Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi song)

"Wanted Dead or Alive"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side"Never Say Goodbye"/"I'd Die For You"
ReleasedMarch 2, 1987
Recorded1986
Genre
Length5:09
4:09 (video version)
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Livin' on a Prayer"
(1986) 		"Wanted Dead or Alive"
(1987) 		"Never Say Goodbye"
(1987)
Music video
Wanted Dead or Alive on YouTube
Alternative cover
European/Japanese Cover

"Wanted Dead or Alive" is a power ballad[4][5][6][7] by American band Bon Jovi. It is from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and was released in 1987, as the album's third single. During a February 20, 2008 encore performance in Detroit, Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd about running into Bob Seger at a Pistons game. As he introduced his song "Wanted Dead or Alive", he said it was inspired by Seger's "Turn the Page" hit and called the song the band's anthem.[8] The song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making it the third single from the album to reach the Top 10 of the Hot 100. As a result, Slippery When Wet was the first glam metal album to have 3 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2001 a live version from the album One Wild Night Live 1985–2001 was released as a single featuring a promotional music video. In 2003 a new version was released on the album This Left Feels Right and this version was also released as a single with a promotional video.

Considered to be one of the band's signature songs, it is the theme song for Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch TV show. It was also featured in the movies Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, and Wild Hogs. The song has been used in episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Supernatural, The Sopranos, Miami Vice and The Vampire Diaries.

The song was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2015.[9]

  1. ^ "Tom Cruise to sing Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi on 'Rock Of Ages' soundtrack". NME. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  2. ^ "Why are Bon Jovi suddenly musical saints?". EW.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  3. ^ Spanos, Brittany (2016-11-11). "Readers' Poll: 10 Best Bon Jovi Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  4. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (November 8, 2012). "Tate Stevens Rocks Bon Jovi's 'Wanted Dead or Alive' on 'X Factor'". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  5. ^ "Tipping Cows in Fields Elysian - The Singles Jukebox - Stylus Magazine". stylusmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  6. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (April 27, 2012). "Tom Cruise to Sing Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses Songs on 'Rock of Ages' Soundtrack Album". Noisecreep. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  7. ^ Ramirez, Carlos (May 18, 2011). "Road Songs: Top 10 Touring Tunes". Noisecreep. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  8. ^ Graham, Adam. "Bon Jovi keeps fist pumping at Palace." Detroit News. n.p. 21 Feb. 2008. Web. 9 July 2012.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference riaa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).