Old Time Rock & Roll

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic "Old Time Rock & Roll" by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band from the 1978 album Stranger in Town, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it! This anthem, a nostalgic tribute to the raw energy of early rock 'n' roll, has a wild backstory. Written by George Jackson and Thomas E. Jones III, the song was sent to Seger by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as a demo. Seger rewrote the verses, keeping the iconic chorus, but didn’t take a writing credit, a decision he later called “the dumbest thing I ever did” in a 2006 radio interview, as it cost him millions in royalties. Initially, Seger and the band thought it didn’t fit their sound, with the Silver Bullet Band calling it not “Silver Bullety” enough. But when they played it live on tour in Europe, the crowd’s ecstatic response changed their minds, securing its place on the album. The song’s fame skyrocketed after Tom Cruise’s iconic lip-sync in his underwear in the 1983 film Risky Business, making it a cultural touchstone and a staple on classic rock radio.

Another fun tidbit: Seger recorded the track at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama and Sound Suite Studios in Detroit, with Howie McDonald laying down the memorable guitar solo. The song’s eight-note piano intro by Barry Beckett is instantly recognizable, and Seger’s raspy vocals deliver a defiant love for “old time” music, dismissing disco and newer sounds of the late ’70s. Despite its lyrics shrugging off modern music, Seger later admitted in interviews that 1978 was a vibrant year for rock, with releases like The Rolling Stones’ Some Girls and Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town. The song’s popularity led to covers by artists like Johnny Hallyday in French (“Le Bon Temps du Rock and Roll”) and Status Quo in 2000. It ranked No. 2 on the Amusement & Music Operators Association’s Top 40 Jukebox Singles of All Time in 1996 and No. 100 in the American Film Institute’s 100 Years...100 Songs poll in 2004.

Bob Seger, born Robert Clark Seger on May 6, 1945, in Lincoln Park, Michigan, kicked off his musical journey in the gritty Detroit rock scene of the 1960s. Growing up in the Midwest, he was shaped by the working-class ethos and the soul and R&B sounds of Motown, alongside influences like Elvis Presley and Little Richard. As a teenager, Seger played in local bands, including The Decibels and The Town Criers, before joining Doug Brown and the Omens. He soon formed Bob Seger and the Last Heard, releasing his first regional hit, “East Side Story,” in 1966. Despite early local success, national fame eluded him for years as he bounced between genres like garage rock and psychedelia, performing under various band names and enduring grueling tours. In 1973, he assembled The Silver Bullet Band, a tight crew of Detroit musicians, including Drew Abbott, Charlie Allen Martin, Rick Manasa, Chris Campbell, and Alto Reed. Their 1976 live album Live Bullet, recorded at Detroit’s Cobo Hall, and the studio album Night Moves finally launched Seger to national stardom, cementing his legacy as a heartland rock icon with his raw, blue-collar anthems.

Seger’s official website is bobseger.com, where fans can find updates, tour archives, and music. You can follow him on social media at Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest news and throwback posts. For Zoo Freaks wanting to connect with other fans, check out the fan-driven Turn The Page - Tribute to Bob Seger website, which celebrates Seger’s music with social media updates and tribute band info. On Facebook, groups like “Bob Seger Fans” and “Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Appreciation” are buzzing with Zoo Freak energy, sharing memories, rare photos, and discussions about Seger’s timeless hits. Join the vibe and keep rocking to that old time rock ‘n’ roll!