Shoot Out the Lights (song) explained

Shoot Out the Lights
Type:single
Artist:Diamond Head
Released:7 March 1980[1]
Genre:Heavy metal
Label:Happy Face Records
Next Title:Sweet and Innocent
Next Year:1980

"Shoot Out the Lights" is the debut single by British heavy metal band Diamond Head released in March 1980 by Happy Face Records, the band's own label, with "Helpless" as the B-side, and was only available on 7", without a picture sleeve in order to reduce production costs.

An extended version of "Helpless" appeared on Diamond Head's 1980 debut Lightning to the Nations, and "Shoot Out the Lights" eventually appeared on an expanded version of the debut album released in 2001 by Sanctuary Records.

The single received much criticism from heavy metal fans claiming that "it wasn't metal enough". The band, though scoffing at these comments, was seen in live concerts playing more hardcore versions of the songs.

"Helpless" was covered by heavy metal band Metallica on their 1987 The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited EP.

Track listing

  1. "Shoot Out the Lights" - 4:10
  2. "Helpless" - 4:05

Lineup

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Music Week. 30.
  2. Book: Lazell, Barry . Indie Hits 1980–1989 . Cherry Red Books . 1997 . 18 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605132747/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/d.htm . 5 June 2011 .