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Cover of Generation X by Generation X
Cover: Generation X

Song · Generation X

“Kiss Me Deadly” by Generation X

From the album Generation X (1978)

“Kiss Me Deadly” by Generation X appears on 20 radio countdowns from 4 stations between 1999 and 2026. It was first released in 1978 on the album Generation X. Its best result is #168 on the Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #955 alternative song of all time.

20countdowns
4stations
#168best position
0#1 finishes
0top 10 finishes
1999–2026years charted

Watch

Kiss Me Deadly (2002 Remaster)

Video from YouTube (Generation X - Topic). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

Billy Idol and Tony James wrote "Kiss Me Deadly" for Generation X's self-titled debut, which reached British shops on 17 March 1978. Across that album the usual split had James, the bassist, writing most of the words and Idol, the frontman, the music, with guitarist Derwood Andrews and drummer Mark Laff finishing the songs off with their own parts.

The band had soured on the slick, poppy sound Phil Wainman gave their earlier singles and wanted a record that sounded like their live shows, so Idol brought in Martin Rushent on the strength of his work with the Stranglers. Rushent and engineer Alan Winstanley cut the album at TW Studios in Fulham, West London, in late 1977, taking just a week and nailing many of the songs in one take.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

All Rock Formats

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1999 240 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 382 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
2000 383 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2001 375 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2002 375 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 500 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 375 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 168 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 375 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2005 369 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2007 1565 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2008 1503 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 1390 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2010 1424 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2011 1486 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2013 1525 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2014 1503 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2022 568 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time 1055
2025 311 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs 800
2026 829 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound 1055

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