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“Helter Skelter” by U2

Released 1988

“Helter Skelter” by U2 appears on 18 radio countdowns from 4 stations between 1999 and 2024. It was first released in 1988. Its best result is #478 on The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #869 alternative song of all time.

18countdowns
4stations
#478best position
0#1 finishes
0top 10 finishes
1999–2024years charted

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Helter Skelter (Remastered 2009)

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

"Helter Skelter" started life on the Beatles' 1968 double album The Beatles, the White Album, as Paul McCartney's bid to make the loudest, dirtiest racket he could, and it's widely credited as an early spark for heavy metal. U2's version surfaced in 1988, one of a long line of covers the song has drawn from acts as far apart as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Mötley Crüe and Aerosmith.

U2 play it as a raw, live-sounding charge, guitar churning and drums crashing, closer to an arena brawl than a polite tribute. Thom Panunzio recorded it, and Rob Jacobs and Shelly Yakus handled the mix.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

All Rock Formats

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1999 478 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
2000 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2001 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2002 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 1838 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 1523 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2005 540 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2007 693 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2008 646 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 659 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2010 679 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2011 699 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2013 727 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2014 761 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2024 828 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 850 Cover Songs 850

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