# 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:** 3
**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, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/41 "2007-03-19T22:48:32Z")
“Roll over Bethoven” the father of R&R Chuck Berry ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/42 "2007-03-19T22:56:42Z")
**Pavement** ’s _Unseen Power of the Picket Fence_ starts with the lines: “Some bands I like to name-check, and one of them is REM.” **The Who** ’s _The Seeker_ mentions Bobby Dylan and The Beatles. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/43 "2007-03-19T23:15:17Z")
[QUOTE=Thing Fish] Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” cites “Frank Zappa and the Mothers”. Zappa himself referred (disparigingly) to the Grateful Dead in “Teenage Wind”, Jimi Hendrix in “We’re Turning Again”, and no doubt others too numerous to mention. [/QUOTE] “Smoke on the Water” also mentioned the Rolling Stones (sort of). \* But with the rolling truck stones thing just outside Making our music there\* refers to the mobile studio Deep Purple rented from the Stones to record most of the tracks for their album **Machine Head**. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/44 "2007-03-19T23:36:17Z")
I didn’t see **Buddy Holly** by Weezer mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/45 "2007-03-19T23:53:57Z")
Counting Crows mention Dylan in “Mr. Jones.” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/46 "2007-03-19T23:55:04Z")
So does Lennon in the Beatles’ “Yer Blues.” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/47 "2007-03-19T23:57:33Z")
In “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” Seger references Chuck Berry: “All Chuck’s children are out there playing his licks.” ---
**Author:** ![leafrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@leafrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leafrog)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/48 "2007-03-20T00:27:53Z")
I’ve always found it delightful that **They Might Be Giants** mention both the **dB’s** and **The Young Fresh Fellows** in their song _Twisting_. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/49 "2007-03-20T00:28:15Z")
The Who’s “_Mirror Door_”: > [@](#): > > Howlin’ Wolf and Ol’ Link Wray, > Dave Van Ronk and Doris Day, > Bobby Darin and Brownie McGee, > Elvis, Buddy, and Eddie C. > [@](#): > > Frank ‘n’ Ella, Ray ‘What’d I Say’ > Johnny Cash and Johnnie Ray > Amadeus and Ludvig Van > Henry, Johann and the Doo Dah Band. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/50 "2007-03-20T00:29:48Z")
Van Morrison: **Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)** ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/51 "2007-03-20T00:32:46Z")
Mary Prankster’s ‘Punk Rock Heaven’ namechecks Gigi Allin and Kurt Cobain. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/52 "2007-03-20T00:43:28Z")
Frank Zappa sang Bobby Brown is going down. Although clearly not in reference to the other Bobby Brown so may not count James sang Just Like Fred Astaire. ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/53 "2007-03-20T00:43:52Z")
_Reminiscing_ by **The Little River Band** mentions Glenn Miller and Cole Porter ---
**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:** [March 20, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/54 "2007-03-20T00:48:41Z")
[QUOTE=leafrog] I’ve always found it delightful that **They Might Be Giants** mention both the **dB’s** and **The Young Fresh Fellows** in their song _Twisting_. [/QUOTE] And then there’s their song “XTC vs. Adam Ant”… ---
**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:** [March 20, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/55 "2007-03-20T00:51:52Z")
Sheryl Crow namechecks The Clash in “You’re An Original.” ---
**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 20, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/56 "2007-03-20T00:54:50Z")
Another Sinatra reference: _So he takes a ladder Steals the stars from the sky Puts on Sinatra and starts to cry_ Steven Bishop, “On and On” ---
**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:** [March 20, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/57 "2007-03-20T00:56:35Z")
The Kinks’ “One of the Survivors” mentions Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion and the Belmonts, Johnny and the Hurricanes, Hollywood Argyles, Danny & the Juniors. And their (autobiographical) song “The Road” mentions the Rolling Stones, Who, Led Zeppelin, and Free. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/58 "2007-03-20T01:02:26Z")
Do all the cryptic references to other musicians in “[American Pie](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_398b.html)” count? ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/59 "2007-03-20T01:04:47Z")
And another TMBG song is “We’re The Replacements” which not only mentions The Replacements, it makes fun of the disappearance of Tommy Stinson and the time when their instruments were stolen while they were touring. I have a theory which I hope to someday be able to check with Flans & Linnell that the song was written in response to an article in Rolling Stone (I think) entitled “They Might Be Giants” which was about The Replacements. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/60 "2007-03-20T01:10:09Z")
Actually, the ultimate song in this category may be [Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Is_a_Rock_(But_the_Radio_Rolled_Me)) ([lyrics here](http://www.twin-music.com/azlyrics/r_file/reunion.html)). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625.md?page=4)