Backed by the sort of tabloid outrage that would put the Sex Pistols to shame, this debut single of unashamedly 80s cyberpunk band, Sigue Sigue Sputnik made it to number 3 in the UK charts. It could only happen in 1986. Recorded in the same studio as Pet Shop Boys' West End Girls and Dido's No Angel, Love Missile F1-11 is replete with the same majestic 808 drums and tacky Akai synths of the former, and the lyrical acuity of the latter.
Love Missile has had an understated, yet influential role in two movies. The Extended Mix is featured in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, both the song on the soundtrack, and a poster on Ferris' bedroom wall. In High Fidelity, John Cusack's character is alerted to the skater kids musical talent when he notices that amongst their haul of stolen booty is the Sigue Sigue single.
Love Missile F1-11 was subsequently covered by Pop Will Eat Itself. Although the lyrics are completely superfluous, here goes nothing...
US bombs cruisin' overhead
There goes my love rocket red
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Blaster bomb bomb bomb ahead
Multi Millions still unfed
A mondo teeno givin' head
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Hold Me shake me, I'm all shook up
Psycho Maniac, interbred, shoot it up
Now shoot it up
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Teenage crime now fashion's dead
Shoot it up
There goes my love rocket red
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Shoot it up
Shoot it up