▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁ ▁In ▁later ▁years , ▁G eld of ▁admitted ▁that ▁he ▁reg rett ed ▁writing ▁the ▁song ▁because ▁he ▁" made ▁Br enda ▁Sp encer ▁famous ". ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁Bob ▁G eld of ▁and ▁John nie ▁F ingers ▁reached ▁an ▁agreement ▁in ▁their ▁dispute ▁over ▁who ▁wrote ▁the ▁song , ▁up ▁until ▁then ▁cred ited ▁sole ly ▁to ▁G eld of . ▁F ingers ▁received ▁a ▁financial ▁settlement ▁and ▁co - cred it . ▁ ▁Chart ▁performance ▁▁ ▁Despite ▁reaching ▁number - one ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom , ▁it ▁only ▁reached ▁number ▁ 7 3 ▁on ▁the ▁US ▁Billboard ▁Hot ▁ 1 0 0 . ▁The ▁song ▁was ▁played ▁regularly ▁by ▁album - orient ed ▁rock ▁format ▁radio ▁stations ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁throughout ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁although ▁radio ▁stations ▁in ▁San ▁Diego ▁ref rained ▁from ▁playing ▁the ▁track ▁for ▁some ▁years ▁to ▁respect ▁local ▁sens it iv ities ▁about ▁the ▁shooting . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁UK ▁the ▁song ▁won ▁the ▁Best ▁Pop ▁Song ▁and ▁Out standing ▁British ▁Ly ric ▁categories ▁at ▁the ▁I vor ▁Nov ello ▁Awards . ▁ ▁Week ly ▁charts ▁ ▁Year - end ▁charts ▁ ▁Live ▁performances ▁▁ ▁On ▁ 9 ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁G eld of ▁was ▁joined ▁on ▁stage ▁by ▁fellow ▁Bo om town ▁Rat ▁John nie ▁F ingers ▁to ▁perform ▁the ▁song ▁for ▁The ▁Secret ▁Pol ic eman ' s ▁Ball ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Am n esty