# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/81 "2007-03-20T10:10:10Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] 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_.” [/QUOTE] Have you seen [this](http://www.channel101.com/shows/view.php?media_id=1766)? It’s good for a laugh. ---
**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 20, 2007, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/82 "2007-03-20T10:30:21Z")
I don’t know how I forgot to mention **Nerf Herder** , who recorded an entire song about [Courtney Love](http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/N/nerfherderlyrics/nerfherdercourtneylovelyrics.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/83 "2007-03-20T10:39:15Z")
Kirsty MacColl “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis” The Androids “I wanna do it with Madonna” ---
**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 20, 2007, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/84 "2007-03-20T11:39:28Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] I don’t know how I forgot to mention **Nerf Herder** , who recorded an entire song about [Courtney Love](http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/N/nerfherderlyrics/nerfherdercourtneylovelyrics.htm) [/QUOTE] :smack: And of course, Nerf Herder also sang about Van Halen. ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/85 "2007-03-20T12:03:14Z")
In “Out for the count”, Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice sings: " I dreamt of Bobbi Gentry and her warm, enchanting smile/ She said she’d never fall in love again/ At least not for a while". Which I still think is pretty clever. Crowded House mention Andrew Lloyd Webber in the opening lines of Chocolate Cake: “Not everyone in New York would pay to see a show by Andre Lloyd Webber/ May his trousers fall down as he bows to the Queen and the crown” ---
**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 20, 2007, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/86 "2007-03-20T12:35:35Z")
ABBA’s song “Eagle” is a tribute to the Eagls. Mojo Nixon’s Elvis is Everywhere mentions Elvis a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/87 "2007-03-20T14:23:06Z")
Oh gosh, speaking of Elvis, Kate Bush’s song “King of the Mountain” is about him, and specifically has the line “Elvis are you out there somewhere?” ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/88 "2007-03-20T14:30:14Z")
[QUOTE=aluminumdisc] “Roll over Bethoven” the father of R&R Chuck Berry [/QUOTE] “Rock Me Amadeus” Falco ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/89 "2007-03-20T15:12:17Z")
Barenaked Ladies–“Be My Yoko Ono” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/90 "2007-03-20T15:36:48Z")
\*\*The Clash \*\* in _1977_, sing the line “No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones!” Of course, who can forget **The Replacements** ’s _Alex Chilton_. In _Sister Europe_, \*\*The Psychedelic Furs \*\* sing “the radio upon the floor is stupid, it plays Aznavour…” …and **Kraftwerk** , in _Trans Europe Express_: “From station to station back to Dusseldorf City Meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie Trans-Europe Express” ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/91 "2007-03-20T17:03:06Z")
**Soul Heaven** by Johnnie Taylor mentions a great many R&B singers who have died. **Night Shift** by the Commodores is a tribute to Marvin (Gaye) and Jackie (Wilson). I won’t even get into all the rap songs that are “battles” which dis other MC’s by name. ---
**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 20, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/92 "2007-03-20T17:54:00Z")
**Nerf Herder** - _Pantera Fans In Love_ (Yeah, they’re into name dropping) The Cranberries, Offspring, James Hetfield, Vince Neil, Slayer, Ozzy, Metallica, Megadeth, Manowar, and of course, the titular Pantera. \*\* Dire Straits\*\* - _Calling Elvis_ ---
**Author:** ![rivit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rivit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/93 "2007-03-20T18:03:25Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] \*\*Better than Ezra \*\* name-checks \*\*AC/DC \*\* and the \*\*Bare Naked Ladies \*\* in _Extraordinary_.\*. [/QUOTE] I came in to mention this one. Madonna is also mentioned in the same song. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/94 "2007-03-20T18:27:05Z")
[QUOTE=Anastasaeon] **Sloan** disparagingly calls out **Consolidated** in _Coax Me_. [/QUOTE] Ehhh, I think they’re okay. But I didn’t know they were a band. ---
**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 20, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/95 "2007-03-20T18:28:29Z")
[QUOTE=as\_u\_wish] I may have missed this since I only skimmed… Alan Jackson mentions Jimmy Buffett by name in “Five O’Clock Somewhere.” [/QUOTE] I must be losing it…I could’ve sworn they performed that together??? 😕 (crawling into a corner now) ---
**Author:** ![VanillaGorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/96 "2007-03-20T18:44:23Z")
In Peace, Love and Pitbulls song **Kemikal** John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) is mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/97 "2007-03-20T19:18:40Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] 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)). [/QUOTE] Good link, but **ArizonaTeach** scooped you back on post #23. I know, 'cause I was going to post it too… ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/98 "2007-03-20T19:52:46Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] **Nerf Herder** - _Pantera Fans In Love_ (Yeah, they’re into name dropping) [/QUOTE] And yet another Nerf Herder song: “Jonathan,” which states, “Please God, don’t let me end up like [Jonathan Richman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Richman)” as well as quoting (both lyrically and musically) songs from the first [Modern Lovers album](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Modern_Lovers_%28album%29). ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/99 "2007-03-20T19:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] Good link, but **ArizonaTeach** scooped you back on post #23. I know, 'cause I was going to post it too… [/QUOTE] Woo hoo! Acknowledgement! And I was about to post one of those indignant “what am I, chopped liver?” posts! ---
**Author:** ![zyzzyva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@zyzzyva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zyzzyva)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625/100 "2007-03-20T20:14:45Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] **“Punk Rock Girl”** by **The Dead Milkmen** name-checks **Mojo Nixon**. [/QUOTE] Along with the Beach Boys. Some other Dead Milkmen songs mention: Gene Loves Jezebel (“Bad Party”) Big Black (“Sri Lanka Sex Hotel”) Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and Tony Orlando and Dawn (“Bitchin’ Camaro”) Sha Na Na (“In Praise of Sha Na Na”) The Communards, Book of Love, The Smiths, Public Image Limited, Depeche Mode, and Naked Truth (“Instant Club Hit”) Depeche Mode (again, in “Moron”) Edie Brickell and Julio Iglesias (“Now Everybody’s Me”) The Greatful Dead, The Doobie Brothers, Billie Joel, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and Bruce Springsteen (“The Big Sleazy”) Elvis (“The Conspiracy Song”) Donnie & Marie Osmond (“Where the Tarantula Lives”) and their “Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes, and How!” was a direct rip on Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford And How. There are probably some others that i’m forgetting. King Missile mentions Otis Redding in “The Way to Salvation”. X mentions The Minutemen, Flesheaters, DOA, Big Boys, and Black Flag in “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts”. Primus mentions Michael Jackson in “Mephisto and Kevin”. The Aforementioned Mojo Nixon has “Don Henley Must Die”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-songs-that-mention-other-musicians-by-name/396625.md?page=6)