There really is a rock group called Scum of the Earth. They took the name from this episode.
The real-life rock group Detective, who includes Michael Des Barres, performed the music for the fictional band Scum of the Earth.
After this episode boosted the ratings of the program, some members of the press came to meet some of its production crew and a few of them held out the banner that read "WELCOME SCUM" from the top floor. Producer/director Rod Daniel recalled, "We thought it was funny; they did not have a sense of humor."
Guest star Michael Des Barres would join the cast years later as disc jockey Jack Allen when the show returned in first run syndication as The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1991),
Although not a musician, Peter Elbling had previously appeared in Phantom of the Paradise (1974) as the lead singer of The Undeads. He is also a former member of The Committee, the same comedy troupe that included Howard Hesseman.