Neil Young was out with This Note's for You on this day in 1988. The title song targeting corporations for co-opting music was provoked by Michelob beer commercials that featured Eric Clapton, Genesis and others, but the title song's lyrics took a swing Anheuser Busch, Miller, Pepsi and Coca Cola, with Young singing
"Don't want no cash
Don't need no money
Ain't got no stash
This note's for you.
Ain't singin' for Pepsi
Ain't singin' for Coke
I don't sing for nobody
Makes me look like a joke
This note's for you.
Ain't singin' for Miller
Don't sing for Bud
I won't sing for politicians
Ain't singin' for Spuds
This note's for you.
Don't need no cash
Don't want no money
Ain't got no stash
This note's for you.
I've got the real thing
I got the real thing, baby
I got the real thing
Yeah, alright.".
The video for the song featured Michael Jackson (who appeared in Pepsi ads) and Spuds McKenzie, Budweiser's marketing mascot at the time, lookalikes.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on April 11 include...
1961 Bob Dylan's pro performing career launches when he opens for John Lee Hooker.
1966 Buffalo Springfield makes its live debut at the Troubadour in LA.
1967 Paul McCartney develops the concept for Magical Mystery Tour while on a flight from the UK to the US.
1970 Paul McCartney vows he will never record again with John Lennon.
1970 Peter Green announces he has found God and was quitting Fleetwood Mac.
1981 Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertenelli get married.
1983 Metallica axes Dave Mustaine.
1997 Grand Funk Railroad reunites.
1997 Paul McCartney performs two new songs on a London rooftop.
Van Halen 1978-2004 box set released.
2007 Richie Sambora marries Heather Locklear.
2011 Bob Dylan does a concert in China.
2014 Jesse Winchester dies of cancer.
2014 Rock Hall Of Fame inducts Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Linda Ronstadt, KISS, Cat Stevens, Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham.
2017 John 'Jay' Geils, guitarist with the J. Geils Band, dies.
2024 The "Keep The Party Going" tribute concert honoring Jimmy Buffett at the Hollywood Bowl features renditions of his songs performed by members of his Coral Reefers Band, the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Paul McCartney, Mac Mcanally, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney and Brandi Carlile.?
