Wanted Dead or Alive ( Bon Jovi song ) - wikipedia Wanted Dead or Alive ( Bon Jovi song ) `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' Single by Bon Jovi from the album Slippery When Wet B - side `` Never Say Goodbye '' / `` I 'd Die For You '' Released March 3, 1987 ( 1987 - 03 - 03 ) Format CD single Recorded 1986 Genre Rock Length 5 : 09 Label Mercury Songwriter ( s ) Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Producer ( s ) Bruce Fairbairn Bon Jovi singles chronology `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' ( 1986 ) `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( 1987 ) `` Never Say Goodbye '' ( 1987 ) `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' ( 1986 ) `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( 1987 ) `` Never Say Goodbye '' ( 1987 ) Music video Wanted Dead or Alive on YouTube Alternative cover Japanese Cover `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' is a single by American rock band Bon Jovi. It is from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and was released in 1987 as the album 's third single. During a February 20, 2008 encore performance in Detroit, Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd about running into Bob Seger at a Pistons game. As he introduced his song `` Wanted Dead or Alive '', he said it was inspired by Seger 's `` Turn the Page '' hit and called the song the band 's anthem. The song peaked at # 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and # 13 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making it the third single from the album to reach the Top 10 of the Hot 100. As a result, Slippery When Wet became the first hard rock album to have 3 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2001 a live version from the album One Wild Night Live 1985 -- 2001 was released as a single featuring a promotional music video. In 2003 a new version was released on the album This Left Feels Right and this version was also released as a single with a promotional video. Considered to be one of the band 's signature songs, it has become known to younger audiences as the theme song for Discovery Channel 's Deadliest Catch TV show. The song was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2015. Contents 1 Background 2 Promotional use 3 Music video 4 Track listings 5 Chart positions 5.1 Original version 5.2 2000 live version 5.3 Year - end charts 5.4 Certifications 6 References 7 External links Background The song 's title pays homage to Jon 's admiration for Old West heroes, and how he identifies with them as being hated ( wanted dead or alive ). During an interview on Inside the Actors Studio, Jon said he got the inspiration for the song early one morning when he could not sleep while riding in a tour bus. The `` lifestyle of every rock band '' was similar to that of outlaws in that each was, `` a young band of thieves, riding into town, stealing the money, the girls, and the booze before the sun came up. '' Jon Bon Jovi said during a concert in Detroit, Michigan, on February 20, 2008, that the song `` absolutely positively was influenced by ( Bob ) Seger 's ' Turn the Page. ' '' Bon Jovi performed `` Turn the Page '' during a concert in Toronto, Ontario ( Canada ) on July 21, 2010. Afterward, Jon told the audience he remembered listening to this song in 1985 while traveling on a tour bus in the midwest and telling Richie Sambora, `` We got to write a song like this. '' The following year the duo composed `` Wanted Dead or Alive ''. Promotional use The song is used during the opening scene of Miami Vice, El Viejo episode guest starring Willie Nelson. The song is used as the opening theme for the US broadcasts of the reality series Deadliest Catch. The song was featured on The CW series Supernatural, in the last episode of Season 3, ( Season 3 Episode 16 ), `` No Rest for the Wicked '', on when lead characters Sam Winchester and Dean Winchester sing along as they ride. The song was featured on The CW series, The Vampire Diaries in Season 4, Episode 12 A View to a Kill. Toward the end of The Sopranos episode `` Marco Polo '', as Joey Peeps is about to leave the brothel with Heather the prostitute, the song plays in the background. `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' was used in the films Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, Scooby - Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed and Wild Hogs. The song is featured in the expansion pack for Grand Theft Auto : Episodes from Liberty City, entitled The Lost and Damned, on the radio station Liberty Rock Radio 97.8. The song was featured in the 2007 rhythm game Rock Band, and a downloadable version for use in Rock Band 3 would be released later. Music video The music video was filmed in black and white by cinematographer Derek M. Allen features footage from the band 's massive 1986 - 1987 world tour, including shots from Buffalo NY ' s Memorial Auditorium Chicago 's UIC Pavilion, Rochester, Minnesota 's Mayo Civic Center, Denver, Colorado 's McNichols Arena, Pittsburgh, PA F. Pitt Tunnel and Pittsburgh Skyline, Oklahoma City, Huntington, WV, and other venues. The video captures the life - on - the - road feeling, with several shots of the exhausted band members. The audio for the video uses the short ( edited ) version of the song. In Bon Jovi 's Slippery When Wet Special Edition, Jon and Richie perform the acoustic version of `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' live, and before singing they mention they wrote the song in Richie 's mother 's basement a year ago ( 1985 or 1986 ) and Richie says `` Mom this is for you '' and Jon thanks her by saying `` Thanks for Richie 's mom for not doing the laundry the day we wrote this song, it 's called Wanted Dead or Alive ''. In this version, Richie and Jon take turns singing during the second and the last verse. The guitar solo is performed on one of Sambora 's trademark multi-necked 12 string Ovation guitars, rather than switching to an electric guitar for the solo and last verse of the song. Track listings Japan 7 '' Single ( Mercury 888 482 - 7 ) No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 4 : 10 2. `` Shot Through The Heart '' Bon Jovi 4 : 24 Japan CD - Maxi ( Mercury PPDM 1003 ) No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Single Version ) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 5 : 11 2. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Acoustic ) Bon Jovi, Sambora 5 : 39 3. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Live ) Bon Jovi, Sambora 8 : 14 4. `` Edge of a Broken Heart '' Bon Jovi, Sambora 7 : 25 Promo - 7 '' Single ( Mercury 88 467 - 7 DJ ) No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Long ) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 5 : 07 2. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Short ) Bon Jovi, Sambora 4 : 10 CD Video ( Mercury 422870721 - 2 ) No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Never Say Goodbye '' Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 4 : 48 2. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' Bon Jovi, Sambora 5 : 07 3. `` I 'd Die For You '' Bon Jovi, Sambora 4 : 31 4. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Acoustic ) Bon Jovi, Sambora 5 : 41 5. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Music video ) Bon Jovi, Sambora 4 : 08 CD - Single ( Island Def Jam 588 718 - 2 ) No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive ( Live ) '' ( Recorded Live On September 20, 2000, New York City, NY ) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 2. `` Thank You For Loving Me '' ( Recorded Live Acoustic On December 6, 2000, TMF Cafe, The Music Factory, Bussum, The Netherlands ) Limited Edition Promo - CD - Single ( Island 440 011 172 - 4 ) No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( Live ) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 3 : 43 2. `` The Distance '' ( Live At The Yokohama Arena, Japan, January 29th 2003 ) Bon Jovi, Sambora 5 : 54 Chart positions Original version Chart ( 1987 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 13 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 36 Canada ( RPM ) 17 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 47 Ireland ( IRMA ) 6 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 20 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 5 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 13 US Billboard Hot 100 7 US Album Rock Tracks 13 Chart ( 2007 ) Peak position US Digital Songs ( Billboard ) 25 2000 live version Chart ( 2000 -- 01 ) Peak position Germany ( Media Control AG ) 45 Netherlands ( Mega Single Top 100 ) 26 Year - end charts Chart ( 1987 ) Position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 82 US Billboard Hot 100 74 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United Kingdom ( BPI ) Silver 200,000 United States ( RIAA ) 4 × Platinum 4,000,000 shipments figures based on certification alone sales + streaming figures based on certification alone References Jump up ^ Graham, Adam. `` Bon Jovi keeps fist pumping at Palace. '' Detroit News. n.p. 21 Feb. 2008. Web. 9 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` Allmusic ( Bon Jovi charts & awards ) Billboard singles ''. ^ Jump up to : `` American single certifications -- Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead or Alive ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 10, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ Inside The Actors Studio, October 2009, Part 3 of 5 on YouTube. Jump up ^ Jon Bon Jovi talks with Richie Sambora and the audience about Bob Seger on YouTube Jump up ^ Kohler, Chris ( 2010 - 11 - 09 ). `` Bon Jovi Rock Band Tracks Upgraded with Pro Keys, Guitars ''. Wired. Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 09. Jump up ^ Snider, Mike ( 2010 - 06 - 10 ). `` Rock Band 3 : What 's New, What 's Notable ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead Or Alive ''. youtube.com. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 02. Jump up ^ `` BON JOVI - WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE ( SONG ) ''. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 02. Jump up ^ `` BON JOVI - WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE ( LIVE ) ( SONG ) ''. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 02. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( Illustrated ed. ). Sydney : Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 46, No. 9, June 06 1987 ''. RPM. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead Or Alive ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts ''. irishcharts.ie. Retrieved October 26, 2012. Insert Wanted Dead or Alive in the field Search by Song Title, then press Search. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead Or Alive '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead Or Alive ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Bon Jovi. Jump up ^ `` Chart Search Results - Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 1986 - 12 - 13 ''. Billboard.biz. Retrieved October 26, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi -- Chart history '' Billboard Digital Songs for Bon Jovi. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive ( live ) '' ( in German ). Charts.de. Media Control. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive ( live ) '' ( in Dutch ). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Jump up ^ `` Forum - ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts -- 1980s ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 17, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits for 1987 ''. The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved December 17, 2015. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Bon Jovi -- Wanted Dead or Alive ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 13, 2017. Enter Wanted Dead or Alive in the search field and then press Enter. External links `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' Official music video on YouTube Bon Jovi singles discography Bon Jovi `` Runaway '' `` She Do n't Know Me '' `` Burning for Love '' ( Japan only ) `` Breakout '' ( promo single ) 7800 ° Fahrenheit `` Only Lonely '' `` In and Out of Love '' `` The Hardest Part Is the Night '' `` Silent Night '' `` The Price of Love '' ( Japan only ) Slippery When Wet `` You Give Love a Bad Name '' `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' `` Never Say Goodbye '' New Jersey `` Bad Medicine '' `` Born to Be My Baby '' `` I 'll Be There for You '' `` Lay Your Hands on Me '' `` Living in Sin '' Keep the Faith `` Keep the Faith '' `` Bed of Roses '' `` In These Arms '' `` I 'll Sleep When I 'm Dead '' `` I Believe '' `` Dry County '' Cross Road `` Always '' `` Someday I 'll Be Saturday Night '' These Days `` This Ai n't a Love Song '' `` Something for the Pain '' `` Lie to Me '' `` These Days '' `` Hey God '' Crush `` It 's My Life '' `` Say It Is n't So '' `` Thank You For Loving Me '' `` Save the World '' ( promo single ) One Wild Night Live 1985 -- 2001 `` One Wild Night ( 2001 ) '' `` Wanted Dead or Alive ( Live ) '' Bounce `` Everyday '' `` Misunderstood '' `` All About Lovin ' You '' `` Bounce '' ( promo single ) `` The Distance '' ( Japan only ) This Left Feels Right `` It 's My Life ( 2003 ) '' `` Wanted Dead or Alive ( 2003 ) '' ( promo single ) 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Ca n't Be Wrong `` The Radio Saved My Life Tonight '' ( Japan only ) Have a Nice Day `` Have a Nice Day '' `` Who Says You Ca n't Go Home '' ( with Jennifer Nettles ) `` Welcome to Wherever You Are '' `` I Want to Be Loved '' ( promo single ) Lost Highway `` ( You Want To ) Make a Memory '' `` Lost Highway '' `` Till We Ai n't Strangers Anymore '' ( with LeAnn Rimes ) `` Summertime '' ( Canada only ) `` Whole Lot of Leavin ' '' The Circle `` We Were n't Born to Follow '' `` Superman Tonight '' `` When We Were Beautiful '' `` Work for the Working Man '' ( promo single ) Greatest Hits `` What Do You Got ? '' `` No Apologies '' `` This Is Our House '' ( promo single ) What About Now `` Because We Can '' `` What About Now '' Burning Bridges `` We Do n't Run '' `` Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning '' This House Is Not for Sale `` This House Is Not for Sale '' `` Knockout '' `` Labor of Love '' `` Born Again Tomorrow '' `` Roller Coaster '' Other singles `` Edge of a Broken Heart '' ( Disorderlies soundtrack ) `` Good Guys Do n't Always Wear White '' ( `` The Cowboy Way '' soundtrack ) `` Wedding Day '' ( promo single ) `` Please Come Home for Christmas '' `` Real Life '' ( EDtv soundtrack ) Book : Bon Jovi Category : Bon Jovi Portal : Rock music Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wanted_Dead_or_Alive_(Bon_Jovi_song)&oldid=800275794 '' Categories : 1986 songs 1987 singles Bon Jovi songs Song recordings produced by Bruce Fairbairn Songs written by Jon Bon Jovi Songs written by Richie Sambora Songs about touring Music videos directed by Wayne Isham Black - and - white music videos Mercury Records singles Hidden categories : CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Track listings with deprecated parameters Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for UKchartarchive Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboarddigitalsongs Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Search Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Türkçe Edit links This page was last edited on 12 September 2017, at 14 : 23. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: meaning of the song wanted dead or alive
Answer: the band's anthem