BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A hearing was held Tuesday on Beacon Hill on a bill to make ‘Roadrunner’ the official rock song of Massachusetts.
State Representative David Linsky has been a major advocate for honoring the song by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. He’s submitted bills dating back to 2017 with his request.
Representative Linksy believes the song captures what Massachusetts is all about.
“Jonathan Richman is iconic,” Linksy said. “He was one of the originators of the punk rock music in music history, and he really captured what it’s like to be in Greater Boston.”
He also mentioned how Richman is a Natick native, giving the song, the composer and his band further connections with the Commonwealth.
“Jonathan Richman grew up literally 100 yards from my house,” Linsky said. “His first gig of The Modern Lovers was at Wilson Junior High School in Natick, Massachusetts where I was fortunate enough to go to high school, along with Jonathan.”
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Another song that has been part of this conversation has been ‘Dirty Water’ by The Standells, another piece about Massachusetts, specifically the Boston Harbor and Charles River. Linsky argues, however, that it doesn’t beat ‘Roadrunner.’
“Well, ‘Dirty Water’ really isn’t a rock song, we’ll say,” he said. “‘Dirty Water’ certainly has its place, but ‘Roadrunner’ really embodies rock & roll.”
Linsky’s most recent petition, filed under Bill H.3383, was referred to the House’s State Administration and Regulatory Oversight committee on February 27 of this year. On the same day, the Senate concurred with their own filing, Bill S.2218. On June 18, a joint hearing was scheduled for June 24.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.