Skip to main content
Vexed
Vexed
Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
April 13, 2022

Songs of true stories that happened to the songwriter(s)

  • April 13, 2022
  • 101 replies
  • 34645 views

Many songwriters are inspired to write from events that happened to them or their band members. What are some that you know?

 

 

"Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple -- written about the fire at the Montreux Switzerland, Frank Zappa concert, that Deep Purple's members were in the audience and they got safely out to a nearby restaurant and watched the smoke gather across Lake Geneva.

    101 replies

    Show previous replies
    MaVolta
    MaVolta
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    January 21, 2023

    Blackout - Scorpions

     

    Scorpions drummer (1977-1995), Herman Rarebell, tells a story about the band being on tour in America, 1980, with a couple of other bands. In the evenings, they would get together at the hotel bar. Some tended to party a little more than others, and in this case, it was into the wee hours of the morning. Scorps’ band leader and primary composer, Rudolf Schenker was one of them on this occasion. Herman, a big time party guy by his own admission, found Rudolf wandering around the hotel parking lot around 4 am. Rudolf didn’t know where he was. Earlier, being quite drunk, he had bashed in a tv set in the hotel bar, and they had thrown him out. He had also wandered into a nearby grocery store, but had no recollection of it. The Chicago police had been called about him. Herman’s English was pretty good having lived in England a few years, He spoke with police and assured them that he would see Rudolf back to his room. The next day, Rudolf asked Herman what happened. He told him, “you had a blackout.”  Later, they sat down and wrote the song Blackout, which became a big hit for the group in 1982 from their album of the same name.

     

    “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” - Jimi Hendrix
      MaVolta
      MaVolta
      Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
      July 7, 2023

      Renegade - Steppenwolf

       

      In his autobiography, John Kay tells the story of how his mother escaped with him, first from Prussia, then later from East to West Germany. He was just a small boy, about age 5. The men helping them cross into West Germany were worried that the little boy might get frightened and start to cry, giving away their position. He remembers being told to be very quiet, to keep his head down, and to run as fast as he can when he gets through the fence or men with guns might shoot them down. He did exactly as he was told. He remembers hearing gun shots, and never knew what happened to the men who helped them escape.

       

      “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” - Jimi Hendrix
        SummerOnTheWay1
        SummerOnTheWay1
        January 10, 2026

        Same Old Lang Syne. Dan Fogelberg.

          SummerOnTheWay1
          SummerOnTheWay1
          January 23, 2026

          @Vexed , just got an AARP email telling me about the "kudo" you gave me. 💛

            Vexed
            VexedAuthor
            Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
            January 23, 2026

             I just noticed you revived this old thread. This was one of my favorite threads. I love stories about songs. However, is a bit harder, as one needs to do a bit of research.

            I will see if I can find some songs to add. Don't count on my brain or stamina. 😊

              1968Hoya46
              Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
              January 16, 2026

              Maggie May: Rod Stewart   (A reminiscence: a young student and an older woman).

                1968Hoya46
                Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
                January 16, 2026

                Coal Miner's Daughter: Loretta Lynn

                  Vexed
                  VexedAuthor
                  Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
                  January 24, 2026

                   Ok, I cheated. I had this one written down back in the day of this thread and didn't post it before.

                   

                   One Toke Over the Line - Brewer & Shipley (70) 

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNKL9onYB_8 

                   

                   Ok, we know what it means. It came about just like you think it would. The statement was said and the rest is history. When it was released some radio stations wouldn't play it due to the drug reference. Some did play it, they didn't care or didn't get it.

                   

                   Gail Farrell and Dick Dale of the Lawrence Welk Show performed it on the show. When the performance was over, Welk said "There you've heard a modern spiritual by Gail and Dale."

                    

                    That video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKslYBMycHM&list=RDeKslYBMycHM&start_radio=1 

                   

                   When I decided to post this, I checked the videos to make sure there were still available. (The Welk one wasn't, so I found another) Then I happend to find a video of Brewer & Shipley from 2018.

                   

                  Here is that video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdpSfYrUfxA&list=RDPdpSfYrUfxA&start_radio=1 

                    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement