Rock's Oldest Joke: Yelling 'Freebird!' In a Crowded Theater

Wall Street Journal ^ | today | Jason Fry

[Rodney King]

One recent Tuesday night at New York's Bowery Ballroom, the Crimea had just finished its second song. The Welsh quintet's first song had gone over fairly well, the second less so, and singer/guitarist Davey MacManus looked out at the still-gathering crowd.

Then, from somewhere in the darkness came the cry, "Freebird!"

It made this night like so many other rock 'n' roll nights in America.....

[Fierce Allegiance]

I wonder if they really shouted "FReepered!"

[Fierce Allegiance]

Try to obtain username & password from bugmenot.com

[Skooz]

My workplace has a block on that URL. Bummer.

I might have to actually do some work, instead.

[MortMan]

Saving your D's for a different application?? ;-P

[boxerblues]

no password found at bugmenot

[LouD]

The WSJ doesn't spam you. They do, however, charge you - even for online subscriptions. It's one of the few newspapers that I don't mind paying for.

[LS]

Want my little rock 'n' roll anecdote? I was drummer for a band named "Rampage," a southern rock group aka the Allman Bros. or Lynard Skynnard, opening for Steppenwolf, Mother's Finest, Savoy Brown, and the James Gang. We had a single pressed and sent to managers and agents. One agent wanted to sign us . . . but wanted 50%. Way too high, we said.

It was Lynard Skynnard's agent, and a month later, Lynard went down in a plane crash and we would have been that guy's #1 band. See what greed gets you?

[Rutles4Ever]

I read this morning on the way to work and immediately flipped over to Freebird on my iPod. I remember people shouting this at a Dead Milkmen concert at Cabaret Metro in Chicago back in the day... (1988ish) I can't remember what they shouted back. No bird-flipping, though.

[Rodney King]

Great anecdote.

[Publius Valerius]

And on that note, "Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd" just slid in my CD player.

[Publius Valerius]

Well, despite the loss of Ronnie Van Zant, they do still tour, so don't beat yourself up over it too much.

[LS]

Yah, but they've never been the same. Like Styx without what'shisname.

[cajungirl]

I know and in September we will have it on Saturday! I really enjoy their indepth articles on subjects unrelated to financial issues. And the editorial page is great.

[Publius Valerius]

That's true, and as much as I enjoy Lynyrd Skynyrd, southern rock had its day and more or less went out with the reminants of segregation and Jim Crow. I live in the South and I love Dixie and I love "Sweet Home Alabama," but would that song go over today like it did then? I doubt it. But who knows. Maybe if Duane Allman and Ronnie Van Zant didn't die, it might have been different, but alas...

[Lancey Howard]

Amazing article!
I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Spectrum in Philly in 1976 (about a year before the plane crash) and people were yelling "Freebird" from the time the band took the stage. Trust me, Ronnie Van Zant didn't think it was funny. At one point, he got disgusted and said something about it.

[itsamelman]

Rock and Roll PING! email Weegee to get on/off this list.

[Zeppelin]

Blasphemy! =P

[Zeppelin]

They messin' with my song? =P

[Freebird Forever]

Then, from somewhere in the darkness came the cry, "Freebird!"

What more needs to be said?

[Republic Rocker]

can't read the article...can anyone post it or a link w/o registration?