Songfacts®:

• In a Songfacts interview, The Cult frontman, Ian Astbury, said this song "was like getting on your favorite motorcycle," adding: "I could sing about anything. That's just what came to me. Just the phrase came to mind. That's what it felt like, a love removal machine."
• Astbury told us that AC/DC had a huge influence on this track: "We had Back in Black playing in the studio, as Rick [Rubin, producer] was listening to it every day. He was obsessed with it, no doubt. AC/DC definitely had an influence on that record. But 'Love Removal Machine' was that AC/DC influence where you're getting down to things in their very elemental form, instead of waxing lyrical and getting prosaic."
• This was ranked at #47 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
• This song was originally recorded, albeit with a different arrangement, for Peace, an album that was scrapped by The Cult after they grew unhappy with its sound. After abandoning the album, the band left England for New York, where they met the legendary producer, Rick Rubin, who convinced The Cult to re-record Peace and re-title it Electric.
• Many of The Cult's hits were based around the chords of D, C and G, including "She Sells Sanctuary," "Rain" and this track. Guitarist, Billy Duffy, told Record Collector: "I took a perverse pride from writing as many Top 20 singles as I did using the same three chords. AC/DC did it, Metallica did it."
• Speaking with The Music.com, Astbury recalled the recording of the Electric album with Rick Rubin. "We sat down with Rick in a New York dorm room and he played us a Blue Cheer video," said the singer, "then asked, 'This is how I can see you guys sounding, more stripped back and direct. Do you want to do this?' Billy [Duffy, guitarist] and I looked at each other and said, 'Hell, yes! Definitely.'"