Well-known songs that name other groups/artists in the lyrics

Tom Petty-Free Fallin' (Crazy 'Bout Elivs)
 
A very obvious one:

"Hey Jude" by the Beatles, obviously written about singer/songwriter Julian Lennon.
OK, it was written long before Julian ever became an artist, but still.
 
Dwight Yoakam "Turn it On, Turn it Up, Turn Me Loose" - mentions "dancing to an old Buck Owens song"....

And the Clash mentions the Beattle's indirectly in London Calling - ..."phoney Beattlesmania has bitten the dust"
 
Luchenbach Texas - Waylon Jennings (Waylon and Willie, Hank Williams, Mickey Newbury & Blue Eyes)

Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson (Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker & "Bocephus" or Hank Williams, Jr.)
 
"Gator Country" by Molly Hatchet mentions The Outlaws, and a few other bands that escape me at this time.
 
"Vera" - From Pink Floyd's "The Wall.

References Vera Lynn.
 
I just happened to listen to Porcupine Tree for the first time in forever today, and guess what? From Time Flies:

"I was born in '67, year of Sergeant Pepper and Are You Experienced"

Kind of counts.
 
Little River Band - Reminiscing (Glenn Miller and Cole Porter)

Primus - Jerry Was a Racecar Driver (Bocephus, or Hank Williams Jr. as mentioned earlier)
 
The rock group Heaven's "In The Beginning" (It is well known in my circles)

In the beginning there Hendrix
Playing Purple Haze and Voodoo Child
Deep Purple gave you Smoke on the Water and Highway Star
Led Zepplin gave you Black Dog and a Whole Lotta love
In the beginning there was volume and
the Lord he said come bang my head
Everybody wishing for thoughts around
They can play in a rock n roll band
Everybody dancing along c'mom c'mon

In the beginning the Rolling Stones
Gave you Honky Tonk Woman and Jumping Jack Flash
Black Sabbath gave you War Pigs and mother Mob Rules of rock
ACDC Hells Bells and Shook Me All Night Long

In the beginning there was volume and
the lord he said come bang my head
Everybody wishing for thoughts around
They can play in a rock n roll band
Everybody dancing along c'mom c'mon

In the beggining there was rock n roll
In the beggining there was rock n roll
In the beginning there was rock n roll
In the beginning there was rock n roll
You heard it all volume you
You 've got such an honour too
Motorhead pumping along
C]mon its on with the show tonight
(in the beginning there was Heaven)

(solo)

In the beginning there was rock n roll (repeat)
 
I think nobody's mentioned the great David Bowie : Life on Mars :
'Cause Lennon's on sale again...

Octavarium by Dream Theater is filled with song reference : Floyd, Doors, Who, Young, Beatles, Genesis, Yes,...
 
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R.E.M Man on the moon. Mentions Mott the Hoople and Elvis, also Andy Kaufman, but he was a comedian, does that count ?
This is an old thread, but still cool.
 
The Counting Crows' Mr. Jones mentions Dylan.
 
NWA, the song 8Ball mentions Marvin Gaye.

For that matter, just about any rap/hip-hop artist name drops quite frequently.
 
No one has mentioned Bowling for Soup's "1985?" That song mentions:

Bruce Springsteen
Madonna
Nirvana
U2
Blondie
Limp Bizkit
Duran Duran
Wham
White Snake
Van Halen
Ozzy
Motley Crue
 
Fountains of Wayne have done it a lot.

"Denise" (Puff Daddy)
"Red Dragon Tattoo" (Korn)
"I'll do the driving" (Johnny Cash)
"Super Collider" (Pink Floyd)
"Someone to Love" (Coldplay)
 
I'm only familiar with about half of Zappa's catalogue, but he's got plenty of references. He could probably have his own thread. Just from memory:

"The Mud Shark" - about the infamous Zeppelin/groupie/hotel incident

"Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy" - She put a Doobie Brothers tape on/I had a Roger Daltrey cape on...

The album Sheik Yer Bouti could be interpreted as poking fun at "Shake Your Booty" by KC and the Sunshine Band. On that album, "I Have Been in You" is a Frampton parody, and "Flakes" features a Bob Dylan impression (by Terry Bozzio? Can't remember)
 
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