49ers super-fan ‘Banjo Man’ preps for team’s biggest game yet at Levi’s Stadium

By Sohail Al-Jamea

January 17, 2020

When the San Francisco 49ers take on the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship on Sunday, “Banjo Man” will be there. In fact, Bay Area native Stacy Samuels has attended over 370 games — including 10 Super Bowls — since 1983.

49ers fans know him as the caped, instrument-toting Banjo Man even though he prefers being called “Super Niner,” as illustrated by the crudely tailored Superman-inspired chest emblem on his costume.

It’s a 37-year odyssey which he says continues to get better each year, with the exception of the wear and tear to his back. Samuels humorously claims to be “the only guy left from the Montana era” (he has met Joe Montana in person) and also boasts about playing “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” by Earl Scruggs on banjo more often than anyone on earth — perhaps more often than Scruggs himself.

And if you catch him at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, there is a 100% chance he’ll be wearing a hat with a propeller sticking out of the top.

Samuels founded Berkeley-based Interstellar Propeller in 1976 and continues to serve as “chief flight commander.”

He has sold over 2 million propeller beanies since the doors opened more than 40 years ago. Among his high-profile clients: President Obama, Bob Dylan and Bill Gates. Bette Midler purchased 800 beanie caps from Interstellar to commemorate the turn of the century.

The propeller beanies also made an appearance in the 2013 comedy film “The Internship,” where Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson sport Google “Noogler” propeller beanies.

“Everyone that sees someone wearing a beanie cap instantly starts smiling. I might have contributed to world peace,” Samuels said.

The 49ers have taken notice of his popularity within the fan community and have given him a game pass good for 30 years.

The demand for selfies with Banjo Man is so high he asks for donations in exchange for photographs. Samuels claims if he didn’t request donations he’d have to turn his back on many fans. The practice can be lucrative — a happy fan kicked him a $100 bill last week during the divisional round win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Does he have any plans to retire the cape and banjo in the near future? “No, they’ll have to pull this banjo out of my cold dead hands before I stop,” Samuels said, laughing.

Samuels’ prediction for Sunday’s championship game against the Packers: 30-16 49ers.

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