Top 10 Songs About Rock Cities
Don Jamieson is a guest contributor to Loudwire. He is the co-host of That Metal Show, which just wrapped up its 14th season on VH1 Classic. You can also catch Jamieson on the stand-up comedy circuit. Keep up with him at his official website or his Twitter page. Please note that Don Jamieson’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Loudwire. Check out his list of the Top 10 Songs About Rock Cities:
Everyone thinks their city rocks. And it probably does. There are great, rocking cities all over the world. Even Cincinnati, whose biggest musical claim to fame is 98 Degrees.
I grew up in a town in New Jersey of one-square mile so while we didn’t make any lasting musical contribution to the world of rock, I’d like to think I’ve done my share with That Metal Show. And where has all my success in the world of hard rock and metal gotten me? Life in a town in New Jersey of a half-square mile!
But wherever you are from, there’s probably a band that’s written about you and how you rock. Or maybe your favorite rocking song is about an imaginary city that rocks. Even my editor couldn’t resist suggesting his favorite recent rock song for the list: Emigrate (Rammstein guitarist Richard Kruspe's band) featuring Lemmy on vocals — it’s an awesome track, "Rock City." Check out my picks for the Top 10 Songs About Rock Cities below:
- 10
"Angel City"
MotorheadRocking Refrain: “I wanna be an intellectual, heterosexual, Angel City tonight…”
When Lemmy moved to Los Angeles, he got an apartment right down the hill from the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill where he had unlimited access to Jack Daniels, Ms. Pac Man, video poker and the most “generous” collection of groupies ever assembled. Oh yeah, and he wrote a pretty good song about it too.
- 9
"Rock City"
RiotRocking Refrain: “Rock City, Rock City see what you wanna see. Rock City, Rock City be what you wanna be…”
Criminally underrated hard rock band from New York City. The kind of RIOT you’d actually want to be in the middle of.
- 8
"Jet City Woman"
QueensrycheRocking Refrain: “Jet City Woman got to find my way home to her…”
“Jet City” is a nickname for Seattle where the band found their fame. This song could also be known as “Rain City Woman,” “Heroin City Woman,” “Coffee City Woman” or “Blew The Super Bowl Last Year City Woman.”
- 7
"Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown"
Rob ZombieRocking Refrain: “We listen to the radio, Dead Radio…”
With all the zombies on television and film these days the coolest one of all is still the former Robert Cummings, aka Rob Zombie. He comes out on stage covered in so much white dust he looks like he just flew out of Keith Richards' nose.
- 6
"Slam City"
Suicidal TendenciesRocking Refrain: “Slam! Slam! Slam City, slam! Slam! Slam City.…(rinse and repeat)”
When ST comes to your town it’s instantly turned into Slam City. More pain, hits to the head and bruising than that kid with the crazy mom in Baltimore.
- 5
"Apocalyptic City"
TestamentRocking Refrain: “Burn, feel no shame or pity. Burn, apocalyptic city…”
Bay-area thrasher about a city that’s more burnt out than Snoop Dogg.
- 4
"Motor City Madhouse"
Ted NugentRocking Refrain: “Well Detroit City she’s the place to be, mad dog town gonna set you free…”
Uncle Ted hails from the Motor City and wears it proudly on his camouflaged sleeve. Ted uses his crossbow to hunt out in the wild and go out after dark in downtown Detroit.
- 3
"Detroit Rock City"
KISSRocking Refrain: “Get up! Everybody’s gonna move their feet. Get down! Everybody’s gonna leave their seat…”
The song that made me a KISS fan for life. Good enough to make you forget they also wrote "Let’s Put The X Into Sex" ... almost.
- 1
"Paradise City"
Guns N' RosesRocking Refrain: “Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty…”
People always ask what it was like waiting until 5am to interview Axl Rose for That Metal Show. I’ve hung out with strippers later than that just to get a little. No problem waiting for the guy who wrote the number one rocking city song on this list.
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