18 and Life

"18 and Life" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in June 1989 as the second single from their self titled debut album. The song is the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was certified Gold on September 13, 1989, when it sold 500,000 copies.[1] The song also charted at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]

For the Canadian television series with a similar name, see 18 to Life.
"18 and Life"
Single by Skid Row
from the album Skid Row
B-side"Midnight / Tornado"
ReleasedJune 16, 1989[1]
Recorded1988
GenreGlam metal[2][3]
Length3:51
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Rachel Bolan, Dave Sabo
Producer(s)Michael Wagener
Skid Row singles chronology
"Youth Gone Wild"
(1989)		 "18 and Life"
(1989)		 "I Remember You"
(1989)
Music video
"18 and Life" on YouTube

In April 2015, Skid Row released a new version of the song with then-lead vocalist Tony Harnell.[5][6][7]

Theme

The title of the song alludes to its subject, 18-year-old Ricky, receiving a sentence of life imprisonment for the murder of another teen.[8] The song paints Ricky's youth as his undoing. It was believed for a long time that guitarist Dave Sabo got the idea from a newspaper article about an 18-year-old named Ricky who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his friend with a gun, that due to alcohol, he most likely guessed was not loaded. However, in an interview with the Professor of Rock, Sabo states that the original inspiration was his brother Rick's life after coming home from Vietnam. The writing process eventually led the song to being about an accidental murder. The music video also alludes to this.

Charts

Certifications
Country Organization Year Sales
USA RIAA[1] 1989 Gold
Total available sales: (+ 500,000)

See also

References
  1. "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  2. McPadden, Mike (September 25, 2015). "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands—The Final 20!". VH1 News. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. "36 Essential '80s Pop Metal Tracks". Stereogum. April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  4. "Skid Row The Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  5. Bowar, Chad (April 15, 2015). "Skid Row Re-Record '18 and Life' With New Songer Tony Harnell". Loudwire. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  6. "Skid Row's Re-Recording of "18 and Life" is the Dumbest Thing Since Sebastian Bach". MetalSucks. April 14, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  7. "Skid Row Records New Version of '18 And Life' With Tony Harnell". blabbermouth.net. April 13, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  8. Wilbur R. Miller, The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia (2012), p. 1172.
  9. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada: Top Singles". RPM. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  10. "Skid Row – 18 and Life". Top 40 Singles.
  11. "Skid Row – 18 and Life". Singles Top 100.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  13. "Skid Row Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  14. "Skid Row Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  15. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. December 23, 1999. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  16. "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.
  17. "Billboard Top 100 - 1989". Retrieved October 3, 2016.
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