Cool History Facts: A Deeper Look Into “Louie, Louie”
For years, this classic party song by the Kingsmen (lead singer Jack Ely recently passed away) was rumored to contain obscene lyrics. Even the FBI thought so.
Music
4 TV Game Show Hosts With Musical Side Gigs
Like this list? Gets hundreds of them in “Uncle John’s Lists That Make You Go Hmmm…,” now in stores. Here is a list of game show hosts with musical side gigs.
“New York, New York”
This year marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most famous songs in the American songbook. So start spreadin’ the news!
3 Failed Music Formats
Last weekend was “Record Store Day,” an unofficial holiday to get people to buy vinyl albums again. These failed formats probably won’t ever get their own special day.
6 Interesting Facts About ‘Guitar Hero’
After a long hiatus, the popular video game franchise is coming back. Here are some interesting facts about the game and its many spinoffs and competitors.
7 Fun Facts About Ringo Starr
Up until this month, Ringo Starr was the only member of the Beatles not inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. In fact, he was only inducted via a special committee who included Starr under its “Award for Musical Excellence Banner,” which honors sideman, producers, and other tertiary participants in the music industry.
The Weirdest Album In Music History
Is it still one album if it’s four albums played simultaneously? Here’s the bizarre story behind the Flaming Lips’ Zaireeka.
The Wrecking Crew, and Other Unsung Heroes
After being tied up in music rights issues for seven years, The Wrecking Crew is now being released. This documentary tells the story of one of the most important session musician groups in pop history. Here’s a bit more about the Crew, and other backing bands.
Where in the World is Parliament-Funkadelic’s Mothership?
The legendary funk band once used a large UFO prop during their live shows. It disappeared in the ‘80s and no one has seen it since.
3 Bands Who Replaced Their Lead Singer And Became a New Band
Lead singers tend to get all the attention…and cause most of the problems. Result: the band fires their lead singer, gets a new one, and goes in a new direction.
3 Notable Cases of Musical Infringement
This week a judge ordered Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to pay $7 million to the estate of Marvin Gaye, finding that their 2013 hit “Blurred Lines” infringed on Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up.” Here are some other cases of musical copyright drama.
3 Members of Famous Rock Bands Who Don’t Play Music
Did you know that you could be in a band but not actually have to do much?
4 Interesting Facts About “We Are the World”
The charity single to benefit Ethiopian famine relief was released 30 years ago this week. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about it.
Music Trivia: 8 Awesome Facts About Hall and Oates
Whoa-oa, here they come…Ready for some music trivia? Here are some awesome facts about Hall and Oates.
4 Musicians Who Were Big in Japan
“Big in Japan” is a bit of music industry puffery—it describes bands that aren’t popular stateside but do really well overseas, allegedly, especially in Japan. It’s usually a big lie, although sometimes it isn’t.
3 Musicians Who Went Country…And Stayed There
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again (with a cowboy hat on).
Random Trivia: 5 Bands That Had to Change Their Names
Trying to describe your band’s sound through a name is tough—which is why sometimes bands don’t quite nail it the first time.
The World’s Craziest Musical Instrument
The first mention of a mysterious, and totally weird, musical instrument called a cat organ dates to the mid-16th century, mentioned in the written works of german scholar Athanasius Kircher. Whether or not he made it up remains a mystery.
