# Rock Songs That Mention Other Musicians By Name **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625 "2007-03-19T21:01:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/21 "2007-03-19T21:37:55Z")
[QUOTE=Das Glasperlenspiel] The Mamas and the Papas’ “Creeque Alley” mentions Roger McGuin and Barry McGuire “still a’gettin’ higher” and “no one’s gettin’ fat except Mama Cass” [/QUOTE] Also Mugwups (Cass’s first band) and “Sebastian and zal formed the Spoonful” ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/22 "2007-03-19T21:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] **R.E.M**.'s **“Man on the Moon”** name-checks **Mott the Hoople** [/QUOTE] And Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/23 "2007-03-19T21:46:16Z")
\*\*Better than Ezra \*\* name-checks \*\*AC/DC \*\* and the \*\*Bare Naked Ladies \*\* in _Extraordinary_. \*\*Blondie \*\* mentions **Fab Five Freddy** in _Rapture_, but it’s in the rap part, so maybe it doesn’t count. Whole bunch of them in _Life is a Rock, but the Radio Rolled Me_. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/24 "2007-03-19T21:51:34Z")
The Pogues song “Fiesta” has the line, “Y Costello el rey del America,” referring to Elvis Costello’s album, _King of America_. Costello was the producer for _If I Should Fall from Grace with God_, the album on which “Fiesta” appeared. Two more from the same album, but not about contemporary singers: “Fairytale of New York” has the following line: “Sinatra was swinging/All the drunks they were singing/We kissed on a corner/Then danced through the night.” And in “Thousands are Sailing,” we get: “Then we said goodnight to broadway/Giving it our best regards/Tipped our hats to mister Cohen/Dear old Times Square’s favorite bard.” “In My Garage,” by Weezer, has the line: “I’ve got posters on the wall/My favorite rock group KISS/I’ve got Ace Frehley/I’ve got Peter Criss.” ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/25 "2007-03-19T21:55:30Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] “In My Garage,” by Weezer, has the line: “I’ve got posters on the wall/My favorite rock group KISS/I’ve got Ace Frehley/I’ve got Peter Criss.” [/QUOTE] And KISS gets mentioned in “Surrender” by Cheap Trick. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/26 "2007-03-19T21:57:10Z")
Veruca Salt- “With David Bowie” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/27 "2007-03-19T22:02:30Z")
Joni MItchell’s “Hejira” mentions _Strains of **Benny Goodman** Coming through the snow and the pinewood trees…_ When I saw her do the song live, Frank Sinatra had just died, so she changed the line to “Strains of Old Blue Eyes…” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/28 "2007-03-19T22:08:55Z")
Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes” mentions the Beatles & the Stones. ---
**Author:** ![2pelo\_honey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/ecb155/32.png) [@2pelo\_honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2pelo_honey)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/29 "2007-03-19T22:10:10Z")
Originally Posted by Miller “In My Garage,” by Weezer, has the line: “I’ve got posters on the wall/My favorite rock group KISS/I’ve got Ace Frehley/I’ve got Peter Criss.” [QUOTE=Duke of Rat] And KISS gets mentioned in “Surrender” by Cheap Trick. [/QUOTE] And, in Jimmy Buffett’s “Manana” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/30 "2007-03-19T22:11:00Z")
[QUOTE=foolsguinea] Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes” mentions the Beatles & the Stones. [/QUOTE] And T-Rex. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/31 "2007-03-19T22:11:57Z")
When Eddie Money refers to “Ronnie” in “Take Me Home Tonight” (\* … just like Ronnie say …\*), he’s referring to former Ronette (and Phil Speector’s first wife) Ronnie Spector. Ronnie Spector also sings on the record. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/32 "2007-03-19T22:23:15Z")
The line, “_Turn up The Eagles; the neighbors are listening_” is a line from Steely Dan’s “_Everything You Did_” and was evidently inspired by Walter Becker’s girlfriend, who loved The Eagles. The Eagles slyly acknowledged the mention and returned it a year later in “_Hotel California_” with the line, “_They stab it with their steely knives but they just can’t kill the beast_.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/33 "2007-03-19T22:24:43Z")
[QUOTE=2pelo honey] **Barenaked Ladies - Brian Wilson** [/QUOTE] From the same album (Gordon), they have Be My Yoko Ono (mentions Yoko and the Beatles, and John, specifically.), Blame It on Me (mentions Milli Vanilli), New Kid on the Block (Mentions the New Kids on the Block, and Elvis Presley), and Grade Nine (Mentions Duran Duran). ---
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/34 "2007-03-19T22:30:25Z")
Tom Petty in “Runnin’ Down a Dream”: “Me and Del [Shannon] was singin Little Runaway” ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/35 "2007-03-19T22:30:28Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] [QUOTE=Das Glasperlenspiel] The Mamas and the Papas’ “Creeque Alley” mentions Roger McGuin and Barry McGuire “still a’gettin’ higher” and “no one’s gettin’ fat except Mama Cass” [/QUOTE] Also Mugwups (Cass’s first band) and “Sebastian and zal formed the Spoonful” [/QUOTE] More that anyone needs to know 'bout “[Creeque Alley](http://www.creequealley.com/)” CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/36 "2007-03-19T22:31:54Z")
When Smokey sings - ABC (Smokey Robinson) Nightshift - The Commodores (Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson) True - Spandau Ballet (Marvin Gaye) ---
**Author:** ![Moscow\_Discow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Moscow\_Discow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moscow_Discow)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/37 "2007-03-19T22:33:22Z")
LeTigre’s “Hot Topic” mentions a whole slew of musicians, but the only ones that come to mind at the moment are Sleater-Kinney and Cibo Matto. Oh, also Yoko Ono. (Again, apparently, I see on preview) ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/38 "2007-03-19T22:35:50Z")
I don’t know who originally recorded “I did rock and roll music”, but I have the Peter, Paul, and Mary version and they mention the Mamas and the Papas as a group and individually. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/39 "2007-03-19T22:42:10Z")
_I Dig Rock and Roll Music_ by Peter, Paul and Mary mentions the Mamas and the Papas, Donovan, and the Beatles. Buck Owens is featured in \*Looking Out My Backdoor \* by CCR. Does \*Hey, Hey, We’re the Monkees \* count? ---
**Author:** ![aluminumdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@aluminumdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aluminumdisc)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/40 "2007-03-19T22:45:36Z")
the Beatles and the Monkees, Chubby Checker-A Noun Is A Person, Place or Thing Schoolhouse Rock! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625.md?page=3)