When Grunge Put on a Wig and Trolled the World

On December 12th, 1995, Alice In Chains dropped the iconic Nona Tapes, a fake interview reel that would go on to become one of the most cultish, chaotic, and downright genius releases in grunge history. What was initially supposed to be just another promotional tool for the band transformed into something far more legendary—a moment that truly embodied the spirit of grunge.

The star of this chaos? Jerry Cantrell—but not the Jerry Cantrell we all knew. He wasn’t the brooding guitar hero or the deep, introspective lyricist. No, in the Nona Tapes, Cantrell donned a silver wig, a bold application of makeup, and a persona so unbothered it was borderline legendary: Nona Weisbaum, a fabulous, in-your-face interview host with an attitude sharper than Layne Staley’s iconic vocals. Nona was a character who gave zero f*cks and asked all the wrong questions. Every second of the “interview” was a deliberately crafted piece of absurdity, a cheeky jab at the very idea of promotion itself.

In true grunge fashion, it wasn’t about following the script or playing nice—it was about breaking down the expectations and letting the chaos reign. Nona’s candid, hilariously misguided questions were designed to not only make you laugh but to show the world just how little Alice In Chains cared for the polished image that music business culture often demanded. From absurd tangents to intentionally awkward silences, the Nona Tapes became more than just a promo; it was a reflection of grunge’s chaotic, non-conformist nature.

The Nona Tapes stands as one of the greatest proofs that grunge didn’t just break the rules—it laughed at them, strutted in full drag, and completely turned the idea of promotional content on its head. The wit, the humor, and the absolute lack of care for convention made it a rare gem—a piece of history that exemplified everything that made grunge so magnetic, rebellious, and utterly unique. It was a love letter to the raw, unpolished, messy world of music and its creators—a true reflection of the punk-infused ethos that defined the genre.

Grunge wasn’t about being polite or fitting in. It was about sticking it to the system, and if that meant dressing up in a ridiculous wig, mocking the very idea of interviews, and refusing to take things seriously, then so be it. The Nona Tapes may have started as a bit of fun, but in the process, it became a timeless reminder that sometimes, the best way to make an impact is to laugh in the face of expectation—and Alice In Chains did just that, with full glam and zero apologies.