By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Musician Rick Derringer died on Monday at age 77. The cause of death was not disclosed. Read more at Deadline.com.
Powell’s POV: Derringer produced the WWF’s “The Wrestling Album” and its follow-up album “Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II”. He co-wrote and performed the songs “Real American” and the Demolition theme song. His best-known mainstream rock songs are “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” and “Hang on Sloopy”. My condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
He also produced 6 of Weird Al’s albums and was the producer on Weird Al’s Grammy winning Eat It.
Rick was one of the great guitarists – he knew to play it and not strum it. I actually preferred his Piledriver album version of Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo with Gene over the 1973 original. As much as I hate Hogan, Real American is a great song. The Demolition theme is a great example of Rick’s guitar work. His work with Weird Al was also great (I have Weird Al in 3D and Even Worse on vinyl and Eat It and Fat are both in my all time top 100 songs, along with Beat It – Bad didn’t get in there!) He’ll be missed.