Hulkamaniacs around the world were no doubt excited to hear the recent news that the one and only Hulk Hogan will return to the WWE and host WrestleMania 30 on April 6th in New Orleans. We can only hope that the Hulkster will enter the arena with the familiar adrenaline-pumping sounds of his classic 1980s entrance song “Real American”, a song that has a very interesting backstory and an interesting classic rock connection too.

If you’re a fan of The Home of Rock ‘n’ Roll, i95 and classic rock music than you definitely have heard the “Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo”, a top 40 single written and recorded by Rick Derringer in 1973. Well it’s that same Rick Derringer who, a decade later, was called upon to write a song for a 1985 album entitled “The Wrestling Album”, a collection of tunes written for and sung by the best known wrestlers of the then WWF. Derringer signed on and wrote a patriotic song called “Real American” designed specifically for the tag team due of Barry Windham and Mike Rutundo, otherwise known as The US Express.

But like every great Hulk Hogan wrestling match, this story would have a dramatic turn of events and the song would end up in the hands of a future American icon. You see, shortly after the album’s release, Windham and Rotundo left the WWF for what they thought would be greener pastures, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). With the US Express no longer in the WWF, the song “Real American” was facing a destined three count…..until the Hulkster came along and saved the day. It was the perfect song to fit in with Hogan’s new American Hero image as he grappled with the likes of The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

Oh yeah. Just one more quick note on this song. The great Cyndi Lauper, who was a big part of the WWF in the mid ‘80s, sings backup vocals on “Real American” but is credited under the pseudonym Mona Flambé. Why that name? I have no idea but maybe that’ll be the subject of my next post. Then again, maybe not…..

Now don’t be a Jabroni and watch the video!!!


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