Bands / artists with songs about other bands / artists

[Sercet]

The Jazz Butcher - Southern Mark Smith

[ahpook]

Let's save Tony Orlando's house - Yo La Tengo
Country House - Blur
Moves like Jagger - Maroon 5

Edited December 18, 2016 by ahpook

[skankdelvar]

Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio by The Ramones - Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lennon, T.Rex
Who Will Save Rock'n'Roll? by The Dictators - The Stooges, Sgt Pepper
Behind The Wall Of Sleep by The Smithereens - Bill Wyman
White Man In Hammersmith Palais by The Clash - Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson, Ken Booth and The Four Tops
Buddy Holly by Weezer
For you Blue by The Beatles - Elmore James
Elmo' James by The Chairmen of The Board
Radar Love by Golden Earring - Brenda Lee
Just Like Vince Taylor by Golden Earring
Just Like Eddie by Heinz
Three Stars by Eddie Cochran - Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, The Big Bopper
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynryd Skynryd - 'The Swampers' (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)
All Night Long by Warren Zevon - "Sweet Home Alabama, play that dead band's song"
My My, Hey Hey by Neil Young - Johnny Rotten
Rockaria by ELO - Wagner, Beethoven, Puccini, Verdi, Chuck Berry

[Mykesbass]

Spandau Ballet - Listening to Marvin all night long (Hank or Gaye)?

[Beer of the Bass]

There was a Sonic Youth lyric that went "Last night I dreamed I kissed Neil Young. If I was a boy I guess it would be fun".
Also, there was a Scottish band a couple of years ago who had a song rather splendidly titled "God is Love but so is Arthur Lee". I can't remember what they were called though...

[niagra]

Good Time Boys (RHCP) mention Fishbone, took me ages to remember the song title!

[Maude]

[quote name='niagra' timestamp='1482087764' post='3197542']
Good Time Boys (RHCP) mention Fishbone, took me ages to remember the song title!
[/quote]

"And if you don't believe me you can ask Fishbone".

[Maude]

Thinking about it, that line was about John Doe.
It was something about, funk it up Fishbone.
Weren't Firehose mentioned in the same song?

[sprocketflup]

yes yes yes they were Love fIREHOSE, it made my day when I heard that

[sprocketflup]

Half Man Half Biscuit have numerous, such as 'D'ya ken Ted Moult?' and 'I hate Nerys Hughes'

'Dickie Davis Eyes' was another.

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='sprocketflup' timestamp='1482088617' post='3197548']
Half Man Half Biscuit have numerous, such as 'D'ya ken Ted Moult?' and 'I hate Nerys Hughes'

'Dickie Davis Eyes' was another.
[/quote]

Not to mention their ode to Pete Docherty, "You've got a sh*t arm and that's a bad tattoo".

[rushbo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA21dyNY3V4

[rushbo]

My favourite band sing about one of my favourite vocalists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va2TPejDvpA

[rushbo]

"I never travel too far, without a little Big Star"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RYQ8Y-ObMw

[lowdown]

The Gaslight Anthem's,'Miles Davies and the Cool'.
Marc Cohen. 'Walking in Memphis'. Although it's about being baptized into the world of the blues, the second verse is about Elvis.
Charlie Mingus, 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat'. About 'Lester Young'. Joni Mitchell later added lyrics to it.

[Mykesbass]

Orange Juice - "just like the Four Tops I Can't Help Myself"

[stingrayPete1977]

I have no idea where this came from in my head but, The Reynolds Girls-I'd Rather Jack Than Fleetwood Mac

[spectoremg]

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1482079799' post='3197450']
The folks at TOTP thought it was about Jockey Wilson
[/quote]There's a new story on this one. Kevin Rowland now says he asked the guys at TOTP to do it on purpose, he just waited thirty years to tell anyone about it. Oh really.

[BrunoBass]

'Tim McGraw' by Taylor Swift

[BrunoBass]

'Chelsea Hotel #2' by Leonard Copen is allegedly about Janis Joplin.

'You're So Vain' by Carly Simon is about, well who knows, but Dylan, James Taylor, Kris Kristofferson are all possible subjects, other than the more probable Warren Beatty.

'Let Me In' by R.E.M. apparently about Kurt Cobain.

[Big_Stu]

Slade had a minor hit called "Do You Believe In Miracles" which is about a chat they had with Bob Geldof while the band were playing in a flea-pit during their career lull and Geldof asked how they'd come to such a situation.

[The-Ox]

Bob Dylan Blues by Syd Barrett

[Rich]

Neil Sedaka wrote the lyrics to "Oh! Carol" about Carole King, who he went out with at school (her real name is Carol Klein).
(Carole King released a responding single "Oh! Neil", using the same tune but with a tongue-in-cheek lyric written by her then husband Gerry Goffin.)

[niagra]

There's a guy down the chip shop, swears he's Elvis - Kirsty MacColl (what a great voice).

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='niagra' timestamp='1482095465' post='3197641']
There's a guy down the chip shop, swears he's Elvis - Kirsty MacColl (what a great voice).
[/quote]
I bought a house off her guitarist that was currently being squatted in by the band Bizarre INC, true story