Wanted Dead Or Alive

About this song

The song is the third single from Slippery When Wet and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It made Slippery When Wet the first glam metal album to have three singles in the chart's top 10, alongside "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer". The song title was also considered for the album's name, and a photo taken for that idea was later used as the single's cover.

What it's about

The song tells the story of a rock star's life, told from the point of view of a cowboy in the Wild West. The band said the lyrics came easily because they were drawn from their own experiences as a band.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 6 other songs, like “Cowboy by 2 Chainz”.
• Covered 10 times, including “Wanted Dead or Alive by Original Broadway Cast of Rock Of Ages (Ft. Amy Spanger & James Carpinello)”.
• Written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.
• Produced by Bruce Fairbairn.