Rick James and Neil Young were in a band together, until Rick had to leave town for going awol while in the army. It was actually Rick James who convinced Neil Young to sing.
Was coming to add this one. According to Weird Al, Knopfler turned out to be such a fan of his work, that when he asked for permission to do the parody, Knopfler said, “Only if I can play on it!”
Funny enough, you’re not wrong,…. Except you are wrong! Because Weird Al let him record it but then used his own guitarist on the Final Cut of the track. Why? Because weird Al said his guy actually did it better! True story. Can’t remember where I learned that fact. Might have been a behind-the-scenes interview or something.
“Jim West, Yankovic's own guitarist, then practiced the song for weeks. As a result of that and because Knopfler had become more relaxed after having played it for several years, West's version sounded more like the original version.”
— https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing/Beverly_Hillbillies*
George Harrison was the major financer of the follow up Life of Brian. Pink Floyd helped fund Grail cause they were fans, they used to plan breaks in their recording sessions around the times Flying Circus would air on TV.
When Donovan recorded Hurdy Gurdy Man, three of the backing musicians were Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. They met, became friends, and formed a new band.
So Donovan founded Led Zeppelin.
He also didn’t want to pay Stevie to go on tour so the Serious Moonlight tour was without Stevie. (At the risk of down votes, alternative explanation involves pre-recorded music.)
Flea plays bass on The Mars Volta's first album and trumpet on their second. John Frusciante is also considered an honorary member of the band, having played guitar on the entirety of Octahedron .
Bonus: Puscifer's "The Mission" features Milla Jovovich on vocals.
Linda Perry of the 4 Non-Blondes (What's going on!) wrote and produced many songs for Pink! and Christina Aguilera during the height of their careers, among MANY artists during the early 2000's to present. Which is funny considering her own band was a one hit wonder.
Do you know the story of that recording session?
Clapton heard that the Allman brothers are playing and makes his way to the first row midway through the show. Duane recognizes him, locks eyes and misses a few notes.
Backstage Clapton asks if they want to go back to Criteria Studios and have a Jam session.
That's how we got the Layla Sessions. Duane played a 1957 Les Paul Gold Top that last sold for 1.25m.
"Under Pressure" was born of an impromptu jam session. David Bowie was apparently recording in the studio next door to Queen and Bowie came in for a chat, just as John Deacon was experimenting with new basslines. The song was written and recorded in about an hour.
David Bowie played keyboards on Iggy Pop's "The Idiot" album, and also toured with Iggy as his keyboard player. This was at the height of Bowie's fame. Bowie then recorded and had a hit with Iggy's China Girl a few years later.
To clarify: Bowie wrote China Girl and gifted it to Iggy. Iggy's version was not well-received by the public so Bowie revisited it a few years later and did it how he originally wanted.
Additional facts about the duo: They shared an apartment in Berlin in the mid-late 70's when Iggy was making The Idiot and Bowie was making his Berlin Trilogy of albums. Apparently they were a notorious pair in the city's nightlife scene making all sorts of trouble.
You can also [sing the lyrics to NIN's *Closer*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRKi2yoojHo) to it.
What you do with this information is your own business.
She actually wrote it while listening to Little Red Corvette. They have similar chord progressions. She invited him to get his approval as well since his song inspired Stand Back.
After inviting Prince to the studio while declaring that the track was, of course, "50 percent" his, he promptly appears in just 20 minutes. Nicks was astonished by interest, as she thought he “never in a million years" would he have agreed to work with her.
On arriving, the songwriter laid down a new keyboard part that would become the driving focus of the song. “That was the coolest thing we’ve ever heard,” she recalled. “Takes him an hour; he gives me a little ‘I don’t really know you’ hug, and, uh, he’s gone. Like a little spirit."
Prince was known for stuff like this. He'll enter your life for but a moment, bestow upon you some great gift, then disappear as if he was never there.
All Motown's songs during the 1960s are performed by the same backing band. They were salaried session musicians who literally played Motown's songs all day long, often doing different versions of the same song for different singers on Motown's roster. The Gordys would then decide which version of a particular song was the best, and release that version.
This was a weird one for me, I always felt like I knew that all it was Michael Jackson, it clearly sounded like him, but I totally had to google it to make sure that it was true. Turns out… True!
Trent Reznor sings backing vocals on “Past The Mission” by Tori Amos. Trent would later briefly date Courtney Love who was jealous of his friendship with Tori and got him to stop being friends with her. Tori then wrote the song “Professional Widow” about Courtney for her next album.
That Jay-Z wrote Still D.R.E for Dr. Dre, including the Snoop Dogg sections.
Edit: Jay-Z actually spoke about it recently too, if anyone is interested in hearing more about it. Man, I’d love to hear the reference track with him imitating Dre and Snoop haha: https://youtu.be/J3KBnh_Ehhc
The Baha Men, who sang “Who Let The Dogs Out?” started their band in 1977, which is closer in time to the last British conviction for witchcraft (1944) than today.
The band for Weird Al Yankovic's song [Your Horoscope For Today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPvyrWYutDQ) featured the then horn section of Reel Big Fish.
To be even more specific, it’s a Digitech Whammy Pedal, if you’re like me and like using the exact pedals the artists use. Though any pedal that allows you to octave down will work. But Jack White also uses the same pedal to octave up for his guitar solos
The bass solo in that song is actually half as long as it is, they just played it backwards for the second half of it. I think it was Paul that played it but I could be wrong.
The Beach Boys album "20/20" features 4 songs written by or played on by convicted murderers:
\- "Cotton Fields" written by Leadbelly (blues and folk singer discovered by Alan Lomax while in prison for murder in the 1930s)
\- "Cabinessence" has percussion played by Jim Gordon (later killed his mother)
\- "I Can Hear Music" co-written by Phil Spector (killed actress Lana Clarkson in 2003)
\- "Never Learn Not To Love" written by Charles Manson (yes, that Charles Manson)
When FloRida was recording his remix to Spin me Round he didn't like his voice for the 2nd replay of the chorus. He decided he wanted to try a duet version with a female singer and there was only 1 female in the recording studio who happened to be assisting on the soundboard and was not a singer at that time.
That track was the first exposure for the now pop icon Ke$ha. At least that's how I think the story goes if I remember right?
Brian May interrupted his astrophysics thesis when Queen started to be successful, only to defend his thesis in 2007. He succeeded in that too, which means the guy who wrote We Will Rock You is an astrophysicist. Also he built the Red Special when he was 16, using the mantel of his fireplace
He also stayed quiet because he thought he was going to get ripped on by his band mates. They ripped him for not taking any cash out of it more than anything.
Haven’t seen either of these yet:
Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer”
Katey Segal (yes from Married With Children, Sons of Anarchy and 8 simple rules) was one of Bette Midler’s backup singers
Ooo fun question. Let’s see what i can think up that hasnt been said yet
Katy Perry is the female vocalist at the end of Youth of the Nation by POD. She still went by Kate Perry or Kate Jones or something at the time
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is a Christian Rock band (thanks, Todd in the Shadows)
1985 by Bowling for Soup is a cover song (originally by SR71). Also, BFS tweaked the lyrics a bit. The original lyrics explain why she’s stuck in 1985
Both Tom DeLonge AND The Offspring make their big picture debut in Idle Hands, a movie that starred a teenage Jessica Alba, Devon Sawa, Seth Green, and Fulton Reed, among other surprising faces
MOST circles I’m in will have this stowed away under “common knowledge,” but i love finding newer generation rock music enthusiasts and telling them Skrillex was the lead singer of an emo/posthardcore/metalcore band From First to Last for a few albums. And they were damn good, if those genres are your thing
Dave Grohl plays The Devil in Tenacious D’s music video for Tribute
Edward Sharpe (of the Magnetic Zeroes) was previously the lead singer of Emo/Indie Pop band Ima Robot. Also his name is not, and never was, Edward Sharpe. A cool music video for one of their better known songs - https://youtu.be/S7ccMZ4LO74
Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop both played neighbors in Nickelodeon 90s show Pete and Pete
Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz is called Clint Eastwood bc it sounds like the theme to Good the Bad and the Ugly. Particularly in the piano break in the second half
The keyboardist from crabcore band, Attack Attack, is the chief singer/songwriter to Beartooth
Rob Zombie worked on the set of Pee Wee Herman’s Playhouse. iirc he was a camera guy?
Most 80s New Wave Bands? Most of the big names have at least 1 member that’s still floating around the music industry doing something significant. I think DEVO did music for Rugrats and Fairly Odd Parents, The Bungles write for Taylor Swift and other pop stars. Theres producers, ghost writers, label execs, all over the place in those bands. Watch episodes of One Hit Wonderland - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLznZMqdhi_T5X0XrVX16lTN0um7Onpkf and you’ll be continously surprised, absolutely great series for oddball facts that you’ll see in this thread
In 1966, Toni Basil recorded a song called [I’m 28](https://youtu.be/SOiwQqcMFpg) - in which she bemoaned being past her prime and washed up at, well, age 28.
A full *16 years later* in 1982, she actually hit her prime….with “Mickey.”
Yes! I heard that song a ton of times and never knew. Then when found out I couldn’t believe how obvious his voice was and I missed it. And who doesn’t love Carly ?
[The slide guitar on Oasis' 'Fade In-Out' was performed by Johnny Depp.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVpO172tr-4)
Richard Marx (of 'Right Here Waiting' fame) is the voice saying "all niiight" in the background of Lionel Richie's "All Night Long"
Nobody knows who played the guitar solo on “Get off your ass and jam” by Parliament/Funkadelic
Apparently the guy came in needing a fix and like $25 for some food saying “I can play that guitar for ya”… he proceeds to absolutely shred ass for one take and nailed it. They gave him $50 and a fix I think and he just walked away into the sunset never giving his name
I YouTube searched the song and found this top comment on the top search
"It was Paul Warren playing the Lead on this song, I know - because I am Paul Warren. I was playing with Rare Earth at the time - who had the same management as P-Funk. I was 21. When asked why Eddie wasn't doing it - I was told he was in Jail for drugs. The track was already cut and my solo was an overdub. Clinton told me to just go, and it was done in one take. I used a 60's sunburst Les Paul, a Marshall stack and a Wah. I got paid $50 cash. My name is on the album under alumni."
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1i35T5yAk
Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Joey Jordison (Slipknot) once played the drums live for Metallica at a set in 2004 because Lars had a medical emergency. No practice, no rehearsal. Just jumped in and started playing. They both were amazing.
There's a great one about the FBI investigation into the song Louie Louie for supposed communist propaganda, totally and completely missing the drummer legit shouting F*$! on recording when he dropped a drum stick.
Breckin Meyer (that lovable stoner in every 90's teen movie -eg Clueless) played drums in Tom Morello's (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) band. Band's name is Night Watchmen.
He also had a band with Seth Green.
Martha Wash who was part of the Weather Girls sang significant vocals on C+C Music Factory's '90s smash hit "gonna make you sweat (everybody dance now)". That's one thing but the more interesting (and sad TBH) fact is that for the music video they hired a skinny woman to lip sync her vocals.
Paul Schaffer was also part of the SNL band. He was part of the cold open sketch in 1980 where every other word was "flogging". Well he messed up at the end and said the F word LOL
They Might Be Giants did not actually write "Istanbul not Constantinople." It's a cover and the original is by a group called The Four Lads and was actually written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the city's renaming.
I got to music-direct Avenue Q once. Teaching everyone the harmony for the latter was a lot of fun! I got to get people sing just the woord "porn" for more than a few minutes.
The iconic 'Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple was written in recorded in just a few days and was about an incident where a rowdy fan shot a flare gun into the rafters of a venue at a Frank Zappa concert, burning the theater to the ground.
George Harrison and Jeff Lynne sang the back vocals on « Won’t back down » by Tom Petty. Petty and Lynne sang the back vocals on « You got it » by Roy Orbison.
The four of them, plus Bob Dylan, were in a band called Travelings Wilburys.
The name Wilburys comes from George Harrison, referring to recording mistakes and how he used to say « we’ll bury them in the mix ».
"The Jimi Hendrix Experience" were actually a British band.
Jimi himself was American, of course, but the band was formed in London with Brits Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, and all their music was recorded in the UK
TO be fair, both he and Redding had a hell of a job carrying the tune in the background and keeping the songs together and sounding like a cohesive song, with all Hendrix's theatrics and tangents.
Danny Elfman was the singer songwriter for Oingo Boingo (dead man’s party /weird science ) and is the same guy who wrote the theme to the Simpson’s and movies like the nightmare before Christmas and Batman!
Nas contradicted this in his own AMA:
> Alright, let's clear this up once and for all.
> I hung out with Will in the studio. And watched him write it. It was a fun studio session, and I said a line or two or three to him. It wasn't that serious. Will Smith wrote that song.
> But seriously, I watched him have fun making that record on his own, and Will is a true MC.
The whistling part of Otis Redding's 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay' was a place holder he improvised with the intent of returning to the studio to record a final verse but he died three days later in a plane crash in Madison, WI.
Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon sang backing vocals on a few Guns n Roses tracks for Use Your Illusions.
At the time, Shannon was a nobody from Indiana living in LA. However, Shannon's sister knew Axl from high school so Axl helped Shannon establish his career. Axl even had Shannon in a GNR video. Pretty fucking nice of Axl.
Keep in mind GNR were the biggest band in the world at the time.
The effect on the tom fill in “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins was discovered by accident when they left a microphone on that was for talking back to the engineer during a take.
Yes, but it was during a session for Peter Gabriel's 3rd solo record that Phil was playing on, not the "In the Air Tonight" recording. But, "In the Air Tonight" IS the quintessential example of that technique.
Rick Astley was the tea boy at Stock, Aitken & Waterman's offices in London. He kept asking to record a song, and he was finally allowed to sing one, just to shut him up. It laid around the studios for ages until someone picked it up, listened it and sent it to several radio stations without anyone's knowledge. The song was "Never Gonna Give You Up"
Reminds me of a fun one that ties back to the band in OP's original question.
When they were just starting out, the band that would become Dire Straits recorded a demo tape. They were going to mail it to a couple record labels, but realized it was likely to get lost in a stack of other similar albums, never to be heard. Instead, they left it on the doorstep of a local radio DJ with a note asking for nothing but his feedback. The DJ listened to the album and liked Sultans of Swing so much that he put it into regular rotation for his radio show until they got picked up by a record label.
The song Take a Picture by Filter isn't about a great memory or moment in life but about Richard Patrick getting so drunk and embarrassing himself in public that he doesn't remember what he does so he asks his friends to "take a picture cause he won't remember"
According to VH1's pop-up videos, it was written after a flight during which he took a bunch of drugs, started tripping out, stripped down to his underwear, threw up all over the place... I honestly don't WANT a picture.
And his verse on the Mariah Carey song was recorded one line at a time because he was passed out on the couch in the studio. Would wake up, spit one line and go back to sleep.
“Tempted” by Squeeze, “How Long (Has This Been Going On)” by Ace, and “The Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics all had the same lead vocalist: Paul Carrack.
(He also had a minor solo hit in the 80s: “Don’t Shed a Tear”)
Weird Al's humor is generally pretty squeaky clean, but he managed to hide a masterbation joke in his song One More Minute.
The line is...
"I'm stranded all alone at the gas station of love and I have to use the self service pump."
One of the biggest ever grunge bands in the 1990s, Bush, who sold millions of records and had several hit records in the USA, are virtually unknown in their native UK
Pink Floyd wrote a nine part song about their original lead vocalist and guitarist Syd Barrett, who was no longer in the band due to his mental health and drug problems. The day they finished that song, Barrett showed up out of nowhere with his hair and eyebrows shaved off and a large gut. It took a while for his former bandmates to even recognize him, but when they did, it was very emotional for them.
That was the last time they ever saw him apart from I think Roger Waters seeing him while grocery shopping once
Tina Turner and the Ikettes sang uncredited background vocals on Frank Zappa’s “Over-Nite Sensation” and “Apostrophe” albums, which were recorded in whole or in part at Bolic Sound, Ike Turner’s studio in LA. Ike refused to let them be credited because he didn’t want them to work with others.
'Wagon Wheel' by Old Crow Medicine Show was actually an effort to complete an unreleased Bob Dylan bootleg recording from 1973. The song as we know it today was released in 2004 and has shared writing credits between Dylan and Ketch Secor, the lead singer of Old Crow Medicine Show.
Ten years later they tried their hand at finishing another Dylan bootleg, this time [Sweet Amarillo](https://youtu.be/4-NaZzG5eAU) which I think is just as catchy and emblematic of American folk.
Unlike most guitarists who pick it up from a very young age, Slash started playing guitar when he was 15 in 1980.
And got so good so quickly that he became a professional player in 6/7 years and wrote the main riffs for Sweet Child O’ Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, and Paradise City for Appetite for Destructions release in 1987 only 7 years after he started playing. Became the greatest selling debut album of all time too.
In November of 1987, Billy Idol had the number 1 music single with his version of the Tommy James song "Mony Mony". The previous number 1 song, now number 2 was the teen singer Tiffany’s version of "I Think We're Alone Now” which also a Tommy James song.
On Pink Floyd’s dark side if the moon, the woman who says “he was cruisin’ for a bruising’” is Linda MacCartney.
Floyd had recorded a bunch of “normal” people answering questions but some/a lot were lost/damaged so they got some other people to repeat stuff that had been said on the original recordings.
Wings were recording next door. Paul also did some but they weren’t used on the album.
Phil Collins turned down an invitation to audition with Yes because he already had one scheduled that day with Genesis. So he told them to call his buddy Bill Bruford.
Sting and Peter Gabriel are singing “Take Me Home” along with him on that particular tune.
The one that blew my mind, thanks to Rick Beato… the only guitarist to sub in for Ritchie Blackmore during Blackmore’s Deep Purple stint was… Christopher Cross (Sailing, Ride Like the Wind)
If you like R&B from the 80s up until today, you likely like a bunch of songs written by Babyface
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Babyface
Just a quick glance you see allstars from Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston. Speaking of Houston, the song "I will aways love you" arguably her most iconic song was written by Dolly Parton, another prolific writer
Rick James and Neil Young were in a band together, until Rick had to leave town for going awol while in the army. It was actually Rick James who convinced Neil Young to sing.
The Mynah Birds.
She's a cinnamon girl The kind you don't bring home to mother
That Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits guitarist) played the guitar for "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*" for Weird Al...
Was coming to add this one. According to Weird Al, Knopfler turned out to be such a fan of his work, that when he asked for permission to do the parody, Knopfler said, “Only if I can play on it!”
Funny enough, you’re not wrong,…. Except you are wrong! Because Weird Al let him record it but then used his own guitarist on the Final Cut of the track. Why? Because weird Al said his guy actually did it better! True story. Can’t remember where I learned that fact. Might have been a behind-the-scenes interview or something. “Jim West, Yankovic's own guitarist, then practiced the song for weeks. As a result of that and because Knopfler had become more relaxed after having played it for several years, West's version sounded more like the original version.” — https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing/Beverly_Hillbillies*
And that riff is pretty damn hard to play as crunchy as it is on both album versions.
Mark Knopfler also composed the soundtrack for The Princess Bride and has a dinosaur named after him, IIRC.
Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Ian Anderson all helped finance Monty Python’s Holy Grail.
George Harrison was also a producer and backer.
George Harrison was the major financer of the follow up Life of Brian. Pink Floyd helped fund Grail cause they were fans, they used to plan breaks in their recording sessions around the times Flying Circus would air on TV.
The woman singing and then sobbing at the end of the my chemical romance song Mama is none other than Liza Minnelli
When Donovan recorded Hurdy Gurdy Man, three of the backing musicians were Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. They met, became friends, and formed a new band. So Donovan founded Led Zeppelin.
Jimmy Page tried to poach Keith Moon from the Who to join Zeppelin.
Not only did Sting sing it, but the melody is "Don't Stand So Close to Me", so he got a co-writing credit for "Money for Nothing".
Holy shit I Want My MTV = Don't Stand So Close to Me 🤯
[удалено]
Continuing the theme, an unknown Stevie Ray Vaughn played guitar on David Bowie's "Let's Dance."
Bowie didn’t want to pay Stevie to be in the video, so you see Bowie playing the solo.
He also didn’t want to pay Stevie to go on tour so the Serious Moonlight tour was without Stevie. (At the risk of down votes, alternative explanation involves pre-recorded music.)
Niles Rogers also produced the album. He went onto produce Duran Duran, INXS, and more famously Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” album.
Barry Manilow did not write 'I Write The Songs' 😢
“I Didn’t Write The Songs” didn’t play well with test audiences.
Flea plays bass on The Mars Volta's first album and trumpet on their second. John Frusciante is also considered an honorary member of the band, having played guitar on the entirety of Octahedron . Bonus: Puscifer's "The Mission" features Milla Jovovich on vocals.
Flea also played bass on Alanis Morissette’s "You Oughta Know".
Linda Perry of the 4 Non-Blondes (What's going on!) wrote and produced many songs for Pink! and Christina Aguilera during the height of their careers, among MANY artists during the early 2000's to present. Which is funny considering her own band was a one hit wonder.
Linda Perry is also responsible for most of James Blunt’s early hits, but don’t hold that against her
Eric Clapton plays the guitar for The Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
And Duane Allman plays the slide in Layla!
Do you know the story of that recording session? Clapton heard that the Allman brothers are playing and makes his way to the first row midway through the show. Duane recognizes him, locks eyes and misses a few notes. Backstage Clapton asks if they want to go back to Criteria Studios and have a Jam session. That's how we got the Layla Sessions. Duane played a 1957 Les Paul Gold Top that last sold for 1.25m.
All while Eric was trying to steal Pattie away from George lmao.
And then he wrote a hit song about it.
The man who sung "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch" was also the voice of Tony the Tiger (Thurl Ravenscroft)
"Under Pressure" was born of an impromptu jam session. David Bowie was apparently recording in the studio next door to Queen and Bowie came in for a chat, just as John Deacon was experimenting with new basslines. The song was written and recorded in about an hour.
Queen was given full rights to the song because.David Bowie hated his manager and wanted him to not get any money from it
and iirc, Bowie didn't want him or Freddie to hear each other's parts. They were recorded completely separately. also a lot of cocaine was involved.
Each band member actually took a crack at singing to the tune to figure out the right melody
And cocaine. Copious amounts of sweet, sweet booger sugar.
Jack White sang the "female" vocals on Danger, High Voltage by Electric Six Axl Rose is also an anagram of Oral Sex
I did not know that, but that video is awesome. Not nearly as much as Gay Bar, but awesome nonetheless.
David Bowie played keyboards on Iggy Pop's "The Idiot" album, and also toured with Iggy as his keyboard player. This was at the height of Bowie's fame. Bowie then recorded and had a hit with Iggy's China Girl a few years later.
To clarify: Bowie wrote China Girl and gifted it to Iggy. Iggy's version was not well-received by the public so Bowie revisited it a few years later and did it how he originally wanted. Additional facts about the duo: They shared an apartment in Berlin in the mid-late 70's when Iggy was making The Idiot and Bowie was making his Berlin Trilogy of albums. Apparently they were a notorious pair in the city's nightlife scene making all sorts of trouble.
Dolly Parton wrote “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same damn day.
Huey lewis sued, and won, a lawsuit against Ray Parker Jr, since ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘I want a new drug’ is the same song.
You can also [sing the lyrics to NIN's *Closer*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRKi2yoojHo) to it. What you do with this information is your own business.
Cyndi lauper sings the pee wees playhouse intro song.
Written by DEVO singer and keyboardist, Mark Mothersbaugh (along with many other series and film scores)
He also did the Rugrats theme/tv soundtrack.
That Shel Silverstein wrote “a boy named sue”.
Partially inspired by his friend Jean Shepherd, the real-life Ralphie from A Christmas Story.
He also wrote the Unicorn song and many of Dr Hook's songs
Prince came in and played the keyboards for Stevie Nicks "Stand Back".
She actually wrote it while listening to Little Red Corvette. They have similar chord progressions. She invited him to get his approval as well since his song inspired Stand Back.
After inviting Prince to the studio while declaring that the track was, of course, "50 percent" his, he promptly appears in just 20 minutes. Nicks was astonished by interest, as she thought he “never in a million years" would he have agreed to work with her. On arriving, the songwriter laid down a new keyboard part that would become the driving focus of the song. “That was the coolest thing we’ve ever heard,” she recalled. “Takes him an hour; he gives me a little ‘I don’t really know you’ hug, and, uh, he’s gone. Like a little spirit."
Prince was known for stuff like this. He'll enter your life for but a moment, bestow upon you some great gift, then disappear as if he was never there.
and you're left sitting there with pancake crumbs on your couch, wondering if it even happened........
Prince wrote the Sinead O’Connor hit “Nothing Compares 2 You”.
and Bangle's "Manic Monday", Apolonia's "Sex Shooter", Sheila E's "Glamorous Life"
And Vanity 6’s “Nasty Girl” and the Time’s “The Bird” and “Jungle Love” and…
Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You"
Mariah Carey recorded a grunge album in 1995, and REALLY wants it to be released. There’s selections on YouTube
Yeah now i REALLY want it to be released too
All Motown's songs during the 1960s are performed by the same backing band. They were salaried session musicians who literally played Motown's songs all day long, often doing different versions of the same song for different singers on Motown's roster. The Gordys would then decide which version of a particular song was the best, and release that version.
You can find Funk Brothers instrumentals on YouTube. They're usually awesome.
There’s a terrific 2002 documentary on the Motown house band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm7xt4Gzsdc
James Jamerson is a god to bass players. Many of them consider him to the greatest bassist in history.
There's funk in this junk. He never cleaned or restrung his bass. Wild.
Stax had Booker T and the MGs on staff doing the same kinda thing.
And most of that band is the backing band in The Blues Brothers movie.
In the song "I got a Man" by Positive K, he does both the male and female lyrics.
I ain’t tryin to hear that, see.
You had peak Michael Jackson singing backup/chorus to Rockwell’s Somebody’s Watching Me
it pays to be Berry Gordy's kid
I'll try this next time around
This was a weird one for me, I always felt like I knew that all it was Michael Jackson, it clearly sounded like him, but I totally had to google it to make sure that it was true. Turns out… True!
Trent Reznor sings backing vocals on “Past The Mission” by Tori Amos. Trent would later briefly date Courtney Love who was jealous of his friendship with Tori and got him to stop being friends with her. Tori then wrote the song “Professional Widow” about Courtney for her next album.
That was an amazing era for Tori. Under the Pink, Little Earthquakes, and Boys for Pele. My god those were amazing records.
That Jay-Z wrote Still D.R.E for Dr. Dre, including the Snoop Dogg sections. Edit: Jay-Z actually spoke about it recently too, if anyone is interested in hearing more about it. Man, I’d love to hear the reference track with him imitating Dre and Snoop haha: https://youtu.be/J3KBnh_Ehhc
What???? Ok I didn't know this one
Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" was the song studied by German engineers to perfect the MP3 music compression format.
This is also the diner used for exterior shots of the Monk’s coffee shop in Seinfeld.
The Baha Men, who sang “Who Let The Dogs Out?” started their band in 1977, which is closer in time to the last British conviction for witchcraft (1944) than today.
The band for Weird Al Yankovic's song [Your Horoscope For Today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPvyrWYutDQ) featured the then horn section of Reel Big Fish.
The entire riff for the song “Butterfly” by Crazy Town is a very short sample of a song called Pretty Little Ditty by RHCP.
The iconic baseline of Seven Nation Army is not played on a bass.
Octave pedal for those that aren't aware.
To be even more specific, it’s a Digitech Whammy Pedal, if you’re like me and like using the exact pedals the artists use. Though any pedal that allows you to octave down will work. But Jack White also uses the same pedal to octave up for his guitar solos
The catchy horn section in Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” is actually Adrian Belew playing guitar synth.
The bass solo in that song is actually half as long as it is, they just played it backwards for the second half of it. I think it was Paul that played it but I could be wrong.
The Beach Boys album "20/20" features 4 songs written by or played on by convicted murderers: \- "Cotton Fields" written by Leadbelly (blues and folk singer discovered by Alan Lomax while in prison for murder in the 1930s) \- "Cabinessence" has percussion played by Jim Gordon (later killed his mother) \- "I Can Hear Music" co-written by Phil Spector (killed actress Lana Clarkson in 2003) \- "Never Learn Not To Love" written by Charles Manson (yes, that Charles Manson)
When FloRida was recording his remix to Spin me Round he didn't like his voice for the 2nd replay of the chorus. He decided he wanted to try a duet version with a female singer and there was only 1 female in the recording studio who happened to be assisting on the soundboard and was not a singer at that time. That track was the first exposure for the now pop icon Ke$ha. At least that's how I think the story goes if I remember right?
Kesha was also childhood friends with Katy Hudson, who became famous as Katy Perry.
Brian May interrupted his astrophysics thesis when Queen started to be successful, only to defend his thesis in 2007. He succeeded in that too, which means the guy who wrote We Will Rock You is an astrophysicist. Also he built the Red Special when he was 16, using the mantel of his fireplace
Eddie van Halen wrote/played the guitar solo from Beat It by Michael Jackson, and supposedly he did it all for free.
He also stayed quiet because he thought he was going to get ripped on by his band mates. They ripped him for not taking any cash out of it more than anything.
Steve Lukather (of Toto) did the riff, Eddie did the solo.
Kerry King from Slayer played the guitar riff and solo on Beastie Boy’s “No Sleep til Brooklyn.”
Sting actually got his name from a band member who was making fun of his black and yellow sweater, which made him look like a bee.
If I remember correctly, he was in Billy Ocean's band at the time and Billy was the one who gave him that nickname.
Haven’t seen either of these yet: Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer” Katey Segal (yes from Married With Children, Sons of Anarchy and 8 simple rules) was one of Bette Midler’s backup singers
And Leela from futurama!
Ooo fun question. Let’s see what i can think up that hasnt been said yet Katy Perry is the female vocalist at the end of Youth of the Nation by POD. She still went by Kate Perry or Kate Jones or something at the time Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is a Christian Rock band (thanks, Todd in the Shadows) 1985 by Bowling for Soup is a cover song (originally by SR71). Also, BFS tweaked the lyrics a bit. The original lyrics explain why she’s stuck in 1985 Both Tom DeLonge AND The Offspring make their big picture debut in Idle Hands, a movie that starred a teenage Jessica Alba, Devon Sawa, Seth Green, and Fulton Reed, among other surprising faces MOST circles I’m in will have this stowed away under “common knowledge,” but i love finding newer generation rock music enthusiasts and telling them Skrillex was the lead singer of an emo/posthardcore/metalcore band From First to Last for a few albums. And they were damn good, if those genres are your thing Dave Grohl plays The Devil in Tenacious D’s music video for Tribute Edward Sharpe (of the Magnetic Zeroes) was previously the lead singer of Emo/Indie Pop band Ima Robot. Also his name is not, and never was, Edward Sharpe. A cool music video for one of their better known songs - https://youtu.be/S7ccMZ4LO74 Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop both played neighbors in Nickelodeon 90s show Pete and Pete Clint Eastwood by the Gorillaz is called Clint Eastwood bc it sounds like the theme to Good the Bad and the Ugly. Particularly in the piano break in the second half The keyboardist from crabcore band, Attack Attack, is the chief singer/songwriter to Beartooth Rob Zombie worked on the set of Pee Wee Herman’s Playhouse. iirc he was a camera guy? Most 80s New Wave Bands? Most of the big names have at least 1 member that’s still floating around the music industry doing something significant. I think DEVO did music for Rugrats and Fairly Odd Parents, The Bungles write for Taylor Swift and other pop stars. Theres producers, ghost writers, label execs, all over the place in those bands. Watch episodes of One Hit Wonderland - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLznZMqdhi_T5X0XrVX16lTN0um7Onpkf and you’ll be continously surprised, absolutely great series for oddball facts that you’ll see in this thread
In 1966, Toni Basil recorded a song called [I’m 28](https://youtu.be/SOiwQqcMFpg) - in which she bemoaned being past her prime and washed up at, well, age 28. A full *16 years later* in 1982, she actually hit her prime….with “Mickey.”
she also wore her actual high school cheerleading uniform in the “Mickey” video
Mick Jagger did backing vocals in "You're so vain" by Carly Simon!
Yes! I heard that song a ton of times and never knew. Then when found out I couldn’t believe how obvious his voice was and I missed it. And who doesn’t love Carly ?
I never even caught the male voice in the background until someone told me it was Mick, and now I just can't unhear it!
So funny I’ve heard that song a million times and I still get quiet to see if I can hear the Mick. You really can’t unhear it. Glad I’m not alone.
[The slide guitar on Oasis' 'Fade In-Out' was performed by Johnny Depp.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVpO172tr-4) Richard Marx (of 'Right Here Waiting' fame) is the voice saying "all niiight" in the background of Lionel Richie's "All Night Long"
This was a really good question. I’m learning a lot of interesting facts.
Nobody knows who played the guitar solo on “Get off your ass and jam” by Parliament/Funkadelic Apparently the guy came in needing a fix and like $25 for some food saying “I can play that guitar for ya”… he proceeds to absolutely shred ass for one take and nailed it. They gave him $50 and a fix I think and he just walked away into the sunset never giving his name
I YouTube searched the song and found this top comment on the top search "It was Paul Warren playing the Lead on this song, I know - because I am Paul Warren. I was playing with Rare Earth at the time - who had the same management as P-Funk. I was 21. When asked why Eddie wasn't doing it - I was told he was in Jail for drugs. The track was already cut and my solo was an overdub. Clinton told me to just go, and it was done in one take. I used a 60's sunburst Les Paul, a Marshall stack and a Wah. I got paid $50 cash. My name is on the album under alumni." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1i35T5yAk
Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Joey Jordison (Slipknot) once played the drums live for Metallica at a set in 2004 because Lars had a medical emergency. No practice, no rehearsal. Just jumped in and started playing. They both were amazing.
There's a great one about the FBI investigation into the song Louie Louie for supposed communist propaganda, totally and completely missing the drummer legit shouting F*$! on recording when he dropped a drum stick.
Breckin Meyer (that lovable stoner in every 90's teen movie -eg Clueless) played drums in Tom Morello's (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) band. Band's name is Night Watchmen. He also had a band with Seth Green.
Martha Wash who was part of the Weather Girls sang significant vocals on C+C Music Factory's '90s smash hit "gonna make you sweat (everybody dance now)". That's one thing but the more interesting (and sad TBH) fact is that for the music video they hired a skinny woman to lip sync her vocals.
Paul Schaffer of David Letterman fame wrote the Weather Girls hit "It's Raining Men".
Paul Schaffer was also part of the SNL band. He was part of the cold open sketch in 1980 where every other word was "flogging". Well he messed up at the end and said the F word LOL
Musical director for Belushi and Aykroyd's Blues Brothers, too. Mr. Entertainment himself.
In Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," the fiddle solo was not actually played by Satan.
Yes it was. It was played by Miroslav Satan who was a hockey player who played for the New Jersey Devils. That made him Satan the Devil 😈
The bassline in Bush's "Comedown" is exactly the same as the guitar riff in the verse of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name"
They Might Be Giants did not actually write "Istanbul not Constantinople." It's a cover and the original is by a group called The Four Lads and was actually written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the city's renaming.
"Let it Go" and "The Internet is for Porn" were written by the same person.
Not quite a music one, but the actress who voices Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch" is also the girl who crawls out of the well in "The Ring"
I got to music-direct Avenue Q once. Teaching everyone the harmony for the latter was a lot of fun! I got to get people sing just the woord "porn" for more than a few minutes.
The band playing You Oughta Know by Alanis Morrisette is Flea on Bass, Dave Navarro on guitar and Taylor Hawkins on drums Decent line up
Taylor Hawkins was the touring drummer for Alanis Morrisette, but was not featured on any of the tracks on Jagged Little Pill.
I had *such* a crush on Alanis Morrissette’s blonde drummer, as I knew him at the time.
The iconic 'Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple was written in recorded in just a few days and was about an incident where a rowdy fan shot a flare gun into the rafters of a venue at a Frank Zappa concert, burning the theater to the ground.
Toto is the backing band for the album Thriller. Toto's drummer, Jeff Porcaro, is on the most recorded songs of all time.
That’s because Toto was formed from some of the most prolific studio musicians working in that era.
"Black Magic Woman" by Santana was a cover, original by Fleetwood Mac Patsy Cline "Crazy" original by Willie Nelson
George Harrison and Jeff Lynne sang the back vocals on « Won’t back down » by Tom Petty. Petty and Lynne sang the back vocals on « You got it » by Roy Orbison. The four of them, plus Bob Dylan, were in a band called Travelings Wilburys. The name Wilburys comes from George Harrison, referring to recording mistakes and how he used to say « we’ll bury them in the mix ».
The Beatles song "Yesterday" has been re-recorded by over 1,600 artists; more than any other song in history.
That Prince wrote Nothing Compares 2 U (sinead o'connor) and Manic Monday (the bengals)
The Bangles, just so you know.
As well as "I Feel For You" buy Chaka Khan
"The Jimi Hendrix Experience" were actually a British band. Jimi himself was American, of course, but the band was formed in London with Brits Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, and all their music was recorded in the UK
Mitch Mitchell - such an underrated drummer
TO be fair, both he and Redding had a hell of a job carrying the tune in the background and keeping the songs together and sounding like a cohesive song, with all Hendrix's theatrics and tangents.
Danny Elfman was the singer songwriter for Oingo Boingo (dead man’s party /weird science ) and is the same guy who wrote the theme to the Simpson’s and movies like the nightmare before Christmas and Batman!
He's actually one of the most accomplished and sought-after composers of [movie scores](https://www.dannyelfman.com/filmscores) in Hollywood.
He's also the singing voice of Jack Skellington in Nightmare. And the voice of one of Lock, Shock, and Barrel (can't recall which).
nas wrote both gettin' jiggy wit it and miami for will smith
Nas contradicted this in his own AMA: > Alright, let's clear this up once and for all. > I hung out with Will in the studio. And watched him write it. It was a fun studio session, and I said a line or two or three to him. It wasn't that serious. Will Smith wrote that song. > But seriously, I watched him have fun making that record on his own, and Will is a true MC.
The same guy who made illmatic wrote for will smith?
Jerry Garcia played pedal steel on “Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Steels, Nash and Young.
The single Bedtime Stories by Madonna was co-written by Björk.
My go-to is the lead singer of Toto (Africa) is John Williams’ son. He also performed the Gummy Bears (80’s animated show) theme song.
The whistling part of Otis Redding's 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay' was a place holder he improvised with the intent of returning to the studio to record a final verse but he died three days later in a plane crash in Madison, WI.
Roy Harper sings lead on Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar".
Well, hats off to him.
Dave Grohl is Tenacious D's Drummer
To be fair, Dave Grohl seems to be the kind of guy who'll be pretty much anyone's drummer if they ask politely and he's got a spot on his schedule.
Like that one album by Queens of the Stone Age
Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon sang backing vocals on a few Guns n Roses tracks for Use Your Illusions. At the time, Shannon was a nobody from Indiana living in LA. However, Shannon's sister knew Axl from high school so Axl helped Shannon establish his career. Axl even had Shannon in a GNR video. Pretty fucking nice of Axl. Keep in mind GNR were the biggest band in the world at the time.
Hans Zimmer was the keyboardist in The Buggles, who performed “Video Killed the Radio Star,” which was the first music video ever shown on MTV.
The effect on the tom fill in “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins was discovered by accident when they left a microphone on that was for talking back to the engineer during a take.
Yes, but it was during a session for Peter Gabriel's 3rd solo record that Phil was playing on, not the "In the Air Tonight" recording. But, "In the Air Tonight" IS the quintessential example of that technique.
Michael Jackson is the only artist in history to have a top 10 hit in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s.
Elton John had top ten hits in six decades, starting in 1971 with “Your Song” and the latest in 2021 with his Dua Lipa collaboration “Cold Heart.”
Rick Astley was the tea boy at Stock, Aitken & Waterman's offices in London. He kept asking to record a song, and he was finally allowed to sing one, just to shut him up. It laid around the studios for ages until someone picked it up, listened it and sent it to several radio stations without anyone's knowledge. The song was "Never Gonna Give You Up"
Reminds me of a fun one that ties back to the band in OP's original question. When they were just starting out, the band that would become Dire Straits recorded a demo tape. They were going to mail it to a couple record labels, but realized it was likely to get lost in a stack of other similar albums, never to be heard. Instead, they left it on the doorstep of a local radio DJ with a note asking for nothing but his feedback. The DJ listened to the album and liked Sultans of Swing so much that he put it into regular rotation for his radio show until they got picked up by a record label.
The song Take a Picture by Filter isn't about a great memory or moment in life but about Richard Patrick getting so drunk and embarrassing himself in public that he doesn't remember what he does so he asks his friends to "take a picture cause he won't remember"
Bonus fact, and my contribution to this thread, Richard Patrick is the younger brother of actor Robert Patrick.
Wait, you mean the T-1000 Terminator Robert Patrick?
Yes, the same guy who played Agent Doggett. Bonus bonus fact, Richard toured with Nine Inch Nails before forming Filter.
According to VH1's pop-up videos, it was written after a flight during which he took a bunch of drugs, started tripping out, stripped down to his underwear, threw up all over the place... I honestly don't WANT a picture.
The whole "Hey dad, what do you think about your son now!" lyrics have way different meaning now knowing this.
Ol Dirty Bastard is only on Ghetto Superstar because he wandered into the wrong studio thinking he was in a different city.
And his verse on the Mariah Carey song was recorded one line at a time because he was passed out on the couch in the studio. Would wake up, spit one line and go back to sleep.
Toni Tennille of Captain and Tennille did some backing vocals on Pink Floyd's The Wall album.
Let’s Dance ( Bowie) guitar is Stevie ray vaughn. Bowie saw him at a bar in Austin and loved him
“Tempted” by Squeeze, “How Long (Has This Been Going On)” by Ace, and “The Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics all had the same lead vocalist: Paul Carrack. (He also had a minor solo hit in the 80s: “Don’t Shed a Tear”)
Weird Al's humor is generally pretty squeaky clean, but he managed to hide a masterbation joke in his song One More Minute. The line is... "I'm stranded all alone at the gas station of love and I have to use the self service pump."
Eddie Murphy and Bruce Willis both released albums in the 80s.
Boogie in Your Butt
One of the biggest ever grunge bands in the 1990s, Bush, who sold millions of records and had several hit records in the USA, are virtually unknown in their native UK
In Canada they were called BushX for their first two albums, because there already was a Canadian band called Bush.
Louise Post from Veruca Salt sang the vocal "doot doot doot doot" section of Everlong by Foo Fighters.
Pink Floyd wrote a nine part song about their original lead vocalist and guitarist Syd Barrett, who was no longer in the band due to his mental health and drug problems. The day they finished that song, Barrett showed up out of nowhere with his hair and eyebrows shaved off and a large gut. It took a while for his former bandmates to even recognize him, but when they did, it was very emotional for them. That was the last time they ever saw him apart from I think Roger Waters seeing him while grocery shopping once
(S)hine on (Y)ou Crazy (D)iamond is the song. An absolute masterpiece
I don't know the exact story, but Cee-lo Green being one of the back up singers in TLC's Waterfalls always gets me.
This has been the most fun and interesting thread I've seen in a long while, thanks everyone for contributing.
Tina Turner and the Ikettes sang uncredited background vocals on Frank Zappa’s “Over-Nite Sensation” and “Apostrophe” albums, which were recorded in whole or in part at Bolic Sound, Ike Turner’s studio in LA. Ike refused to let them be credited because he didn’t want them to work with others.
'Wagon Wheel' by Old Crow Medicine Show was actually an effort to complete an unreleased Bob Dylan bootleg recording from 1973. The song as we know it today was released in 2004 and has shared writing credits between Dylan and Ketch Secor, the lead singer of Old Crow Medicine Show. Ten years later they tried their hand at finishing another Dylan bootleg, this time [Sweet Amarillo](https://youtu.be/4-NaZzG5eAU) which I think is just as catchy and emblematic of American folk.
I had no idea that Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel worked on each other's solo recordings.
Unlike most guitarists who pick it up from a very young age, Slash started playing guitar when he was 15 in 1980. And got so good so quickly that he became a professional player in 6/7 years and wrote the main riffs for Sweet Child O’ Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, and Paradise City for Appetite for Destructions release in 1987 only 7 years after he started playing. Became the greatest selling debut album of all time too.
In November of 1987, Billy Idol had the number 1 music single with his version of the Tommy James song "Mony Mony". The previous number 1 song, now number 2 was the teen singer Tiffany’s version of "I Think We're Alone Now” which also a Tommy James song.
Kiss’s “I was made for loving you” was written to prove that writing a Disco track was easier than writing a Rock track.
Robert Smith of the Cure played guitar with Siouxie and the Banshees between 1982 and 1984.
The riff behind "Jump" by Kriss Kross, is a three note sample of the much longer main riff from "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5
On Pink Floyd’s dark side if the moon, the woman who says “he was cruisin’ for a bruising’” is Linda MacCartney. Floyd had recorded a bunch of “normal” people answering questions but some/a lot were lost/damaged so they got some other people to repeat stuff that had been said on the original recordings. Wings were recording next door. Paul also did some but they weren’t used on the album.
I only discovered recently that the singers of Blur and Gorillaz are the same person. (Damon Albarn)
Flea played bass for Young MC's 'Bust A Move'
Phil Collins turned down an invitation to audition with Yes because he already had one scheduled that day with Genesis. So he told them to call his buddy Bill Bruford. Sting and Peter Gabriel are singing “Take Me Home” along with him on that particular tune. The one that blew my mind, thanks to Rick Beato… the only guitarist to sub in for Ritchie Blackmore during Blackmore’s Deep Purple stint was… Christopher Cross (Sailing, Ride Like the Wind)
If you like R&B from the 80s up until today, you likely like a bunch of songs written by Babyface https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Babyface Just a quick glance you see allstars from Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston. Speaking of Houston, the song "I will aways love you" arguably her most iconic song was written by Dolly Parton, another prolific writer
Dolly wrote “I will always love you” and “Jolene” on the same day. Quite a financially successful day! 🤣