Don't Need a Gun
{{Infobox song
| name = Don't Need a Gun
| cover = Billy Idol - Don't Need a Gun.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Billy Idol
| album = Whiplash Smile
| B-side = "Fatal Charm"
| released = January 1987 (US){{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/404/mode/2up?q=billy+idol|title=Great Rock Discography|date=1995 |page=405|isbn=978-0-86241-541-9 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |publisher=Canongate Press }}
16 February 1987 (UK){{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1987/Music-Week-1987-02-14.pdf|title=Music Week|page=13}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length = * 6:15 (album version)
- 4:28 (7-inch version)
| label = Chrysalis
| writer = Billy Idol
| producer = Keith Forsey
| prev_title = To Be a Lover
| prev_year = 1986
| next_title = Sweet Sixteen
| next_year = 1987
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Nd_GRy8SKII|"Don't Need a Gun"}}}}
}}
"Don't Need a Gun" is a song by English rock musician Billy Idol, released in 1987 as the second single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile. It was a #37 pop hit in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Composition and lyrics
"Don't Need a Gun" is a rock song with elements of punk and hard rock,{{Cite web |last=Peacock |first=Tim |date=October 20, 2024 |title=‘Whiplash Smile’: Billy Idol’s Confident Third Album |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/billy-idol-whiplash-smile-feature/ |access-date=April 26, 2025 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}} written by Billy Idol.{{Cite web |last=Echazabal |first=Gabe |date=May 6, 2018 |title=Review: 34 years after their first encounter, Billy Idol and an obsessed fanboy meet again at Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre |url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/review-34-years-after-their-first-encounter-billy-idol-and-an-obsessed-fanboy-meet-again-at-clearwaters-capitol-theatre-12179714 |access-date=April 26, 2025 |website=Creative Loafing Tampa Bay |language=en}} The verses have an atmospheric, "new wave-ish" sound, making use of synthesizers, giving way to more rocking choruses.{{Cite web |last=Reesman |first=Bryan |date=April 4, 2024 |title=8 Diverse Deep Cuts from Billy Idol |url=https://americansongwriter.com/8-diverse-deep-cuts-from-billy-idol/ |access-date=April 26, 2025 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}} 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.
Music video
The music video, directed by Julien Temple, features Idol and Stevens performing the song at a liquor store crime scene in Hollywood.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = Don't Need a Gun
| length1 = 4:30
| writer1 = Billy Idol
| title2 = Fatal Charm
| length2 = 3:51
| writer2 = {{hlist|Idol|Steven Stevens|Keith Forsey}}
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Whiplash Smile liner notes.{{cite web |title=Whiplash Smile |url=https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Idol-Whiplash-Smile/release/1184071 |access-date=18 July 2021 |publisher=Discogs}}
- Billy Idol – vocals, guitars, bass
- Steve Stevens – guitars, keyboards, programming, bass
- Phillip Ashley – keyboards
- Harold Faltermeyer – keyboards
- David Frank – keyboards
- Richard Tee – keyboards
- Marcus Miller – bass
- John Regan – bass
- Keith Forsey – producer
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1987)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Germany{{cite web|url=http://www.spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Billy+Idol&titel=Don%27t+Need+A+Gun&cat=s|title=spanishcharts.com - Billy Idol - Don't Need A Gun|accessdate=October 19, 2017}}
|align="center"| 36 |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|27|artist=Billy Idol|song=Don't Need a Gun|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 19, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|29|artist=Billy Idol|song=Don't Need a Gun|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 19, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|UK|26|date=19870315|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 19, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|37|artist=Billy Idol|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 19, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|10|artist=Billy Idol|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 19, 2017}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Idol-Dont-Need-A-Gun/master/29682 "Don't Need a Gun"] at Discogs
{{Billy Idol}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Billy Idol