Myths and Legends in Song

Robert Johnson sells his soul to the devil.
A talented blues musician, Robert Johnson was willing to do anything for popularity in the industry. Legend has it that one day Johnson was told to go to a nearby crossroad with his guitar. Here, "he was met by a large black man" (Wikipedia, 1), or a representative of the Devil. The Devil took the guitar from Robert Johnson, and he played several songs for him with a high level of skill. After finishing these songs, the Devil returned the guitar to Johnson, who was then blessed with a "mastery of the guitar" (Wikipedia, 1). In essence, this was "a deal with the Devil" (Wikipedia, 1) because Robert Johnson gave up his soul and in exchange he "was able to create the blues for which he became famous" (Wikipedia, 1).

United States. Wikipedia. Robert Johnson (musician). 14 April 2010. Web. 15 April 2010.


Ozzy Osborne's taste for doves and bats.
Throughout his adult life, Ozzy Osbourne has been criticized for his abuse of drugs and alcohol and his unpredictability. Osbourne has been known to bite the heads off of small animals, more specifically a bat and a dove, due to drunkedness or simply out of the blue. Osbourne planned to use doves at an upcoming concert "as a sign of peace" (Wikipedia, 1). While in Los Angeles "meeting with some record-company executives" (Wikipedia, 1), Ozzy "bit the head off a dove...due to being intoxicated at the time" (Wikipedia, 1). Another incident involving Ozzy Osbourne and a small animal was during his 1982 performance at the "Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa" (Wikipedia, 1). An audience member threw a bat that she said "was brought to the show dead" even though "the Rolling Stones stated the bat was alive" (Wikipedia, 1). Instead of removing or avoiding the bat on the stage, Ozzy "bit the head off the bat he thought was rubber" (Wikipedia, 1). All in all, Osbourne has gained much feedback from these incidents, and they "have been alluded to several times throughout his career" (Wikipedia, 1).

United States. Wikipedia. Ozzy Osbourne. 13 April 2010. Web. 15 April 2010.


The mythology surrounding the Abbey Road cover.
Millions of conspiracies have surrounded the Beatles famous Abbey Road album cover. According to conspiracy theorists, there are several hidden messages covering the entire cover that were meant to portray that Paul McCartney had died. One message was the absence of Paul's shoes on the cover which represented that he was dead. Also, the choice of clothing for each of the band members portrayed different roles that are played at a funeral; priest, grave digger, and mourner. A bloodstain, which represents that of McCartney, appears in the image in front of Ringo Starr. Also, it is said that "if the back cover is turned 45 degrees anticlockwise a crude image of the Grim Reaper appears" (Mail on Sunday Reporter, 1), which is another indication of Paul's death. Finally, in the backround of the album cover there is an stationary police van. This is "a reference to the police who kept quiet about Paul's 'death'" (Mail on Sunday Reporter, 1). Even though Paul McCartney did not die, many conspiracy theorists look for signs in the Abbey Road album cover that suggest that he did, and this has "sparked a million conspiracy theories" (Mail on Sunday Reporter, 1).

United Kingdom. Mail on Sunday Reporter. The Beatles album cover that started a decades-long conspiracy theory. 9 August 2009. 15 April 2010.


Bob Dylan goes electric.
At the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965, popular folk singer Bob Dylan shocked the audience and the world of folk music when he "declared his independence from the orthodoxy of the folk scene and publicly unveiled his rock & roll heart" (Rolling Stone, 1). To do so, Dylan plugged in an electric guitar for the first time and played three songs with "the electric-Chicago charge of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band" (Rolling Stone, 1). Because Dylan's change was drastic and unexpected, the audience was not pleased with his decision. It was said that "he left the stage in tears — shocked by the shouting and heckling from several members of the Newport audience" (Rolling Stone, 1). Although Bob Dylan's decision to change his styling was not well-recieved at first, he has come to change the world of rock and roll forever.

Dylan Goes Electric in 1965. Rolling Stone Magazine. 24 June 2004. Web. 15 April 2010.


Favorite myth or legend in song.
On July 29, 1974, 'Mama' Cass Elliot died after several successful years in the popular music group the "the Mamas & the Papas" (White, 1). Many conspiracy theorists have suggested that Elliot died by choking on a ham sandwich, simply due to the fact that "the uneaten remains...were found near her body" (White, 1). Despite these rumors, the autopsy reported that Mama Cass "died of heart failure brought on by the effects of obesity and crash dieting" (White, 1). Also, when her body was discovered, "the coroner found no evidence of anything, ham sandwich or otherwise, blocking her windpipe" (White, 1). Due to this undeniable evidence, one can be certain that the conspiracies surrounding this incident are indeed false and that Elliot died from a heart attack.

White, David. Top Ten Rock Music Myths. David White, 2005. Web. 15 April 2010.


Sgt. Pepper Cover
In the Sgt. Pepper cover, many familiar faces are present. First, an image of Paul McCartney, a former member of the popular British band the Beatles, appears in the image. Because McCartney was a "founding father" of the Beatles and the cover is for a Beatles album, Paul McCartney is shown on the Sgt. Pepper cover. Another legend that appears on the album cover is Edgar Allen Poe. Similar to the Beatles writing their own songs, Poe was a writer of poetry and short stories. Therefore, Edgar Allen Poe appears on this cover. Finally, John Lennon, another popular member of the British band, is shown on the Sgt. Pepper cover because of his affilition with the Beatles.

Despite several familiar faces on the Sgt. Pepper cover, their are several faces that are unfamiliar. Sonny Liston is an individual that is unrecognizable. Liston was a professional heavyweight boxer, winning several fights throughout his career. Another face that is unfamiliar is that of Diana Dors. Twentieth century actress, Dors had several roles in small films television series. A third person that is unfamiliar is Lenny Bruce, a famous comedian and striving dancer. Liston, Dors, and Bruce were all unfamiliar faces that appeared on the Beatles Sgt. Pepper cover.

Waymark, Peter. Diana Dors (actress). Peter Waymark, 2004. Web. 15 April 2010.

Boskin, Joseph. Bruce Lenny. Joseph Boskin, 2000. Web. 15 April 2010.

Davis, Luckett V. Sonny Liston (boxer). Luckett V Davis, 2000. Web. 15 April 2010.