Modern Day Cowboy
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Modern Day Cowboy
| cover = Modern Day Cowboy.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Tesla
| album = Mechanical Resonance
| released = December 1986{{cite web|website=Tampa Bay Times|last=Wuench|first=Kevin|url=https://www.tampabay.com/lost-and-found-teslas-modern-day-cowboy/2218287/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628182943/https://www.tampabay.com/lost-and-found-teslas-modern-day-cowboy/2218287/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2021|title=Lost and found: Tesla's 'Modern Day Cowboy'|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=June 28, 2021}}
| recorded = 1986
| studio = Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock, heavy metal
| length = 5:19
| label = Geffen
| writer = {{flat list|
- Jeff Keith
- Frank Hannon
- Tommy Skeoch
}}
| producer = {{flat list|
}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Little Suzi
| next_year = 1987
}}
"Modern Day Cowboy" is the debut single by American rock band Tesla, from the band's debut studio album, Mechanical Resonance. The song's lyrics make references to criminals such as Billy the Kid and Al Capone, until the final verse, which references Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
Music video
A music video was produced for the song, which shows Nikola Tesla playing films in an abandoned movie theater. Tesla shows footage of the band performing the song, along with scenes from the movies High Noon, Scarface, and Dr. Strangelove. The beginning of the video shows the theater marquee with the names of all three films with some letters missing, along with the name of the band.{{cite web|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avAvkdYa3qM|title=Tesla – Modern Day Cowboy| date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2016}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| title1 = Modern Day Cowboy
| length1 = 5:19
| title2 = Love Me
| note2 = live
| length2 = 4:36
| title3 = Cover Queen
| note3 = live
| length3 = 4:31
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1987)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|35|artist=Tesla|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 6, 2024}} |
In popular culture
The song was featured in the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.{{cite web|publisher=About.com|url=http://xbox.about.com/od/news/a/Complete-Guitar-Hero-Warriors-Of-Rock-Setlist-Revealed.htm|title=Complete Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Setlist Revealed|date=September 14, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818040126/http://xbox.about.com/od/news/a/Complete-Guitar-Hero-Warriors-Of-Rock-Setlist-Revealed.htm|url-status=dead}} The song was also featured in the Supernatural episode "Beyond the Mat".{{cite web|publisher=IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5432122/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|title="Supernatural" Beyond the Mat (TV Episode 2016) – Soundtracks|access-date=February 10, 2017}}
Personnel
- Jeff Keith – lead vocals
- Frank Hannon – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Tommy Skeoch – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Brian Wheat – bass guitar
- Troy Luccketta – drums
References
{{reflist}}
{{Tesla (band)}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Geffen Records singles