Rick Derringer, the fiery guitarist, producer, and the man behind one of pro wrestling’s most unforgettable anthems, has died at the age of 77. He passed away peacefully on May 26, 2025, in Ormond Beach, Florida, with his wife, Jenda, and close friend Tony Wilson by his side. While no official cause has been given, it’s known Derringer had been recovering from triple bypass surgery earlier this year.
Rick Derringer: From “Hang On Sloopy” to Rock Icon
Rick Derringer’s story starts the way a lot of rock legends’ do, but he got there earlier than most. He was just a teenager when he fronted The McCoys and scored a No. 1 hit in 1965 with “Hang On Sloopy”, a track that famously bumped The Beatles’ “Yesterday” off the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Not a bad start.
That breakout moment catapulted Rick Derringer into a six-decade-long career where he transformed from a teen heartthrob into a bona fide rock guitar heavyweight.
His solo hit “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” came roaring out in the ‘70s and quickly became a classic rock staple, the kind of track you still hear blasting from bar jukeboxes and muscle cars. It was loud, unapologetic, and pure Derringer.
Always in Good Company: The Collaborator’s Collaborator
If there was one thing Derringer knew well, it was how to make other artists sound even better. His fingerprints are all over some of the biggest names in rock and pop. He worked closely with blues-rock brothers Johnny and Edgar Winter, producing Edgar’s genre-bending 1972 album They Only Come Out at Night, which gave us “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride”.
But it didn’t stop there. Derringer’s studio magic extended to the likes of Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Alice Cooper, and even pop icon Cyndi Lauper. He even produced “Weird Al” Yankovic’s self-titled debut in 1983, proving his versatility wasn’t just wide, it was wild.
“Real American”: An Anthem for the Ages
While Derringer was already a legend in music circles, millions of fans know him for something a little different: “Real American.” That’s right, the red, white, and blue power anthem that Hulk Hogan stormed the ring to in the 1980s? That was Derringer’s doing.
He co-wrote and performed the track as part of The Wrestling Album in 1985, a surprisingly successful crossover moment where rock met wrestling in all its larger-than-life glory. Derringer also had a hand in Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II, further locking in his place in the golden age of WWF (now WWE) lore.
For fans, “Real American” wasn’t just entrance music. It was the soundtrack to Saturday mornings, to body slams and leg drops, and to a time when heroes were loud, proud, and wore bandanas.
Remembering a Rock Original
After news of his passing broke, tributes started rolling in from all corners of the music world. Vinny Appice, former drummer for Black Sabbath and Dio, called him “a mentor and a friend,” while Blue Öyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard praised Rick Derringer’s “unmatched energy” and depth as a producer and performer.
His wife, Jenda, shared a more personal memory. Even during his final months, she said, Derringer remained “so positive and peaceful,” reflecting the spiritual growth he embraced later in life.
A Legacy That Refuses to Fade
It’s hard to sum up someone like Rick Derringer. His career defied easy labels. He was a hitmaker, a guitar wizard, a behind-the-scenes genius, and now and then, the voice of an entire era.
He had a knack for crafting riffs that stuck in your bones, for pushing other artists to greatness, and for finding magic in the unexpected. Whether it was a chart-topping single, a backroom studio session, or a wrestling ring anthem that became an American battle cry, Rick Derringer gave everything a little extra punch.
And honestly? The world of music and wrestling would’ve been a lot less fun without him.
