In a fascinating twist of pop culture history, veteran news anchor Dan Rather found himself immortalized in a song by the iconic band R.E.M. The video captures a behind-the-scenes moment where Rather, alongside the band, sings “What’s The Frequency Kenneth?” during a recording session. Little did they know that this candid B-roll footage would later become a segment on The Late Show with David Letterman. The song’s enigmatic title refers to a bizarre incident from Rather’s past: on October 4, 1986, he was assaulted in New York City by two men who repeatedly demanded, “Kenneth, what is the frequency?” The assault left Rather puzzled, and it took years for the crime to be resolved. Yet, this strange encounter ultimately inspired a memorable song that still sounds great on the radio, all these years later.
