For the song of the same name by Alannah Myles, see Alannah Myles (album).
Kickstart My Heart
single
Coverkickstart_my_heart.jpg
ArtistMötley Crüe
AlbumDr. Feelgood
B-sideShe Goes Down
ReleasedNovember 20, 1989
GenreGlam metal[1][2][3][4]
Length4:48
LabelElektra
WriterNikki Sixx
ProducerBob Rock
Prev year1989
Next year1990

"Kickstart My Heart" is a song by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, originally released on their 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood. Released as the album's second single in 1989, "Kickstart My Heart" reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in early 1990.[5]

Background

Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx wrote "Kickstart My Heart" on acoustic guitar during the Dr. Feelgood sessions. When the group's former manager read the lyric, he encouraged a reluctant Sixx to share it with the band and the track came together quickly.[6]

The song's title refers an incident where a paramedic was said to have injected Sixx's heart with adrenaline to revive him after a drug overdose. Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler claimed the incident involved no injection, instead consisting of him dragging Sixx into a cold shower before paramedics arrived and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.[7]

Music video

The music video was filmed live at the Whisky a Go Go on October 5, 1989, during a warmup gig for Dr. Feelgood tour, where the band was billed as the Foreskins.[8][9] Comedian Sam Kinison cameos as the limousine driver dropping the band off at the club.[10]

Personnel

Personnel per the Dr. Feelgood CD booklet.[11]

Mötley Crüe

Additional musicians

  • Mark LeFrance – backing vocals
  • David Steele – backing vocals
  • Emi Canyn – backing vocals
  • Donna McDaniel – backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1989–1990)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12]51
Chart (2019)Peak
position
Canada Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales[13]align="center| 15
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[14]6
Chart (2026)Peak
position
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[15]3

References

  1. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Greatest Hair Metal Songs". Rolling Stone. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties – Guitar World". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2021. “Dr. Feelgood,” “Kickstart My Heart,” “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” and “She Goes Down” are as good as pop metal ever got
  3. ^ "The Ultimate Hair Metal Party Playlist". Kerrang!. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  4. ^ "Watch Ten Second Song Guy Sing Mötley Crüe's Kickstart My Heart In 17 Different Styles". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  5. ^ "Allmusic (Motley Crue charts & awards) Billboard singles"
  6. ^ Robinson, Will (2015-12-22). "Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx shares the stories behind the band's biggest songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  7. ^ Childers, Chad (15 May 2018). "Steven Adler on Motley Crue's 'Kickstart My Heart' Actual Origins". Loudwire. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
  8. ^ Basner, Dave. "Why October 5th Matters In Rock History | Q104.3". Jim Kerr Rock & Roll Morning Show. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  9. ^ Raso, Anne (December 31, 1989). "‘Dr, Feelgood’ pumps new life into Motley Crue". Circus. p. 70. ISSN 0009-7365
  10. ^ Grow, Kory (2016-01-15). "Sam Kinison Box Set to Collect Shock Comic's Long Lost Specials". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  11. ^ Dr. Feelgood (CD booklet). Elektra. 1989.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5105". RPM. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "Mötley Crüe – Canadian Digital". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 13, 2019" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 10, 2026" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 7, 2026.