By Thomas Semioli

As a founding member of Alice in Chains, the late Michael Christopher Starr played a major role in the alternative rock revolution aka “gunge.”

A heavy-handed plectrum player with roots firmly steeped in classic heavy metal and hard rock, Starr held the harmonic fort amid the vocal and instrumental harmonies rendered by his bandmates Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley.

Mike’s main weapons of choice were Spector NS-2 basses, and Ampeg SVT and speaker cabinets.

Following his departure from AIC due to drug issues, Starr briefly anchored Sun Red Sun with Ray Gillen and Bobby Rondinelli, however the project collapsed following Gillen’s death.

Dig Mike on “Would?” https://youtu.be/Nco_kh8xJDs

Dig Mike on “Man In The Box” https://youtu.be/TAqZb52sgpU

He is a versatile bassist who threads grunge, metal, traditional hard rock, alternative, and permutations thereof on record and on stage. 

A member of Alice in Chains since 1993, Mike Inez does it all – from lower register grooves to upper register counterpoint as the situation warrants.  

An engaging performer, educator, composer, sideman, band member, and collaborator – among Mike’s high-profile gigs aside from AIC includes Ozzy Osbourne, Slash’s Snakepit, Heart, and Black Label Society, to cite a select few. 

A hard hitting drop D tuning plectrum player inspired by John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, and Geezer Butler and his mom’s Elton John and Beatles slabs, among Mike’s weapons of choice include: Ampeg SVT, Fender Bassman, Warwick and Spector basses.