With their spirit of freedom, individual style and escape from everyday worries, motorbikes have always inspired music.
These are our top ten favourites. If you think we’ve missed one, why not Kick Start a Conversation and tell us what you think are the best motorcycle songs of all time? And don’t forget, if you want to try the fun of riding a motorcycle for yourself, you can book a one hour trial session absolutely free, thanks to Get On.
1. Meatloaf – Bat out of Hell
Released in 1979, and again in 1993 it was written by Jim Steinman with lead vocals from Meatloaf. Steinman was insistent that the song should contain the sound of a motorbike engine being revved, and complained to producer Todd Rundgren in the final recording session when it was not added. Rather than use a recording of a real motorcycle, Rundgren himself played the section on guitar, leading straight into the solo without a break.
2. The Doors - Riders on the Storm
Taken from their 1971 album, LA woman, this song reached number 22 on the UK singles chart. The song was inspired by “Ghost Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend."
3. The Eagles – Life in the Fast Lane
This is the third single from the Album Hotel California which was written by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley and reached number 11 in the Billboard Hot 100.
4. Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild
Born to be Wild was first released in 1968. It featured on the soundtrack for the iconic motorcycle movie Easy Rider, which starred Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda riding Harley Davidson Hydraglide bikes from 1949, 1950 and 1952.
5. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
Written in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1974 the song is a love letter to a girl called Wendy. Springsteen himself is a celebrated motorbike fan. He recently auctioned off his Harley Davidson at the NY Comedy Festival Event 'Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Family Fund' for US$ 85,000.
6. Rush – Ghost Rider
This song is based on the motorcycle touring story Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, by Rush’s drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. After losing two of his family, Peart embarked on a 14 month 55,000 mile motorcycle journey across America.
7. Manic Street Preachers – Motorcycle Emptiness
This single by Welsh Rock band Manic Street preachers is about biker gang culture and was inspired by a book called Rumble Fish by SE Hilton. The lyrics have been interpreted by some as an attack on capitalism or the consumerist lifestyle and the way young people are expected to conform.
8. Shangri-Las - Leader of the Pack
This song became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1964. It’s about a girl called Betty who defies her parents’ disapproval by dating Jimmy, the leader of a motorcycle gang. Her parents claim he is from the "the wrong side of town" and will be a bad influence on her.
9. Bob Seger - Roll Me Away
Roll Me Away was written in 1982 by Bob Seger and released on the album The Distance by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Iit reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
10. Prince- Purple Rain
The song Purple Rain, taken from the album of the same name, reached number 2 in the American charts. Thought by many to be the best rock album ever, it was ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine as the second best album of the 1980s. The album cover features Prince riding a Custom Honda Hondamatic, which was the first Honda motorcycle to have automatic transmission.
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