Blood Runs Cold

Album: Slang (1996)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the passing of Def Leppard's former lead guitarist Steve Clark, who died in 1991 from a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs. The band previously paid tribute to their fallen axeman on the Adrenalize track, "White Lightning," which referenced Clark's nickname as he was always running around the stage. The American band Tesla, who opened for Def Leppard on their Hysteria tour, also honored the late guitarist with their 1991 Psychotic Supper track, "Song & Emotion."
  • Guitarist Phil Collen: "The backing track was influenced by some of the earlier Police songs and the middle section came about when Pete 'Woodroffe' said "Let's not have the standard, boring ol' middle eight, let's take the attention somewhere else and have a female solo vocal going off at the same time" so initially I put down a guide vocal and it did the trick so we kept it in the song."

    "The other thing about the album, especially this track is the prominence of the bass guitar," he added. "Sav sounds great on this song! Almost like a featured solo, again, something we've never done before." (Source Deflepparduk.com)

Comments: 1

  • Defspider = Def Leppard & Spider-man (favs) from San Francisco"Blood Runs Cold" was the song that saved my life. In 1997, my world died when my wife left me and my 3 kids. Nothing was stopping my descent to despair. Not drugs, not alchohol, not friends or family. Nothing... until I bought the "Sang" album, a year after it was released. The lyrics was talking to me personally, reminding me that "Living is the best revenge, you'll ever have.".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?