Tracklist front / back album covers
1. "Them Bones" 2:30
2. "Dam That River" 3:09
3. "Rain When I Die" 6:01
4. "Down in a Hole" 5:38
5. "Sickman" 5:29
6. "Rooster" 6:15
7. "Junkhead" 5:09
8. "Dirt" 5:16
9. "God Smack" 3:56
10. "Intro (Dream Sequence)/Iron Gland" (sometimes unlisted or listed as "Untitled") 0:43
11. "Hate to Feel" 5:15
12. "Angry Chair" 4:48
13. "Would?" 3:28
Total length: 57:37
Alice in Chains Band Members / Musicians
Layne Staley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar on "Hate to Feel" and "Angry Chair", production, sun logo/icons
Jerry Cantrell – co-lead vocals on "Down in a Hole", "Angry Chair" and "Would?", backing vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar on "Down In a Hole", production
Mike Starr – bass, production
Sean Kinney – drums, production
Tom Araya – vocals on "Iron Gland"
Dave Jerden – production (except on "Would?"), mixing
Rick Parashar – production on "Would?"
Bryan Carlstrom – engineering
Annette Cisneros – engineering, mixing
Ulrich Wild – engineering
Steve Hall and Eddy Schreyer – mastering
Mary Maurer – art direction, visual effects
Doug Erb – cover design
David Coleman – logo
Rocky Schenck – photography
Dirt is the critically acclaimed 2nd studio album by American rock band Alice in Chains, released on September 29, 1992, through Columbia Records. The album quickly rose in popularity, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and has since become the band’s highest-selling record, with over five million copies sold worldwide. It also earned a prestigious four-times platinum certification from the RIAA, solidifying its impact on the rock music scene.
Dirt is notable for being the last album recorded with the band’s original lineup before bassist Mike Starr was dismissed in January 1993 during the supporting tour. The album features some of Alice in Chains’ most iconic tracks, including five successful singles: "Would?", "Them Bones", "Angry Chair", "Rooster", and "Down in a Hole." Each of these singles was accompanied by music videos that contributed to the band’s growing popularity on MTV and within the alternative rock community.
The track "Would?" gained additional recognition by being part of the soundtrack for Cameron Crowe’s 1992 film Singles. Its music video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film, highlighting the band’s influence beyond just the music charts. Additionally, Dirt earned a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, further recognizing its artistic merit.
With its dark and heavy themes, Dirt explores topics like addiction, pain, and loss, wrapped in the band’s signature grunge and metal sound. The album remains a cornerstone of early ‘90s rock and a defining release for Alice in Chains, capturing the raw emotion and intensity that has resonated with fans for decades.
