As a single, it did poorly in sales and radio play (other than in Detroit), and failed to chart in the U.S. even though it would prove to be a fan favorite. It came as a surprise that the B-side "Beth", a ballad sung by drummer Peter Criss, wound up catching on in different markets in the United States, so the single was reissued with "Beth" as the A-side and "Detroit Rock City" as the B-side.
During the Love Gun/Alive II tour, Paul changed the lyric, "I know I'm gonna die, why?" to "I know I'm gonna die, and I don't care!"
The song was #6 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs, and is featured on the album Heavy Metal – The First 20 Years which was released on July 25, 2006.
The song's title was used for a 1999 motion picture in which a group of teenage Kiss fans travel to Detroit to see the band in 1978.
The Detroit Tigers use the song when the players take the field, and also on various radio and television broadcasts of games. It is also sometimes played right before the first face-off in Detroit Red Wings games.
The song was tributed as a fictional venue - The Rock City Theater, located in Detroit, Michigan - in the music video game Guitar Hero II. It is also featured in the video game Rock Band, in which the master track is used - however, the first solo appears extended, and the ending ("Get up!/Everybody's gonna leave their seats/Get down!") was cut off the song. Kiss also played the song on an episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels.
Detroit Rock City
Kiss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nine o'clock, the radio's the only light
I hear my song and it pulls me through
Comes on strong, tells me what I got to do
I got to
Get up
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City
Get up
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
Getting late
I just can't wait
Ten o'clock and I know I gotta hit the road
First I drink, then I smoke
Start the car, and I try to make the midnight show
Get up
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
Moving fast, down 95
Hit top speed, but I'm still moving much too slow
I feel so good, I'm so alive
Hear my song playin' on the radio
It goes
Get up
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
You gotta lose your life in Detroit Rock City
Twelve o'clock, I gotta rock
There's a truck ahead, lights staring at my eyes
Oh my God, no time to turn
I got to laugh 'cause I know I'm gonna die
Why?
Get up
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down
Get up
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
Get down
The Kiss song "Detroit Rock City" begins with the singer feeling uptight on a Saturday night, but he finds solace in music. The sound of the radio and the lyrics of the song he hears help to guide him and push him to move and lose himself in the excitement of rock and roll. The lyrics urge him and everyone listening to get up and dance, to leave their seats and join in the thrill of the music. As the night wears on and the clock ticks towards midnight, the tempo of the song picks up, with urgent drums and guitars backing up the lyrics.
The central message of "Detroit Rock City" is one of living life to the fullest and enjoying the rush of excitement and adrenaline that comes with experiences like attending a rock concert. The lyrics become more intense as the song progresses, with the singer feeling more and more alive until an unexpected turn of events - a fatal car crash - brings the song to a sudden, shocking halt.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the power of music and the energy that it can inspire in those who listen to it. It encourages listeners to let go of their inhibitions and embrace the joy and abandon of rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel uptight on a Saturday night
Feeling anxious and nervous on a Saturday night
Nine o'clock, the radio's the only light
The only source of light is the radio playing
I hear my song and it pulls me through
The song is a motivating force that inspires the singer
Comes on strong, tells me what I got to do
The song has a strong impact and tells the singer what they need to do
Get up
Stand up and start moving
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Everyone is going to start dancing
Get down
Bend down or crouch
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
Everyone is going to get up from their chairs
You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City
You need to forget your worries and let loose in Detroit Rock City
Getting late
Time is running out
I just can't wait
I'm too excited to wait any longer
Ten o'clock and I know I gotta hit the road
It's 10 pm and it's time for me to start driving
First I drink, then I smoke
I first have a drink and then smoke
Start the car, and I try to make the midnight show
I try to reach the show that starts at midnight
Moving fast, down 95
Speeding down the highway 95
Hit top speed, but I'm still moving much too slow
Going as fast as possible, but not fast enough
I feel so good, I'm so alive
Feeling great, with a lot of energy
Hear my song playin' on the radio
Listening to my own song being played on the radio
You gotta lose your life in Detroit Rock City
You have to risk your life to have a good time in Detroit Rock City
Twelve o'clock, I gotta rock
It's 12 am and I'm ready to rock
There's a truck ahead, lights staring at my eyes
A truck is approaching with bright lights shining in the singer's eyes
Oh my God, no time to turn
There's no time to avoid the truck
I got to laugh 'cause I know I'm gonna die
Laughing at the situation as death seems inevitable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Stanley, Robert A. Ezrin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimpickens4983
I feel uptight on a Saturday night
Nine o'clock, the radio's the only light
I hear my song and it pulls me through
Comes on strong, tells me what I got to do, I got to
Get up, everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down, everybody's gonna leave their seat
You gotta lose your mind in Detroit rock city
Get up, everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down, everybody's gonna leave their seat
Getting late
I just can't wait
Ten o'clock and I know I gotta hit the road
First I drink, then I smoke
Start up the car, and I try to make the midnight show
Get up, everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down, everybody's gonna leave their seat
Movin' fast, doin' 95
Hit top speed but I'm still movin' much too slow
I feel so good, I'm so alive
I hear my song playin' on the radio, it goes
Get up, everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down, everybody's gonna leave their seat
Twelve o'clock, I gotta rock
There's a truck ahead, lights starin' at my eyes
Oh my God, no time to turn
I got to laugh 'cause I know I'm gonna die, why
Get up, everybody's gonna move their feet
Get up, everybody's gonna leave their seat
@sanandreasX
This song + Driving = Speeding ticket.
@teobenjamin2615
in the context of why this song was written, this makes it even worse
@dataquester
Death....
@ferdinandlifewarrior4443
You speak truly out of my heart!...Kiss never dies and hard rock is still alive! XD
@leninmartinez4561
Your not lying 😂 i was going so fast to this somg i got a tiket 😒
@waftpict
Right on dude
@arturportella
A friend of mine passed away last Friday (May 20th, 2022). This music played at his funeral. Totally unexpected, but he was a faithful and unconditional Kiss fan. Young and with a lot of life to live. This music reminds me of how he always did his whole life fighting against cancer: Let's laugh, I know I'm gonna die. I feel so bad about losing him, but I will always remember him jumping around when this music was playing. RIP Gabriel, we'll meet soon somewhere...
@yeoj_maximo1122
Rip
@vincentvanzant321
Rest easy Gabriel n keep on rockin
@Veckoza
As a very religious person coming from a younger generation, it is odd but understandable how the older generation would think this kind of music satanic and evil. It has been made clear to me, as someone who studies great stories and myths, that the whole "darkness" vibe only loved for it's cosmetics. For a more modern example, look at how Darth Vader is lauded in his appearance of doom and despair? That is why his scene in "Rogue One" was so powerful, and in a way "loved." Not because people like the fact that soldiers allied with the forces of good were being destroyed, but because they love and feel for the character behind the story, tragic as it may be.
These men made a banger for a single fan who died because they were driving to their rock concert. Why do we listen to rock music? For many, it's a healthy release of our negative emotions. It probably was for the man the song is about too. And they loved him enough to memorialize him in a glorious harmony. I would say that is the furthest thing from satanic.