The Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie' Cover Has Wild Story-and Was Banned From Several Radio Stations

Ever wondered what takes the crown as the most recorded rock song in history? Wonder no longer-that honor belongs specifically to Richard Berry's 1957 track "Louie Louie." It's widely regarded as a cornerstone of the genre. "Louie Louie" has between 1,600 and 2,000 cover versions (and possibly more).

Berry based the classic rock standard on "El Loco Cha Cha," particularly after hearing an R&B rendition by Ricky Rillera and the Rhythm Rockers. The singer-songwriter and musician penned the song as a "lovesick sailor's lament to a bartender about wanting to get back home to his girl."

However, it was the rock band The Kingsmen who catapulted the tune to No. 1 on multiple global weekly charts and to No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It remained in that spot for six non-consecutive weeks. While The Kingsmen released their cover in May 1963, another rock group, Paul Revere & the Raiders, unveiled their version shortly after in June, although the latter didn't chart as high.

At the time, Jack Ely was the lead vocalist of The Kingsmen. Ely caused controversy due to his slurred, unintelligible singing style. No one could understand the lyrics, which made them ripe for misunderstandings. Rumors circulated that Ely purposely mangled the lyrics because they were allegedly vulgar and sexually explicit. Teens began spreading around the "real" lyrics to "Louie Louie," fanning the flames of controversy. (As it turned out, the actual lyrics were quite innocent.)

What transpired next was an uproar as radio stations banned The Kingsmen's cover of "Louie Louie." The governor of Indiana, Matthew Welsh, "unofficially" banned it from the state's radio stations. The situation continued to snowball, with the FBI stepping in. J. Edgar Hoover launched a two-and-a-half-year probe into the song; however, the FBI's findings were inconclusive. They couldn't "interpret any of the wording in the record." Even the FCC staged an investigation.

The Kingsmen had disbanded at the height of the cover's popularity. Ely went on to lead a rival group. Drummer Lynn Easton held the rights to "The Kingsmen" name. After reaching a settlement, Ely's band became Jack Ely and the Courtmen, while Easton retained the aforementioned rights.

Moral of the story? Enunciation prevents unnecessary government spending.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 4:12 PM.