-0888). -----------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday night someone claiming to be Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell called KISW and requested the station play the AIC song "No Excuses" from the band's hit EP, "Jar of Flies."

"We're rehearsing," he said, "and I can't remember the second half of my solo, and we can't find a copy of `Jar of Flies' anywhere in this studio!" A lot of choked laughter could be heard in the background.

That was before Alice in Chains canceled its co-headlining slot with Metallica here next Tuesday. It also canceled its appearance at the upcoming Woodstock '94 festival.

According to a terse statement from its Seattle-based manager, Susan Silver, the band will make no appearances this summer because of unspecified health problems.

"Alice in Chains apologizes to their fans and appreciates their support and concern," the statement said. "The band hopes to resolve the situation in privacy. The members look forward to returning to the recording studio in the fall."

Lead singer Layne Staley has publicly acknowledged an addiction to heroin. The "Jar of Flies" EP, which has sold 2 million copies, includes songs about Staley's drug problem.

In addition to Cantrell and Staley, the other members of Alice in Chains are Sean Kinney and Mike Inez.

Although AIC was a strong draw for Tuesday's show, Metallica remains the most popular metal band. Its "Metallica" album has been on the Billboard album chart for 150 weeks and has sold 7 million copies. Last November it released an enormous live CD, video and booklet compilation, "Live S...: Binge & Purge." Metallica's touring schedule is as relentless and brutal as its live performance.

As for Suicidal Tendencies, the L.A.-based punk/metal monsters can more than hold their own. They are at once as musically adroit and lyrically interesting as they are jackhammer powerful. The band will be a strong lead to Metallica.

Although crowd control is always a consideration, noise levels will be among the biggest concerns for the promoters, fans, police and neighbors alike.

The Grateful Dead seemed to slide through without too much complaint, but Metallica is especially known for ear-bleeding performances. Tuesday's open-air concert could have the pigeons and gulls dropping from the sky. The 5:30 p.m. start time will at least have the bands competing with the rush-hour din - for a while.

Patrick MacDonald contributed to this article.