"Love Is the Drug" is a song by the English rock band Roxy Music, from their fifth studio album, Siren (1975), released as a single in September 1975.

Co-written by Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay, the song originated as a slower, dreamier track until the band transformed its arrangement to become more dance-friendly and uptempo.

It also gave the group its first substantial exposure in the United States, reaching number 30 in early 1976 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their highest charting single.

Bryan pulled one of his alchemical stunts and sang an almost complete vocal line with fantastic lyrics to general amazement and applause in AIR Studio No.

[10]After hearing early versions of Mackay's chord progression, Ferry wrote the song's lyrics while at home in Holland Park.

He stated, "The image I had in mind for the song was a young guy getting into his car and zooming off into town, looking for action at a club".

[9] He cited a Trinidadian friend named Christian for inspiring the song's opening lyrics: "He worked for Roxy doing wardrobe.

"[11] Since then, "Love Is the Drug" has seen critical acclaim and many music writers point to the song as being a progenitor of future new wave and funk sounds.

Dave Thompson of AllMusic concluded, "Indeed, peel away the radio-pleasing buoyancy which is the song's immediate calling card and 'Love Is the Drug' is as grimly unrelenting as any past Roxy attack -- as taut as it is tight, as sordid as it is sensual.

Simple Minds, Gang of Four, Public Image Ltd., and the Human League can all trace at least a soupçon of their future funkiness to 'Love Is the Drug,' as can Roxy themselves."

After failing to chart in 1980, a remix of the Grace Jones version was released in 1986 following the 1985 compilation Island Life and then became a minor hit in the UK, peaking at No.