Song «Kickstart My Heart»** from Mötley Crüe - this is not just a track, but a real rock legend, born from the real story of the clinical death of a bassist Nikki Sixa in 1987. Since then, the composition has become an anthem of survival, energy and reckless rock, and its riff is recognizable from the first notes. Musicians around the world are eager to reproduce this track, but not everyone knows how to convey it unique drive and technical nuances - from the “dirty” sound of the guitar to the characteristic vocals Vince Neil.

In this article we will look at:

  • 🎸 Top 5 cover versions from famous performers - from Steel Panther to Halestorm, with an analysis of their interpretations.
  • 🎵 Sheet music and tablature for guitar, bass and drums - with emphasis on difficult moments (for example, a solo in the middle of a track).
  • 🎤 Vocal techniquesto sound like Vince Neil without losing your voice.
  • 🔧 Equipment setup: What pedals, amps and strings to use for an authentic sound.
  • 🚀 Tips for live performance — how to ignite the audience and avoid common mistakes.

If you dream of playing Kickstart My Heart at a concert or just in the garage with friends - here you will find everything to do it professionally. And if you are a fan Mötley Crüe, you'll learn little-known facts about the original recording and its influence on rock music.

📊 Which version of “Kickstart My Heart” do you like best?
  • Original Mötley Crüe
  • Cover of Steel Panther
  • Halestorm cover
  • Cover of Sixx:A.M.
  • Other

Top 5 cover versions of “Kickstart My Heart”: Who did it better than the original?

Original version Mötley Crüe from the album «Dr. Feelgood»** (1989) remains the standard, but many groups have tried to reimagine the hit. Some covers have become so popular that they are listened to more often than the original! Here are our favorites:

Performer Year Version features Rating (1-10)
Steel Panther 2014 Parody glam metal with humor, but with exact repetition of guitar parts. Vocals Michael Starr imitates Vince Neil's style. 9/10
Halestorm 2017 Lizzie Hale added feminine power to the vocals, enhancing the drama. The guitar solo is performed with more technicality. 10/10
Sixx:A.M. 2011 Acoustic version with Nikki Sixsome on vocals - unexpectedly atmospheric and gloomy. Suitable for non-standard covers. 8/10
Bully (Alicia Barg) 2019 Grunge rock interpretation with female vocals. Less glam, more rawness and aggression. 7/10
The Iron Maidens 2005 Female tribute band Iron Maiden, but their version Kickstart My Heart is a mixture of power metal and glam rock. 8/10

⚠️ Attention: If you plan to play a cover live, avoid copying the arrangement Steel Panther - their version is too recognizable and may cause dissatisfaction among purists. It’s better to take the original as a basis or experiment like Halestorm.

Interesting fact: Nikki Sixx once said it was a cover Halestorm - the only one he really liked. “Lizzie Hale made the track her own without losing its soul,” the bassist noted.

Sheet music and tablature: Analysis of guitar parts and bass

Guitar riff Kickstart My Heart built on pentatonic E minor with added blues notes. The main difficulty is in syncopated rhythm and quick chord changes. Here are the key points:

  • 🎸 Main riff (intro/verse): 
    e|-----------------|

    B|-----------------|
    

    G|-----------------|
    

    D|--2-2-2-2-0-2-0--|
    

    A|--2-2-2-2-0-2-0--|
    

    E|--0-0-0-0--------|

    Played with palm muting and emphasis on the first note.

  • 🎸 Chorus: Chords E5 - D5 - A5 with power chords and open strings for a dirty sound.
  • 🎸 Solo (Mick Mars): Uses legato And vibrato with delay. The tablature can be found at Ultimate Guitar, but pay attention to bend by 1.5 tones in the middle of the solo — they are often played inaccurately.

🔹 For bass players: Party Nikki Sixa It seems simple, but requires strict adherence to the rhythm guitar. The main line is built on octaves and syncopations. Example:

G|-----------------|

D|--2-2-2-2-0-2-0--|


A|-----------------|


E|-----------------|

⚠️ Attention: Do not use too “clean” sound when recording a cover - the original was recorded with Marshall JMP-1 and pedal Boss DS-1, which give a characteristic distortion. Without this, the track will lose its “dirt.”

Study the original tablature on Ultimate Guitar|Check your guitar tuning (standard E tuning)|Connect a distortion pedal (like a Boss DS-1)|Practice a slow speed solo|Record a rhythm part separately from the solo-->

Vocals: How to sing like Vince Neil (without losing your voice)

Vocals Vince Neil in Kickstart My Heart is a mixture hoarse whisper, powerful high notes And glam metal style with vibrato. Here's how to get closer to its sound:

  1. Warming up your voice: Start with diaphragmatic breathing exercises (inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 8). Then sing the scales in mix (a mixture of chest and head resonance).
  2. Wheezing and “dirt”: Vince often uses vocal fry (squeaky voice) in the verses. Try saying "uh-uh" on a low note, then fade into a melody.
  3. High notes: In the chorus («Kickstart my heart!») Neil hits a note B4 (B of the second octave). To avoid losing your voice, use cover (darken the sound a little, as if you were yawning).

🎤 Typical mistakes:

  • ❌ Too “clean” sound - the characteristic “glam rock” touch will be lost.
  • ❌ Too much vibrato - with Neil it’s barely noticeable, almost direct sound.
  • ❌ Singing “in your nose” kills the power of the track.

💡 Advice: Listen to live performances Mötley Crüe 1989-1990 - Vince sings a little differently here than on the studio version, and his technique is more natural to repeat.

💡

To add a “rock and roll” drive to your vocals, imagine that you are screaming not into the microphone, but across the entire stage into the last row of the hall. This will help avoid “squeezing.”

Equipment: Pedals, amps and strings for authentic sound

Sound Kickstart My Heart impossible to reproduce without the correct equipment. Here's what we used Mötley Crüe in the studio and at concerts:

Tool Model (original) Budget alternative
Electric guitar Gibson Les Paul Custom (Mick Mars) Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Bass guitar Music Man StingRay (Nikki Sixx) Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4
Amplifier Marshall JMP-1 + office Marshall 1960 Boss Katana-100 (Brown mode)
Pedals Boss DS-1 (distortion), MXR Phase 90 (phaser) Joyo Ultimate Drive, Behringer VP1
Strings Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10-46) D'Addario EXL110

⚠️ Attention: If you play guitar with humbuckers, reduce the level mid on the amplifier up to 50% - this will help avoid unnecessary “dirt” in the sound. For singles (Stratocasters), on the contrary, add mid up to 70% for more aggression.

🔌 Secret life hack: To achieve a “live” sound, like on the album «Dr. Feelgood»**, connect the pedal noise gate (For example, Boss NS-2) after distortion. This will remove excess noise but maintain the attack.

Why did Mick Mars play a guitar solo with a single humbucker?

In the 80's Mick Mars used Gibson Les Paul with one humbucker in the bridge because I thought the second pickup would “wash out” the sound. He also removed the cover from the back of the guitar, claiming that this improved the resonance of the body.

Live Performance: How to Ignite the Crowd and Avoid Failure

Play Kickstart My Heart at a concert is not only technique, but also show. Here's how to make your speech memorable:

  • 🎭 Interaction with the public: Before the chorus («Kickstart my heart!») pause and shout: “Are you ready to rock?!” This will warm up the room.
  • 🎸 Movements on stage: During your solo, go to the edge of the stage or take a knee (as I did Mick Mars). Visual dynamics are important!
  • 🔥 Connect the public: At the end of the track, have the audience sing along to the chorus. To do this, before the last verse, say: “Sing it with me, motherf*ckers!”

⚠️ Attention: Don't speed up the pace! Mötley Crüe played the track in 128 BPM, but many groups due to inexperience accelerate to 140 BPM, due to which the groove is lost. Use a metronome during rehearsals.

🎤 For vocalists: If you sing and play guitar at the same time, simplify the riff in the verses (for example, play only bass). This will save energy for the vocals.

💡

The most important thing in a live performance is energy, not perfect technique. Even if you mess up a solo, if you give 100% to the show, the audience won't notice.

Little-known facts about "Kickstart My Heart"

Behind the song Kickstart My Heart It's not just the music that stands out, but also the dramatic story. Here are a few facts that not everyone knows:

  1. Real story: The text is based on a case where Nikki Sixx died of a heroin overdose in 1987. His heart stopped for 2 minutes, but the doctors “started” it with adrenaline. Hence the title of the track.
  2. Forbidden word: The original text contained the line “She had a bottle, I had a spoon”** (a reference to heroin), but it was replaced with “She had the bottle, I had the gun”** for radio broadcast.
  3. Recording secret: Drums Tommy Lee recorded in the bathroom of the studio - this gave the track a unique echo.
  4. Cover from the creator: In 2019 Nikki Sixx released an acoustic version of the track with the project Sixx:A.M., where he played the piano.

💡 Insight for musicians: If you want to record a cover in the style of the original, try using studio trick recording drums in a non-standard room (for example, in a hallway or garage). This will add “liveness” to the sound.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about “Kickstart My Heart” covers

🎸 How to play a solo if I don’t have a delay pedal?

Solo delay pedal Mika Mars used to create an "echo" effect. If it is not there, you can:

  1. Use reverberation on the amplifier (set to 30–40%).
  2. Play solo staccato (shortly) to simulate a delay.
  3. Record the solo twice with a slight delay (in your DAW) and overdub the tracks.
🎤 Is it possible to sing this song with a female voice?

Yes! Examples - Lizzie Hale (Halestorm) And Alicia Bargh (Bully). The main thing:

  • 🔹 Lower the key by 2–3 semitonesto avoid excessive stress.
  • 🔹 Add more chest resonance in the chorus.
  • 🔹 Use growl (growling vocals) in the verses for aggression.
🔧 What amp settings should I use for the rhythm part?

For a sound close to the original, configure the amplifier like this:

  • Gain: 70–80% (for “dirty” sound).
  • Bass: 50%, Mid: 40%, Treble: 60%.
  • Presence: 30% (to avoid too “metallic” sound).

Add a pedal distortion with level drive by 50% and tone by 70%.

🎶 Where can I find the backing track for the cover?

There are no official backing tracks, but you can:

  1. Download karaoke version on Karaoke-Version.com.
  2. Use vocal removal software (For example, PhonicMind or Audacity with plugin Vocal Remover).
  3. Find backing track on YouTube (search for Kickstart My Heart backing track).

⚠️ Beware of pirated sources - many “backing tracks” contain viruses.