Heroin (Billy Idol song)

Infobox Single
Name = Heroin


Caption = Cover art by Mark Frauenfelder.
Artist = Billy Idol
from Album = Cyberpunk
Released = Start date|1993|05|04 (US)
Format = 5" CD
Recorded = 1992, Los Angeles, U.S.
Genre = Rock music
Electronica
Length = 6:57
Label = Chrysalis Records
Writer = Lou Reed with a lyric from Patti Smith's version of "Gloria"
Producer = Robin Hancock
Last single = "Prodigal Blues"
(1990)
This single = "Heroin"
(1993)
Next single = "Shock to the System"
(1993)
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = Heroin
Audio file= Billy Idol - Heroin.oggExtra tracklisting
Album = Cyberpunk
Type = Studio
prev_track = "Love Labours On"
prev_no = 10
this_track = "Heroin"
track_no = 11
next_track = untitled
(audio segue)
next_no = 12

"Heroin" is single by Billy Idol, released to promote his 1993 album "Cyberpunk". The song is a cover of a song by The Velvet Underground, originally released on their 1967 debut album. Early incarnations of Heroin used acoustic instruments or other mainstream conventions of rock music. Billy Idol's cover departed from these, interpreting the song as a fast-tempo, dance mix, which made use of sound clips and techno beats. It also included the lyric "Jesus died for somebody's sins / But not mine", from "Gloria" written by Patti Smith, used under license from Linda Music Corporation.

Other versions

Idol mixed eleven versions of "Heroin", releasing each on various singles with a mix of other hits from previous albums, in an effort to promote "Cyberpunk". The various mixes include:

"Heroin" single
*VR Heroin Mix – 4:14
*Album version – 6:57
*Needle Park Mix – 5:16
*Overlords Mix (labeled "Blendo Mix", on the "Cyberpunk: Shock to the System" video album.) – 7:48
*Nosebleed Mix – 8:06

"Shock to the System" singles
*Don't Touch That Needle Mix – 5:10
*Durga Trance Dub – 5:10
*A Drug Called Horse Mix – 7:19
*Smack Attack mix – 6:59
*Ionizer Mix – 7:03

"Adam in Chains" single
*Needle Park Mix – 5:16

Track listing

tracklist
all_writing = Billy Idol and Lou Reed
total_length = 33:52

title1 = Heroin
note1 = V.R. Heroin mix
length1 = 6:17

title2 = Heroin
note2 = Album version
length2 = 6:59

title3 = Heroin
note3 = Needle Park mix
length3 = 5:12

title4 = Heroin
note4 = Overlords mix
length4 = 7:20

title5 = Heroin
note5 = Nosebleed mix
length5 = 8:04

Charts

External links

*" [http://www.clipland.com/Summary/944433251/ Heroin] ", on the Clipland database.
* [http://www.singingfool.com/Title.aspx?publishedid=315313 "Heroin"] (V.R. Heroin mix), Chrysalis Records, "SingingFool".