List of Music References in Steel Ball Run
In an alternate 1890, racing jockeys from all over the world flock to the United States to take part in the Steel Ball Run- a cross-country horse race from San Diego to New York City with a fifty million dollar prize. A paraplegic named Johnny Joestar enters the race to learn the mysterious Spin ability of a former Neapolitan executioner named Gyro Zeppeli, who temporarily restored Johnny's mobility. While beginning as rivals, Johnny and Gyro become friends as they travel through the wilderness while fending off various assassins, terrorists, outlaws and other violent competitors.
⚠️MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS⚠️
See also: List of Music References in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
The Zeppeli surname is named after the English rock band Led Zeppelin.
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Hard Rock, Metal, Rock
Language: English
Gyro Zeppeli's horse, Valkyrie, references Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries.
Country: Germany
Genres: Classical, Opera
Language: German
Sandman's given name is a reference to the America song "Sandman" and/or the Metallica song "Enter Sandman."
Johnny Joestar's name could be a reference to the song Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry.
Steven Steel is named after musician Stephen Stills.
Country: United States
Genres: Blues, Folk, Rock, Singer-songwriter
Language: English
Being the alternate universe counterpart of Dio, Diego Brando retains the reference to Ronnie James Dio.
Country: United States
Genres: Hard Rock, Metal, Rock
Language: English
Lucy Steel's name could be a reference to The Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
Some of the other horses and racers in the race have names referencing songs.
The racer Dixie Chicken (referencing the Little Feat album of the same name)...
Country: United States
Genres: Country music, Rock
Language: English
The racer Zenyatta Mondatta (referencing the Police album of the same name)...
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Languages: English, French, Other, Spanish
The racer Baba Yaga (referencing the Emerson, Lake & Palmer song The Curse of Baba Yaga) ...
...and their horse Nut Rocker (referencing the Emerson, Lake & Palmer song of the same name).
The racer Caravanserai (referencing the Santana album of the same name) and their horse Moonflower (referencing the Santana album of the same name).
Country: Mexico
Genres: Blues, Latino, Rock
Languages: English, Spanish, Cape Verdean, Yoruba
...and their horse Catch A Wave (referencing the Beach Boys song of the same name).
...and their horse Love Unlimited (referencing the vocal trio of the same name).
Country: United States
Genre: R&B/Soul
Language: English
The horse #1 (referencing the Nelly song No. 1)
The racer Nellyville (referencing the Nelly album of the same name) and their horse Country Grammer (referencing the Nelly album of the same name)
Country: United States
Original spelling: Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr.
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Pop, R&B/Soul
Language: English
The racer Iglesias (referencing the singer Julio Igesias)...
Country: Spain
Genres: Latino, Pop
Languages: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French
The racer Rotters Club (referencing the Hatfield and the North album of the same name)
The racer Nightfly (referencing the Donald Fagen album The Nightfly)
The racer Kanye (referencing the rapper Kanye West)
Country: United States
Original spelling: Kanye Omari West
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, French
The racer Mister (referencing the band Mr. Mister)
Country: United States
Genre: Pop-Rock
Language: English
The racer Georgie Porgie (referencing the Toto song Georgey Porgy)
The horse Europe Express (referencing the Kraftwerk album Trans-Europe Express).
Country: Germany
Genre: Electronica
Languages: German, English, French, Russian
Mountain Tim's name may be a reference to the song Mountain Jam by The Allman Brothers Band.
Country: United States
Genres: Blues, R&B/Soul
Language: English
Mountain Tim's horse references Stan Jones' song (Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend (also famously covered by Johnny Cash) .
Mrs. Robinson's horse is named El Condor Pasa after the Simon & Garfunkel song of the same name.
The three racers killed by the Boomboom family are named for musicians Jay Fagen, Walter Carl Becker (both from Steely Dan)...
Country: United States
Genres: Blues, Jazz, Rock
Language: English
...and Steve Lukather (from Toto).
Country: United States
Genre: Rock 'n' Roll
Language: English
All three members of the Boomboom Family are named from different parts of André Lauren Benjamin's name.
Country: United States
Original spelling: André Lauren Benjamin
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, R&B/Soul
Language: English
...Crosstown Traffic,...
The Boomboom Family's stand Tomb of the Boom 1 2 3 is a reference to the song of the same name by Outkast.
Dr. Ferdinand is named after the band, Franz Ferdinand.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Pop-Rock
Languages: English, German, Greek
Hot Pants is based on the song of the same name performed by James Brown.
Both Gaucho...
...and his horse, Peg, are named after Steely Dan songs of the same name.
Ringo Roadagain is named after musician Ringo Starr...
Country: United Kingdom
Original spelling: Richard Starkey
Genre: Pop
Language: English
His Stand is named after the Jerry Wallace single "Mandom: The Lovers of the World", which was only released in Japan.
Blackmore is named after Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Hard Rock, Metal, Progressive rock, Psychedelic, Rock
Language: English
Sandman's Stand is a reference to Miles Davis's album "In a Silent Way."
Country: United States
Genre: Jazz
Languages: English, French
Sugar Mountain is named for the song by Neil Young.
Tatoo You! references the album of the same name by The Rolling Stones.
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Blues, Rock, Rock 'n' Roll
Languages: English, Italian
Mike O. is named after progressive Rock musician Mike Oldfield.
Country: United Kingdom
Original spelling: Michael Gordon "Mike" Oldfield
Genres: Classical, Pop, Rock 'n' Roll
Languages: English, Gaelic (Irish Gaelic), Constructed Language, Latin
Similarly, his Stand is named after his debut song and album, Tubular Bells.
Wekapipo's name is based on the single "Wake Up People" by SOUL'd OUT.
Similarly, his Wrecking Balls appear to be named after Neil Young 's song "Wrecking Ball."
Magent Magent is also named in a single of SOUL'd OUT, "Magenta Magenta.''
Axl RO is named after Guns N' Roses' frontman "Axl Rose."
Country: United States
Genres: Hard Rock, Rock
Language: English
D-I-S-C-O and Chocolate Disco reference the song "Chocolate Disco" by Perfume.
Gyro Zeppeli's Stand is named after the AC/DC Album and song Ballbreaker.
The artwork Araki drew for the cover of the Ultra Jump May 2011 Issue is a reference to the album art of Progressive Rock Band Yes' album, Fragile. This album contains the song, "Roundabout", which happens to be the first ending of the anime.
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Rock
Language: English
