Love Bites (Def Leppard song)

When Robert John "Mutt" Lange originally brought the song to the band's attention, it was a country ballad, which the band thought sounded like nothing they had done before. The band then added power rock elements and emotive backing vocals similar to those used in R&B ballads at the time.^[3] The title "Love Bites" was originally used for a very different song that was eventually re-titled "I Wanna Be Your Hero", and which appeared as a Hysteria B-side and later on the album Retro Active. Musically, the song has been described as glam metal,^[4][5][6] and is considered a classic of the genre.^[2]

Following the huge momentum generated by "Pour Some Sugar on Me", the song was released in August 1988 and peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week.^[7] The song also reached number eleven in the United Kingdom, number two in New Zealand, number three in Canada, and number seven in Ireland.^{[8][9][10][11]} The "Love Bites" 45 release in Canada and UK included limited edition gatefold with complete "Hysteria" lyrics. This was the only official release of the "Hysteria" lyrics.^[12]

AllMusic called it "one of the most satisfying songs in the Def Leppard catalog, as well as one of the best products of the late-'80s power ballad craze."^[13]

"Billy's Got a Gun" was recorded at Tilburg, Netherlands, in 1987.^[14]

7-inch: Polygram/870-402-7 (US)

1. "Love Bites" (5:46)
2. "Billy's Got a Gun" (live) (5:21)

7-inch: Polygram /870-402-7 (DJ) (US)

1. "Love Bites" (Radio Edit) (4:45)
2. "Love Bites" (Radio Edit) (4:45)

• Joe Elliott – lead vocals
• Phil Collen – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Steve Clark – lead guitar
• Rick Savage – bass, backing vocals
• Rick Allen – drums
• Robert John "Mutt" Lange – backing vocals

• List of glam metal albums and songs
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1988