Introduction

“Kickstart My Heart” is pure adrenaline turned into music.
It’s loud, fast, ridiculous, dangerous, and absolutely legendary — the closest thing rock has to a shot of high-octane nitro straight to the chest.

It’s Mötley Crüe at their most chaotic, their most unhinged, and oddly enough, their most honest.

Under all the speed, dirty riffs, and glam-metal swagger, the song is about one thing:

Nikki Sixx literally dying — and being brought back to life.

This is not a rock’n’roll metaphor.
It’s the truth.

The Real Origin: Nikki Sixx’s Death

The overdose

On December 23, 1987, Nikki Sixx overdosed on heroin in a Los Angeles apartment.

He was clinically dead for two minutes.

The paramedics arrived, found no pulse, and declared him gone.

What saved him?

One paramedic refused to give up and injected Nikki with two shots of adrenaline directly into his chest.

This jump-started his heart —
literally “kickstarting” it.

Nikki sat up, ripped the IVs out, fled the ambulance, and wandered the streets shirtless, bleeding, still half-dead.

That moment became the foundation of the song.

The title

Nikki said later:

“My heart literally stopped. And then they kickstarted it. I wrote the song about that.”

This is one of the most accurate titles in rock history.

What the Song Is REALLY About

Sure, it sounds like a party anthem —
but at its core, it’s about:

• cheating death
• addiction
• adrenaline addiction
• being reborn
• the thrill of surviving something you shouldn’t
• the insanity of 80s rock lifestyle
• craving intensity
• being hooked on chaos, not just drugs
• the Crüe’s identity: danger = life

It’s a celebration of the moment Nikki realized:
“Holy sh*t — I’m still alive.”

The Psychological Layer

Nikki Sixx wasn’t just an addict.
He was addicted to extremes:

• heroin
• speed
• danger
• chaos
• fame
• attention
• risk
• adrenaline

“Kickstart My Heart” is about that psychological dependence.

The real addiction wasn’t heroin.

The real addiction was FEELING EVERYTHING at maximum intensity.

This is why the song feels like a motorcycle engine running at 12,000 RPM — it’s written by someone who doesn’t know how to slow down.

Musical Construction — Speed, Mania, Power

“Kickstart My Heart” is built like a drag racer:

• fast
• loud
• dangerous
• always accelerating

It’s one of the fastest mainstream glam metal tracks ever released.

Tempo

The song is hyperfast — around 194 BPM — which is INSANE for a glam-metal track.

It never breathes, never slows down, never gives you rest.

Structure

1. Jet engine intro — symbolizing the crash of adrenaline
2. Motorcycle riff
3. Verse — breakneck punk-metal rhythm
4. Chorus — arena-sized chant
5. Bridge — the “kickstart” moment
6. Solo — chaos unleashed
7. Final chorus — full-speed insanity
8. Outro — still accelerating

It feels less like a song, more like a ride.

Mick Mars — The Secret Weapon

The Legendary Intro Sound

That “motorcycle engine” sound in the intro?

Not a motorcycle.

It’s Mick Mars playing a Les Paul with a toggle-switch stutter effect plugged into a cranked amp.

It sounds like:

• engines firing
• pistons exploding
• nitro ready to blow

Main Riff

Dirty, fast, palm-muted, and aggressive.

Mick Mars is the backbone of this song.
Without him, it wouldn’t work.

Solo

Mick’s solo is underrated:

• tapping
• slides
• aggressive bends
• melodic hooks
• pure attitude

Despite constant pain from his spinal condition, he absolutely tears through it.

Tone

• Marshall JCM800
• Charvel & Gibson guitars
• Wah + distortion

Sharp, metallic, perfect for the song.

Tommy Lee — Engine of Chaos

Tommy Lee’s drumming is a masterclass in power and speed.

He hits like a man whose drums owe him money.

Features:

• double-time groove
• massive snare cracks
• giant kicks that feel like explosions
• unstoppable energy

Tommy is basically the turbocharger of this track.

Vince Neil — Vocals Loaded With Adrenaline

Vince’s high-pitched, gritty delivery is perfect for the manic energy.

• fast phrasing
• high screams
• rough edges
• pure excitement

His voice is not “clean” —
but that’s the entire point.
He sounds like someone who’s been running from death and laughing.

Lyrical Themes (High-Level)

Verse Themes

• near-death experience
• addiction
• memories of chaos
• surviving through luck and defiance
• high-speed lifestyle

Chorus Themes

The chorus is basically:
“I should be dead — but I’m still here, and life feels electric.”

Bridge Themes

The song acknowledges:

• forgiveness
• second chances
• rebirth
• crediting fate or destiny

It’s almost spiritual, hidden under all the adrenaline.

Outro Themes

The final section is pure celebration —
the joy of having a second life.

The Meaning of “Kickstart My Heart”

It’s two things:

1. Literal

A paramedic restarting Nikki Sixx’s dead heart with adrenaline.

2. Emotional

The thrill of being alive again after almost dying.

It’s not about drugs —
it’s about the danger addiction brings,
and the insane thrill that keeps pulling you into risky situations again and again.

Live Legacy

“Kickstart My Heart” is Mötley Crüe’s ultimate live anthem.

Every show, it:

• starts an explosion
• gets the crowd surging
• becomes the highlight of the set

Vince screams.
Tommy hammers.
Nikki jumps.
Mick shreds.

The entire arena feels like a jet engine taking off.

Cultural Impact

The song became:

• a sports anthem
• a racing anthem
• a motorcycle anthem
• a gym anthem
• a movie & TV staple
• a meme
• a soundtrack for adrenaline junkies everywhere

It’s one of the defining rock songs of the late 80s/early 90s.

“Kickstart My Heart” survived generations because its ENERGY is timeless.

FAQ — 20 Questions & Answers

1. Did Nikki Sixx really die?
   Yes — clinically dead for two minutes.
2. Who kickstarted his heart?
   A paramedic with two adrenaline shots.
3. Is the title literal?
   Yes.
4. What year was the overdose?
6. What album is the song on?
   Dr. Feelgood (1989).
7. Who wrote it?
   Nikki Sixx.
8. Why is the song so fast?
   To mirror adrenaline and chaos.
9. How fast is it?
   Around 194 BPM.
10. What’s that engine sound in the intro?
    Mick Mars’ guitar — not a motorcycle.
11. Is it glam metal?
    Fast glam metal with punk influence.
12. Why is the solo underrated?
    People forget Mick Mars is a monster player.
13. Is the song about heroin?
    Indirectly — it’s about surviving heroin’s consequences.
14. Why does the song feel so upbeat if it’s about death?
    It’s a celebration of surviving.
15. Is “Kickstart My Heart” their biggest song?
    One of the top 3.
16. Does Nikki still talk about the overdose?
    Yes — it shaped his entire life.
17. Why is the song still popular?
    Its energy is unmatched.
18. What guitar tuning?
    Standard tuning.
19. What amps were used?
    Marshall JCM800.
20. Is Tommy Lee underrated as a drummer?
    Yes — especially on fast songs like this.
21. Why does the outro feel even faster?
    Because the band literally speeds up — by design.

Final Conclusion

“Kickstart My Heart” is more than a glam-metal classic.
It’s the story of a man who should have died —
but didn’t —
and turned that miracle into one of the greatest adrenaline-fueled anthems in rock history.

It is:

• fast
• chaotic
• dangerous
• life-affirming
• iconic
• timeless

This is Mötley Crüe at full speed, full danger, full insanity —
and full honesty.

It’s not just a song.

It’s a resurrection.