Rocket Radio

" 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 monk-like chants.

Distinctly heard at the beginning and end of the extended and edited version are samples of audio transcripts from the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

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. At some shows, the album version gets performed, while at others they play the edited version instead.

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.

UK versions of the single release also featured a rather unconventional cover of the Engelbert Humperdinck song "Release Me", credited to Stumpus Maximus & The Good Old Boys, but which was subsequently claimed to be one of Def Leppard's roadies backed up by the band itself. The vocal is particularly notable for starting out as a rather exaggerated pub-singer version of the opening verses, becoming more and more extreme as the song progresses. In the last verse, Stumpus' histrionics are interrupted by a brief belch, followed by a polite "'scuse me" before going back up to eleven without even a split-second pause. Some commentators at the time saw the track as indicative of cynical commercialism on the part of the record company.

Music video

The music video for this song was directed by Nigel Dick.

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.

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, 1974
• "Dizzy Lizzy" - A reference to the song "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", made famous by the Beatles, 1965 (also a nod to Thin Lizzy)
• "Major Tom" - A reference to the song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, 1969

Sony and ITV-F1

The song has been used as the musical accompaniment in advertisements for Sony high definition televisions with a number of different themes being used for the adverts. In addition the song has been heard at the beginning and end of advert breaks surrounding the coverage of Formula One races on ITV in the UK, since Sony assumed the role as the sports main sponsor on the channel.

Track listing

7": Bludgeon Riffola / LEP6 (UK)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Release Me"

7": Mercury / 872 614-7 (US)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Women "

12": Bludgeon Riffola / LEPX6 (UK)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Release Me"
3. "Rock of Ages "

12": Bludgeon Riffola / LEPXP6 (UK)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Rocket "
3. "Release Me"

• 12" picture disc

CD: Bludgeon Riffola / LEPCD6 (UK)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Rock of Ages "
3. "Release Me"

CD: Vertigo / 872 614-2 (Can)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Women "
3. "Rock of Ages "
4. "Rocket "

• only 5000 copies pressed

CDV: Bludgeon Riffola / 080 990-2 (UK)

1. "Rocket "
2. "Rocket "
3. "Release Me"
4. "Rock of Ages "

Notes

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