9 Popular Songs You Didn't Know Were Based On Real News Stories

8. Skid Row - "18 And Life"

The downtrodden "18 and Life" was one of the most enduring songs to come out of the hair metal era and was certainly Skid Row's biggest hit. And in terms of subject matter, it's a big-time bummer. Guitarist Dave Sabo wrote the hair band's most popular song after reading a local newspaper story that described an 18-year-old who fatally shot his good friend by accident because he didn't think the gun was loaded.

Despite testifying that it was "accidental," he ended up serving a life sentence. There had also been claims that he was under the influence of alcohol, though this part of the story has never been verified.

'Accidents will happen'They all heard Ricky sayHe fired his six-shot to the windThat child blew a child away