This was the only track from Alvin’s solo career to feature Simon on backing vocals. The track was recorded in the wake of Theodore’s nearly fatal car crash and hospitalisation; tragically, Theodore was in Berlin recording percussion on the Chipettes third album when the crash occurred. Alvin was contractually obligated to remain in the U.S. while working on his solo album leaving him unable to visit Theo. While Alvin was unsure if he’d ever see his beloved brother again, Simon decided he would remain in the States to be with Alvin while Dave flew to Germany. Alvin and Simon cranked out this record in just two takes. You can really hear the fear and anguish in the vocals, especially Simon’s backing vocals. This will always be my favourite performance from A and S. RIP Alvin Seville, in our hearts forever!
This was around the time Alvin suffered his third overdose. Seeing this tour was honestly some of the hardest live music to watch. You could genuinely feel his pain and suffering, amazing show nevertheless
I remember that tour too, it was just after they had done Woodstock '94 and Alvin was completely addicted to heroin by this point. Billy Idol had met Alvin the previous year whilst promoting Cyberpunk and, coming off his own withdrawal, really tried to help him but to no avail. Billy said in an interview years later that he doesn't sing his cover of the Velvet Underground song Heroin anymore out of respect for Alvin. Simon told me that they all loved the Cyberpunk album that Billy released in 93 and used the song Adam in Chains as a kind of therapy after Alvin's passing.
Maybe Alvin’s most bleak track from his Solo career. It speaks to the sad state of affairs he’s fallen into as the excess of the 80’s rolled on. The torturous conditions he’s put himself into as his distance from his brothers, especially Simon, only increased.
I cant believe they forced Alvin into the studio after he slammed his girlfriend with that fatal overdose. They shoved him into the record label's car just as they shoved her stretcher into the ambulance. This recording perfectly captured the guilt he was trapped with inside the mic booth. Dying quietly, soul internally bleeding. Not knowing by the time he laid this track down, she would be dead, and he would have to lay her down too.
I wish Alvin would have gotten the help he needed, but it was clear that he was unwilling to accept Theodore and Simon’s love. Gone too soon. RIP to a real one.
Sure, Alvin was on drugs but that doesn’t take anything away from the music. Music was in his soul and it pours out in this performance. We were meant to have this song. So many discouraged people are in these comments but Alvin knew what he was doing when he put this song together
I saw the documentary with his h dealer in it. Alvin wanted the world to melt away after that stalker who drove the purple Datsun. He really comes out in this one, he's still in there.
This is where Alvin hit rockbottom in 1970. After he was forced to do corn with Michelangelo from the TMNT by his brothers, his manager has beat him up with a baseball bat after he wanted his money from the last gigs. He then pointed a gun at Alvin and forced him to write this song. Alvin overdosed the fifth time after everything and shot his manager in a brothel, where he was supposed to record a new threesome video with Steve Buscemi and Aunt Peg. Heavy stuff, I tell ya...
This was the only track from Alvin’s solo career to feature Simon on backing vocals. The track was recorded in the wake of Theodore’s nearly fatal car crash and hospitalisation; tragically, Theodore was in Berlin recording percussion on the Chipettes third album when the crash occurred. Alvin was contractually obligated to remain in the U.S. while working on his solo album leaving him unable to visit Theo. While Alvin was unsure if he’d ever see his beloved brother again, Simon decided he would remain in the States to be with Alvin while Dave flew to Germany. Alvin and Simon cranked out this record in just two takes. You can really hear the fear and anguish in the vocals, especially Simon’s backing vocals. This will always be my favourite performance from A and S.
RIP Alvin Seville, in our hearts forever!
Ian managed to destroy the Chipmunks
:/
Knowing this information makes listening to this song more haunting. 💔
This was around the time Alvin suffered his third overdose. Seeing this tour was honestly some of the hardest live music to watch. You could genuinely feel his pain and suffering, amazing show nevertheless
Damn those were really dark times
I remember that tour too, it was just after they had done Woodstock '94 and Alvin was completely addicted to heroin by this point. Billy Idol had met Alvin the previous year whilst promoting Cyberpunk and, coming off his own withdrawal, really tried to help him but to no avail. Billy said in an interview years later that he doesn't sing his cover of the Velvet Underground song Heroin anymore out of respect for Alvin. Simon told me that they all loved the Cyberpunk album that Billy released in 93 and used the song Adam in Chains as a kind of therapy after Alvin's passing.
Maybe Alvin’s most bleak track from his Solo career. It speaks to the sad state of affairs he’s fallen into as the excess of the 80’s rolled on. The torturous conditions he’s put himself into as his distance from his brothers, especially Simon, only increased.
Alvin was always a disturbed one.
I cant believe they forced Alvin into the studio after he slammed his girlfriend with that fatal overdose. They shoved him into the record label's car just as they shoved her stretcher into the ambulance. This recording perfectly captured the guilt he was trapped with inside the mic booth. Dying quietly, soul internally bleeding. Not knowing by the time he laid this track down, she would be dead, and he would have to lay her down too.
I wish Alvin would have gotten the help he needed, but it was clear that he was unwilling to accept Theodore and Simon’s love. Gone too soon. RIP to a real one.
You can hear Alvin spiraling
Sure, Alvin was on drugs but that doesn’t take anything away from the music. Music was in his soul and it pours out in this performance. We were meant to have this song. So many discouraged people are in these comments but Alvin knew what he was doing when he put this song together
Say what you want, this track kicked ass! It’s one of Alvin’s best and most minsunderstood.
Man, so many of these tracks sound like long lost Godflesh or Jesu tracks and I love it!!
A rebel cry for help from this poor lost soul.
I saw the documentary with his h dealer in it. Alvin wanted the world to melt away after that stalker who drove the purple Datsun. He really comes out in this one, he's still in there.
This is basically just the Melvins lol
This is when Alvin created the sound of Type O Negative
Billy Idol on Ice.
More! More! Moore!
I really loved "Alvin's cover" of Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl, but it turned out to be Type O Negative
Thank you so much. This speaks to my otherwise dead soul.
this sounds like a normal sisters of mercy song
Play this song is you forsee yourself dying in a dark alley way because of heroin.
It does sound like that
Addicts Moan.
gracias
I don’t feel so good
❤️
This unironically has the same vibe as Sleep dopesmoker
Not if you've listened to sleep before
Play it at 2×speed, it sounds like a goth band.
Original band?
Billy Idol
Lol are you the real metal Elvis
Alvin Idol. Its right there in the video. Went under the name for his solo stuff. Too bad what happened later on in his career tho, such a shame.
This is where Alvin hit rockbottom in 1970. After he was forced to do corn with Michelangelo from the TMNT by his brothers, his manager has beat him up with a baseball bat after he wanted his money from the last gigs. He then pointed a gun at Alvin and forced him to write this song. Alvin overdosed the fifth time after everything and shot his manager in a brothel, where he was supposed to record a new threesome video with Steve Buscemi and Aunt Peg. Heavy stuff, I tell ya...