The origin of the term Parrothead

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » February 11, 2006 12:36 pm

Can someone point me to a place where I can tell someone about how the term Parrothead came into being? I'm pretty sure it was long ago in Cincinnati but I'd like to precise details for this person that does not get it.

BoozeInTheBlender · Post by **BoozeInTheBlender** » February 11, 2006 12:38 pm

The term was coined by Timothy B. Schmitt of the Eagles. He was comparing us to Deadheads.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » February 11, 2006 2:09 pm

And, 2005 was the 20th anniversary of the "Parrothead" nickname.

jackiesic · Post by **jackiesic** » February 11, 2006 2:32 pm

I've been googling like crazy. Here is part of an article from a Cincinnati paper.....

What was said 20 years ago this summer at Timberwolf would sort of officially launch the Margaritaville cult. There was some stage banter as Jimmy looked out at something he had never seen before at one of his concerts - a sea of thousands with everyone decked out in crazy, colorful beach attire - shark hats, Hawaiian shirts, parrot inflatables. He said to bass player Timothy B. Schmit, "They look like tropical Deadheads."

Schmit replied, "Yeah, Parrot-heads."

It was the birth of a Parrothead nation
--------------
Here is the link for the full text
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 80335/1005

SchoonerWharf · Post by **SchoonerWharf** » February 11, 2006 9:12 pm

I've been googling like crazy. Here is part of an article from a Cincinnati paper.....

What was said 20 years ago this summer at Timberwolf would sort of officially launch the Margaritaville cult. There was some stage banter as Jimmy looked out at something he had never seen before at one of his concerts - a sea of thousands with everyone decked out in crazy, colorful beach attire - shark hats, Hawaiian shirts, parrot inflatables. He said to bass player Timothy B. Schmit, "They look like tropical Deadheads."

Schmit replied, "Yeah, Parrot-heads."

It was the birth of a Parrothead nation

the only problem with that version is that I think I have read Jimmy tell it a bit differently. If I recall correctly they were doing a winter tour that rolled through Pittsburgh and Jimmy made the comment about he couldn;'t beleive it...blah blah blah. Then whey they got to Cincinnatti Schmitt coined the term Parrotheads. I can't remember where I read that it was a while ago but it stuck with me because of the Pittsburgh part of the story. I may have actually heard it in a Jimmy interview.

In the end....its pretty cool.

Capt.Flock · Post by **Capt.Flock** » February 11, 2006 9:16 pm

There is no actual documentation on this particular subject. The folk lore though has the term being said in Timberwolf in Cincy

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » February 11, 2006 9:34 pm

heard it was a toss-up between that and Ferret-Head...

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » February 11, 2006 10:05 pm

Capt.Flock wrote:There is no actual documentation on this particular subject. The folk lore though has the term being said in Timberwolf in Cincy

Oh, I hate to contradict you on this one, but see www.cincinnatiparrotheadclub.com
This is the new, ophicial work in progress webpage for the Cincy club. On the home page the story is documented with sources at the end, of which there are several.

SchoonerWharf · Post by **SchoonerWharf** » February 11, 2006 10:29 pm

Wow the Cincy Pasrrothead club wants to convince everyone of their view of things...lol shocking.

anyway as I said earlier, Jimmy has stated to my recollection it happened in Cincy, just in the manner I described before.

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » February 11, 2006 10:50 pm

SchoonerWharf wrote:
I've been googling like crazy. Here is part of an article from a Cincinnati paper.....

What was said 20 years ago this summer at Timberwolf would sort of officially launch the Margaritaville cult. There was some stage banter as Jimmy looked out at something he had never seen before at one of his concerts - a sea of thousands with everyone decked out in crazy, colorful beach attire - shark hats, Hawaiian shirts, parrot inflatables. He said to bass player Timothy B. Schmit, "They look like tropical Deadheads."

Schmit replied, "Yeah, Parrot-heads."

It was the birth of a Parrothead nation
the only problem with that version is that I think I have read Jimmy tell it a bit differently. If I recall correctly they were doing a winter tour that rolled through Pittsburgh and Jimmy made the comment about he couldn;'t beleive it...blah blah blah. Then whey they got to Cincinnatti Schmitt coined the term Parrotheads. I can't remember where I read that it was a while ago but it stuck with me because of the Pittsburgh part of the story. I may have actually heard it in a Jimmy interview.

In the end....its pretty cool.

It is pretty cool. And I like your sig SW.

conched · Post by **conched** » February 12, 2006 12:51 am

I also found an article in Vol. 8, No. 1 of The Coconut Telegraph.
Margaritaville Jan-Feb 1992

Q&A By Steve Morse, Boston Globe Staff

Q. On your recent live album, you say, "I've never won an award for any music that I've written, but I don't care when I have fans like the Parrot Heads."

A. Yeah, I didn't see my name come out of any envelopes this year either...But awards are really sort of meaningless to me, especially after Milli Vanilli gets one for not singing. And what are they for? The industry or the artist? Of course, we'd all like adulation, but I get it every night from the Parrot Heads.

Q. Can you pinpoint exactly where the Parrot Head phenomenon started?
A. I know exactly where it started. Timothy Schmidt (Eagles bass player) was in the band, and we were playing a venue outside of Cincinnati called King's Island. It was an afternoon show. People had already started wearing Hawaiian shirts to our shows, but we looked out at this Cincinnati crowd, and they were glaringly brilliant to the point where it got your attention immediately. I went, "Look at that." Then Schmidt said to me, "They look like Deadheads in tropical suits. They're like Parrot Heads!" He yelled that to me in the middle of a song. So I immediately took the term and threw it out over the microphone. And the people identified themselves with the term from the get-go.

Q. When was that?
A. It was six or seven years ago. That's when it really started to build. I mean, we were doing good business until then, but after that, it took off. And now, on the road this year (Outpost Tour 1991), I read articles about how horrible the economy is, and I go, "Really? You couldn't tell that from here." But honestly, it gives me a great deal of satisfaction because we work really hard at this.

In 1985 Jimmy played in Cincinnati on June 28, according to the schedule printed in the Coconut Telegraph for June/July 1985 Volume 1, No. 5 *Special Tour Edition*

The term Parrot Head was already being used in that issue, but who knows how late it may have been published...I guess after June 28??

It's the first Cocotel I have. Does anyone have the prior issues? I'd love to have copies if anyone can help me out!

Capt.Flock · Post by **Capt.Flock** » February 12, 2006 1:02 am

Boy, my mistake I should have know better. That was a great place to see Jimmy not a bad seat in the house

coolblueswing · Post by **coolblueswing** » February 12, 2006 8:51 am

Thanks for the print source, Conched. I asked our webmaster to add it to the source list.

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » February 12, 2006 12:04 pm

I came up with it and get 3.5 cents every time one of you guys use it

Captain Tony · Post by **Captain Tony** » February 13, 2006 10:00 am

Jimmy's version

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/par ... /wiaph.htm

Indiana Jolly Mon · Post by **Indiana Jolly Mon** » February 13, 2006 11:34 am

Boy, it sure is a good thing Tim didn't say "Wow what a bunch of Knuckleheads!"

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » February 13, 2006 12:23 pm

SchoonerWharf wrote:
I've been googling like crazy. Here is part of an article from a Cincinnati paper.....

What was said 20 years ago this summer at Timberwolf would sort of officially launch the Margaritaville cult. There was some stage banter as Jimmy looked out at something he had never seen before at one of his concerts - a sea of thousands with everyone decked out in crazy, colorful beach attire - shark hats, Hawaiian shirts, parrot inflatables. He said to bass player Timothy B. Schmit, "They look like tropical Deadheads."

Schmit replied, "Yeah, Parrot-heads."

It was the birth of a Parrothead nation
the only problem with that version is that I think I have read Jimmy tell it a bit differently. If I recall correctly they were doing a winter tour that rolled through Pittsburgh and Jimmy made the comment about he couldn;'t beleive it...blah blah blah. Then whey they got to Cincinnatti Schmitt coined the term Parrotheads. I can't remember where I read that it was a while ago but it stuck with me because of the Pittsburgh part of the story. I may have actually heard it in a Jimmy interview.

In the end....its pretty cool.

I think the Pittsburgh story you are thinking of involved Jimmy looking out at all the Hawaiin clad fans in the dead of winter. Then he got the idea to sell that type of stuff himself.

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » February 13, 2006 5:48 pm

Indiana Jolly Mon wrote:Boy, it sure is a good thing Tim didn't say "Wow what a bunch of a$$bags!"

fixed it

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » February 14, 2006 7:22 pm

The Pittsburg tie in was an interview he did on "Whoopi" (yes, Whoopi Goldberg had a tv talk show) and he related how in the middle of winter he went into an Army/Navy store and the owner told him how wonderful he was because all this people came in and bought Hawaiian shirts. Jimmy then related how Timothy B. Schmidt coined the term Parrothead.

regalis · Post by **regalis** » February 15, 2006 1:54 am

you know I actually heard it involved a freak axident in an exotic petstore involving nuclear waste, kinda like the mutant ninja turtles.

Cliff