# Who did it first: band name-drops own name in song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 19, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458 "2023-01-19T15:45:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/81 "2023-01-23T03:46:48Z")
He might not be the first, but nobody does it better than the great Bobby Rush. The man is 87 years old and still touring. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BuwzUb45jqg/maxresdefault.jpg "I Ain't Studdin' You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuwzUb45jqg) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aFXB76eIdDM/hqdefault.jpg "Bobby Rush - Hen Pecked") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXB76eIdDM) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/82 "2023-01-23T07:42:09Z")
“Are we not men…” ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/83 "2023-01-23T09:27:07Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > > [@kayaker](#): > > > > **Bad Company** did a song called _Bad Company_ that included the lyric Bad Company. > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > Black Sabbath did it three years earlier, with the song “Black Sabbath” on the album “Black Sabbath”. > > But those songs really aren’t about the bands. In fact, I always kinda had the idea that the bands named themselves after the songs. Let’s discuss the song [Motörhead](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/Motorhead_%28song%29.jpg) in the debut album [Motörhead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot%C3%B6rhead_(album)) by the band [Motörhead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot%C3%B6rhead). ---
**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:** [January 23, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/84 "2023-01-23T13:14:03Z")
Focus had several songs titled “Focus,” adding Roman numerals to indicate each successive version. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/85 "2023-01-24T20:58:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > > [@pulykamell](#): > > > > Big Bill’s Blues (1927). > > Same year Ma Rainey recorded “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. There must be something about the year 1927. A candidate (ahem!) for the first ever rock and roll song is [Jim Jackson's Kansas City Blues - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jackson%27s_Kansas_City_Blues). (See the wiki page for the rock and roll connection.) And here is the song: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zp1AodNnd-I/maxresdefault.jpg "Jim Jackson - Kansas City Blues (Parts 1 & 2)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp1AodNnd-I) j ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/86 "2023-01-24T21:22:22Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > “ **R-A-M-O-N-E-S, R-A-M-O-N-E-S, Ramones!** ” Weirdly enough, that’s actually a Motorhead song; the Ramones version is a cover. Is this a unique case of a band name-dropping its own name in a song they didn’t even write? ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/87 "2023-01-24T21:40:17Z")
Mamie Smith Blues, from 1922; the lyrics refer to her label Okeh Records as well. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/v6sS07ewSIw/maxresdefault.jpg "Mamie Smith Blues") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6sS07ewSIw) ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/88 "2023-01-25T08:50:51Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > There must be something about the year 1927 Well, there _is_ something about the number 27… ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/89 "2023-01-25T22:19:49Z")
Certainly not the earliest, but Clarence Carter says his name 4x in a row in **Strokin’** 1986 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P7gMkiOPSeA/hqdefault.jpg "Clarence Carter- Strokin'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7gMkiOPSeA) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/90 "2023-01-25T22:28:25Z")
Wow, was that really 1986? I would have placed that as 89/90 or so – at least that’s where I became aware of it, somewhere between '89 and '92. But, yeah, that was one of the first songs to come to mind to me, as well, but it’s rather recent (all things considered in this thread.) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/91 "2023-01-26T07:19:57Z")
How about David Bowie’s _Ziggy Stardust_? (not the first, but maybe the best) The Spiders from Mars were Ziggy Stardust’s (Bowie’s) backing band on the _The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars_ concept album and _Ziggy Stardust_ tour. The Spiders from Mars also appeared on the Aladdin Sane album and the follow-up tour. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/G8sdsW93ThQ/maxresdefault.jpg "David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (From The Motion Picture)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8sdsW93ThQ) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/92 "2023-01-26T07:43:58Z")
Along the same vein, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/93 "2023-01-26T14:20:23Z")
Funny, this album came up in another thread recently, but the Ramones’ _End of the Century_ has at least two songs that reference the band and their organization. “The Return of Jackie and Judy” has the great verse “Jackie is a bookie/Judy’s taking loans/They both came up to New York/Just to see the Ramones.” And the song “Danny Says” is a tale of life on the road, and is a big namecheck to their manager Danny Fields. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/94 "2023-01-26T14:28:40Z")
I refer you to the [Lewis Boogie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oRuX1e1ZWM). ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/95 "2023-01-27T13:25:59Z")
Bob Dylan’s Dream Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/96 "2023-01-27T13:45:45Z")
But those are only the titles, he never drops his name in the songs. ETA: but I just remembered another Dylan song that might count. In “Gotta Serve Somebody”, there’s the line “You can call me Zimmy”, which plays on his birthname Robert Zimmermann. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/97 "2023-01-27T14:35:17Z")
In A Simple Desultory Philipic, lyricist Paul Simon calls out Art Garfunkel: “I been mother, father, aunt and uncled, Been Roy Haleed and Art Garfunkeled” ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/98 "2023-01-27T17:31:23Z")
Or the song Iron Maiden in the debut album Iron Maiden by the band Iron Maiden. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/99 "2023-01-27T18:21:54Z")
“I’m Henery the Eighth I am, Henery the Eighth I am I am…” ca 1509. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458/100 "2023-01-27T19:11:10Z")
Darn! Well pointed out! Should have thought of that one, must have it somewhere, first Spanish press with awfully translated song titles, as was usual back then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-did-it-first-band-name-drops-own-name-in-song/978458.md?page=6)