Alice in Chains » Tracks » Rooster

Alice in Chains – Rooster (6:14)

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About This Track

“Rooster” is a popular single by the grunge/metal group Alice in Chains. The song was released in 1993 and is featured on their second, full-length studio album, Dirt. It was written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell for his father, who served in the Vietnam War. His nickname was “Rooster.” It is unknown where the nickname originated, but there is speculation that it may have been in relation to the 101st Airborne Division, in which Cantrell’s father served. The 101st Airborne wore patches on their arms featuring a bald eagle. There are no bald eagles in Vietnam, so the closest thing to which the Vietnamese could reference them was the chicken. They referred to them as “chicken men”.

Jerry Cantrell has stated in an interview that Rooster was the nickname given to his father as a boy growing up in the south where it was common to have a nickname.

The music video featured brutality and violence visually reminiscent of Apocalypse Now.

Jerry Cantrell on the song, from the liner notes of 1999’s Music Bank box set collection:

“It was the start of the healing process between my Dad and I from all that damage that Vietnam caused. This was all my perception of his experiences out there. The first time I ever heard him talk about it was when we made the video and he did a 45 minute interview with Mark Pellington and I was amazed he did it. He was totally cool, totally calm, accepted it all and had a good time doing it. It even brought him to the point of tears. It was beautiful. He said it was a weird experience, a sad experience and he hoped that nobody else had to go through it.”
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Albums featuring this track

  • Dirt
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  • MTV Unplugged
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  • Unplugged
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  • Music Bank
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See all 29 albums

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  • Schizm88

    Quite possibly one of my favorite songs of all time. Alice in Chains is awesome. RIP Layne

    Monday morning

  • pennhillman

    new to AIC , cant get over how good mtv unplugged video is, see it and it will blow you away...

    last month

  • SeattleMarie

    There's no better band!

    last month

  • fuckingpussy

    mm

    last month

  • Ferdokki

    This band...I still love them. I mean, yeah, they have a new lead singer, but he's pretty freakin great. Still, I miss the original...

    last month

  • Scott_317

    Such a good song.

    last month

  • theviperchick

    √v^√v^√♥√v^√v^√♥√v^√v^√♥√v^√

    last month

  • bethymolko

    such a smooth song <3

    March 2012

  • giggleloop1

    Loving this!!

    March 2012

  • crazzyd77

    NOT GONNA

    March 2012

  • rocknroll-dream

    the beginning!!!

    March 2012

  • magnoliamagmay

    i love the beginning

    March 2012

  • hadomaru

    Ain't found a way to kill me yet...

    March 2012

  • tondabenge

    sing it Layne!!!! so beautiful

    March 2012

  • darkcleavage

    snuff that rooster!!!

    February 2012

  • nicole564

    <3

    February 2012

  • Vermittlung

    Der absolute Hammer!

    February 2012

  • lord_of_beer

    It's a killer song. I heard it's about his dad in nahm, don't know if that's true, don't care.

    February 2012

  • fuckyouty1

    outstanding.

    February 2012

  • Goodman775

    This is a good song.

    February 2012
See all 684 shouts

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