Ian Hunter’s song about Bowie (Mr. Jones)
Very good …
Regarding Did She Jump Richard Thompson has said this:
“You just write a story. It’s fiction and it’s fun to make something up, it’s an enjoyable process. Then you look at it afterwards and you think, ‘Oh that’s obviously about me or about someone I know, and that reflects what I believe.’ With a song like “Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?” I sat down to write a story. It could be about Sandy [Denny] or a couple of other people that I know…. I don’t think it is about any person in particular. It’s a bit like detective fiction…”
Does the Replacement’s “Alex Chilton” work?
“We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Billy Joel references (or at least name checks) Doris Day, Johnnie Ray, Toscanini, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles.
Other music type references include “Rock around the clock” by Bill Haley & The Comets, the payola scandal, punk rock and “heavy metal suicide” (not sure who that’s referring to…)
(It also mentions “Sugar Ray”, but that’s about boxer Robinson, not the pop band.)
Also, Dexy’s Midnight Runners says that “poor old Johnnie Ray / sounded sad upon the radio / moved a million hearts in mono”.
Oh, though of another one. Don’t know if it’s so much about someone as name checking another musician, but I love Sleater-Kinney’s “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone” (Thurston Moore also name checked):
While we’re at it, MGMT’s “Brian Eno”:
He taught me many things
The wisdom of oblique stratagems
The prophet of a sapphire soul
Presented through creative freedoms
And everything I say is true
'Cause if I was telling lies it’d probably show
I can tell that he’s kind of smiling
But what does he know?
We’re always one step behind him
He’s Brian Eno, Brian Eno
The music itself. There was a scare/fearmongering that listening to heavy metal would drive fans to suicide. (Or it might have been the old “hidden messages”)
Well, if you want to go that route,
Melissa is generally regarded as a eulogy to Duane.
Here’s another Mojo Nixon ditty:
Back on the Chain Gang is about James Honeyman-Scott, the lead guitarist of the Pretenders, who died of an overdose in 1982 at age 25.
Huh. How did I not know that song was about him? Thanks for the info.
Terrific 80s pop and Scritti Politti with Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
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Did you misspoke? The song (literally) addresses itself to ‘Robin’ who (singer and the song writer) Kevin Rowland considers a fake. The song surely infers Kevin himself considers Sinatra to be the epitome of singing but casts doubts on the sincerity of Robin’s claimed appreciation.
Good song though. I prefer Geno of course. But Searching For The Young Soul Rebels was the best era for Dexys. I never did like Come On Eileen and all that.
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Candlebox wrote the song Far Behind about the death (by drug overdose) of Andy Wood of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone.
Checking this out on Wiki reveals other tribute songs to Wood included Chris Cornell of Soundgarden with Reach Down and Say Hello 2 Heaven which was released by the band Temple of the Dog
Alice in Chains wrote Would?
Faster Pussycat wrote Mr Lovedog
War Babies dedicated Blue Tomorrow to him
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Aside from the bazillion others mentioned, a couple by Laura Veirs come to mind:
“Carol Kaye,” about the bassist for the Wrecking Crew:
“That Alice,” about pianist/harpist Alice Coltrane:
Richard Thompson has written several songs about other musicians…and often inserts lyrics referring to other musicians in his songs.
“I Agree with Pat Metheny” (about Kenny G.) and “Dear Janet Jackson” are good examples. “Tear-Stained Letter” calls out The Clash and “Bone Through Her Nose” does the same for Scritti Politti.
In Gwar’s excellent cover of People Who Died (originally by The Jim Carroll Band), they change the lyrics to include the following musicians:
Peter Steele from Type O Negative
Jeff Hanneman, one of the founding members of Slayer
Sean Sumner, drummer for Death Piggy
“Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, guitarist for Pantera and Damageplan, who was shot and killed onstage during a concert.
Mike Sciacca, guitarist for Ministry, Rigor Mortis, and Revolting Cocks
Cory Smoot, a Gwar member who performed as “Flattus Maximus,” and died in 2011
Dave Brockie, the founder of the band Gwar and last original member, who died in 2014.
Speaking of Aretha Franklin, here’s “Lady Soul (Aretha In the A.M.)”:
A lot of great references in this one.
Bap Kennedy - Rock and Roll Heaven.
There is a player inside the link.