Influence Jonathan Richman

richman in barcelona, 2009

richman s work first incarnation of modern lovers major influence on punk rock. 1 critic called him godfather of punk . artists diverse sex pistols , joan jett have covered roadrunner . boston ska-punk band big d , kids table have covered new england live , on gypsy hill ep. version of pablo picasso performed burning sensations included in 1984 cult film, repo man. david bowie covered pablo picasso on album reality. velvet underground founding member john cale has version of song on 1975 album, helen of troy, , continues include song in live shows. iggy pop has performed pablo picasso live , wrote verse it. echo , bunnymen covered cracked in concert in 1984 , 1985 , siouxsie , banshees have version of song on downside up.

richman s music has set tone many alternative rock bands, such violent femmes, galaxie 500, might giants ( roadrunner reportedly inspired john flansburgh become musician), weezer, tullycraft, jens lekman, singer frank black (who composed tribute song man loud ), brandon flowers, art brut, craig finn of hold steady & lifter puller, mac demarco , nerf herder composed song him, titled jonathan , appeared on band s second album how meet girls. british country rock band rockingbirds released single jonathan, jonathan in tribute richman in 1992. silos covered modern lovers m straight .

as producer himself, richman , drummer tommy larkins produced vic chesnutt s final album skitter on take-off in 2009 appeared on vapor records. chesnutt opened richman @ concerts many times during later years.

roadrunner on school of rock soundtrack. in commentary, director richard linklater mentions called first punk song , wanted include reason, along other seminal rock songs in film.

a tribute album, if richman: tribute music of jonathan richman, released wampus multimedia in 2001.

rapper m.i.a. featured opening lyrics roadrunner in song bamboo banga on 2007 album, kala.