Degradation Trip

 ( Jerry Cantrell Albums ) 

"It was very strange for me, because my experience in this business has been with one band and one label. The last couple years I was not only on my own making a record of the magnitude that I committed myself to, but I was having to deal with being like a brand new artist going around to all these different labels and meeting with them and hearing the same things over and over: 'Yeah, we love it. We love you,' and then have nothing happen. It was a little disheartening after a while."

Trujillo noted the difficulty in re-recording Cantrell's "little hoodrat demos". He was asked to replicate the demo arrangements which were on Compact Cassette and, according to Trujillo, had nearly indistinguishable bass. It resulted that Trujillo, inspired by Pino Palladino, developed his own code for writing down bass compositions which he would continue using in the future. However, he remarked positively on his recording experience with Cantrell: "I was primarily just there to enhance the bass, but he taught me a lot about simplicity and using space and notes that really mean something to a song."

Finally, he was picked up by Roadrunner who insisted Cantrell narrow his solo work to 14 songs. He was told, however, that the remaining tracks would later be released in some form. Indeed, on November 26, 2002, a second version of the album – considered to be the "definitive" and originally intended version – was released. This special edition double album includes 11 additional recordings that Roadrunner forced Cantrell to cut, in fear that a double album would have low commercial viability. As such, Cantrell has called the single-disc release the " Reader's Digest version" of Degradation Trip.Kaye, Don. "A Long, Strange Trip" Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2, liner notes (November 26, 2002)

The album's grunge heaviness is balanced, however, by moody acoustic guitar ballads such as the somber "Angel Eyes". Serene, twangy guitar riffs featured in the likes of "Gone" allude more to Cantrell's Southern roots.

Its lyrics, often haunting and confessional, range from cynical sarcasm to explicitly morbid portrayals. Cantrell vents on the demise of his band and other personal issues with depictions of drug abuse, troubled relationships, and the rocky, hedonism lifestyle of a musician. The album's title refers to Cantrell's self-imposed isolation and appears in "Solitude", a brooding acoustic track. The lyrical impact of songs such as "Psychotic Break", which also describes Cantrell's seclusion and reflects on deceased friends and family, was only prophecy magnified upon the sudden death of Layne Staley in April 2002.

The album cover was unveiled on April 10, 2002. The artwork was designed by Pascal Brun, and the photographs were shot by Comenius Röthlisberger, both from Team Switzerland. The front cover features a green image of Cantrell's dismembered left arm lying on a green field with guitar strings wrapped around his fingers and attached to the inner side of his elbow, alluding to the movement of playing the guitar. Female body parts are featured on the booklet for each lyric, with the song title tattooed on the skin. The booklet also contains an image of Cantrell lying on the ground bare chested with his eyes and lips upside down, and a dismembered right hand with a 1/4" audio jack (such as that used for guitar cables) replacing the index finger. Pictures of Cantrell alongside Robert Trujillo and Mike Bordin complete the booklet. The back cover has a photo of Cantrell, Trujillo and Bordin in a field, and the dedicatory "This record is dedicated to Layne Staley" above the track listing.Liner notes. Degradation Trip. 2002.

With his album still being shopped around to labels, Jerry Cantrell began a national club tour with a show in his new hometown, San Francisco, California, in January 2001. Supported by Comes with the Fall and Swarm, he recruited M.I.R.V. guitarist Bryan Kehoe to join himself, Mike Bordin, and Robert Trujillo on stage. The three bands performed together from March 13 to April 5, 2001.

In May 2001, Cantrell had an accident while playing football after a concert at the Kentucky Derby and broke his left hand and had to undergo reconstructive surgery, which caused the tour to be postponed. Cantrell's first concert after the surgery was at the Key Club in West Hollywood on July 1, 2001.

Comes with the Fall, a young band that Cantrell admired, would continue touring with him into the following year and even participate during his sets, which included both solo work and Alice in Chains songs.

In support of his new album, Cantrell embarked on a two-month North American solo tour beginning April 20, 2001. Cantrell, who had recently signed with Roadrunner, performed at the 16th annual South by Southwest music conference in March 2002. Despite the death of Layne Staley during this time, Cantrell opted not to cancel any shows, stating, "The shows I played between the time I got the word about Layne and Layne's funeral were very important to me in terms of being able to continue on. It's one of those things where if you take a break and allow things to settle in, it might be harder to get up again." Cantrell later told Pennsylvania's The Times, "It's difficult to do interviews - it's hard to talk about it. I'm just thankful to have a tour and work - something I can focus on." William DuVall of Comes with the Fall (future Alice in Chains vocalist), who performed Staley's vocals during concerts, elaborated on this emotional period:

"I lost my grandfather in the same week, so Cantrell and I both hit the road with immense personal losses dogging us. There were times on stage—there was one show in Charlotte where it was just so heavy. I’m holding back tears onstage, and Jerry would start crying onstage too a lot at that point, and a lot of times we would just look at each other when we were singing the stuff because it was the only way... it was heavy. I can’t quantify it really in words."

Cantrell canceled the show that he was scheduled to perform at Zephyrhills's Livestock Festival on April 28, 2002, in order to attend Staley's funeral in Seattle. Cantrell was replaced by heavy metal band Neurotica.

That summer, Cantrell toured with Nickelback, whom he had befriended at a Roadrunner Records Christmas party, and played in select cities with Creed. However, Bordin and Trujillo were occupied recording Ozzy Osbourne's latest album, forcing Comes with the Fall to both perform as Cantrell's band and open for him in October. The solo musician found himself ironically opening for bands that his previous elder group, Alice in Chains, had undeniably influenced. Regarding the tours, Cantrell expressed enthusiasm toward Nickelback, a Canadian band with high admiration for Cantrell. During some shows, Cantrell also joined Nickelback to play the Alice in Chains song "It Ain't Like That" together, as documented on Nickelback's Live at Home DVD. However, Cantrell also noted his annoyance toward Creed's indifference and lack of friendliness while touring with them, he said; "Personally speaking, I had a great time with the Nickelback guys who are actually real guys and a young fuckin’ hot band, the whole vibe of being around that's exciting. The Creed thing was a little more stale. I just didn't find them very personable guys. I was on tour with them for fuckin’ ever and I still hadn't even met em’. When you spend two months together, you generally find some time to fuckin’ say hello or whatever. It was really kinda weird in that respect. I'd never been on a tour that was that fuckin’ stale on a personal level".

Cantrell also took part in the Canada's Edgefest. One particularly heated show forced Cantrell to swap places with Sevendust who were having trouble crossing into Canada, and postponed their slot. The sudden inconvenience led to technical problems with Cantrell's set and a rift between the two parties; his guitar Short circuit out early on, and he later tripped on a microphone cord before angrily ending his set early. Cantrell then gave the crowd a disparaging remark about the upcoming Sevendust. Lajon Witherspoon, frontman of Sevendust, then spoke out during their set: "When Jerry Cantrell says fuck Sevendust, I say fuck you, Jerry Cantrell. I hope you heard me, Jerry Cantrell." However, Sevendust's spokesman soon after claimed that the two parties had apologized over the misunderstanding and that Cantrell was largely just upset over the technical difficulties. Further details revealed that Sevendust's bus broke down on their way to Ontario and that they waited two hours for officers to clear them to cross the border.

After opening for Nickelback and Creed, Cantrell began a headlining tour on October 9. This included Comes with the Fall, Mad at Gravity and Udora as openers.

After an October 23 show in Portland, Oregon, Cantrell passed out from extreme exhaustion and dehydration. This caused the cancellation of two shows in Seattle, Washington, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. He continued touring on October 27.