Man in the Box

Feed your eyes on Alice in Chains' iconic 1991 breakthrough hit, "Man in the Box"! A defining track of the grunge era from their debut Facelift, its heavy groove, haunting vocals, and signature talk box guitar riff created an unforgettable alternative metal classic.

Released as a single in 1991 from their 1990 debut album Facelift, "Man in the Box" launched Alice in Chains into the mainstream. Its potent blend of grunge atmosphere, alternative metal weight, and hard rock power, driven by Layne Staley's layered vocals and Jerry Cantrell's talk box riff, dominated rock radio.

This powerful 1991 alternative rock track explores themes of censorship and confinement with dark intensity. Featuring a heavy, grinding rhythm section and Cantrell's memorable guitar work, "Man in the Box" remains one of Alice in Chains' most recognizable and influential signature songs.

SONG MEANING: Inspired partly by a conversation about veal calves raised in confinement, Layne Staley's lyrics use the "Man in the Box" metaphor to explore themes of censorship, particularly in the media ("Feed my eyes, can you sew them shut?"). It suggests being controlled, having one's perspective limited, and potentially questioning dogma ("Jesus Christ / Deny your maker").