In the early '60s Charles M Shultz (Sparky) began drawing his comic hero dog Snoopy in various engagements of battle with the Red Baron, using his doghouse as his own imaginary Sopwith Camel biplane. In the mid '60s the dialogue was featured in a TV animation A boy named Charlie Brown, and in subsequent Peanuts TV specials Snoopy would engage in additional battles. The infamous Red Baron was Baron Manfred von Richthofen, flying for the Germans in War I. Flying a bright red plane, the Red Baron was famous for downing 80 enemy aircraft, far surpassing a pilot named Boelcke, finally he was brought down by either Australian ground troops or a British Pilot Capt. Brown in April of 1918. The plane was ravaged for souvenirs, and it was found that Richthofen was killed by a single bullet to the chest. He was 25 years old.
Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded By The Light," which was a #1 hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The "Madman Drummers" line is a reference to Springsteen's first E-Street drummer, Vinnie "Mad dog" Lopez.
The opening lines to "Free Bird," "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?" came from the girlfriend of Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins, who asked him that question during an argument.
Neil Diamond got a big boost in 1994 when Urge Overkill's cover of his song 'Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" was used in the movie Pulp Fiction. His catalog sales ramped up, and suddenly he was cool.
The first Good Charlotte hit, "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous," is a send-up of celebrity culture, but the group's leaders, Joel and Benji Madden, both married celebrities: Nicole Richie and Cameron Diaz, respectively.
Chaka Khan's hit "I Feel For You" was written and originally recorded by Prince four years before she covered it.
"I Swear" was a #1 country hit for John Michael Montgomery before All-4-One made it a #1 pop hit.
Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.
Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.
The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.
The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.
Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."
Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.