 Staley met guitarist Jerry Cantrell while working with Alice N ' Chains at Music Bank rehearsal studios . The two struggling musicians became roommates , living in a rehearsal space they shared . Alice N ' Chains soon disbanded , and Staley joined a funk band that also required a guitarist at the time . Staley asked Cantrell to join as a sideman . Cantrell agreed on condition that Staley join Cantrell 's band , which at the time included drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr . Eventually the funk project broke up , and in 1987 Staley joined Cantrell 's band on a full @-@ time basis , playing in clubs around the Pacific Northwest , often stretching 15 minutes of material into a 45 @-@ minute set . The band played a couple of gigs , calling themselves different monikers , including Diamond Lie , the name of Cantrell 's previous band , before eventually adopting the name that Staley 's previous band had initially flirted with , Alice in Chains . 
 Staley met guitarist Jerry Cantrell while working with Alice N ' Chains at Music Bank rehearsal studios . The two struggling musicians became roommates , living in a rehearsal space they shared . Alice N ' Chains soon disbanded , and Staley joined a funk band <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>also required a guitarist at the time . Staley asked Cantrell to join as a sideman . Cantrell agreed on condition that Staley join Cantrell <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>band , which at the time included drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr . Eventually the funk project broke up , and in 1987 Staley joined Cantrell <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>band on a full @-@ time basis , playing in clubs around the Pacific Northwest , often stretching 15 minutes of material into a 45 @-@ minute set . The band played a couple of gigs , calling themselves different monikers , including Diamond Lie , the name of Cantrell <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>previous band , before eventually adopting the name that Staley <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>previous band <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> initially flirted with , Alice in Chains . 
Staley met guitarist Jerry Cantrell while working with Alice N ' Chains at Music Bank rehearsal studios . da 2 strugglin musicians became roommates , living in a rehearsal space they shared . Alice N ' Chains soon disbanded , and Staley joined a funk band also required a guitarist at the time . Staley asked Cantrell to join as a sideman . Cantrell agreed on condition that Staley join Cantrell  band , which at the time included drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr . Eventually tdafunk project broke up , and in 1987 Staley joined Cantrell  band on a full @-@ time basis , playin in clubs around thdaacific Northwest , often stretching 15 minutes of material into a 45 @-@ minute set . The band played a couple of gigs , calling themselves diff monikers , including Diamond Lie , the name of Cantrell  previous band , before eventually adopting thedame dat Staley  previous band done initially flirted with , Alice in Chains .