18 and Life

"18 and Life"
"18 and Life"
Single by Skid Row
from the album Skid Row
B-side	"Midnight/Tornado"
Released	June 16, 1989
Genre	Glam metal;
Length	3:51
Label	Atlantic
Songwriters	Rachel Bolan, Dave Sabo
Producer	Michael Wagener
Skid Row singles chronology
Music video
	"18 and Life" on YouTube

"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 power ballad^[2] is the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 13, 1989, when it sold 500,000 copies. The song also charted at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 6 in Canada, and No. 5 in Ireland.

In April 2015, Skid Row released a new version of the song with then-lead vocalist Tony Harnell.^[3]^[4]^[5]

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.^[6] 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 killing 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,^[7] 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.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media described single as "a dramatic hard rock ballad complete with raw vocals and spicy guitars" and left a verdict: "Powerful stuff."^[8]

Personnel

Sebastian Bach – vocals
Dave Sabo – guitars
Scotti Hill – guitars
Rachel Bolan – bass
Rob Affuso – drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1990)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[10]	30
Ireland (IRMA)^[11]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	50
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[13]	17
UK Singles (OCC)^[14]	12
US Billboard Hot 100^[15]	4
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[16]	11

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[17]	80
US Billboard Hot 100^[18]^[19]	61

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[20]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 16, 1989	7-inch vinyl cassette	Atlantic	^[20]
Japan	July 10, 1989	Mini-CD		^[21]
United Kingdom	January 22, 1990	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD		^[22]

References

^ McPadden, Mike (September 25, 2015). "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands—The Final 20!". VH1 News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
^ Jeffries, Neil (December 8, 2021). "Skid Row's Atlantic years: from wild youth to burst bubbles". Louder Sound.
^ Bowar, Chad (April 15, 2015). "Skid Row Re-Record '18 and Life' With New Songer Tony Harnell". Loudwire. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ "Skid Row's Re-Recording of "18 and Life" is the Dumbest Thing Since Sebastian Bach". MetalSucks. April 14, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ "Skid Row Records New Version of '18 And Life' With Tony Harnell". Blabbermouth.net. April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^ Wilbur R. Miller, The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia (2012), p. 1172.
^ Reader, Adam (September 6, 2022). Haunting 80s Murder Song Was Censored by MTV..Still Scaled the Top of the Charts (Podcast interview). Revelations. Dave "The Snake" Sabo (interviewee). Professor of Rock. Event occurs at 06:34-08:15 – via YouTube.
^ "Previews: Singles: Skid Row – "18 and Life"" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 44. Amsterdam: European Music Report BV. November 4, 1989. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via World Radio History.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6585." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 7. February 17, 1990. p. V.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 18 and Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
^ "Skid Row – 18 and Life". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Skid Row – 18 and Life". Singles Top 100.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ "Skid Row Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ "Skid Row Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ "Top Singles Singles of '89". RPM. December 23, 1999. Retrieved November 22, 2017 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.
^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Retrieved October 3, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "American single certifications – Skid Row – 18 and Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
^ "エイティーン・アンド・ライフ | スキッド・ロウ" [Eighteen and Life | Skid Row] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
^ "New Singles". Music Week. January 20, 1990. p. 57.

External links

Skid Row - official website

[1] McPadden, Mike (September 25, 2015). "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands—The Final 20!". VH1 News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2021.

[2] Jeffries, Neil (December 8, 2021). "Skid Row's Atlantic years: from wild youth to burst bubbles". Louder Sound.

[3] Bowar, Chad (April 15, 2015). "Skid Row Re-Record '18 and Life' With New Songer Tony Harnell". Loudwire. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[4] "Skid Row's Re-Recording of "18 and Life" is the Dumbest Thing Since Sebastian Bach". MetalSucks. April 14, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[5] "Skid Row Records New Version of '18 And Life' With Tony Harnell". Blabbermouth.net. April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

[6] Wilbur R. Miller, The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia (2012), p. 1172.

[7] Reader, Adam (September 6, 2022). Haunting 80s Murder Song Was Censored by MTV..Still Scaled the Top of the Charts (Podcast interview). Revelations. Dave "The Snake" Sabo (interviewee). Professor of Rock. Event occurs at 06:34-08:15 – via YouTube.

[8] "Previews: Singles: Skid Row – "18 and Life"" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 44. Amsterdam: European Music Report BV. November 4, 1989. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via World Radio History.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-9] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6585." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2022.

[10] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 7. February 17, 1990. p. V.

[sc_Ireland2_-11] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 18 and Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2022.

[sc_New_Zealand_Skid_Row-12] "Skid Row – 18 and Life". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Sweden_Skid_Row-13] "Skid Row – 18 and Life". Singles Top 100.

[sc_UK_-14] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Skid_Row-15] "Skid Row Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Skid_Row-16] "Skid Row Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.

[17] "Top Singles Singles of '89". RPM. December 23, 1999. Retrieved November 22, 2017 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[18] "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.

[19] "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Retrieved October 3, 2016.

[riaa-20] "American single certifications – Skid Row – 18 and Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 20, 2022.

[21] "エイティーン・アンド・ライフ | スキッド・ロウ" [Eighteen and Life | Skid Row] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 4, 2023.

[22] "New Singles". Music Week. January 20, 1990. p. 57.

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v t e Skid Row
Dave "The Snake" Sabo Rachel Bolan Scotti Hill Rob Hammersmith Matt Fallon Sebastian Bach Rob Affuso Johnny Solinger Phil Varone Dave Gara Tony Harnell ZP Theart Erik Grönwall
Studio albums	Skid Row Slave to the Grind Subhuman Race Thickskin Revolutions per Minute The Gang's All Here
EPs and live albums	B-Side Ourselves Subhuman Beings on Tour United World Rebellion
Compilations	40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row
Videos	Oh Say Can You Scream No Frills Video Road Kill Under the Skin
Singles	"Youth Gone Wild" "18 and Life" "I Remember You" "Monkey Business" "Slave to the Grind" "Wasted Time" "In a Darkened Room" "Youth Gone Wild/Delivering the Goods" "Little Wing" "C'mon and Love Me" "My Enemy" "Breakin' Down" "Into Another" "I Remember You Two" "18 and Life (2015)" "The Gang's All Here" "Slave to the Grind (Live)"
Related articles	Discography List of members The Last Hard Men Bring 'Em Bach Alive! Forever Wild Damnocracy Supergroup Celebrity Rap Superstar Gone Country H.E.A.T

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