In '98, I locked myself in my house, went out of my mind and wrote 25 songs. I rarely bathed during that period of writing; I sent out for food, I didn't really venture out of my house in three or four months. It was a hell of an experience. The album is an overview of birth to now.

I can sing fine and I can play guitar fine, but put 'em together and it becomes a thoughtful effort.

Our music's kind of about taking something ugly and making it beautiful.

Times change and you have to adapt.

I'm going to keep thinking about topping myself every time. I can say very confidently that Alice In Chains have done that on every record. It surprises me. I don't go in there expecting that, but I do go in there hoping for it.

When power ballads come back, we'll get big hair again.

I'm doing the best I can with what I got and that's all anybody in my band is doing.