Kickstart My Heart

Album: Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Charted: 27
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Songfacts®:

  • This hard-charging rocker has a surprising inspiration: It's about the near death of Mötley Crüe bass player Nikki Sixx. On December 23, 1987, he literally died after overdosing on heroin. When paramedics arrived they shot him with adrenaline as a last ditch effort to save him, so the adrenaline "kickstarted" his heart!
  • The song deals with the band's newfound sobriety during the songwriting process and on stage. The rush they used to get from drugs they were now getting in other, more natural ways.
  • Nikki Sixx told Rolling Stone: "That was a song I had written very quickly and had brought into rehearsal. I thought it was a throwaway, something that would belong on Too Fast For Love. It just really took on a life of its own and fit on the album a lot better than it should."
  • Steven Adler disputes Nikki Sixx's version of the events that inspired the lyrics for the song. The former Guns N' Roses drummer recalled to the Triple M radio station in May 2018:

    "He wrote it about the paramedics took that syringe and did that Pulp Fiction thing to him. But they didn't do that; they didn't do that. I dragged him into the shower with a broken hand and a cast on my hand, I rolled him in, I put the cold water on him in the shower and I started slapping him in the face with my cast. And next thing you know, the purple in his face just disappeared.

    And then right then, the paramedics came in and they grabbed him out of the shower like a rag doll, dropped him in the living room and they just pumped his chest with their hands. And that was it. But he got a hell of a good song out of it. It is entertainment, after all."
  • Mötley Crüe appeared in a commercial for the Kia Optima that ran during the 2012 Super Bowl. In the ad, they are performing this song in a really awesome dream; Adriana Lima and Chuck Liddell also appear. The concept is that the vehicle is the only thing you can dream of that is attainable in your waking hours.
  • The song soundtracked a 2014 commercial for the Dodge Charger. Dodge also acted as the presenting sponsor of Mötley Crüe's The Final Tour, which kicked off in Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena on July 2, 2014.
  • A driver in Manitoba, Canada tried to excuse his driving at 145 km/h (90 mph) by telling police officers that he'd been listening to this song at the time of the offense. "Kickstart My Heart" came on his radio on January 7, 2019 just before he was pulled over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

    So was accidentally speeding to the song deemed to be justification for his fast driving? Nope. The RCMP officer who pulled over the driver had been tuned into the same radio station. He had also been listening to the same tune, but while driving at a much slower speed. The driver was fined $639 (£377) for the offense.
  • In 2019, this was used in a Super Bowl commercial for Planters nuts where Mr. Peanut drives the Peanutmobile rather recklessly so he can save Alex Rodriguez from the horror of snacking on kale chips.
  • In The Office episode "Traveling Salesmen" (2007), Dwight rocks out to this, complete with air guitar, in Jim's car before a sales meeting.

    It was also featured in these TV series:

    American Dad! ("Brave Noob World" - 2020)
    Supergirl ("The Quest For Peace" - 2019)
    S.W.A.T. ("Pamilya" - 2017)
    Doogie Howser, M.D. ("Doogie's Awesome, Excellent Adventure" - 1990)

    And in these movies:

    Hellboy (2019)
    A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
    Zookeeper (2011)
    Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
    Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
    Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Comments: 29

  • Luke from Manchester, EnglandTbone from Virginia, United States - Manowar are Posers.
  • What Is The Last Word Of The Song? from Montréal At thing of Kick start my Heart you can hear the singer say a word. Not sure waht is it. Can tou help me? Me and friend put a 20$ on that lol
  • Scott from Hanford, CaIn 2010 (I believe it was that year) Blue Angels Diamond formation would take off and begin their demonstration to this song over the loudspeakers at their airshows.
  • Chris from Hutchinson, KsNikki was not released from the hospital: he yanked the IV out, walked out of the hospital, went home and shot up again.
  • Rocksolan from Kyiv, UkraineMy Dear Friends!
    It looks like you argue about two different cases. One of them was in Valentine's Day in London and another one - 23 December in USA... What do you think?
  • Christian from OhActually, whitley, from decorah, IA. You obviously didn't pay that much attention to the section of his book, because it clearly states that when the ambulance got to the hospital, two teenage girls convinced the doctor to try one more time to revive Sixx, and it finally worked due to the adrenaline.
  • Whitley from Decorah, Iaif you read his book you find out that it was only because the paramedic was an avid crue fan and wouldn't let him die and had to shoot him in the heart with the shot. u also learn that he was throw in a dumpster by a drug dealer who thought he died from and od.
  • Whitley from Decorah, Iaif you read his book you find out that it was only because the paramedic was an avid crue fan and wouldn't let him die and had to shoot him in the heart with the shot. u also learn that he was throw in a dumpster by a drug dealer who thought he died from and od.
  • Dustin from Arcadia,again greatest rock and roll band of all time period
  • Jessica from Las Vegas, NvOkay. On valentines day, nikki sixx went to a "drug appartment" and was so drunk and had a headache that he told the dude that took him there to give him the drugs that he had talked about ((heroin)) but stupidly he should have thought before saying that because ((of course)) no one but nikki himself knows how much of any drug he can handle so the dude that shot nikki up gave him WAAY too much and nikki was knocked out cold. The dude thought he had just killed nikki sixx from Motley Crue so he got a baseball bat and tried to "beat the freaking((insert other word there)) life into him" well when that didnt work he took nikki on his shoulders outside of the appartment and threw him in a dumpster. Later the paramedics found him and revived his heart after two minutes of being dead. That is what inspired this awesome song.
  • Airk from Skagway, AkThere are too many songs that have that gearshift guitar opening...
  • Goober from Hell, NyBeing loud doesn't mean anything
  • Tbone from Virginia, United Statesluke actually the loudest band youll ever see is Manowar they have the on record the loudest decibal of volume for any band ever. but agree that motorhead is louder than the Crue. i read about the story and sixx. He was pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital. one of the doctors was a motley crue fan and he said hes not gonna die and came in with the adrenaline and kickstartd his heart. After that he was released from the hospital later that night he went back to the hotel shot up again and left a message on his answering machine that said this "hey this is nikki im not here right now because im dead"
  • Luke from Manchester, EnglandActually, Motorhead is the loudest band you'll see
  • Greg from Maryville, MoThe imitation of the motorcycle engine at the beginning was used earlier by Montrose on "Bad Motor Scooter." I think the guitarist who perfected that sound was Ronnie Montrose. The singer happened to be Sammy Hagar.
  • Nate from Viola, WiKickass song...love the gearshift guitar at the start. Motley Crue is the best and loudest show you'll ever see.
  • Angie from Ocean Springs, Msthis song kicks my butt everytime, very motivational for me
  • Jen from Ontario, Canadayea, mick mars does the voiceboxin this song (watch the video on www.youtube.com (search "Kicksart My Heart"))
  • Leon from Waterbury, CtDoesn't Mick do the voice box on this? I think it's him...
  • Karren from Deerfiled, Nhi love NIKKI SIXX too!!
  • Dylan from Perth, AustraliaThis song is by far The Crues heaviest song theyve ever released.
  • John from Taylors Falls, Msthis song is easily their best.
  • David from Taylors Falls, Mnparts of the song deals with drugs. like "when i get high, i get high on speed." It's kinda got 2 though.
  • Mleissa from Wasaga Beach, CanadaNikki Sixx is great but Mick Mars is the freakin COOLEST! lol
  • Ashes from Sydney, AustraliaTrue thank god he is still alive and thank god there comming to Austraila!!!!Love 'em
  • Danny from Sydney, Australiathis song highlights everything great about metal in the 1980s
  • Aj from Cleveland, GaWhat would we have done if he had died?
  • Adriana from Monterrey, MexicoThis Song Rocks..!
    Thank God Nikki Is Still Alive..!
    Love You SixX
  • Danielle from Swanton, OhI love Nikki Sixx!
see more comments

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