Any interesting stories behind songs?

 

Mr Zappa's Illinois Enema Bandit, anybody?

I have the Live in NY vynil, and it tells the story. True, as a matter of fact. "Michael H. Kenyon, 30,the suspected enema bandit who terrorized coeds at the Univerity of Illinois for 10 years, has pleaded guilty in Urbana, Ill., to six counts of armed robbery. He has admitted administrating enemas to woman victims in at least three of his six robberies". Believe it or not, true.

By the way, rhythm guitarist Ray White does a beautiful job handling lead vocals on this one.

Pink Floyd

Lucifer sam - written about syd barretts cat
the piper at the gates of dawn - a chapter from wind in the willows
when the tigers broke free - how rogers dad died
ummagumma - cambridge slang for sex
sysyphus - named after greek mythology character sisiphus
meddle - the title happened by accident and the album cover is an ear
on the run - originally titled "the travelling sequence"
us and them - original demo "the violent sequence" on zabriskie point ost

Yes

Close to the edge - originally titled "the longest day of the year"
5% for nothing - originally titled "suddenly it's wednesday"

The Mars Volta

deloused in the comatorium = free of lice in a coma ward
Tira me a las aranas = cover my face in spiders
inertiatic esp = inertia enter sleeping process
cicatriz esp = scar exit sleeping process
eriatarka = homeground
televators = television + elevator

Neil Peart of Rush moved to England when he was 18 and worked in a tacky gift shop in Carnaby Street, London. After he became dissilousioned with the UK music scene he returned to Canada, and sold tractors and combine harvestors before Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson tracked him down for an audition. Apparently they were not going to employ him at first because he looked a bit 'dorky' Thats rich, chaps..

Apparently 'Mama' by Genesis is about an abortion..from the babies point of view, but thats not a funny one. Sorry..

Dave Brock of Hawkwind used to busk in London with Ralph McTell of 'Streets of London' and 'Alphabet Zoo' fame.

I´m in the Moog 

Cesar Inca wrote:   5% for nothing - originally titled "suddenly it's wednesday" Yes, actually "Suddenly it's Wednesday" was the titile that Bruford used for this piece. Meanwhile, the band had recently managed to get rid from their original manager under they condition that he be paid 5 % of the band's earnings monthly for a while. So the title was changed in order to express the band's discomfort about this easy byt cheesy solution. Bruford wasn't happy with this situation either, but he thought that the title shouldn't change - despite he being the writer, the title was effectively changed, as we all know...

the story is far more interesting than the song

threefates wrote: Vibrationbaby wrote: The song Lucky Man by ELP was never intended to be included on the first ELP album and was written by Greg Lake When he was a kid it was added because tthey didn't have enough material for afull album. Ironically it became one of their best known peices. Also about this song.. the moog ending of this was the first time Keith had touched his new toy and he considered that a run through... but Greg said.. Nope that was perfect.. and wouldn't let him do another run through.. which most likely would have been an extra 10 minutes....

And Kieth got that Moog for free from the company. It's my favourite moog piece never get tired of it.

maani wrote: ...it's strange that no one has thought of compiling a list - perhaps even an encyclopedia - of these.  Perhaps some of our illustrious members will assist in this effort?

Hi Maani and Martins,

I came across this website that lists a whole string of band names and their origins in a couple of lines each (not all of them are prog but still quite a few): http://www.progdome.com/band_names1.htm

On a slightly different subject, there's also a site called The Progressive Rock Bibliography whose section entitled "Literary References in Progressive Rock" explains who got their inspiration from what literary works, from the Holy Bible to George Orwell, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley, etc. Very enlightening stuff. Their address is http://www.progbibliography.de/desiderata.htm

Go to the bottom of the page and click on "Literary References..."

Lise

Hope I'm not repeating any one, (I don't think I am.)

In the 60's/70's, Hawkwind (like Micheal Moorcock, Bowie, Mark Bolan etc.) used to frequent the (now famous) 'greasy spoon' working man's cafe, The Mountain Grill, on the Portobello road, London.They immortalised the place, which is still in business today, with their "Hall of the Mountain Grill".

Edited by emdiar