Small Beer

The distinctive melodic guitar parts of the second Smiths single developed from Johnny Marr working out Buddy Holly’s solo in his version of the Chuck Berry song ‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man’. Knowing the source Morrissey wrote his lyrics partly as an in joke to create ‘This Charming Man’.

Art rock band Be-Bop Deluxe were sued by Jazz Journal Magazine for false advertising in 1974 after one of their journalists attended a concert by the group and discovered they had no Be-Bop element to their music.

The Case was dismissed by the Judge as vexatious and widely believed to be a publicity stunt; a fact later confirmed by drummer Simon Fox when a fan discovered by chance that he was related to the journalist in question.

Dusty Springfield fans The Ramones originally named themselves after her mid 60s producer, arranger and sometime song writer Ivor Raymonde but on developing their ‘punk’ style decided something grittier was required so shortened it.

Stories that they had been inspired by Paul McCartney signing into hotels as ‘Paul Ramone’ are apocryphal.

Music Fact Bonus!

Ivor Raymonde was father of former Cocteau Twin and Bella Union record label founder Simon Raymonde.

Despite forming in Athens R.E.M. aren’t Greek.

It wasn’t doubts about their relationship which caused Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge’s girlfriend Sue to refuse to marry him.

Bernard Sumner’s cousin Gordon (Sting) was due to make a guest appearance on New Order’s song for the 1990 World Cup, ‘World In Motion’, but they fell out over a disputed penalty decision during a Manchester United versus Newcastle game.

King Crimson’s ‘Elephant Talk’ came from a Robert Fripp pun on the introduction to Fats Waller’s ‘Your Feets Too Big’ which stride piano fan Tony Levin would perform on the Chapman Stick.

Who’s that walkin’ round here? Mercy
Sounds like baby patter, baby elephant patter