Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

For the song "Don't Go Away Mad" by Little Village, see Little Village (album).

"Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" is a song by Mötley Crüe. It is the tenth track from their 1989 album Dr. Feelgood and was released as the album's fourth single in May 1990. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Mainstream rock charts.^[3]

"Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"
US commercial cassette single. Cover art by Mort Drucker.
Single by Mötley Crüe
from the album Dr. Feelgood
B-side	"Rattlesnake Shake"
Released	May 28, 1990
Recorded	1988–89
Studio	Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, Canada
Genre	Glam metal[1] hard rock[2]
Length	4:40
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars
Producer(s)	Bob Rock
Mötley Crüe singles chronology
"Without You" (1990) "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" (1990) "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)" (1990)
Alternative covers
CD single cover

Bassist Nikki Sixx told Rolling Stone: "I saw that line in a movie somewhere, I can't even remember what movie.^[4] I thought, 'Great idea for a song.' A little tongue in cheek. A little sarcasm there." Vocalist Vince Neil added: "I love to play guitar and sing that song. It's kind of a feel-good song. When that song comes on everybody wants to sing along with you."^[5] This song also contains lyrical references to 1984's "Too Young to Fall in Love". The phrase "Don't go away mad, just go away" is also used in the song "Just Go Away" on Blondie's 1978 album Parallel Lines.

Music video

The music video shows Neil leaving New York City to join his bandmates in Los Angeles for rehearsal. Produced by Sharon Oreck through O Pictures, "Don't Go Away Mad" is the second of two Crüe videos to be directed by Mary Lambert^[6] under the alias "Blanche White"^[7] ("blanche" meaning "white" in French).

The song's video was placed on The New York Times' list of the 15 Essential Hair-Metal Videos.^[8]

Reception

In Guitar World's "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums" article, the reviewer said that “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”, along with “Dr. Feelgood”, “Kickstart My Heart”, and “She Goes Down”, were, "as good as pop metal ever got."^[9]

Personnel

• Vince Neil - lead vocals
• Mick Mars - guitar
• Nikki Sixx - bass guitar
• Tommy Lee - drums, tambourine

Charts

Chart performance for "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)"

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[10]	72
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	49
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	19
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[13]	13