Why? Because the U2 version gives us permission to move past the heinous interpretations of Manson, and just enjoy the damned song. So having said that – the U2 version of Helter Skelter rocks the hardest. However, as already mentioned – The Beatles version of the song was tainted by a racist murder cultist. 90s modern rock? Oasis.Īnother way to look at the different versions of Helter Skelter – which ones hold up the thesis best? In a perfect world, I believe that version would be the original Beatles version, with the Oasis version being second. Do you like punk? Listen to the Siouxsie and the Banshees version. So having said that – perhaps the cover of Helter Skelter that rocks hardest is the version that comes closest to their prefered subgenre of rock. Other than the change in style, most of these covers of Helter Skelter don’t deviate too much from the original, which is pretty rare for covers. We see hair metal, punk, post punk, shock rock, alternative, power rock, and hard rock. One thing most of these covers have in common – the artists play Helter Skelter in their own subgenre of rock and roll.
U2’s love for justice and rock and roll merges with their cover of Helter Skelter. U2 presents Helter Skelter as The Beatles present the song.
U2 does not try to update Helter Skelter’s sound to a post punk rock sound. Bono’s words tell us not to give two shakes about what some crazy, racist, lunatic says about a song – because dammit, Helter Skelter is a fantastic rock song.Īside from Bono’s intro, U2’s Helter Skelter follows the original pretty closely. Paul McCartney even stopped playing Helter Skelter for awhile.
Even son, some certainly hated Helter Skelter because of the association with Charles Manson. The first two covers of Helter Skelter I mention would not exist if the song was universal taboo. Granted, not everyone hated Helter Skelter because of a crazy monster’s interpretation. “ This is a song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles, we’re stealing it back.” These are the very first words heard on U2’s “Rattle and Hum.” These words give us permission to like “Helter Skelter,” even if the association with Charles Manson made us not want to like the song. However, the two facts when put side by side make a lot of sense. Maybe I owe Mötley Crüe an apology for even suggesting this. I have no idea if shock rock was the intention of Mötley Crüe’s cover of Helter Skelter. Kind of like…”Look! We’re doing that song which motivated that crazy monster! Screw you old people!” We almost wonder if Mötley Crüe’s Helter Skelter serves not as a cover, but as a shock piece. However, seeing this ongoing motivation in their music, and adding Helter Skelter’s racist and psychotic interpretation by Charles Manson…. That alone isn’t enough to make Mötley Crüe’s Helter Skelter a bad cover. Mötley Crüe often used satanic imagery, not because they believed in Satan, but because it scared the old people. Firstly, Mötley Crüe was one of the top shock rockers of the 80s.
Having said that – there’s a few facts about Helter Skelter and Mötley Crüe that make my skin crawl. All in all, nothing special as far as covers, but Mötley Crüe’s version is listenable. The rest of Helter Skelter by Mötley Crüe follows the original version closely, though with more of an 80s hard rock flare. Mötley Crüe starts their version of Helter Skelter with a seriously impressive speed, led by Mick Mars’ guitars. Throughout the rebellion inserted into this version of Helter Skelter, arises a bold and amazing song. Siouxsie and the Banshees version ignores the rules of not only a good cover, but of music theory in general. Siouxsie and the Banshees shows something amazing about Helter Skelter: the song makes a hell of a good punk rock song. When we’re really in the groove of the song, this cover of Helter Skelter just stops mid line – the only thing left, a still vibrating cymbal. We hear a rephasing – “You may be a lover, but you ain’t no F(ing) dancer. Siouxsie Sioux almost shouts the lyrics as though she’s a drill sergeant. We’re still not certain this is a cover of Helter Skelter, even though the track’s title says “Helter skelter.”Įventually Siouxsie and the Banshees speed up the tempo, and we hear a more familiar song, albeit still an interpretation of Helter Skelter. Eventually – we hear Siouxsie Sioux sing. This happens a few times, before a couple notes strum on an electric guitar. Cover Version – Siouxsie and the Banshees (1978)Ī single note plays on a bass guitar.