Angry Chair

Infobox Single
Name = Angry Chair


Artist = Alice in Chains
from Album = Dirt
Released = 1992
Format = CD
Recorded = 1992
Genre = Grunge
Length = 4:47
Label = Columbia Records
Producer = Dave Jerdan & Alice in Chains
Writer = Layne Staley
Reviews =
Last single = "Them Bones"
(1992)
This single = "Angry Chair"
(1992)
Next single = "Rooster"
(1993) |

"Angry Chair", by grunge band Alice in Chains, was the fourth single from their 1992 album "Dirt". It is the twelfth song on the album, although older pressings place it eleventh due to an apparent error in track arrangements. The song was one of the few written entirely by lead singer Layne Staley for the band.

The song also has a reference to the Stanley Kubrick film "The Shining" (based on the novel by Stephen King) in the line, "I'm a dull boy work all day".Fact|date=October 2007The quotation is taken almost directly from one of the most famous scenes in the film, in which main character Jack Torrence repeatedly types, "All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy". (The movie was also referenced in the echoing of "red rum" in the interlude track "Iron Gland" on the same album). "Fact|date=October 2007

An acoustic version of "Angry Chair" was later performed for the MTV show MTV Unplugged. (Though omitted from the aired performance, the song was included in the "Unplugged CD" and DVD release, and on the Greatest Hits disc and 'Music Bank" box set.

Jerry Cantrell on the song, from the liner notes of 1999's "Music Bank" box set collection:

"Such a brilliant song. I'm very proud of Layne for writing it. When I've stepped up vocally in the past he's been so supportive, and here was a fine example of him stepping up with the guitar and writing a masterpiece."

Although "Dirt" marked the introduction of Staley's guitar playing contributions to the group, he rarely played in concert, focusing instead on his vocals and showmanship. This is one of the few songs he regularly played guitar on during live performances.Fact|date=October 2007

The ending to the song was often used as a lead in to another famous Alice in Chains song "Man in the Box" in concert.

The current members of AIC performed an acoustic version of "Angry Chair" with Stone Temple Pilots/ex-Velvet Revolver lead singer Scott Weiland in concert on September 30, 2007 in Austin, TX.

----

An "Angry Chair" is also mentioned in Rafe Martin's [http://www.rafemartin.com/] "Dear as Salt" children's novel - Published in 1993.

Track listing

# "Angry Chair" (4:47)
# "Brother" (4:27)Limited Edition 4 Track Picture CD
# "Angry Chair" (4:51) - (from "Dirt")
# "I Know Somethin (bout You)" (4:24) - (from "Facelift")
# "It Ain't Like That (Live)" (4:40)
# "Hate To Feel (Live)" (5:35)Both Live tracks recorded March 2nd, 1993

Chart positions

References