Copperhead Road

The Zoo Crew is spinning the iconic "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle from his 1988 album of the same name, a track that’s got the Zoo Freaks fired up! This song, a gritty blend of country, rock, and Celtic influences, tells the story of John Lee Pettimore III, a Vietnam vet from a moonshining family who turns to growing marijuana in rural Tennessee. Earle has called it the "world’s first blend of heavy metal and bluegrass," a style Rolling Stone dubbed "power twang." Fun fact: the song’s bagpipe-like intro pays homage to the Irish and Scottish settlers who shaped bluegrass music in America. It hit number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1988 and has sold over 1.1 million digital copies in the U.S. as of 2017. In 2023, Tennessee named it an official state song, despite its rebellious themes of bootlegging and dodging the DEA. Earle performed it at the Tennessee State House that year to celebrate the honor, a moment he shared on X.

Another cool tidbit comes from Earle himself in a Guitar Player interview. He wrote "Copperhead Road" on a mandolin, an instrument he barely knew how to play, using just two chords. The lyrics were inspired by a 1975 news story about a 70-year-old woman arrested for running a massive marijuana operation in a North Carolina holler. The song’s real-life roots don’t stop there—the actual Copperhead Road near Mountain City, Tennessee, was renamed Copperhead Hollow Road after fans kept stealing the road signs, a fact fans love sharing on Reddit’s country music community. The track’s outlaw vibe even inspired a popular line dance and became the theme for the Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners. In 2018, Earle and The Dukes celebrated the song’s 30th anniversary with a tour where they played the album in full, as announced on Facebook.

Steve Earle’s journey to creating "Copperhead Road" started in Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he was born on January 17, 1955. Growing up in Texas, he was a rebellious teen, leaving home to chase his musical dreams and dropping out of high school. Drawn to the songwriting scene, he landed in Nashville in the 1970s, mentored by country "outlaws" like Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. Earle honed his craft as a songwriter before stepping into the spotlight with his 1986 debut album, Guitar Town, which blended country and rock and earned critical acclaim. His early years were marked by struggles with addiction and legal troubles, but his raw storytelling and genre-defying sound made him a standout. By the time Copperhead Road dropped in 1988, Earle was shaking up Nashville’s norms, blending hard rock and Celtic influences with his country roots.

Fans can connect with Steve Earle through his official website, where you’ll find tour dates and news about his latest projects, like his 2023 live album Alone Again (Live). Follow him on Facebook for updates and tour announcements, or check out his Instagram for behind-the-scenes glimpses of his performances. On X, Earle shares thoughts on music and politics, often with his signature wit. For Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper, the Steve Earle Fans Facebook group is a great spot to join discussions and share love for his music. While there aren’t many dedicated fan websites, the r/country subreddit often buzzes with posts about Earle’s influence, especially around "Copperhead Road."