Alice in Chains tour ‘gives way’ to new routing for 2010 

With a new album on the market and a brief slate of fall concerts completed, Alice in Chains is making more substantial plans for its return in 2010. The reformed and rejuvenated grunge group will launch an extensive headlining tour of North America in the New Year.

The 25-city trek kicks off February 2 at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, BC, and concludes March 21 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, MN. Along the way, gig stops are also planned for February 11 at Fox Theatre in Oakland, CA; February 25 at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA; March 3 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC; and March 14 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA.

Most tickets for the headlining venture will go on sale to the general public on December 4 and 5. Fans in Oakland don’t have to wait, though, because tickets for the band’s February 11 event are already available.

The grunge-rock group is continuing support behind its fourth studio album and first release of new material in 14 years, “Black Gives Way to Blue.” The effort debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 after its September 25 release and remains on the chart in the No. 47 position.

“Black Gives Way to Blue” is the band’s first release with new vocalist William DuVall, taking over for the late Layne Staley who died in 2002. The remainder of the lineup includes original guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, as well as longtime bassist Mike Inez.

Earlier this season, Alice in Chains completed a brief September tour of the U.S., which also included a single performance in Canada. The rock crew is currently in the middle of a European tour, which ends December 7 at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, ENG.

In mid-December, the band will play two holiday shows for West Coast audiences. First comes a December 11 performance at the 107.5 Xtreme Holiday Havoc show at The Joint in Las Vegas, NV, followed by a December 12 appearance at KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, CA.

Alice in Chains itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)