# Songs that mention other bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253 "2003-01-13T05:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/41 "2003-01-13T16:21:56Z")
Only one comes to mind: Something Corporate’s Konstantine. _It’s to Jimmy Eat World and those nights in my car, And the first star you see may not be a star…_ ---
**Author:** ![cart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@cart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cart)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/42 "2003-01-13T16:29:40Z")
Umajets - The Wannabees “A swollen Mark Bolan will throw you a bone” Billy Joel - We Didn’t Start The Fire Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bob Dylan mentioned. The Merrymakers - Superstar “He looked like Elvis '75. Puffed up but still alive.” ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/43 "2003-01-13T16:29:45Z")
Another one: Weezer’s _In the Garage_ “I’ve got posters on the walls My favourite rock group Kiss I’ve got Ace Frehley I’ve got Peter Criss” ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/44 "2003-01-13T16:39:15Z")
Kid Rock, from his CD “Cocky”, song “Cocky”: “got more money than Matchbox 20, get more ass than Mark McGrass…” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/45 "2003-01-13T17:58:58Z")
Songs about a musical genre and its artists seem to be a recurring staple of pop music. As Mellencamp’s “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” says: > [@](#): > > There was Frankie Lyman-Bobby Fuller-Mitch Ryder > (They were Rockin’) > Jackie Wilson-Shangra-las-Young Rascals > (They were Rockin’) > Spotlight on Martha Reeves > Let’s don’t forget James Brown > Rockin’ in the U.S.A. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/46 "2003-01-13T18:27:14Z")
Stevie Wonder’s **Sir Duke** : \*Well there’s Basie, Miller, Satch-mo, and the king of all, Sir Duke . . . And with a voice like Ella’s ringin’ out, there’s no way the band can lose . . . \* ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/47 "2003-01-13T19:34:08Z")
JEB LOY NICHOLS! The man is not only book-literate, he’s music-literate. My fellow fans and I have always fantasized about trying to listen to, or even collect, all the artists he mentions in songs. Now, given that Jeb is steeped in R&B, bluegrass, dub, and reggae, the list is diverse. “We got music… We got Jimmy Rodgers, we got Curtis Mayfield, [Somebody] and the mighty Heaters [?] …” Also mentions Charlie Rich, Bill Monroe, Bobby Womack, Ralph Stanley. And more. digs ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/48 "2003-01-13T20:03:41Z")
Korn’s “All In the Family” mentions Limp Bizkit (it’s a duet with Fred Durst) and Winger. I’ve been told that the line “Lady Day got diamond eyes/ she sees the truth behind the lies” from Us’s “Angel of Harlem” is about Billie Holliday. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/49 "2003-01-13T20:04:00Z")
Korn’s “All In the Family” mentions Limp Bizkit (it’s a duet with Fred Durst) and Winger. I’ve been told that the line “Lady Day got diamond eyes/ she sees the truth behind the lies” from U2’s “Angel of Harlem” is about Billie Holliday. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/50 "2003-01-13T20:10:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*I noticed this too, in addition to the “Our house in the middle of our street, **why did we ever meet?** ” You may know, but I’ll mention it anyway - that whole section is a take-off of other bands’ songs. “Crimson and clover, over and over” (Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson and Clover) Our house in the middle of the street (Madness - Our House) Why did we ever meet? (Promise Ring - Why Did We Ever Meet) Started my rock 'n roll fantasy Don’t, don’t, don’t let’s start (They Might Be Giants - Don’t Let’s Start) Why did we ever part? Kickstart my rock n rollen heart" I also believe there’s some Motley Crue in there as well. \*\* [/QUOTE] Motley Crue had a song from their “Dr. Feelgood” album titled "Kickstart My Heart. It’s one BITCHIN’ tune. And you missed the reference to Bad Company, which had a song titled “Rock 'n Roll Fantasy.” ---
**Author:** ![LoN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@LoN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoN)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/51 "2003-01-13T20:15:48Z")
“Pantera Fans in Love”… i think its by **Dismemberment Plan** ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/52 "2003-01-13T20:18:39Z")
“We can all wear ripped up clothes and pretend that we were Dead Hot Workshop” “Down Together” by the Refreshments. That’s about the only time I’ve ever heard of Dead Hot Workshop. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/53 "2003-01-13T20:20:04Z")
_The king is gone but he’s not forgotten This is the story of Johnny Rotten…_ --Neil Young Here’s a pretty obscure one. In the mid-80s an excellent California hardcore band named Dr. Know did a modestly famous song called “Fistf\*\*k.” In that song, Dr. No’s lead singer, [Brandon Cruz](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Cruz,+Brandon) (“Eddie” from TV’s “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father”) does an impression of the notorious frontman for the [Mentors](http://www.web2000.com/heathen/default2.htm), [El Duce](http://www.justiceforkurt.com/investigation/eldon_hoke.shtml), who much later claimed to be involved in the “murder” of Kurt Cobain before he himself committed suicide by standing in front of a train. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/54 "2003-01-13T20:21:17Z")
**Van Morrison** mentions that Jackie Wilson fellow in his song _Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)_. Quite enjoyable tune. **Sly and the Family Stone** sang about The Strokes many years before they became a band, in _Everyday People_: “Different strokes/For different folks…” And let’s not forget **Gary Numan** singing about the Cars in his masterpiece _Cars_. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/55 "2003-01-13T20:58:57Z")
Eric Burdon & the Animals’ “Monterey” is all about the 1967 Monterey Pop festival : The birds and the [Jefferson] airplane did fly Oh, Ravi Shankars music made me cry The Who exploded into fire and light Hugh Masakela’s music was black as night The Grateful Dead blew everybodies mind Jimi Hendrix baby,believe me, set the world on fire, yeah His Majesty, Prince [Rolling Stone member Brian]Jones, smiled as he moved among the crowd Ten thousand electric guitars were grooving real loud, yeah ---
**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:** [January 13, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/56 "2003-01-13T22:32:08Z")
Well, the **Dayglo Abortions** had a song called “Acting Like Black Sabbath.” ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/57 "2003-01-14T00:54:00Z")
The OP and several others mentioned some Bloodhound Gang. I got two more. Mama Say - “No I’m not the guy from the Beastie Boys” 3.14 (or Vagina) - “Independant like NOFX” ---
**Author:** ![dogchow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@dogchow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogchow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/58 "2003-01-14T01:11:39Z")
some of these have been mentioned… u2’s angel of harlem is all about billie holiday. there’s references to bls (a ny radio station) and miles davis too weezer, el scorcho-i asked you go to the green day concert, said you’ve never heard of them. pavement’s unseen power of the picket fence is about rem. ---
**Author:** ![dogchow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@dogchow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogchow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/59 "2003-01-14T01:13:19Z")
oh, another one! our lady peace’s innocent mentions john lennon and kurt cobain. ---
**Author:** ![dogchow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@dogchow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogchow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253/60 "2003-01-14T01:26:17Z")
yet even more! counting crows’ mr jones-i wanna be bob dylan everclear’s am radio mentions 70s bands (the only 1 i can think of right now is led zep). they also have a song called otis redding pearl jam’s immortality has been rumored to be about kurt cobain (‘stripped and sold mom, auctioned forearm, and whiskers in the sink…some die just to live.’) eddie and the boys deny it [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-mention-other-bands/148253.md?page=4)