Bad Attitude

Album: The House of Blue Light (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to the Jerry Bloom biography Black Knight, "Bad Attitude" was inspired by lead guitarist Ritchie Blackmore "although the tone was far less vicious" than Ian Gillan's previous polemic "Smooth Dancer."

    By the time The House Of Blue Light was recorded, Blackmore had spent twelve years in the States and his speech had become Americanised to a certain extent, something which appears to have irked Gillan.
  • The dedicated Deep Purple website TheHighwayStar.com credits words and music to Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Jon Lord, with Gillan obviously supplying the lyrics. It remains to be seen if Blackmore realized he was the subject of the song, as it is by no means as obvious as "Smooth Dancer."

    The same source says several edits were made, including a live version which begins with Gillan reciting "The Teddy Bears Picnic"; this was recorded in Phoenix, Arizona on May 30, 1987. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Roger Glover explained to Metal Hammer in 1988, "'Bad Attitude' is probably the hardest song for us to do live for some reason. Again I think it's better live than the studio version and it's a song that really does suffer from translation from the studio to stage."

Comments: 1

  • Jorge from Bronx, NyI came to like this song,because back then,my handle [nickname] in the Citizen Band radio my name was Bad Attitude,but of course the album had 2 more songs i liked also.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.