Kickstart My Heart
Encyclopedia
"Kickstart My Heart" is a Grammy Award-nominated song by the American rock band Mötley Crüe
, originally released on their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood
. The song has also been used numerous in media, including the trailers for Robert Rodriguez's family comedy Shorts
and the Disney/Pixar film Cars
. It could also be heard in some TV spots for the action-comedy 30 Minutes or Less
starring Jesse Eisenberg
. It's even included on the soundtrack for the movie Take Me Home Tonight.
about his infamous overdose in which he was declared clinically dead before being revived by two adrenaline shots to the heart. The overdose was back in 1987 when Guns N' Roses
and Mötley Crüe
toured together. The overdose took place in Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash
's hotel room, Slash had nothing to do with Sixx's overdose; in fact, Slash's girlfriend got Sixx the help he needed.
is featured at the start of the video in a short cameo as the band's driver. For the Carnival of Sins 2005 tour, "Kickstart My Heart" was used as the band's closing song for the tour because of its fast pace and epic feel. This was again proven when the band used it as an intro for Crüe Fest
. The song is again being used as their closer on the 2011 Tour with Poison.
charts in the United States. The introduction is a classic example of a Floyd Rose
bridge trick, in which Mick Mars
drops three consecutive strings resulting in sound similar to a motorcycle shifting gears. The catchy guitar riff that immediately follows bears a striking resemblance to 70's glam rock band Sweet
's intro to their 1973 song, "Hell Raiser" (which itself resembles Led Zeppelin
's 1969 song "Whole Lotta Love"). The song's ending features a prominent example of talkbox effects.
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, originally released on their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood (album)
*Disc one contains the original albumThe original Korean LP edition does not contain the first two tracks, "T.N.T. " and "Dr...
. The song has also been used numerous in media, including the trailers for Robert Rodriguez's family comedy Shorts
Shorts (film)
Shorts is a 2009 family comedy/adventure film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It was released in the United States on August 21, 2009...
and the Disney/Pixar film Cars
Cars (film)
Cars is a 2006 American animated family film produced by Pixar and directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Joe Ranft. It is the seventh Disney·Pixar feature film, and Pixar's final, independently-produced motion picture before its purchase by Disney...
. It could also be heard in some TV spots for the action-comedy 30 Minutes or Less
30 Minutes or Less
30 Minutes or Less is a 2011 American action comedy crime film directed by Ruben Fleischer starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson...
starring Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Adam Eisenberg is an American actor. He made his screen debut with the comedy-drama television series Get Real from 1999 to 2000...
. It's even included on the soundtrack for the movie Take Me Home Tonight.
Meaning
The song was written by Nikki SixxNikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
about his infamous overdose in which he was declared clinically dead before being revived by two adrenaline shots to the heart. The overdose was back in 1987 when Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
and Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
toured together. The overdose took place in Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
's hotel room, Slash had nothing to do with Sixx's overdose; in fact, Slash's girlfriend got Sixx the help he needed.
Music video
The video clip was shot in the Whisky-A-Go-Go during the Mötley Crüe's warm up show before embarking on the Dr. Feelgood Tour. Sam KinisonSam Kinison
Samuel Burl "Sam" Kinison was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Kinison was known for his intense, harsh and politically incorrect genre humor...
is featured at the start of the video in a short cameo as the band's driver. For the Carnival of Sins 2005 tour, "Kickstart My Heart" was used as the band's closing song for the tour because of its fast pace and epic feel. This was again proven when the band used it as an intro for Crüe Fest
Crüe Fest
Crüe Fest was a summer 2008 tour by Mötley Crüe, which commenced on July 1, 2008 and concluded on August 31, 2008. It featured Mötley Crüe themselves, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M., and Trapt. Crüe Fest was said to be "the Loudest Show on Earth"...
. The song is again being used as their closer on the 2011 Tour with Poison.
Kickstart My Heart '11
In tribute for their fans, motley made a new video for the song which included multiple clips from their US tour with Poison and New york dolls. The video was shot by Bobby HeWitt. Soon after the band issued the following statement: "We documented the whole tour, top to bottom (the good, the bad and the ugly) and as we were looking through all the amazing footage, we thought how cool it would be to cut together a "best of visual" for the fans who made this tour happen. This one is just for the fans, from us."Riff
Released as the album's second single in 1989, "Kickstart My Heart" reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts in the United States. The introduction is a classic example of a Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
bridge trick, in which Mick Mars
Mick Mars
Mick Mars is the lead guitarist for American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Career:After his family relocated from Indiana, to California, Bob Deal dropped out of high school and began playing guitar in a series of unsuccessful blues based rock bands throughout the seventies, taking on menial day...
drops three consecutive strings resulting in sound similar to a motorcycle shifting gears. The catchy guitar riff that immediately follows bears a striking resemblance to 70's glam rock band Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
's intro to their 1973 song, "Hell Raiser" (which itself resembles Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's 1969 song "Whole Lotta Love"). The song's ending features a prominent example of talkbox effects.
Personnel
- Vince NeilVince NeilVincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
- vocals - Mick MarsMick MarsMick Mars is the lead guitarist for American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Career:After his family relocated from Indiana, to California, Bob Deal dropped out of high school and began playing guitar in a series of unsuccessful blues based rock bands throughout the seventies, taking on menial day...
- guitar - Nikki SixxNikki SixxNikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
- bass - Tommy LeeTommy LeeThomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
- drums