# Name-Checking Yourself In Rock Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822 "2014-02-20T21:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/101 "2014-02-22T01:46:48Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Butthole Surfers - [_Butthole Surfer_ from **Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75H4bxZGMFE) This one’s a little weird. They actually went by any number of outlandish names, such as The Inalienable Right to Eat Fred Astaire’s Asshole, the Vodka Family Winstons, and Ashtray Babyheads. At their first paid gig, the emcee forgot their name, and used the song title off the set list as their name. It stuck. So, it’s a little like a chicken and egg problem. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/102 "2014-02-22T01:55:22Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > **I Dreamed of Hillbilly Heaven** – Tex Ritter (“Tex Ritter? Well, that’s when I woke up”) DChord: I wanted to thank you for supplying an additional comedic depth to [this 39 year old National Lampoon bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z2XU3u3vSI). I always thought it was funny that “Gregory Puck” might be having a fever dream, but his last line from the Ritter song is now the icing on the cake. Kudos! 🆒 We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/103 "2014-02-22T02:08:45Z")
Mr. Mojo Risin’ ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/104 "2014-02-22T02:53:50Z")
The Fifth Dimension in Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/105 "2014-02-22T03:04:25Z")
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/106 "2014-02-22T03:12:45Z")
Probably an obscure one: “Bruce” by Rick Springfield. A lament about the similarity between his name and Bruce Springsteen’s. _She called me Bruce, Bruce I can hear her calling Bruce, Bruce I can hear her calling Bruce, Bruce I can hear her My name is Rick I’m gonna stick it to ya babe_ ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/107 "2014-02-22T05:55:26Z")
How about… “What’s Your Favourite Colour?” by **Living Colour** “It’ll Chew You Up and Spit You Out” by **Concrete Blonde** “My Name is Prince” by… er, I forget who… ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/108 "2014-02-22T09:14:55Z")
Johann Sebastien Bach – **[The Art of Fugue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BACH_motif)** ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/109 "2014-02-22T13:45:17Z")
> [@Elemenopy](#): > > Johann Sebastien Bach – **[The Art of Fugue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BACH_motif)** I’d forgotten about that. That pretty much wins the thread. ETA: other than it not being rock, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/110 "2014-02-22T14:14:47Z")
Joe Walsh, _ **I Can Play That Rock & Roll** _ _If you, if you wanna party at the next election Only one way to go Put on a rocking rock and roll selection Turn up and vote And you can check out anytime you want **Just call me Joe** And I can play that rock and roll for ya…_ ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/111 "2014-02-22T15:52:30Z")
Metal band Manowar namechecks themselves quite often. Hank Williams, Jr. mentions himself by name in more than one song. Wille Nelson & Waylon Jennings in _Luckenbach, Texas_: Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas, Willie and Waylon and the boys… Although they [apparently didn’t write the song](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luchenbach#Country_music) themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/112 "2014-02-22T16:34:19Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Creeque Alley”; by the Mamas and the Papas fits the definition. All members of the group are name checked. [“Creeque Alley”](http://www.creequealley.com/) is a good example of an autobiographical song, which includes, but goes beyond, mere name-checking. It does, as you said, mention all members of the group, as well as some of their contemporaries. Another such autobiographical song is The Kinks’ [“The Road”](http://www.kindakinks.net/discography/showsong.php?song=327): > [@](#): > > Pete played on the bass guitar > Liked to get around, mixing with all the stars > But Mrs. Avory’s child was all fingers and thumbs > But solid as a rock, setting time on the drums > While Dave the Rave hit the rock ‘n’ roll riffs > Yours truly strummed away with a slightly limp wrist ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/113 "2014-02-22T17:10:28Z")
In the song _Ramona_ by **The Ramones** , Joey sings > [@](#): > > Hey Johnny, hey Dee Dee > Little Tom and Joey ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/114 "2014-02-22T17:13:09Z")
Band name: **Metal Church** Name of first album by Metal Church: **Metal Church** Name of second song on Metal Church, by Metal Church: **Metal Church** And in the song Metal Church, on Metal Church, by Metal Church, they say, > [@](#): > > Metal church, unholy, who’ll be the sacrifice? > Metal church, the only, don’t you know the time is right > Metal church will find you, can’t run very far > The metal church inside you, > It knows just who you are, who you are. What do I win? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/115 "2014-02-22T17:22:00Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Band name: **Metal Church** > > Name of first album by Metal Church: **Metal Church** > > Name of second song on Metal Church, by Metal Church: **Metal Church** > > And in the song Metal Church, on Metal Church, by Metal Church, they say, > > What do I win? 😃 You win a clap and a 😃 from me, because I forgot to list that song and back in the '80s they were one of my favorite bands. But since I already listed _Talk Talk_ by **Talk Talk** from the album _Talk Talk_ (which contains the phrase “talk talk” more than 20 times, that’s all you get. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/116 "2014-02-22T17:56:07Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > “Shake it don’t break it - wrap it up and Jerry Lee Lewis will be glad to take it!” Yeah, I think he likes to name-check himself a lot. Here’s the start of “Jukebox”: “…I’ll fake it But some how-a old Jerry comes through Sometimes I feel like I, I just can’t take it But somehow the Killer comes through” And in his version of “Honey Hush” he sings: “I know you, pretty baby You ain’t nothing but an alley cat The Killer knows you, honey Woman, you know what the Killer is talkin’ about” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/117 "2014-02-22T18:19:57Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Joe Walsh, _ **I Can Play That Rock & Roll** _ > > _If you, if you wanna party at the next election > Only one way to go > Put on a rocking rock and roll selection > Turn up and vote > And you can check out anytime you want > **Just call me Joe** > And I can play that rock and roll for ya…_ He also name-checks himself and a couple of his fellow Eagles in “Shut Up.” _Hey Joe, how ya doin’, how’s your album, how’s your tour How’s Don Henley, how’s Glenn Frey, and who, what where and when and why They could not shut up (can’t shut up) They couldn’t shut up (can’t shut up) So I hung up (can’t shut up)_ Would “Stray Cat Strut” by the Stray Cats count? ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/118 "2014-02-22T19:56:42Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > In the song _Ramona_ by **The Ramones** , Joey sings [Been there, done that!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17126923&postcount=70) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/119 "2014-02-22T22:09:58Z")
I don’t think this one’s been mentioned yet… Dr. John, “Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya”: “They call me Dr. John, known as the Night Tripper…” ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822/120 "2014-02-23T01:34:23Z")
“Killer Queen” by Queen. “Who Are You?” by The Who. (Those two may not quite be direct references to the band, but they are not mere coincidences either.) “Down at the Doctors” by Dr. Feelgood. (The chorus contains the couplet: “Come on down to the doctors/ Make you feel good all night.”) “Blockheads” by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-checking-yourself-in-rock-music/681822.md?page=7)