Seattle grunge legends Alice in Chains are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their acclaimed EP, Jar of Flies, with a multi-format reissue. Released on January 25, 1994, the EP marked history by being the first in its format to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its first week of sales. Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings is set to release a standard black 12″ vinyl edition, while the official webstore will offer various direct-to-consumer (D2C) variants, including tri-colored vinyl, cassette, a clear variant with embedded “flies,” and a deluxe box set featuring tri-colored vinyl, a logo-embossed jar with touch-activated red LED and faux flies, a 60-page hardcover book, and a double-sided poster.

The EP, recorded in a more relaxed and intimate acoustic style after an exhaustive tour supporting the album Dirt (1992), featured bassist Mike Inez, who joined the band midway through their 1993 tour. Tracks like “I Stay Away,” “No Excuses,” and “Don’t Follow” showcased Alice in Chains’ range, establishing them as one of the most unique rock bands of the decade. The EP garnered two Grammy nominations and was certified four times platinum by the RIAA in 2022. An exclusive merch capsule collection, including limited edition apparel, a poker set, a skate deck in collaboration with Welcome Skateboards, and a “Whale & Wasp” plush toy, is also available.

 

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Zenae Zukowski