"Don't Need a Gun" is a song by Billy Idol from his 1986 studio album Whiplash Smile. It became the album's second single in 1987, and was a #37 pop hit in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
| "Don't Need a Gun" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Billy Idol | ||||
| from the album Whiplash Smile | ||||
| B-side | "Fatal Charm" | |||
| Released | January 1987 (US)[1] 16 February 1987 (UK)[2] | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Idol | |||
| Producer(s) | Keith Forsey | |||
| Billy Idol singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Don't Need a Gun" on YouTube | ||||
Background and writing
edit"Don't Need a Gun" was written by Billy Idol. The song has a clear content about the risk of using firearms.
The chorus of the song includes references to "Tutti Frutti", "Flip, Flop and Fly" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy". The final verse name-checks Elvis Presley, Johnnie Ray and Gene Vincent.
Charts
edit| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany[3] | 36 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] | 27 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[5] | 29 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 26 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 37 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] | 10 |
References
edit- ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 405. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 13.
- ^ "spanishcharts.com - Billy Idol - Don't Need A Gun". Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Idol – Don't Need a Gun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Idol – Don't Need a Gun". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
External links
edit- "Don't Need a Gun" at Discogs