Love Bites (song)

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“Love Bites”
“Love Bites” cover
Single by Def Leppard
from the album Hysteria
B-side Billy's Got a Gun (Live)
Released 1988
Format 7"
Recorded 1984-1987
Genre Glam metal, power ballad
Length 5:46
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Def Leppard singles chronology
"Armageddon It"
(1988)
"Love Bites"
(1988)
"Rocket"
(1989)

"Love Bites" is a power ballad recorded by British rock band Def Leppard in 1987 on the album Hysteria. It is Def Leppard's only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 to date.

Contents

[edit] Song

The title "Love Bites" was originally used for a very different song that was eventually re-titled "I Wanna Be Your Hero", and which appeared as a Hysteria B-side and later on the album Retro Active.

Following the huge momentum generated by "Pour Some Sugar On Me", the song was released in August of 1988 and quickly shot to the top of the U.S. charts, dethroning Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy". It stayed there for one week before giving up the position to UB40's "Red Red Wine". The song also hit number eleven in the UK (their second best showing from the album).

"Love Bites" was ranked #8 on the list of "VH1's 25 Greatest Power Ballads" and #52 on the list of "VH1's 100 Greatest Love Songs".

[edit] Ending of "Love Bites"

A popular rumor about the song concerns the final seconds. After the line "If you got love in your sights, Watch out, Love Bites", what is seemingly heard is "Jesus of Nazareth, Go to Hell" . This rumor has been refuted by the band, most notably on a Hysteria documentary. The line is in fact producer Mutt Lange rambling in a Yorkshire accent, to the effect of "Yes it does, Bloody Hell", with the aid of a vocoder.

[edit] Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq6OYpJjG0Y

[edit] In pop culture

  • The song was covered in Brazil by guitar player Robertinho do Recife, receiving very strong airtime in the country.
  • "Love Bites" was featured in 2006 Sirius Satellite Radio TV commercials

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 7": Bludgeon Riffola / Vertigo / Polygram / 830 675-1 (USA)

  1. "Love Bites"
  2. "Billy's Got a Gun (Live)"

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
October 8, 1988
Succeeded by
"Red Red Wine" by UB40
Languages