| "Rocket" | |||||
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| Single by Def Leppard from the album Hysteria |
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| B-side | Release Me (UK), Women (live) (US) |
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| Released | 1989 | ||||
| Format | 7" / 12" / CD / CDV | ||||
| Recorded | 1987 | ||||
| Genre | Hard rock | ||||
| Length | 4:25 | ||||
| Label | Mercury | ||||
| Writer | Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Robert John "Mutt" Lange | ||||
| Producer | Robert John "Mutt" Lange | ||||
| Def Leppard singles chronology | |||||
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"Rocket" is a song recorded by British hard rock band Def Leppard in 1987 from the album Hysteria. It was the sixth (seventh in the US) and final single release, coming out in January 1989 and hitting the Top 15 in the US and UK. The song was considered one of the most experimental for hard rock at the time. Most notably, producer Mutt Lange used backmasking effects to feature the line "We're fighting with the gods of war" (from "Gods of War", also on Hysteria) sung backwards throughout the track. This sample was omitted from the single version of the song. The word "Bites" (from "Love Bites") is also used as a sonic effect midway throughout the song, in order to replicate the sounds of a rocket launch through musical samples. "Rocket" also features a distinctive drum loop and monk-like chants that are actually guitar sounds. In its single release, "Rocket" was heavily edited from its original length of 6:43 for radio airplay, but would omit many of the portions that greatly distinguished the track from the rest of the album. However, it is the album version that is performed during concerts. The video is noted for being the last of the band with Steve Clark in the lineup. It was filmed in the same warehouse in Holland used nearly two years earlier for the "Women" clip in 1987. Clips of the classic rock names from the lyrics are flashed during the video.
It was used by professional wrestler Flyin' Brian Pillman as his theme music, when he came to NWA/WCW in 1989. Most Def Leppard hits compilations use the edited version of the song.
Contents |
Lyrics
For its lyrics, the names of classic rock artists, songs or albums are dropped as a subtle tribute to the music of the band's youth.
- "Jack Flash" - The song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones, 1969
- "Rocket Man" - The song of the same name by Elton John, 1972
- "Sgt. Pepper & the Band" - The album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, 1967
- "Ziggy" - The track/character of "Ziggy Stardust" from David Bowie's album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, 1972
- "Bennie and the Jets" - The song of the same name by Elton John, 1973
- "Satellite of Love" - The song of the same name by Lou Reed, 1972
- "Laser Love" - The song of the same name by T. Rex, 1976
- "Jet" - The song of the same name by Paul McCartney & Wings, 1973
- "Black" - A reference to the song "Black Betty" by Ram Jam, 1977
- "Johnny B." - A reference to the song "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, 1958
- "Jean Genie" - The song of the same name by David Bowie, 1973
- "Killer Queen" - The song of the same name by Queen, 1975
- "Dizzy Lizzy" - A reference to the song "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", made famous by the Beatles, 1965
- "Major Tom" - A reference to the song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, 1969
Track listing
7": Bludgeon Riffola / LEP6 (UK)
- "Rocket [Edit]"
- "Release Me"
7": Mercury / 872 614-7 (US)
- "Rocket [Edit]"
- "Women [Live]"
12": Bludgeon Riffola / LEPX6 (UK)
- "Rocket [Lunar Mix]"
- "Release Me"
- "Rock of Ages [Live]"
12": Bludgeon Riffola / LEPXP6 (UK)
- "Rocket [Lunar Mix]"
- "Rocket [Radio Edit]"
- "Release Me"
- 12" picture disc
CD: Bludgeon Riffola / LEPCD6 (UK)
- "Rocket [Lunar Mix-edit]"
- "Rock of Ages [Live]"
- "Release Me"
CD: Vertigo / 872 614-2 (Can)
- "Rocket [Extended Lunar Mix]"
- "Women [Live]"
- "Rock of Ages [Live]"
- "Rocket [Lunar Mix]"
- only 5000 copies pressed
CDV: Bludgeon Riffola / 080 990-2 (UK)
- "Rocket [Lunar Mix-edit]" [Video]
- "Rocket [Edit]" [Audio]
- "Release Me" [Audio]
- "Rock of Ages [Live]" [Audio]
