Rock Me – Great White | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#60 ) & Rock (#9); 1987
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
In 1975 former Mott The Hoople frontman Ian Hunter released his self-titled debut album which included his classic, Once Bitten Twice Shy. A dozen years down the road LA hard-rockers, Great White, appropriated the title for their fourth album.
By then the band had undergone the requisite personnel changes in search of the big breakthrough. An early EP, Out Of The Night, debut long player Great White, and 1986’s Shot In The Dark all generated lackluster sales so the quintet’s hopes were riding on Once Bitten.
Having already toured with Whitesnake and Judas Priest, GW hit the concert trail with Dokken, which put them in front of the very fans most likely to buy the new album.
Rock Me led the chart charge, giving Great White its first-ever pop hit. Once Bitten carried the band’s banner on the album side as it climbed to #23 and reached platinum status.
GW completed the Hunter connection by naming their next album …Twice Shy, and including Hunter’s song as well.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Alan Niven
- Mark Kendall and Michael Lardie
Lyrics Written by:
- Mark Kendall
- Jack Russell
- Alan Niven
- Michael Lardie
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).