Love Song

The Zoo Crew is spinning the heartfelt power ballad "Love Song" by Tesla from their 1989 album The_Great_Radio_Controversy, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the love. This track, which soared to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, was a standout hit for the Sacramento hard rockers, with its lengthy acoustic guitar intro and soaring vocals. One juicy bit of trivia comes from frontman Jeff Keith, who shared in a 2015 Songfacts interview that the song’s unique structure—complete with a 1:33 "noodling guitar" intro—was a point of contention with Geffen Records. The label wanted a more conventional arrangement, but Tesla stuck to their guns, refusing to compromise their vision. Keith recalled, “We said, ‘Well, we like that arrangement and that is the way we are passionate about it,’” and their instincts paid off, as it became their only Top 10 original single. The band’s defiance of industry norms cemented "Love Song" as a fan favorite, with Keith noting, “Tesla is very much about love,” ensuring the song remains a staple in their live sets.

Another cool story about "Love Song" ties to its music video, filmed on July 7, 1989, during a hometown concert at Sacramento’s Cal Expo amphitheater. Local rock station KRXQ (93 Rock) got in on the action, holding a contest for fans to create banners featuring “93 Rock,” “Tesla,” and “Love Song.” The winning fan scored backstage passes, and those banners can be spotted waving in the video’s crowd shots, adding a grassroots vibe to the production. Tesla’s knack for connecting with fans also shone through their acoustic performances of the song, which helped spark the early ‘90s acoustic rock trend. According to Songfacts, Tesla played "Love Song" acoustically at showcases where plugging in wasn’t an option, and the song’s warm reception led to their 1990 album Five Man Acoustical Jam, which featured a 9:54 live version with guitarist Frank Hannon weaving in licks from Heart’s “Crazy On You.”

Tesla got their start in Sacramento, California, in 1981 as a band called City Kidd, founded by bassist Brian Wheat and guitarist Frank Hannon. By 1984, vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Tommy Skeoch, and drummer Troy Luccketta joined, rounding out the classic lineup. The band renamed themselves Tesla—after the Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla—during the recording of their debut album, 1986’s Mechanical Resonance, to avoid conflict with another band named City Kidd. Their bluesy, no-frills hard rock, influenced by 1970s giants like Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, stood out in the hair metal era. Rejecting the spandex and hairspray of contemporaries like Poison, Tesla opted for jeans and T-shirts, earning them the label of a “thinking man’s hair metal band” by Loudwire. Their debut album went platinum, but it was The Great Radio Controversy in 1989, with hits like "Love Song," that propelled them to headlining status, touring with acts like Def Leppard and David Lee Roth.

Zoo Freaks can stay connected with Tesla through their official website, where they share tour dates, music releases, and merch. The band is active on social media, posting updates on Facebook (with over 269,000 likes), Instagram, and X, where they engage with fans about new releases like their 2024 EP All About Love. For fan communities, the Tesla the Band Fan Club on Facebook is a lively spot where fans share concert photos, memorabilia, and love for the band’s music. Another fan-driven page, Tesla Fans, keeps the community buzzing with discussions and throwbacks to classics like "Love Song." These platforms let Zoo Freaks dive deep into Tesla’s enduring legacy, from their Sacramento roots to their global fanbase.