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Don't Need a Gun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Don't Need a Gun"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Whiplash Smile
B-side"Fatal Charm"
ReleasedJanuary 1987 (US)[1]
16 February 1987 (UK)[2]
Length
  • 6:15 (album version)
  • 4:28 (7-inch version)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Billy Idol
Producer(s)Keith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"To Be a Lover"
(1986)
"Don't Need a Gun"
(1987)
"Sweet Sixteen"
(1987)
Music video
"Don't Need a Gun" on YouTube

"Don't Need a Gun" is a song by Billy Idol from his 1986 studio album Whiplash Smile. It became the album's second single in 1987, and was a #37 pop hit in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Background and writing

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"Don't Need a Gun" was written by Billy Idol. The song has a clear content about the risk of using firearms.

The chorus of the song includes references to "Tutti Frutti", "Flip, Flop and Fly" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy". The final verse name-checks Elvis Presley, Johnnie Ray and Gene Vincent.

Charts

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Chart (1987) Peak
position
Germany[3] 36
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] 27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[5] 29
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 26
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 37
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] 10

References

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  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 405. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
  2. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 13.
  3. ^ "spanishcharts.com - Billy Idol - Don't Need A Gun". Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  4. ^ "Billy Idol – Don't Need a Gun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  5. ^ "Billy Idol – Don't Need a Gun". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  7. ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
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