“Oh my God, they’re throwing guitars outside!” If you’re a musician, this is not what you want to hear your seatmate exclaim while you’re waiting to depart the gate at O’Hare.
After musician Dave Carroll and his band Sons of Maxwell witnessed United Airlines baggage handlers tossing their instruments outside the aircraft, they feared the worst. And indeed, Carroll’s guitar was broken. He tried to get the airline to pay for its repair or replacement, but when regular channels failed, he broke out into song, instead. The result: The song and video, “United Breaks Guitars.” Watch it below. Toe-tapping may ensue.
Forget “Rhapsody in Blue,” this could become the new United theme…
I feel Carroll’s pain. In 1993, I checked a guitar as luggage on a British Airways flight from Zurich to New York via Heathrow. Though it was in a sturdy case, wrapped and taped up well, the guitar arrived (two days late) in pieces — the tape had all been cut off, and the case looked like it had been run over by a truck. Literally. Guitars and airlines clearly don’t mix.
Carroll has posted the entire backstory on his site. It’s not just the sight of guitars flying through the air. It’s the customer service runaround that got his goat. This is apparently song 1 in a three song trilogy.
It may have taken a video, but United is now ready to negotiate (the puns are included free):
Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for Chicago-based United, said late Tuesday afternoon that the airline has changed its course and wants to speak with Mr. Carroll today to settle the matter. She declined to comment further until she spoke to him. “This has struck a chord with us,” she said. “We’re going to contact him directly.”
(Thanks, Patrick!)
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July 8th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Twitter Comment
#Travel – “Oh my God, they’re throwing guitars outside!” If you’re a musician, this is not what you wan.. [link to post]
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July 8th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Twitter Comment
RT @upgradetravel Musical vengeance! United breaks band’s guitars, receives tribute in song [link to post] Should have replace guitar!
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July 8th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Nicely played! (rimshot)
July 8th, 2009 at 10:41 am
They’re only lucky they have a big enough audience for a song to actually embarrass the airline enough into action. This kind of thing happens countless times per day in cities across the world; and is particularly bad in the US. As a traveling, working musician, I’m very grateful to the flight attendants who actually will bend the rules once in a while to let a musical instrument onto the plane; because once it’s down below, no matter how well-packed, there’s a good chance it will arrive in multiple pieces. If this song can have an impact beyond these guys’ personal situation – and actually try to improve things for everyone – that would be amazing.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
[...] by varnson on Thursday, July 9, 2009 Via Upgrade: Travel Better comes this nice little story of revenge on [...]
July 10th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
btw: NPR played this song today…United is, apparently using this in their training videos now…
October 29th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
…and now United loses dave’s luggage on his way to give a speech about customer service
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/10/29/united-carroll-guitar-luggage-lost.html?ref=rss
October 30th, 2009 at 8:05 am
[...] “United Breaks Guitars” guyPosted by: Mark Ashley You may remember Dave Carroll from music videos decrying the state of United Airlines customer service. But the airline keeps finding ways to inspire new songs: After famously breaking his guitar, [...]