Legendary rock band Kansas was coming off of a huge single with Carry On Wayward Son and album with Leftoverture that established them as the one of the premier bands of the 70s as they were woking on their follow up their main songwriter Kerry Livgren was playing a fingerpicking exercise when his wife noticed and told him he should put lyrics to it. He did and wrote Dust in the Wind with lyrics that go back to Genesis in the Bible making it 6000 years old. The next day he was reticent to show the band this song since it was a ballad and totally opposite to what they were about. but as soon as he showed them they knew it had to be their next single. It became their only top 10 hit and in the interview next original guitarist and founding member Rich Willams tells how the song was such an ordeal it made his fingers bleed and how Steve Walsh made it flow… with special guests on how the 70s rock classic has changed everything.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMING UP I’ve never done this before but if it goes well I’ll do it again. A full length interview with one of my favorite rock singers ever. A true legend who will walk us through his legendary career song by song including fronting one of the greatest rock bands ever. It’s our first ever episode of RETROSPECTIVE We start with Sammy Hagar and cover his entire career from Montrose to his solo years including I Can't Drive 55 and then joining Eddie Van Halen and helping take Van Halen to #1 on the album charts many times with 5150, 0U812 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and the stories of his biggest hits including the guitarist he hates working with because he never tries the same thing twice. It's all coming up in our 1 hour interview with Sammy Hagar the red rocker...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There must have been something in the water back in the mid to late 60s because legendary bands and artists wrote some of the most life-changing songs ever. Today, we celebrate a true lost art... songs that stick it to the man. From an accidental protest song from rock’s greatest poet Bob Dylan, who put lyrics to a melody from the 1800s but wrote the lyrics down so fast and messy that night when he played it live for the first time, he couldn’t read his own handwriting, so he had to make up the lyrics on the spot, and it became an all-time standard. Then there was the legendary song that Barry Maguire didn’t like. In fact, he recorded a bunch of songs, and his voice was so shot that he trudged through the song without any care; it was raspy, rough, and haggard. He knew it was a scratch vocal and he’s re-do it later, but then the label put it out as is, luckily it was just a B-side, but then a DJ mistakenly played the wrong side and it became a #1 hit overnight. And helped push the 26th Amendment across the finish line. And then there was the Byrds' song Turn Turn Turn, which was taken straight from the bible, and its writer added his own 2 cents to the scriptures that made it a protest song. Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Riding high on satire…Weird Al Yankovic seemed unstoppable in the mid 80s after Eat It! and Like A Surgeon. but when his fourth record, Polka Party essentially flopped, he almost called it quits. But instead, he started writing for his life. And out of this trepidation, he created a supersized song patterned after the King of Pop Michael Jackson’s latest hit Bad called Fat. It not only won over listeners, but captivated MTV audiences across the world with a hilarious video in 1988. If you lived through the 80s, I don’t think there’s any way you could have missed this one. It was huge! How Weird Al went platinum with Even Worse and rocked 88.Check out this classic, next on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember when a particular band came out of nowhere and dominated radio and MTV with a big album and a bunch of hit songs, and it looked like the start of a massive career? But then the band sputtered and never had another hit, and a few years later, you might hear their old hit and go "What the hell happened to that band?" Well today we have a special edition of bottled lightning, counting down those intriguing stories. Including frontman Darius Rucker, who was overheard singing in a college dorm shower. His future bandmate proposed they team up on the spot… Then years later, David Letterman boosted their album sales into the millions when he promoted it on his show. Then there was Fine Young Cannibals, who put an ad on MTV for a new lead singer. They got 500 cassettes in the mail, and they all sucked. But a friend took pity on them and recommended Roland Gift, a saxophone player who secretly had a great voice. They had 3 Huge hits and a #1 album and became the #1 band of the last year of the 80s. And then they NEVER put out another song ever again. Let’s do this.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, it's the story of a band that made rock history by literally singing their way onto the cover of Rolling Stone. This ragtag bunch of musical misfits from Jersey looked more like a gang of bikers than pop stars. Their lead singer wore an eye patch that made him look like a pirate, and their sound was unlike anything else on the radio... they were the musical equivalent of a traveling circus. And they were a powerhouse scoring 8 massive hits in the 70s and early 80s that we still love today. but then they just vanished. It's a wild ride from dive bars to the top of the charts on this New edition of Professor of Rock. We call short and sweet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMING UP…We’ve done two of these, and you loved them and asked for more. The great IMPROV Moments in music, and the 3rd time might be the best. These are some of the most entertaining stories I’ve come across. Songs that weren't planned or rehearsed, but became pure gold. We’ve got a producer who brought a feast of chicken and ribs into the studio and got Screamin' Jay Hawkins and his band so drunk they blacked out during the session…and forgot they wrote a song. When they got sober, they discovered they’d created a shocking, unhinged masterpiece called I Put a Spell on You. There's also the legend Ella Fitzgerald, who forgot the lyrics to Mack the Knife during a live broadcast in front of thousands... but instead of panicking, she rewrote the song on the spot and walked away with two Grammys. Plus, the UK band Blur improvised a two-minute parody track called Song 2 to mock Cheesy American rock, fully expecting it to be a throwaway cut. But their label loved it, packaged it as a single, and it became their biggest hit. And then the broken string that caused a badass guitar sound that the band Metallica was never able to repeat again.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, I must have a death wish to keep covering this band but I have the final part of my interview with one of greatest producers of the 70s and ‘80s who produced most of the tracks on the biggest selling album ever as well as 5th biggest selling album ever and he has some great behind the scenes stories on some true American classics including a legendary song that may be the most storied rock hit ever. Hotel California, and there are some stories here that have never been told, including the fact that the song had to be recut three different times. The first time it was cut i the wrong tempo, then the second time it was done in the wrong key. The third time was the charm, and then this producer got a front row seat to the greatest guitar battle of all time when the dual solo was recorded. Then there is the classic song that was just Joe Walsh’s warmup exercise, and the band talked him into making it into a song, and there was the song that was a source of contention between the guitarist and lead singer…The guitarist wanted to sing it, but the singer outfoxed him and got his vocal down on the final. These stories are next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, it's the defining track of a big-budget, no holds barred rock opus. But writing this signature song would be a harrowing experience for this band’s frontman Dave Grohl. Just a couple years removed from the suicide of his friend and bandmate, Kurt Cobain when he was in NIRVANA, Dave Grohl was trying to move on. Now with a new band Foo Fighters and writing their second album the Colour and the Shape, he was facing all kinds of problems. The guys weren’t gelling and were exhausted from their perfectionist producer Gil Norton. And then he got served divorce papers at the studio. Crushed by the weight of his crumbling marriage… he put the sessions on pause and flew cross-country to his hometown. There he wrote his best song Everlong, pouring into it everything he was feeling. When it was finished, it would become the biggest song of his career. One that would have millions of fans singing along in unison. Get ready for a banger next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re covering a truly special group, the Carpenters. This brother-sister pair ruled the 70s and early 80s with 10 Top 5 hits, 18 that made the Top 20, and 15 more that went to #1 on the AC Charts. And we’re going to cover as many as we can, tracing the evolution of their career. We’ve got some amazing behind-the-scenes song stories to go with this one. How about the song that Richard Carpenter saw performed on late-night TV, but had no idea what it was called? But he knew they had to record a cover version because they could do it better. Or the track that one Richard was so sure would bomb on the charts that he bet his recording engineer $1000 that it would flop. And how about the song that Karen Carpenter hated with a fiery passion, and never performed live. And to add flame to the fire… Neal Sendaka, who wrote the original version, went out on tour with them, and they fired him for stealing the show. There are a lot of cool stories on this one. Find out how it all plays out… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re talking lost songs, underrated classics, and B-sides that should have been A-sides… all coming from the rock’s mightiest band Led Zeppelin… It’s a mystery how some of these tracks weren’t bigger than they were. In the mix, we’re uncovering one of rock’s holy grail songs. An epic song that could have rivaled Zeppelin's most iconic tracks… But it didn’t made the cut for its album. So it was broken up and scattered across at least four other songs… so you can hear parts of it, but what does the actual song sound like and why wasn’t it released? Especially since it had the potential to be Led Zeppelin's biggest anthem… It’s an episode packed with some of the best odds and ends and hidden gems from classic rock’s most legendary band… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we're counting down the Top 10 songs from one of the greatest years in music history… including the story of David Bowie and Sweet who released singles at the exact same time with identical riffs… they both swear it was pure coincidence, but next we’ll find out the real story. Then there's the tale of a young Sammy Hagar who was so blown away by a guitarist's performance that he broke up his current band on the spot. He tracked down the axeman's address, showed up at his door dressed like David Bowie with a Les Paul and a notebook. They shook hands, and a legendary partnership was born. Plus, the haunting ballad written Elton John as a tribute to a Hollywood LEGEND that was never released as a single, but then years later new lyrics were written to the original music and it became the fastest-selling song ever. Then there’s the classic Zeppelin song that was written after a Beatle made an offhand remark that a famous hard rock band couldn’t write a good ballad, and finally the no-hit wonder who never had a hit in America but sold 145 million records and had 1 that was in the charts for 18 years. Next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with a band that you’ve probably forgotten or don’t remember, but I guarantee that you know the opening line of their most famous song. It's the Five Man Electrical Band and their classic song Signs that came to its creator when he was racing down Route 66 and saw billboards advertising products in the middle of beautiful scenery. Ads right smack dab in the middle of Mother Nature. It was covering up true beauty, so he wrote a protest song, he threw it onto the B side of a song that the band thought would be a hit, but instead, DJs turned the record over and played the lesser-known song, and it became a 70s classic. Up next, the surviving member of the band gives us the story on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… We have a spectacular show for you. It’s become a lost art. But for those who grew up and came of age in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the album cover was paramount, and today we count down the greatest album covers of the 80s with some stories that are almost too good to be true, including the colorful album cover every 80s kid knows by heart. It may be the most famous album cover of the decade, and everyone thought it was just a random drawing, but over 40 years after it hit #1, a real person was shocked to find out the image was actually a drawing of her! Find out how the mystery was solved next. Plus, the controversial album cover that came from bribing a kid with candy cigarettes, when his mother saw the album in stores she freaked out. Plus a striking image captured on a train track in Thailand—and the famous rock band in the pic were, allegedly, almost killed by a train. And finally, the album cover came from a total screw up we’ve all dealt with in our lives… a printer paper jam that turned into one of the coolest album covers ever! It's all coming up next on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, we have one of the most prolific rock writers, Desmond Child, to tell the story of the biggest songs by one of rock’s most legendary bands, I Was Made for Loving You by Kiss. First of all, he wrote it with Kiss's lead singer, Paul Stanley, who claims he wrote his part of the song as an answer to a challenge from the song’s producer. The Paul singer got into a discussion with this disco producer about whether it was easier to write a disco song than it was to write a rock song. So it became a bet. He was out to prove he could write the song quickly, and lo and behold, the song became a monster hit. But then one of the principal members of the band publicly said he HATED it, and Desmond got pissed, especially since he’d given the band a smash hit that made them millions, so he told Paul to go blank himself. And then this hardcore icon gave the only apology he’s ever given. The drama is intense next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where do I even start with this POR classic? Over 50 musicians came in and out of this one-hit wonder band in its time... Dexys Midnight Runners. And its principal, the singer Kevin Rowland absolutely detested his #1 hit Come On Eileen. He hated it because he didn’t think it was mixed right… He was so angry about it, he didn’t listen to the song for 40 years, which is hard to believe because we all LOVED IT. Come On Eileen was such a big song it bested the biggest-selling artist on the planet during its unprecedented peak. This was the song that stopped him. It was a dirty song in more ways than one and it still moves the needle. A bottle-lightning classic and besides its controversy a former band member would come out of the woodwork and claim the singer stole it from him. The story of an 80s classic next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sadly, it’s now a lost art, but we've all been there. That moment when your favorite band announced their new album and you could practically feel the electricity in the air. Remember when that anticipation built for months, sometimes even years. You're counting down the days… then finally the album drops, and… you hate it. You can’t believe what you’re listening to. And you can’t even force yourself to finish the record. Well, today we're diving into some of rock's most crushing letdowns – those highly anticipated albums and songs that fell flat, and made you want to get your money back. You’ll hear the story of Heart's #2 hit All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You that a top producer wrote for one of rock’s best vocalists, but it made her want to gag. She reluctantly recorded it, but later refused to sing it again. Also, there’s Guns N Roses' Chinese Democracy that was hyped up for the better part of two decades and cost $13 million to make, and it turned out to be one of the biggest flops of all time. That went through 10 different guitarists in the process, including 2 of the best ever. Plus, Metallica the band that sued their fans and made a list of 335 K fans they wanted to punish for downloading their new song without permission. And then the Red Hot Chili Peppers album One Hot Minute, which was actually a pretty big hit, but the band hated it so much that they’ve essentially erased it from their history. Get ready for some good stories from some bad albums, NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the remarkable story of a #1 rock song from 1984 that was written on the porcelain throne. ya the Yes #1 classic rock standard, Owner of a Lonely Heart was written by Trevor Rabin while sitting on the pot In fact, Trevor said he wasn’t ashamed to sing in the loo. well, it’s hard to argue with the results. But even more importantly, this song was instrumental in bringing one of the greatest prog-rock bands of the 70s back from the dead and into the 80s. After years of being broken up, the founding members including Chris Squire and singer Jon Anderson, plus some new faces including producer Trevor Horn all converged around this song… giving them a new lease on life and a new musical direction. And to help us tell the story, we’ve got exclusive interviews with the iconic frontman Jon Anderson who co-wrote and sang this song… as well as some behind the scenes insight from the legendary record man Phil Carson who helped reunite this band. You’re not going to want to say “no” to this one. The story is… NEXT on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we're going “Casey Kasem style,” counting down ten stone-cold classics from 1983. It’s our weekly Saturday Morning countdown where we feature songs from a throwback year that left a lasting mark on rock history… and shockingly never made the top 40, even though many of these are some of the biggest songs of the time. It's a musical mystery — how did these rock standards get passed over? As usual, we’ve got some great stories and guests, including how Billy Idol stole the master tapes for his new record and held them hostage to get the label to change the cover art on the album. He was about to bootleg them to the public if they didn’t cave. Or how about the song Blue Monday that New Order wrote because they were sick of coming back out on stage for encores. Their plan was to just have sequencers play it and have a robot sing it while they walked off. But it became their most famous song. And then there was the band that made up a word in their song as a joke, and it became a classic. And then there was the Journey classic Ask the Lonely that got pulled from an album at the last second and was banished to a crappy movie. Stick around for the latest episode of Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next the story of one of the greatest, most epic rock songs in history: Layla. It has so many subplots, it’s a shock that it hasn’t been made into a biopic because you could never make this up. The song came from the writings of a 12th-century poet, and then hundreds of years later, that ancient story fell into the lap of legendary singer-guitarist Eric Clapton, who happened to be in the same situation as the man in the tragic story. Clapton was in love with his best friend’s wife, but that’s nothing. The song became shrouded in a cocktail of vices, from killing, adultery, drugs, and stealing… When I say stealing, the song was stolen from an iconic singer Rita Coolidge, who I have on the show to explain her side. The angled web of the greatest rock songs ever is finally revealed in all of its truth and drama next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Next we’re sharing the greatest underdog stories in music history. In our countdown of the strangest feats in music. including athen the incredible the incredible artist who sold almost 90 million records without ever playing a live concert. As well as an instrumental song that had over 2000 overdubs that became the soundtrack for one of the scariest movies ever, the Exorcist & went on to sell 18 million copies. A s well as a group of monks that came out of nowhere and leapfrogged over Soundgarden, Mariah Carey, Pink Floyd, and Pearl Jam to sell 4 million copies in the middle of grunge. Find out what happened in these stories and more, as we count down the Top 10 Most Unconventional Musical Feats ever. NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the iconic singer of the #1 rock band in the world tapped his buddy Sebastian Bach and Skid Row to open for him on their world tour in 1989. Skid Row was a bunch of rookies whose debut album hadn’t even come out yet, but they had a secret weapon, Sebastian Bach, a young kid with a five octave range, and these rookies blew the #1 band in rock off the stage… They were the talk of the industry, and once they put out their album, they would scale the top of the charts with several massive hits, including the power ballad I Remember You that most of the band thought was too cheesy for the record… Until Sebastian unleashed an otherworldly note. He said he wanted to hit a note that no one would ever be able to top, and he more than delivered… It took I Remember You to the top of the charts, and I have Sebastian with me today to give the first-hand account next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers broke through with their massive album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and it made them one of the biggest rock bands of the time… but then their next album, One Hot Minute, flopped massively with a different guitarist. And they were in a tailspin.. So they fired their new guitarist and convinced their former guitar hero to come back to the band. They needed a comeback and felt they had a great song in the hopper... Californication. The only problem was the lyrics were incredible, but the music wouldn’t gel…In fact, this singer tried 10 different arrangements, but it got progressively worse. He got so frustrated that he threw the song away. But their guitarist saved them from the trash can and just when the record was about to be turned in he came to the rescue with the exact music the lyrics needed. He had actually just relearned to play the guitar after kicking drugs for good. But then the band handed in the record to the label, and their 3 best songs were shredded by the label. They called them second-rate, but they had the last laugh when all 3 songs hit #1, including the one that got saved from the trash bin.. Coming up next an amazing story of perseverance on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re leaning into a two-word question that every rock fan has asked about their favorite bands… “What if?” What if The Beatles hadn’t broken up? Or The Police? What if we didn’t lose icons like Freddie Mercury, Bon Scott, or Keith Moon? Or if Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane hadn’t crashed? Or if David Lee Roth had stayed with Van Halen? What would have happened? Well, with modern technology blurring the lines between science fiction and reality, maybe we can find some answers. For this episode, I am putting AI to the test to see if it can answer some of these “what if” questions. I’ve got two of rock's most revered bands in mind: Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. And I want to know if Artificial Intelligence can tell me what would have happened to these bands if just one key moment had played out differently. And then I want you to tell me what you think about the results. Could this have happened in some alternate universe? Or is AI just full of crap? We’re going to try to get to the bottom of two unsolvable band mysteries next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… an incredible story from the POR vault with the two masterminds behind one of the most recognizable synth-pop songs of the '80sJack Hues and Nick Feldman of Wang Chung tell the wild story of how Michael Jackson wanted to record their song “Dance Hall Days” for Thriller—but only if he could change the lyrics.The band said no, and instead turned the track into their own breakout hit in 1984. It’s a wild, what-if tale straight from the mouths of the artists who lived it—only here on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, we’re going all in on the shortest songs that have left the longest impressions. Tracks that you just can’t get out of your head and never will, because, well… they’re the catchiest damn things you ever heard. I’m talking about the mini-anthems that ate up the space between your favorite TV shows back in the day. That’s right, jingles. I said it. We did this once before, and you loved it. We did the 80s. This time, we’re doing the 70s and they're even better. Today, we’re featuring some unbelievable stories… including one about an iconic singer-songwriter who has sold nearly 100 million records and had 25 hits, but he admits his greatest hit is an insurance commercial song. Then there’s the jingle that is so annoying that the CIA has used it to interrogate prisoners. And don’t forget about the radio jingle that lit up phone lines because listeners had to hear more of it. It was a commercial! The song later became one of the most famous TV ads of all time and was released as a single by multiple bands. You’re not gonna want to miss the stories behind these 70s viral hooks… It’s all coming up next on Professor of Rock. Try Squarespace free for 14 days and receive 10% off your first purchase. Go to: https://www.squarespace.com/rockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a fabled rock and roll story that is hard to believe. Today’s band had the promise and grit to become one of the greatest bands ever, with a singer-guitarist brother combo that lit up the stage. Then tragedy struck when the band’s guitar virtuoso died in a serious accident. The band was stunned… how could they go on? Well, their secondary guitarist stepped up and wrote a song that would take them to the top of the charts. It had taken him years to write the music, and then it only took him mere minutes to write the lyrics. It became the band’s signature song, but get his it was held out of the #1 spot by the future wife of their singer. 2 years later the iconic female who denied them the #1 spot would marry their lead singer and then one year after they lost their guitarist, they lost their iconic bassist to the same accident on the same road. The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re traveling down a hazardous road of rock history with the stories of some of the most controversial songs ever. it’s our latest edition of Taboo Songs.. including a hit song from Rumours, one of the biggest-selling albums ever, where Lindsey Buckingham S-L-U-T shamed his ex-girlfriend Stevie Nicks in the song, and she had to sing it with him for the next few decades, but when ME TOO hit, it got the silent treatment when that iconic female singer downed it. Then there’s Motley Crue's Girls, Girls, Girls that was written on a napkin & it name checked sleazy gentlemen clubs. It became so big it increased their business 10-fold. Plus the happy song Timothy that sounded like a tune from the Partridge Family, but hidden in the lyrics is a DARK SECRET and once DJ s figured it out it was BANNED across the board. And speaking of disturbing, we have the story of the most horrifying song ever, Frankie Teardrop. It's so frightening that many have warned others not to listen to the song at night. It’s become a FAMOUS CHALLENGE & those who have dared have become physically sick & bad things have happened. 1 famous critic called it the scariest song ever. We have some great stories & songs coming up on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, one of my favorite interviews with a legendary member of what I believe is the greatest hard rock band ever. He shares the story of the wildest music video of the MTV ERA. That was banned for a bit, but ended up being one of the most iconic of MTV’s history. Its star was a former centerfold, and the whole video was concocted by rock’s craziest frontman, including the iconic spoken word intro that the singer made up on the spot, plus he tells the story of what may be the coolest rock song of the 80s that a famous singer ripped off the year after. I ask today’s legend what he thought about the blatant rip-off, and his comeback is hilarious. You’ll hear stories never heard or told from one of the most famous records in rock history. So let’s do it. The interview is with Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an amazing story of true musical genius. Today’s Legend was a young rookie at the top of his game as the new guitar genius stepping forward to play for David Lee Roth after the singer quit Van Halen… They hit back with a big record that had everybody talking and hit the top 5. He co-produced the next album, which was also a hit, but then he shocked everyone when he quit to play guitar for God, creating a sonic masterpiece that came from fasting for 10 days. He was in a spiritual flow and the result was what many have called the great guitar song ever written. he was playing in a higher vibration then he could have ever imagined and today he is here with me to tell the story of this once in life time track and he also explains how he was challenge by his young son on the video game guitar hero and lost to him on his own song. It’s a great interview next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re counting down seven landmark performances that, for one day, turned stadiums into sanctuaries. Starting in the neon decade, we’ll revisit a Pink Floyd lightning-strike reunion that nobody believed would ever happen—a moment where bitter grudges melted away under the weight of a single setlist. We’ll witness a once-in-a-lifetime farewell, where Ozzy Osbourne literally ruled the venue from a throne. We’ll drop in on a confessional acoustic set that followed years of silence from Alice in Chains, whose scene had pretty much died, and it became one of the most gut-wrenching and unforgettable concerts of its era. And we’ll relive a rain-soaked halftime show where Prince didn’t just deliver the greatest Super Bowl performance of all time—he seemed to command the weather itself, turning a torrential downpour into a perfect storm. Nobody cared who played or won; they remember this legend. And then, 3 years before that, Prince blew half a dozen legends off the stage with a life-changing solo after a lame magazine had left him off their top guitarist list. Boy, did he ever get even. The stories are coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They were likely Rock’s first supergroup and it all started when these virtuosos who went by the name of CREAM starring Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker all took in a Jimi Hendrix concert, and the bassist Jack Bruce was so juiced with inspiration by what he saw, he went home and created one of rock music’s most familiar and magical riffs. Sunshine of Your Love One that gets stuck in your head for days and that’s a good thing. However when they showed the guaranteed hit to the label head, legend Ahmet Ertegun he hated it. He thought it was crap. Some famous artists outside of the band had to talk him into putting it out. The supergroup was only together for a couple of years and they almost killed each other but their music will last a millennia creating genres and subgenera’s in the process. The story is next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up we’re counting down the Top 10 songs from an unbelievable year. Some of the biggest rock songs ever, but they were never actually hits, and truly, most of these are even better than the hit singles of the day. We’ve got some wild backstories on this one, including how Queen's album Jazz was shredded in a nasty hit piece that called the band sexist. Then their big single Don't Stop Me Now from the album FLOPPED at #86. But decades later it became the biggest song from that year with almost 5 billion streams. Or how about Moving in Stereo from one of the best debut albums of the 70s that soundtracked the most rewinded movie scene of the 80s. It was rewinded and it broke a record amount of VCRs. We also have Devo album opener Uncontrollable Urge that was never even released as a single, but it’s made a million a year for the last 16 years straight because of a cable clip show. And last, but not least, how Steve Perry as a temporary roadie was promoted to Journey's lead singer and became one of the greatest rock singers ever... next on POR.MyBookie: Get in on the action with MyBookie. Use our promo code ROCK and any bet you choose up to $500 is fully covered. Go to https://www.mybookie.ag/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Foo Fighters spent over a million dollars on their hyped new album, but they had to throw it away to write their opus: Times Like These. Coming up, they wrestled, creating an album that should have been the biggest of its time. But after a year of work, they trashed it because the band hated it. The songs were infamously called the Million Dollars Demo, but to make matters even worse, the band was about to kill each other. They were about to throw down. So here they were, 3 albums into their career, and it seemed like they were done. Dave Grohl was touring with Queens of the Stone Age, then somehow they found their magic and recorded 14 songs in a few days... including their magnum opus Times Like These, which wouldn’t have happened without all the adversity. But years later, the song means even more… Find out why next on Professor of Rock.Try Squarespace free for 14 days and receive 10% off your first purchase. Go to: https://www.squarespace.com/rockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re going to have fun with the stories of songs that were denied the coveted position of reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, settling for #2. I always call them the bridesmaids. Well, today they really are the bridesmaid to the bride, as in the greatest female #2 hits of the 70s, with some of your favorite singers ever. Including the legendary Linda Ronstadt, who had 21 Big hits in her career, and most people are shocked when they realize they were all written by someone else, and most were cover songs! Then there’s the story of a Crystal Gayle song that was inspired by an unfortunate incident where a beloved pet was nearly blinded in one eye from a rock thrown by a garbage man. That incident inspired a song that brought Crystal out of the shadow of her legendary sister. Then there was the song Fire that was written especially for a comeback for ELVIS, but he passed away before he could record it. And it was almost buried forever until the Pointer Sisters turned it from a male perspective to a sensual female smash. And finally Karen Carpenter, who turned a jingle written for a bank commercial into an all-time standard…and then 3 years later she did the same thing with a song written for a toddler’s TV show… It’s coming next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It began with a simple remark during a lover’s quarrel—and became one of the most iconic anthems in rock history. Ronnie Van Zant didn’t think much of it at first, until one night he laid on his back in the studio and wrote the lyrics in minutes.The song eventually stretched to 17 minutes and was nearly cut from the album after the label pushed back. But “Free Bird” went on to become a symbol of freedom and a must-play at rock shows for decades.This is the origin and legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Southern rock masterpiece, created by a band both blessed and cursed—and forever legendary.NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with a legend about a song that came into his head from the sound of his tires rolling over a bridge. He was on his way to record with his famous band, they were expecting him to bring them a song for their new album but he didn’t have one well as soon as the he heard it in his head he kept humming it over and over until he ran into the studio and yelled at the band to grab their instruments and he wrote the song from the tune in his head in like 3 minutes... We also talk about the supergroup that he joined years later that after several hits the record label paid his band Millions to not release another album and his reaction to that is priceless… A FUN interview is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we are going back to the 80s for a countdown you are gonna love. See if you can guess the year. Raiders of the Lost Ark ruled the box office, and Donkey Kong dominated the arcades. And the best songs missed the charts. We’ve got some crazy stories behind these classics. Like the guitar genius Eddie Van Halen who was so fed up with frontman David Lee Roth, he started sneaking into the studio in the middle of the night to overdub new parts onto songs that they had already recorded. Or how about Joe Elliot who was driven insane by his perfectionist producer Mutt Lange, who made him sing just two words over and over for 45 straight minutes. 100s of takes, so he got so drunk he PUKED his guts out and then nailed it. Then there was the Flying High Again that came from Ozzy Osbourne getting banned from the Alamo for 12 years for urinating on it. Plus, the Duran Duran Music Video that was made for Adult Channels, and then there was the classic Stone in Love that came when a band dropped one letter from the song title. and the Greatest song never to chart. It’s next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: Metallica’s 1986 masterpiece “Master of Puppets” wasn’t a chart-topper when it was first released, but it became the band’s defining anthem—a dark parable about control, addiction, and power set to one of the heaviest riffs of the ‘80s. Decades later, the song exploded back into pop culture thanks to its unforgettable placement in Stranger Things Season 4, when Eddie Munson shredded it to save the world. In this episode, Professor of Rock breaks down the story behind the track, the brilliance of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and the late Cliff Burton, and how “Master of Puppets” roared back to hit #1 nearly 40 years after its debut.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, it’s the best of the rest. Not too long ago, we began counting down the top television theme songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. And you guys loved it. However, I was lambasted for a few oversights. I mean, really lambasted! So for this episode, we’re going to right the wrongs. That’s right, I’ve got 8 more iconic television themes that deserve some serious love. Including the Laverne & Shirley that opens with “hopscotch chant”. It's a classic TV song that came from a children’s Jump Rope song, and no one knows what the hell it means! There was also Joey Scarbury's The Greatest American Hero (Believe it or Not), a one-hit wonder that has outshined its show a hundred times over. Becoming bigger than the show itself. In fact, it was more requested than Journey or AC/DC! And finally, there’s the theme that they changed every Single season of its show’s 8-year run. It was the biggest show on TV, and now almost no one can bear to watch it because one person ruined it for the rest of us. Plus, the Charlie's Angels Theme, a song that was about female empowerment, but feminists hated it, but one of the show's actresses sold 12 million posters! We’ve got these stories and more coming up, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.A BIG THANK YOU to ZipRecruiter for sponsoring today's video. You can try ZipRecruiter for FREE when you go to this link and enter the promo code ROCK. Check it out.https://www.ziprecruiter.com/rockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Queen's classic rock standard Killer Queen, a song that will certainly rearrange your mind, or most likely it already has. But here’s the thing, it’s a song story that got taken down by the powers that be. In fact, I tried to do this video a few times, and because I use a word that... isn’t really a bad word per se… but because I used that word from a story told by Freddie Mercury, I got in trouble. So I’m going to try this again and use a replacement word to tell this story, cuz Killer Queen is a great song from a legendary band. So when Queen put this song out, they didn’t have anything to show for their efforts. They had put out two albums, but almost nobody knew who they were outside of their native UK. They had toured across America to try and break through, but their famous guitarist, Brian May, had to be hospitalized, not once but twice. And it stopped all their momentum. They desperately needed a hit song. So Freddie Mercury wrote one in the bathtub. He was bathing, and it just fell into his lap. Freddie was trying to put pen to paper with soapy suds everywhere. And he wrote the song to prove that classy people can be… This is where I got in trouble last time. How do I say this? Freddie wrote it to prove that classic people can be… Uh… Let’s try to explain it next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… We’ve covered the Greatest IMPROV songs that became Magic. Well, today we're doing a sister series… We're counting down the Top 7 Mistakes That Turned into Gold. Screw ups that actually resulted in TRUE GREATNESS. We’re exposing songs that didn’t fail—they exploded after a stumble, a split-second miscue that stuck and became iconic. You’ll hear about a Kinks guitarist, Dave Davies, who blew up his amp and it resulted in the first hard rock Song, and invented Guitar Distortion. Then there was Ozzy Osbourne, who laughed through a botched intro to his anthem Crazy Train and let out the most famous three-letter word in rock history, and Ritchie Blackmore, who played a wrong note that sounded like a classical music piece that he turned into the most played riff by those first learning guitar. And then, of course, Paul McCartney, who sang the wrong lyrics and created a classic! The anxious moments that made these tracks legendary on the Top 7 Mistakes that Turned to Gold, NEXT… on Professor of Rock.Get in on the action with MyBookie. Use our promo code ROCK and any bet you choose up to $500 is fully covered. Go to https://www.mybookie.ag/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We lost legendary singer-songwriter JD Souther a while back, and it didn’t make the news. It was extremely frustrating because he wrote some of the biggest hits of the 70s and 80s, even into the 90s. He truly deserved better. I was so grateful I got to interview him. In fact, it was the last in-depth interview he ever did. It was an honor. Well, next we have that interview, and he tells us the story behind one of the biggest hits of the early 80s, Heartache Tonight. A #1 smash for the Eagles, a band that was about to destroy each other. Today’s classic song came out of a jam session with the Eagles, and they knew they had a smash hit, but they couldn’t figure out the chorus. Later on, one of the lead singers of the band happened to be on the phone with a famous buddy who gave them the line to finish the chorus right then and there. The music of the song came from a strange use of an instrument, and it sounded like a brawl, which was appropriate because the band would get in a brawl soon enough that would nuke the band for good. Coming up I’m hoping to get through this one without a certain band member taking this down. Let’s see how we do next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we have a special episode about Pat Benatar's We Belong that has always been a favorite. One of the catchiest songs of the 80s. If you don’t feel great after listening to it, you may need to seek serious therapy. Just kidding. But seriously, it’s quintessential 80s with one of the best female rock voices shepherding it. Today, we have Neil Giraldo, the man who made it so catchy and undeniable. An iconic guitarist and producer who pulled off some crazy acrobatics to achieve the percussion that is the driving force of this song. Neil nearly moved space and time, having the kick drum suspended in the air, and made the drummer twist into a pretzel to get the perfect sound. He shares the story next on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re cracking open a special edition of Bottled Lightning — and we’ve never done anything quite like this before. We’re counting down the Top 10 one-hit Wonders who left powerhouse bands to go it alone. These were musicians who already had it made in the shade, already had a ton of hits with their band, but when they went solo… it turns out lightning only struck once. And the stories are wild. Like Limahl who was FIRED from his band Kajagoogoo over the phone, right after he took them to #1, but later found redemption with one of the catchiest movie themes of the 80s: The Neverending Story. Or how about the sugary 70s pop star Frida, who got salty on her solo debut — thanks to producer Phil Collins, who sounded like he was drumming with sledgehammers. And then there’s the cool, unshakable voice behind some of power pop’s biggest hits: Benjamin Orr, who had no idea how to write lyrics. So he had his rookie songwriting girlfriend pen his one solo smash. We’ve got the most unforgettable “one and done” solo hits from artists that were larger than life… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.Try ZipRecruiter for Free. Go to https://www.ziprecruiter.com/rockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re diving into ten unforgettable rock classics from 1976 that never cracked the Hot 100’s Top 40 — songs you know by heart, but were never “hit singles.” And most of these are better than some of the biggest smash hits of their day. You’ll hear the story of a Robert Plant who was confined to a wheelchair after a serious car crash. And his band named the title Achilles Last Stand after his injury. Then there’s the tale of Boston's sonic genius Tom Scholz, who preferred working in his basement over the recording studio. So when his label tried to get him into the studio, he ran an elaborate scheme to trick them… using his bandmates as decoys. And we’ll unpack a tabloid takedown that Debbie Harry wrote to call out how women were chewed up by the media… and then her own label turned around and used her song to exploit her with a crass ad campaign. Killer stories, legendary tracks—NEXT on Professor of Rock.MyBookie: Get in on the action with MyBookie. Use our promo code ROCK and any bet you choose up to $500 is fully covered. Go to https://www.mybookie.ag/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next today's Chrissie Hynde went through the most trying time of her life. One day, she had to fire bassist Pete Farndon, one of the co-founders of her band, and then 2 days later, she faced the death of her right-hand man, James Honeyman-Scott, one of the greatest guitarists of his time. To top it all off, Chrissie was pregnant and going through a breakup with her iconic husband Ray Davies. Up next, the story of a true rock and roll warrior who rose from the ashes of losing her bandmates and created Back on the Chain Gang, a song that could make the most heartless person break down. It has become a beacon of the 80s. Coming up next the story of true rock and roll resilience, next on Professor of Rock.Thank you to our sponsor Squarespace, the easiest way to create an exceptional website, blog, portfolio, or online store. Try Squarespace free for 14 days and receive 10% off your first purchase with the Professor of Rock promo code: ROCKGet started at: https://www.squarespace.com/rock See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we tell the incredible, outrageous stories of 5 acts that were LEGENDARY for being downright awful, and yet they managed to become cult heroes. Some people actually worshipped them, including some true legends of music. There’s the story of The Shaggs, 3 sisters who were forced to be a trio by their domineering father... because his mother had a dream that his daughters were going to be singing stars. They HATED every second of it and were so bad they got stuff thrown at them when they performed. But they became one of the most influential bands of their time. Then there was Lady Florence, the artist who was so bad, people actually paid top dollar just to make fun of her in concert. Plus Stardust Cowboy, a terrible novelty cowboy that inspired David Bowie to create Ziggy Stardust, as well as a shock singer, Tiny Tim, who actually died while performing his dreadful signature song. The 5 Worst Acts of the Rock Era is NEXT… on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Bad to the Bone, it may be the most recognizable guitar riff ever. George Thorogood, the famous guitarist who wrote it, is with us today. He actually wrote it for his hero, but it was rejected. So he did it himself. And he added a snarling stutter to its chorus that made it a classic. But it wasn’t a hit when it was released in 1982; instead, it ramped up every year after that, becoming more and more prolific. In fact, it became so memorable. It became the signature song for every rebel or bad boy in films and TV, and then became the most famous ringtone for years. Coming up, the story of a riff and a stutter that became the stuff of legend, and took an unknown guitarist who was the opening act for his heroes, and then passed ‘em up with this one. The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the story of a perfect pop song, Chicago's Hard Habit to Break... In fact, it may be the 80s' greatest pocket symphony that hearkens back to heavenly vocal harmonies of the Beach Boys and the Beatles at their peak. Hard Habit has one of the most powerful and enduring vocal duets of all time, with Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin, who somehow blended perfectly even though they were so different. And we have Bill with us today to recount the hilarious session that birthed this barn burner. In fact, during the recording, the legendary producer and Peter played a practical joke on Bill that saw him recording one line dozens of times, and it was the punchline to their joke… all these years later, he admits it was a brilliant send-up. Plus the at the last second, they needed another verse, and the original writer was off the grid on vacation… When they finally got hold of him, he wrote it over a pay phone in seconds.. Coming up with the story of an 80s classic on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the story of one of the three most played rock songs in history: Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer. It was a #1 smash in the 80s, and Jon Bon Jovi wanted to give the song away. He didn’t think it was strong enough for the album until he was convinced it was Great. I have the song's co-writer, Desmond Child, with me today, who happens to be one of the most successful writers ever. Today, Desmond tells the story of several #1 hits he wrote with Bon Jovi, including the song You Give Love a Bad Name, which he wrote for an iconic female singer who had a hit with it in other countries but not in America. He knew the song was special, so he took it and put new lyrics over it and turned it into a rock song. And it became a smash… It’s coming up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… we’re taking a trip back to the year rock hit overdrive, and counting down 10 albums that made it a gold standard year in music history. Man, there were so many CLASSICS to choose from, I gotta warn you now — a few fan favorite albums are gonna be left on the cutting room floor. Will your favorites make it? There are some incredible stories here. On one album, iconic singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell wrote in “poetic code” about giving her daughter up for adoption. But it would be decades before she revealed the truth. Another album by Elton John had what we all now consider a signature song, Tiny Dancer… but no one wanted to hear it in concert back in the day. Not until a fictional sing-along launched it into the zeitgeist 20 years later. Then there is the Rolling Stones album that had the classic #1 Rock hit Brown Sugar, that has been completely eradicated from radio, and the band has vowed never to play it again. Plus, the powerful song we all have a personal relationship with. These stories and more are coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sibling rivalry, band-member infighting, and an ongoing wrestle for creative control all led to the break up of today’s featured band. Creedence Clearwater Revival... Theirs was a bottled lightning career, but they were no one hit-wonder. In fact, they kicked out 9 Top 10 hits in the space of two years… John Fogerty and his band never landed a #1, but they did have a record 5 #2 hits. Today’s song was certainly worthy of a #1. It is a true standard of the rock canon. It was also prophetic… predicting the collapse of this illustrious band. Have You Ever Seen the Rain predicted what was about to happen. But only Fogerty knew what it meant. The rest of the guys had no idea. Find out how one of the biggest bands in the world went from clear blue skies to pouring rain almost overnight and then they were gone forever… Enjoy this classic, NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…Some massive hits with unbelievable stories, including the story of Elvis, who had to record a cheesy middle section in “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” that was so bad he had to do two dozen takes because he would burst out in laughter. The song went on to become a #1 smash. As well as the song I'm Sorry that was delivered by Brenda Lee, a remarkably mature 15-year-old who many scorned because they didn’t think a teenager should tackle such mature subject matter. Then there’s the #1 hit “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” that a man claimed to have written for decades, it got him free drinks and fame, and the New York Times even said he wrote it in his obituary until the truth came out. He had just made the whole thing up. and finally a strange novelty song “Alley Oop” that was written in 10 minutes, that was recorded on the fly by random people hanging around the studio, including the Janitor. It’s a countdown you don’t want to miss next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Thompson Twins, an up-and-coming band, were trying to finish their second album and needed one more song to fill it out. They had a tight deadline and were running out of time. So that night, frontman Tom Bailey wrote one in a jiffy called Hold Me Now. He knew it was filler, but he could tack it on the end of the album and their record would finally be finished. Hold Me Now ended up being a #1 smash, and it turned the band inside out. It actually ended up changing their musical direction as they put their guitars in storage and embraced synthesizers. This set them on the course to dominate America as one of the best hitmakers of the 80s. Their biggest was born out of real-life heartbreak. The bandmates who became lovers had just gone through a painful breakup. Writing “today’s song together became a form of therapy, turning their raw emotions into one of the most powerful pop ballads of the ’80s, and they did it in real time as they were talking out the problem and happened to record it in the process. We have one of them here next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready for a good one. Today, we’re telling the wildest stories behind the television tunes that ruled the 80s. The ones that played in between your favorite shows. They’re those quick bite-sized hits that were permanently burned into your brain, and you’ll know them when you hear them. It’s nostalgia overload. You may know them even more than the biggest hit songs of the time. So one was a throwaway song, intentionally written to fail… but it sold so much candy, the company had to build an extra factory just to keep up with the demand. Then there were those coffee commercials with a wholesome morning tune… but later that same song was used in an infamous ad about a brother and sister with way too much chemistry. Or how about the song from a cola shoot where a megastar’s hair caught on fire. And then there was the catchy song that came from a guy accidentally stuttering the product name cuz he was drunk, and it became legendary… If you lived through the 80s, you’re gonna love this one. The best bite-sized hit of the neon decade, NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the latest edition of our Series, The Hit Song Redux. We haven’t done one of these in a while! It’s the show where we go behind the Top 10 songs from a great week in the rock era, which, for this week, we choose 42 years ago in 1983. But counting them down isn’t enough. After we reach #1, we re-rank them according to all-time streams and views… to see what the real #1 hit is. Today we’ve got a massive lineup in store, with some of the most iconic tracks the 80s have to offer. But who will claim the top spot? Could it be The Police, a Jim Steinman special, maybe Def Leppard or ZZ Top or Bonnie Tyler, or even maybe a one-hit wonder, or the big movie soundtrack hit of that moment, or the 95-year-old senior citizen who had a #1 hit in the middle of new wave and hard rock? Stick around to find out and make your guess in the comments. It’s all happening… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up they may have the most passionate and famous following in rock and roll history along with one of the greatest frontmen whose guitar playing is legendary. They band name is as recognizabe as Zeppelin or the Beatles and their merch consistelnl sales in the top of the echelon of rock and yet they only had one hit. That’s right they are a So called One hit Wonder In fact for decades during their peak they had exactly ZERO hits next to their band name. but in the mid 80s that finally changed but it was a tough road…in 1986 after jamming their way to the top of the concert circuit their legendary leader almost died and the band’s future was in serious jeopardy but he eventual recovers and the band made one of the greatest comebacks ever with their first record in 6 years which featured their only hit single. You’ll be shocked when you realize the band that has played to the most fans in history only had a single hit song coming up the story of that hit and the legacy if left behind. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with a legendary 5 octave range singer who blew up radio in the 80s with his band, with songs that have become rock classics, including today’s dark and haunting classic that gave me nightmares as a kid. The singer admits it’s given many nightmares… We get the story of how he made the song a classic and how he was discovered by a famous rock legend’s parents, who were attending a wedding where he was the wedding singer. They talked to him and recommended him for a band that was actively looking for a singer, and he fit the bill perfectly. Up next, a truly entertaining and funny interview with a guy who wanted to be a cross between David Lee Roth and Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and he more than got there on Professor of RockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we're counting down the greatest albums of music’s greatest year, 1984... fueled by a barrage of powder kegs, including a full-on brawl between two rock icons after James Hetfield kicked Dave Mustaine's pet dog. Then there was Mutt Lange, the perfectionist producer whose drive and ambition took The Cars to the top of the charts, but drove them so hard it broke them up for good. Plus, the most haunting song of the decade by The Smiths that I guarantee will give you nightmares. Plus, the genius rocker Prince, who deleted the bass track from When Doves Cry, and it made it legendary. Plus Born in the USA, a song that may be the most misunderstood hit of all time, and another one, Summer of 69, that we all thought was completely innocent as kids, but once we got to a certain age, realized it was really dirty. And finally, the stellar rock band The Replacements, whose frontman was so worried about selling out, he ruined any chance they had at greatness. These stories, and more, on our countdown of the Top 10 Albums of 1984…NEXT…on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it really is our Final Yearly Songs Countdown…and we end with a bang. One of the best years ever. A year where Beck, the worst rapper in history, created the best rock song of the year: Loser. Plus the gorgeous pixie with the voice of an angel, Dolores O'Riordan, who went scorched earth on Zombie, a song with a vocal that blew up the radio but was never released as a single, even though it’s one of the most-streamed songs ever! Plus Collective Soul and Shine's classic rock chorus that came from Ed Roland singing through a roll of toilet paper. Plus Lisa Loeb, who gave her demo of Stay (I Missed You) to an actor who snuck it into his new movie. The film blew up, and the song went to #1 overnight, and Lisa didn’t even have a record deal! Plus, the indigenous chant that got sampled by an unlikely hit, Return to Innocence, that became the strangest hit of the year. Plus Stone Temple Pilots' classic hit Interstate Love Song, which was written on walkie-talkies while the band was separated on touring buses driving down the road... And the most iconic song phrase of the year, "Black Hole Sun," that came from Chris Cornell mishearing a word in a news report. It's a year of classics next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Kiss, the hard rock band whose career was saved by a cheesy ballad written by a man who became a punchline due to a joke in the comedy film Office Space. After hitting it big in the 70s as one of the most iconic rock bands of the time, Kiss hit a wall and couldn’t buy a hit. So they made a bold move. They unveiled the mystery behind what had made them household names... their faces. The problem is it didn’t work and sent them into a tailspin. Some say it became a curse... Could they break it? Finally, after 12 years without a hit, Kiss released Forever, a power ballad that scorched the charts. But the song was released under a heavy dispute between a Glam Rock God and the King of early 90s Soft Rock. The Co-writing credits read that both wrote the power ballad, but what was the real story? Who really wrote it, and did they sell out for one more shot at the title? It's a story of platinum and cheese next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Rock rivalries are the stuff of legend. Behind the spotlight, egos clash, tempers flare, and sometimes the stage just isn’t big enough to hold all the drama. On this episode, we’re turning up the intrigue with some of the most contentious battles of the rock era… both between bands and within bands. These weren’t trivial disputes; I’m talking about feuds that made headlines, split fanbases, and left a lasting mark on the music we love. Today, you’ll hear four unbelievable stories of bitter rivalries and wild confrontations. Only there’s a catch… Three of these stories are absolutely true… and one is a total fabrication. Your challenge? Spot the lie. Think you know your rock history? It’s time to put it to the test… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.Use ZipRecruiter, and save time hiring! 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Go to https://www.ziprecruiter.com/ROCK right now, you can try it FOR FREE. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in 1969, Freddie Bulsara—later Freddie Mercury—made his live debut with Ibex in the UK. To celebrate his legacy, we revisit the story of Queen’s greatest song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Part rock, part ballad, part opera, it was first rejected by the label until Freddie leaked it to radio, where fans made it a sensation. It topped charts in the ’70s, returned in the ’90s with Wayne’s World, and remains one of the greatest rock songs ever written. The story is coming up next… on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… The story of a legendary band’s 22-year gap between #1 Hits…in the 60s, they had one of the greatest #1 hits in history. It was not only genius…It might be the most incredible piece of music to come from modern music. But then they would go 22 years before hitting #1 again. An all-time record. But it may have been better that they never had this 1988 #1 hit because it is a strong contender for the worst songs of all time. So they went from creating the greatest #1 hit ever to committing one of the worst sins ever to tape. The Good news is the band’s leader had everything to do with the first #1 hit and nothing to do with the second one. But was it intentional? Did his bandmates intentionally leave him out? And it was probably a good thing because I don’t think anyone could’ve made this song better, but then am I being too harsh? Well, I’m not the only one who thinks it’s bad… It’s topped many of the worst songs ever lists, but coming up next, I will try to open my mind to it. Is it so bad it’s good, or is it an unrealized classic? Let’s find out! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we get the story behind one of the greatest bands of the rock era from their Rough and Ready bassist, including the story behind a classic album they recorded in just a couple of days. and then many have speculated about the otherworldly sound that the greatest guitarist ever used on one of the band’s most famous songs… today we get the answer plus the F bomb that their charismatic singer accidentally left in their song that for 45 years radio has played the song without realizing it and then there was the classic song that their frontman forgot the words to and just made up a bunch of gibberish and it sounded cool so they left it in. It’s some of the greatest stories behind the legend, next with a legendary guest on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're taking it back with a classic POR countdown. Reintroducing the story of 5 cult classics from 80s New Wave. I’ve said it before, Some people are sticklers for labels or genres. I’m calling them new wave... Here are five New Wave Cult classics hidden gems from the 80s that deserve recognition and celebration including the Smiths Rusholme Ruffians from Meat is Murder, my favorite band ever. Appetite by Prefab Sprout from Steve McQueen, who’s singer Paddy McAloon had virtually disappear from the public eye, Kiss Off by Violent Femmes from their debut album that sold a million copies and no one can explain how. as well as Silver by Echo and the Bunnymen from Ocean Rain, and Uncertain Smile by The The.Check it out, right here on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the most Haunting female vocal performances of the 70s, including Donna Summer with a vocal on “Love to Love You Baby” that was stimulated by an explicit action in the recording studio… so explicit that when she performed the #1 hit live, it got men in attendance so worked up, she feared for her life when they rushed the stage. Then there was an oldies hit by a legendary singer — “Gloria” by Them — that was covered by Patti Smith, who added some of her own lyrics to the classic that were so provocative and blasphemous, it completely changed the meaning of the original song. Plus the mysterious song — “Angie Baby” by Helen Reddy — about a strange girl who was visited by an evil boy who then up and vanished. The song left such an eerie feeling with fans that they’ve berated the singer for years about the song’s real meaning and origin, but she’s been radio silent. Plus, the #1 hit from 1977 — “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac — that came back with a vengeance due to a viral video that gave the iconic band their biggest streaming week ever and sent sales of a boring beverage through the roof. It’s next on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in 1962, Ringo Starr played his first show with The Beatles, marking the start of the classic Fab Four lineup. To celebrate, we revisit the wild story behind one of their loudest, most chaotic songs.After Pete Townshend bragged to Paul McCartney that I Can See for Miles was the dirtiest, loudest rock song ever, Paul took it as a challenge. The Beatles responded with Helter Skelter, pushing their sound to the limit. Ringo played so hard his hands were covered in blisters and blood.Named after a kids’ ride, the song became a heavy metal precursor—until it was tragically hijacked by Charles Manson.The full story of a song that rocked the world… next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… I said I was done, but then I got overwhelming feedback to keep going, so let’s take it one by one. Today, we unravel the story of a classic sing-along #1 hit — “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean — whose creator quit music to make sausages… and made a fortune from it. Then there’s the song that was reconstructed from an African hunting call — “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens — that became an all-time classic, but its original creator died young without making a dime. Fifty years later, his family and country sued Disney and finally got what they rightly deserved. And then there was the legend who wrote a scathing singalong classic ripping a two-timing, cheating girlfriend — “Runaround Sue” by Dion — that hit #1, and in the ultimate twist, the legend married this girl. Plus, the ultimate ‘kiss-off tune’ — “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles — sung by a genius and written by his best friend, who was pronounced dead after a severe car crash and miraculously came back to life. And finally, our #1 song has the most haunting climactic vocal in rock history — “Crying” by Roy Orbison. We’re gonna have a blast with our countdown of the Top 10 Songs of 1961, NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They had the fame. They had the fans. They had it all… until one decision brought it all crashing down. You loved the first one, so here’s part 2, counting down the most infamous self-inflicted wounds in rock history… career killing choices that left fans stunned, and musicians on the wrong side of history. Some of these are full-on swan dives into disaster. One Rookie hitmaker named Terence Trent D'Arby got taken down by both fans and critics after he boasted that his debut album was better than the greatest album of all time. Another musician, MC Hammer, was making $30 million a year, but couldn’t figure out his musical identity and then spent himself into bankruptcy. Going from an album that sold 18 million to one that sold 1000. That’s right…1000. Then there was The Knack that overhyped themselves so much that one fan started a grassroots campaign to destroy them, and it worked… And finally, there was The KLF that fired a machine gun on stage and then literally burned the equivalent of 1.5 million bucks as a PR stunt… Today, we’re sifting through the wreckage to bring you the stories of the dumbest decisions of the rock era… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an average of $800/mo. 866-890-4844 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/prof.... NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, Supertramp, a rock band that may be the most under-appreciated of the classic rock era… We just talked about them in a countdown, and we got so many requests for a deeper dive, we went for it… This band created a classic album that plays like a greatest hits album…Including today’s focused song, The Logical Song… a song where the singer came up with 20 different similar-sounding adjectives and combined them with the sound of a famous 70s handheld video game. In fact, to this day, most people don’t know the sound is from this nostalgic game…and the sax solo was recorded in a men’s room. It all culminated in a song that Paul McCartney lists as one of his favorites, but a key band member, the co-lead, hated it. And that made the main singer and writer wonder if it would be a blessing or a curse, but the drummer knew it was a smash. In fact, this drummer bet the unsure singer 10 bucks it would be a top ten hit… He was happy to lose the bet when the record sold 20 million copies. Next up, the story of a 70s classic. On the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with Neil Giraldo, one of the best guitarists and producers of the 80s, on a true classic from the decade. Here's how it went... Two of the best hitmakers of the time, Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, wrote a song they knew would be a smash: Love Is a Battlefield. They knew the perfect person to record it would be a legendary female rocker, Pat Benatar, who was married to Neil Giraldo, who produced and co-wrote her biggest hits. It was supposed to be the slow, methodical ballad. Neil listened to the song and, of course, he heard its hit potential. But he thought it was a little boring. So Neil decided to speed it up and turn it into an anthem… The original songwriters were pissed… They hated it at first. But I also have one of those famous songwriters, Holly Knight, here in the interview today, and we’ll find out what changed their minds. Coming up next, the story of an 80s anthem that broke MTV.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in 1977, Bachman-Turner Overdrive announced their breakup, marking the end of a remarkable run by one of the most powerful rock acts of the '70s.In this classic interview, Professor of Rock sits down with legendary guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman, the force behind not one but two iconic bands: The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. One of only a handful of artists to score #1 hits with two different bands (a feat matched only by Paul McCartney), Randy shares unforgettable stories from his career.He reveals how one of BTO’s biggest hits was never meant to be a hit at all—it started as a joke to tease his brother. But when their label didn’t hear a single on the new album, a bandmate convinced them to play the joke song... and the exec immediately knew it was gold. The only person who didn’t want to release it? Randy himself.Hear the hilarious and surprising origin of a classic rock anthem, straight from the man who wrote it—only on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a world that is way too serious, we all need a lot more humor in our lives. In this episode, we’re going to spotlight 7 of the funniest non-parody songs of the Rock Era, including a Flaming Lips song about a woman who cooks with nothing but vaseline, as well as an unhinged rant about modern life that became a hilarious and accidental protest song for Gen X, plus the classic song Mellow Yellow that we’ve all been singing along to for years that has a chorus that we all thought was silly but is actually about a female uh…a word I can say on here. But you’ll find out next. And on the opposite end of the spectrum is a song by Kip Addotta that seems really dirty at first listen but is actually about FISHES. And finally, a classic song by the most underrated metal band of all time that borrowed every cliche in the book to create a song that makes us bust a gut, every time we hear it, or… even when we don’t… It’s our countdown of the Funniest Non-Parody Songs of the Rock Era, NEXT, on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Known to many as hard and heavy rockers, Led Zeppelin has written some of the greatest pulse-pounding classics of the past half-century. But at one point they were actually called out by George Harrison for rocking too much. Challenged to bring it down a few notches, guitar virtuoso Jimmy Page composed a sonic soundscape so lush and surreal that one of rock’s premiere producers said it defied classification.WHEN Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bohnam wrote the 70s album track The Rain Song, they put the greatest poets on notice.Next on Professor of Rock! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…What may be the last good year for mainstream music…There were about 10 crappy songs for every great one. But don’t worry, the 11 good ones in today’s countdown could compete with most any year... including one song that one of rock’s greatest lyricists, REM's Michael Stipe, could not figure out. The music was perfect, the melody was there, but he was fighting horrible writer’s block until he walked into the studio and came to him right then... Man on the Moon. Stipe recorded it seconds after in 1 take, and it became a classic. Then there was River of Dreams, the last big hit by Billy Joel, who at the age of 44 swore he was done with music. Sadly, it would turn out to be true. River of Dreams came in a dream and was written in the shower. Then there was the massive 80s band Duran Duran that was written off by everyone in the new decade; in fact, their record label wouldn’t even fully fund their album, but in the middle of grunge, they created Ordinary World, a song so personal it hit the top of the charts and still brings a tear to the eye. Plus Whitney Houston, who had recorded her greatest vocals even though she was sick as a dog, and Blind Melon's No Rain, a deceptively happy-go-lucky sing-along song that had a devastating secret that no one understood till it was too late. It’s all next on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down 5 of the most compelling cold cases in rock… songs that were recorded back in the day, but then fell into obscurity… only to resurface online decades later. But without a name or band attached to them. No one really knows where these songs came from. Among them is a mysterious banger that was found on a mysterious documentary, that was hidden on a Little Rascals VHS tape that a girl found in a thrift store. Seriously. Then there’s a sultry pop number that soundtracks a forgotten adult film… but the singer refuses to come forward and identify herself. There’s also a haunting ballad that some say is a lost track by George Harrison. Only the subject matter is a little too provocative. Plus, the most mysterious heavy metal song ever that even the greatest rock historians can’t identify. This one’s going to be crazy. Will these lost tracks ever be ID’d? Let’s solve these whodunnits? Let’s dive headfirst into the strange sonic rabbit holes… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1984, a rookie named Nick Kershaw put out a song that became a teenage anthem called Wouldn’t It Be Good for the outcasts and the have-nots, and it earned him a ticket to play one of the biggest gigs ever. LIVE AID, which put him in front of 2 billion fans. Then the next year, one of the biggest movies of the year, Pretty In Pink, used the song but had it re-recorded by another band that included a lead from the classic rock band Three Dog Night: Danny Hutton Hitters from 20 years before… We find out why next, as we have both the original singer and the legend who remade it. It’s the story of an underappreciated song that every 80s kid adores next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with one of the defining voices of 70s and 80s rock: Tommy Shaw. He joined Styx after they already had a couple of hits, but they weren’t exactly established. But after Tommy came aboard, they were unstoppable with a two-singer attack that made them twice the threat... especially with today’s song Renegade... an all-time classic rock magnum opus. It came from images in the singer’s head from old westerns he watched as a kid, and he came up with a famous a cappella part that wasn’t planned. The producer just pulled the music out after it had been recorded, and the band all looked at each other in disbelief. Then Renegade was tacked on as the B-side to a song the label thought would do well, but DJs loved Renegade and turned it over and made it a classic. Up next, Tommy Shaw breaks down his most famous song. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Improvisation is the X factor behind some of the greatest tracks of the Rock Era—moments of spontaneous genius nborn from gifted talent and instinct. On this episode, we’ll get ninto the captivating stories of how a teenager walking down the street decided to visit a studio that caught his eye. His name was Barrett Strong and he laid down a scratch vocal on a song he improvised… That scratch vocal became Money (That's What I Want), the first big hit for a label that npretty much became it’s own genre… Then a fiddle player got a random invite to a session and the band, The Who, had no idea who he was but he started playing and it was so powerful it put the finishing touches on 1 of the greatest rock anthems ever... Baba O'Riley. Plus the 16 year old opera singer who was supposed to sing a small part in a lower octave but decided to sing it much higher and it became thedefining vocal of the famous hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight… Plus the unknown singer Clare Torry who was supposed to sing a couple of notes over a musical bed but just belted out a wordless display of sounds that astonished Pink Floyd and became a crucial part of The Dark Side of the Moon, an album that spent 18 and a half years on the charts. Improv Magic…Part 2, is NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: David Gilmour’s Most Powerful Vocal Performances with Pink FloydIn this special vault episode, we shine a spotlight on one of rock’s most iconic yet often underrated voices: David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. While his guitar solos are legendary, it’s his soaring, soulful vocals that gave depth and emotion to some of the band’s most powerful songs. From the haunting beauty of Comfortably Numb to the raw emotion of Dogsand the melancholy ache of Wish You Were Here, Gilmour’s voice helped define the Pink Floyd sound. Professor of Rock breaks down the vocal highlights that made Gilmour not just a guitar god, but one of the great vocalists of the rock era.Also, on this day in rock history, Pink Floyd released their groundbreaking debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which reached number 6 on the UK charts and marked the beginning of one of rock’s most legendary journeys.Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was the year of golden oldies. In fact, it was the year that was described when people say the oldies but goodies. So many incredible songs, including the rise of the instrumental track Telstar by The Tornados that would spark the British Invasion, and it was recorded in a kitchen, along with a one-hit wonder, Monster Mash, that we play every single year for a month. Plus, The Twist, a song that hit #1 twice by the same artist (Chubby Checker) 2 years apart… It’s an artist I tried to get an interview with, and was told it would cost six figures! And there was Can't Help Falling in Love, the song from 1784 that was written from a woman’s perspective that Elvis Presley took to #1 centuries later. And then there's Loco-motion, the song that was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin that they had their babysitter Eva Boyd record a scratch vocal to just to show it to the star, they really wanted to sing it. When she rejected it, they released it as is, and it became a #1 hit four different times. Great guests, and a host of other timeless classics & are NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He was the madman who redefined heavy metal… an unlikely rock hero who became a legend. With the passing of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, the world lost more than the “Prince of Darkness”—we lost one of music’s most passionate, misunderstood, and enduring voices. Today, we’re celebrating Ozzy the only way that feels right—by taking a deep dive through the songs that shaped his legacy. Because behind the bat-biting headlines was a man of depth, kindness, and resilience. Let’s tell Ozzy’s story the way it was meant to be told… through the music that changed everything, including Paranoid, the 3-minute filler Song that made rock and Roll Dangerous and the light behind the Prince of Darkness, NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are only a few dozen songs that came on the radio and rearranged our brains; they smacked us upside the head and changed the way we looked at the world. Today, we have the two principals from Living Colour behind one such song: Cult of Personality. It exploded onto MTV and Radio in the late 80s with an epic riff and a revolutionary message that had us seeing double. Corey Glover and Vernon Reid behind this force of nature song tell the story of Cult of Personality, a song that became a thinking man’s hard rock… At first, MTV wouldn’t play it until the biggest star in the world, who loved their music, threatened MTV, if they didn’t put this classic song in heavy rotation, he would hold back his new #1 Video. They gave in, and the rest is history. Coming up, a song that had so many famous soundbites in it, the band had no clue if they could get it released. Find out how they did it next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On This Day in Rock History, 1981, music changed forever with the launch of MTV, and the very first video to air was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. It became an anthem of the new era, but here’s the twist: it wasn’t an '80s song at all. Written, recorded, released, and even charted in the late '70s, the track peaked modestly at #40 in the U.S., yet it became one of the most iconic songs of the MTV generation.In this vault episode, the Professor of Rock talks with Buggles co-founder Geoff Downes, who, with Trevor Horn, created a track that sparked a music revolution—despite its modest chart success.Hear the real story behind “Video Killed the Radio Star,” how it came to define a decade it technically didn’t belong to, and what it was like to be the first face of MTV.Coming up next on Professor of Rock! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I love stories like this… I've got one half of the underrated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, that maybe the kings of the line, "Oh, that’s who sings that song…I’ve always loved it but never knew who sang it." Get This... today’s guests opened for Led Zeppelin as unsigned rookies, and they were so great that the newspaper that reviewed the show said they bettered the golden gods of rock! And not too long after, they put together one of the most successful runs of hits of the late 70s. From 1976 to 1978, they had 6 big hits, including 4 songs that all hit the top 10 and are classics of the time... including their first 2 songs Id’e Really Love to See You Tonight and Nights Are Forever that were in the charts at the same time. In fact, their first hit was so good that a young executive from the next office tore through the wall to beg them to sign with his label. They had 6 hits over a 2.5-year period and then just vanished. Today, I have the surviving member of this duo, John Ford Coley, to tell the story.Brought to you by American FinancingCall American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. 866-890-4844 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/professorofrock  NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode of Behind The Song, Janda Lane is joined by Adam Reader for an emotional conversation about the passing of one of rock’s most iconic and influential figures: Ozzy Osbourne.Recorded just after his death on July 22, 2025, this bonus installment invites you to look back on Ozzy’s towering impact... from the dark, game-changing riffs of Black Sabbath to his wild, unforgettable solo run. Janda and The Professor dig into what made Ozzy a once-in-a-generation artist: his voice, his persona, his chaos, and his charm.Whether you grew up blasting Paranoid or discovered Ozzy through The Osbournes, this episode pays tribute to the music, the madness, and the magic that made him a legend.Long live the Prince of Darkness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re breaking down a year that might be the best ever for the lost art of the ALBUM: 1979. It was truly a year of classics. Including a record by The Clash, a band that was so damn broke, they ate nothing but food from a can. And then a great song, Train in Vain, came to them at the last second when the album was already being printed... so it didn’t even appear on the track list. It was a hidden track at the end of the album, and most fans didn’t even know it was there-It became their Biggest hit. Then there was the legendary Fleetwood Mac who were coming off a record that sold 40 million, and then their guitarist made a goal to do everything not to repeat it..It ended up being the most expensive record of its time and only sold 1 million copies. Plus there’s the Supertramp album cover that may have predicted the destruction of 9-11 if you put it in front of a mirror, also the AC/DC album where a hard rock band skipped the evil back masking and told fans right up front what it was, the highway to hell, and it drove parent crazy it’s the Top 10 Albums of 1979, NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in 1966, Cream (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker) made their explosive live debut at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. Just three years later, they'd help invent heavy metal and influence generations of rock bands.In this Vault episode of Professor of Rock, Adam dives into the haunting 1968 classic “White Room.” More than just a psychedelic anthem, it was born from poet Pete Brown’s battle with addiction and a desperate moment of clarity inside a flophouse that became his makeshift rehab. His raw poem about that apartment was transformed by Cream into a rock milestone—one that stunned even Brown when it became a hit.Hear the story behind the song that was years ahead of its time, and the band that burned out in a blaze of brilliance.Next on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the story of 10 classic songs from a tsunami year in music. Tsunami as in a year where 1 song wiped out the status quo on radio and MTV… With Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, but there were plenty of other great songs from that monumental year, including one that came from a story the songwriter read in a newspaper about a drunk guy who shot up his girlfriend’s car. The #1 song came from the simple response this man gave to a judge at his sentencing, and it was so heart-wrenching it’s not only unlistenable but the singer behind it sobbed through the vocal… talking about Bonnie Raitt with I Can’t Make You Love Me. There's the hit that the frontman James Hetfield of the legendary heavy metal band Metallica decided to actually sing instead of scream, which is what he normally did. In fact, his singing was so beautiful on the record, he was afraid it would make his fans hurl. Then there was the song that came from one line from a letter that Bono of U2 sent to the Dalia lama when he rejected an offer to play at his festival. And finally, a song so strange its singer sang it many different ways…with a mouthful of marbles, burping it, and also singing it underwater. Weird Al’s parody of Nirvana plus Ozzy Osbourne’s most poignant song... It’s a stellar countdown with iconic guests next on Professor of RocSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, I have to admit, I was pretty intimidated to interview today’s guest, John McCrea of Cake. This witty singer is wicked smart. Cake's song The Distance was an instant favorite with an opening line that grabs you by the ears and never lets go, and also contains a word that has never been used like this in a rock song. I think it’s got to be the best opening line of the last 30 years easy… It’s a song that was extremely peculiar, and I mean that as a compliment, because it’s truly the coolest hit of its time. I’ve always wondered what the story behind it was, and I wasn’t disappointed when John used a hilarious analogy to explain it. This is one you gotta see, next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a comedy legend do after he’s conquered the 80s with some of the funniest take downs of classic songs with food and hospitals, and then skewered the 90s by slamming its biggest icon with a song so hilarious it made the serious artist laugh at himself? Well, he only got better. Today, we have more from the prince of parody, the sultan of satire, and the master of mockery, Weird Al Yankovic... including the time his parody White and Nerdy actually passed up the song he made fun of in the charts and online… It helped the artist behind it win a Grammy. Then there was the #1 hit Gangsta's Paradise that Coolio gave permission to be mocked but then after the parody Amish Paradise was a hit, he FLIPPED OUT & started a media firestorm. And finally, The Saga Begins, the song that spoofed one of the most respected rock songs ever, American Pie by Don McLean… It was so funny, Don said the parody had bettered his classic… WHAT? We’re covering some comedy gold today. So grab your accordion and throw on a loud Hawaiian shirt. It’s about to get real. We’re counting down Weird Al’s greatest parodies of the last 30 years NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we have one of those rare classic songs, Purple Haze, that has a multitude of stories and legends behind it. First of all, it’s the mother of all misheard lyrics… One that Jimi Hendrix himself started doing in his live shows as a joke. Then there was the first draft of this thing, which was an epic 1000 words that Jimi pared down for radio… then Hendrix risked being electrocuted to create it, and then there was the origin of the song… Some say Purple Haze came from a lucid dream. Others say it was from a waitress stalker who kidnapped a customer.We’re not sure because Jimi Hendrix passed away before we got the exact truth. And then to top it all off, there was the sensitive icon behind it. Jimi hated his own voice, especially on this song, but he was such a revelation that the Stones and the Beatles were at his first gig… Let’s get into a true classic next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, I had a blast with my guest today, Walter Egan… a man who many call a one-hit wonder, but that’s too easy... Sure, he created a huge hit in the late 70s, Magnet and Steel, that became a pop culture fixture with 2 legends who sang background vocals on this classic hit from a band that was rock’s big soap opera of the time. One of these backing vocalists, Lindsey Buckingham, is one of the great guitarists of his time and helped produce the song. And the other one, Stevie Nicks, was so enchanting that Walter Egan fell in love with her, and that was a good thing because it’s what inspired today’s classic song… That and a license plate he happened to see on his way home from the studio at 3 in the morning. A custom license plate inspired him to run into his house and finish Magnet and Steel in minutes… So the question is, did he get the girl?Find out next on the Professor of Rock.Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. 866-890-4844 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/professorofrock NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we continue our tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne, we revisit one of the most electrifying chapters of his legendary career with the creation of “Crazy Train.”After being kicked out of from Black Sabbath, the very band he helped make iconic, many believed Ozzy’s time in the spotlight was over. Battling addiction, depression, and self-doubt, even Ozzy himself thought it might be the end. But then came a spark: a young, virtuosic guitarist named Randy Rhoads. Together, they would forge a sound that launched one of the greatest second acts in rock history.With the release of his 1980 solo debut Blizzard of Ozz, Ozzy came roaring back, led by the unstoppable riff and manic energy of “Crazy Train.” Though it missed the charts at the time, it has since become a rock anthem for the ages and a defining moment in both Ozzy’s and Randy’s legacies.This is the story of reinvention, risk, and the resurrection of a rock legend. “Crazy Train” wasn’t just a comeback—it was the battle cry of a man who refused to be counted out. And today, as we remember Ozzy Osbourne, we ride that train in his honor.All aboard… for one last journey with the Prince of Darkness.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we honor the Prince of Darkness: Ozzy Osbourne, who has passed away, leaving behind one of the most legendary and unfiltered legacies in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. From his groundbreaking days with Black Sabbath to a solo career that defied all odds, Ozzy wasn’t just a rock star—he was a survivor, a showman, and above all, a voice for the outcasts. His life was chaos and brilliance in equal measure, and somehow, through every fall, he got back up louder than ever.In this special "From the Vault" episode, we revisit one of Ozzy’s most personal and redemptive moments—his 1991 hit “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” At a time when his life and career were spiraling, Ozzy nearly lost everything, including his family. After a violent outburst that landed him in jail and on the verge of ruin, he found a path back...not just to music, but to the woman who saved his life. This ballad, written for his wife Sharon, became an anthem of remorse and healing, and marked one of the most unlikely comebacks in rock history.This is the story of Ozzy’s fall... and rise. The pain, the redemption, and the song that said it all: Mama, I’m Coming Home.Mama, he’s coming home. For good this time. Farewell, Ozzy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So this was probably the most difficult episode I’ve ever made. But it’s one that I hope will provoke a real discussion… So one of the main reasons rock ’n’ roll hit so hard when it exploded in the ’50s was because… it wasn’t just music—it was rebellion. It shook off the stiff, clean-cut norm of the time and brought in something wild, loud, and full of swagger. The artists who lit the spark weren’t just entertainers—they were symbols of freedom, independence, and boldness. And that was magnetic, especially to a younger generation hungry for something that inspired them. The biggest stars didn’t just push boundaries—they dared people to react. Elvis Presley, with his swiveling hips and sneer, wasn’t just performing—he was shaking up an entire culture. And later, bands like The Beatles stirred controversy at nearly every turn, whether it was their long hair, their thought-provoking lyrics, or just the idea that they were bigger than pop music itself. Make no mistake about it, rock ’n’ roll was never meant to play it safe. That’s exactly WHY it mattered: Rock artists have always walked a fine line between rebellion and chaos, brilliance and self-destruction. It’s not just their music that had an edge—it was the way they lived: loud, unapologetic, and often dangerously close to the line society draws. But some crossed that line completely….See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been such a crazy week as I’ve been fighting this music rights scam. At one point, I was about ready to give up hope. But I can’t believe how much good has come out of all of this. Right up front, I've got to say THANK YOU to this amazing community. You have flooded the comment section with love and support. And I’ve felt it. THANK YOU! I also want to thank Rick Beato, Justin Hawkins, and Rhett Schull for the videos they posted in response to what has been going on. I’m grateful not only for their kindness and encouragement but also for their thoughtful attention to this matter. Please take some time to watch Rick’s, Justin’s, and Rhett’s videos about this ongoing music rights scam. And be sure to support their channels as well. We’re all in this together.RICK BEATO VIDEO:    • How Major Labels Continue To SCAM YouTubers  JUSTIN HAWKINS VIDEO:    • How Do We Make This Work?  RHETT SHULL VIDEO:    • Beato Is Right...This Is a Scam  Also, if this content matters to you, make your voice heard! Tell these labels that you support YouTube creators. And that they have to stop threatening creators with fraudulent copyright claims, or they will lose your support. Start with the big three: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. You can email, call, or message them on social media. Thank you again!UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUPCorporate HQ: (310) 235‑4892Rights & Compliance: conflictsofinterest@umusic.comFacebook:   / universalmusicgroup  X: https://x.com/umgInstagram:   / universalmusicgroup  WARNER MUSIC GROUPCorporate HQ phone: (212) 275‑4000Legal Department: https://warner-music-group.pissedcons...Facebook:   / warnermusicgroup  X: https://x.com/warnermusicInstagram:   / warnermusic  SONY MUSICGeneral Contact Form: https://www.sonymusic.com/feedback/Facebook:   / sonymusic  X: https://x.com/sonymusicInstagram:   / sonymusic  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don’t go anywhere. Next up: the most-watched episode in Professor of Rock history!FROM THE VAULT: Today, it’s an epic track from a throwaway album… Or at least that’s what the band called it. This song though, it set a new standard for how rock bands wrote and released singles in the 80s, and in the process became one of their signature hits. Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue… Unfortunately, it never got its due on the charts. In fact, because their label hated it and refused to promote it, Home Sweet Home Tanked …So to keep the song alive, the Motley Crue, including Vince Neil, Mick Marrs, Tommy Lee, and Nikki Sixx funded a music video out of their own pockets. And you know what? People went crazy for it. It set MTV records and was so popular the network pulled the plug on it to give other videos some screen time. They made up a rule??? How does that make any sense? This is a story you’re not gonna want to miss. So get ready, it’s coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's vault episode serves up one of Adam's favorite episodes. The collaborative genius of Lennon & McCartney created many of the most celebrated compositions ever recorded- including two heartfelt & evocative pieces of musical theater that demonstrated why The Beatles were the most impactful group of the Rock Era. The story of the powerful double-A side masterpiece- “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, for this episode, we’re flipping the record over to uncover some of the greatest surprise hits of the rock era… That’s right, it’s the revenge of the B-sides. You know, the red-headed stepchildren of rock… songs that were’t good enough to make it onto an album…only good enough to back a hit single. Well, as you’ll see, today’s entries can more than hold their own. In fact, we’ve got a story about Queen's drummer Roger Taylor, who believed in his song so much he locked himself in a cupboard and refused to come out until the band agreed to pair it with Bohemian Rhapsody. And it paid off royally. Then there’s the break-up ballad Silver Springs that Stevie Nicks wrote for her band’s blockbuster album… but her bandmates axed it-2 decades later, it climbed the charts and became on of their most beloved tracks. Then there’s an obscure Pearl Jam B-side Yellow Ledbetter with lyrics that changed every time it was sung. Fans loved it so much, they campaigned to get it airplay, and in the process made it one of its band’s most iconic songs. Next, it’s the Top 10 B-sides that defied the doubters and made it big. NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ya know, every now and again I do an interview and I have a pinch-me moment. All of a sudden, I have the realization that I’m talking to True Rock Royalty… somebody who laid the foundation and kicked open the door everyone is walking through right now. And today I’m excited to share one of those types of interviews. Michael Anthony is arguably the greatest backing vocalist and bassist in hard rock history. He was the standard in the 70s and 80s in a band that lit the world on fire: Van Halen. This band was so great, legendary bands were scared of them. Especially when Van Halen were rookies and opened for them on tour. Sometimes these iconic bands tried to sabotage them by messing with their equipment or lighting, but it didn’t matter; Van Halen was so electrifying that nothing could stop them. Michael Anthony tells the story of Van Halen's magnificent debut album that changed rock forever, and he has some hilarious stories about the charismatic ironman and atomic guitar hero Eddie Van Halen that you won’t believe… It’s next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

🎸 On This Day in Rock History:In 1978, Def Leppard played their first-ever gig at Westfield School in Sheffield, setting the stage for their legendary career.In today’s VAULT episode, we dive into the unbelievable story behind their 1987 blockbuster album Hysteria — a masterpiece shaped by Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, and Phil Collen, with producer Mutt Lange.From tragedy to triumph, it’s a journey of persistence, sound innovation, and rock perfection.With exclusive commentary by Joe Elliott.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in rock history, Judas Priest released their eighth studio album, "Screaming For Vengeance," which went on to sell millions worldwide. To honor the one of the greatest metal bands of all time, check out this classic from 2021. Metal God Rob Halford explains why he wrote BREAKING THE LAW the metal hit that rocked MTV in the early 80s and the power behind their classic album British STEEL.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we're taking the time machine to the 80s and going on a shopping spree at the record store. We're gonna track down the ten best albums of 1985 including the best song and best hidden gem from each of these masterpieces and along the way we get the Tear for Fears #1 hit Everybody Wants to Rule the World that has an inside joke that almost nobody got that references another song from the same album…later that song they joked about went to #1 and settled a stupid argument with a label exec. Then there’s the conversation guitarist Mark Knopfler heard at a store…The banter was so entertaining he wrote it down word for word, and it became the #1 hit Money For Nothing, but because he used a slur that was said in the real dialogue, it’s still censored on radio. Plus, the record by Kate Bush that took 37 years to hit #1, a song where famous outcast Morrissey got even with all of his bullies with a guitar riff that most shredders could never dream of. And the Heart song These Dreams that was rejected by multiple female icons, including Stevie Nicks, but then Nancy Wilson took up the challenge and made it Heart's first #1 hit! It's all next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it was a year of changes in radio and pop culture. A year that many tout as one of the greatest in music history, and rock made a big comeback, with several hard rock legends having their best years ever. Including 2 tracks influenced by the fall of oppressive regimes: Wind of Change by The Scorpions and Right Here Right Now by Jesus Jones. Plus, a groundbreaking hit by PM Dawn that kicked off the sampling revolution and actually might be better than the classic it sampled. Plus Moneytalks from AC/DC, who stopped performing it after an ‘epic fail’ in concert and has now gone 35 years without playing it. And Silent Lucidity, a song that everyone thought was Pink Floyd’s best song in years. Only it wasn’t Pink Floyd. In fact, people even called Radio Stations and requested it as the new Pink Floyd, find out what song, and then there was Enter Sandman, the heaviest rock song to hit the charts, where the band recruited their producer's kid to repeat the Lord’s Prayer. It’s all next on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s story is one of the saddest in rock history. Creedence Clearwater Revival was a band that had as much potential as any who ever recorded a song… They were like a powerful Comet of Rock blazing so fast and bright they just as quickly imploded. CCR had an incredible 14 huge hits in a little over 2 years. They were on a Beatles-like trajectory. In fact, they outdid the Beatles in terms of hits before the demise of the Fab Four. They could compete with anyone, with John Fogerty, a lead singer with a raspy voice and a sound that redefined rock. But sibling rivalry, arguments in the band, and the battle for creative control decimated the band. Today’s massive hit Have You Ever Seen the Rain tells their story best. A classic of the rock canon, it also proved prophetic, predicting the collapse of this band, but only John Fogerty knew what it meant, and then some fans caught on… What a waste. Had the band held on, they may have been the biggest rock band in US history. Up next, it’s one of the great what-ifs of rock and roll on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in 1985, Live Aid made music history.To mark the anniversary of perhaps the most iconic concert ever staged—simultaneously in London and Philadelphia—we’re revisiting one of Adam’s all-time favorite episodes: an unforgettable interview with Thomas Dolby.Thomas was on stage that day, performing with none other than David Bowie. His firsthand stories bring you right into the heart of Live Aid.Don't miss this one—it's a musical time capsule you’ll want to experience again.FROM THE VAULT: My favorite thing in the world is when I do an interview that Leaves me Speechless. Where it blows my mind like "Did that really just happen?" Well this is one those interviews, from an 80s new wave virtuoso named Thomas Dolby….A true renaissance man who was discovered by legendary producer Mutt Lange when he was busking on the street. He would go onto help revolutionize the future.. he was the secret sauce behind huge 80s records by everyone from Def Leppard to Foreigner. Today he tells us about getting the call to play keyboards with David Bowie at Live Aid and how they rehearsed an exact setlist and then Bowie changed the Opening song seconds before they walked on stage. He got play Heroes in front of 100s of millions of people. We also hear how Michael Jackson invited him to his house right after Thriller and asked him to write him a song This is a can’t miss next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s an episode that isn’t for the faint of heart. Today, we’re getting spooky as we explore the most cursed songs of the rock era and beyond. There are some really unbelievable stories here. One song, Kashmir, was born deep in the desert, built around an ancient-sounding riff. And it terrified Jimmy Page because he thought he was possessed when he was writing it. There’s also the killer karaoke track My Way that had to be banned because performing it led to a series of homicides. Another song, The Number of the Beast, put an entire recording studio on the fritz… making all the equipment malfunction. And then afterwards, the producer was so unsettled he crashed into a bus full of nuns. For real. You won’t believe how much the damages cost. From floating books and flying silverware to a jinxed song by The Who that foreshadowed the death of two band members… we’ve got a lot to cover. Don’t watch this one with the lights off. It’s the cursed songs countdown… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, its 2 of the 3 principles of one of Rock’s Greatest trios on a few of the greatest songs of the 80s. And some all-time Myths are busted in this episode, include the oft reported story that the drummer hated one of the bands’ biggest hits… It’s a TOTAL LIE. He didn’t hate it, in fact, he says the song had a perfect demo one that the band tried to recreate hundreds of times. But in the end, they just overdubbed the drum part over the original 7 year old demo. Then there’s the hit song that has the most complex baseline of it’s time that would be impossible for a mere mortal to sing and play at the same time, luckily this bands singer was up to the task. Then there’s the song that is the most eloquent, simple singer ever recorded, where one of rock’s greatest lyricists drafted a nonsensical song with made-up words… and then the song that had a word that you couldn’t rhyme with anything.. You’ll have to hear what they finally did. It’s all next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, Nuno Bettencourt, who may have taken over as the GOAT of all guitarists, tells the story of Extreme's biggest hit, More Than Words… Nuno and Extreme were hard rock and could outplay just about anyone in their day, but it was a heartfelt ballad that took them to the top of the charts. It’s the story of a song the label didn’t want to release, and this guitar hero nearly quit the band in protest! More Than Words sounded more like a singer-songwriter classic than a hard rock showstopper and didn’t sound like anything on the radio, but Extreme fought for it. And they were right as it became one of the biggest songs of its time. But it got so big later on the band began to resent it, even refusing to play it on a big tour with Aerosmith until Steven Tyler wrote them a scathing message that forced them to add it back into their set. It’s the story of a classic from a guitar legend next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the most distinctive, unique, one-of-a-kind voices of the rock era: “Female singer edition.” The list includes Alanis Morissette, a Canadian pop princess who burned her past to the ground and turned the ashes into one of rock’s most fearless records. There’s also a rock siren, Dolores O'Riordan, who started out quieter than a mouse. In fact, when she auditioned for a band, 9 guys mocked her appearance until she opened her mouth and blew them to the moon. Then there’s Stevie Nicks, the songstress who wrote the song Gypsy that was in part inspired by her best friend, and she married her friend’s husband! And we’ve also got Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, who intentionally sabotaged her entire career because she was getting too famous. Stick around as we pay tribute to the most distinctive female singers and the songs that made them timeless, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On July 8, 1954, Elvis Presley's debut single, “That’s All Right,” was played for the first time on Memphis radio, marking a pivotal moment in his career and the beginning of a musical revolution. Just three years later, in 1957, his hit “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts, further cementing his status as the King of Rock 'n' Roll.Enjoy this POR classic from 2022 celebrating the one and only King of Rock 'n' Roll—Elvis Presley.FROM THE VAULT: In the mid-50s, a school-teacher, and a former dishwasher repairman collaborated on writing a song allegedly inspired by the suicide note of a despondent man that was included in an article published by the Miami Herald. It would turn out to be for the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley… The song? Heartbreak Hotel. In fact the schoolteacher named Mae Axton vowed to Elvis that she would write his first #1 million seller and she did. Although Presley’s label RCA thought the song was a disaster. They hated it and predicated it would fail. It went to #1 for 7 weeks and was the biggest song of the years. Years later the school teacher who wrote it, would have a song Hoyt Axton who would write a #1 hit for Three Dog Night called Joy to the World making them the only mother and son to do so in history. Over the years the writing of Heartbreak Hotel from a newspaper article has become a mystery. Curiously, there is no evidence of such an incident in the public records of the State of Florida, nor is there any proof of a news article that was published on the alleged suicide by the Miami Herald. It’s the conflicting and mystifying story of the first #1 pop song by the King of Rock ’N Roll…NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we're telling the story of 11 songs that truly defined one of the most pivotal years in the Rock Era, starting with The Beatles, a band so big they controlled the top 5 spots on the charts, a record that no one has ever come close to. Plus, there was the songwriter Wayne Cochran who told an epic and sad story behind what inspired his massive hit Last Kiss that moved everyone who heard it. Then, decades later, everyone found it was a total lie. Then there was the Do Wah Diddy Diddy that the lead singer of Manfred Mann thought was downright silly... with made-up words, he refused to sing it until his manager forced him to, and even then he sang it as a total joke… It became one of the biggest songs ever, and the silly words became part of the pop vernacular. There was The Animals' House of the Rising Sun that has made tens of millions in royalties but remains unpaid because no one knows who the hell wrote the song. Plus, there’s Marvin Gaye who wrote Dancing in the Street, a song he knew was a smash, but he gave it to his secretary Martha Reeves, who made it an all-time smash. Our countdown of the Top 11 Songs of a special year is NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMING UP next, the Bee Gees were the biggest band of the 70s with 8 #1 hits in under 4 years… they were everywhere until they weren’t. What a difference a few months make. One month they were on top of the world, a few months later, they couldn’t get radio to play their music. They had to hide out… in fact, in the early 80s, the Bee Gees wrote for other people because their brand was extinct. They disappeared from the charts for 10 years. Then, at the end of the 80s, the Bee Gees made one of the biggest comebacks ever. They had a #1 in the UK a year earlier and then blew up the American charts again with a smash that put them back in the game, You Win Again... and they’ve never looked back. The band that beat astronomical odds to go from hero to zero to hero again. It's the greatest perseverance story in music up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In music, trends come and go, chart-toppers rise and fall—but every once in a while, an artist or a band does something that is completely untouchable. I’m talking about milestones that will never be shattered. For today’s episode, we’re tipping our hat to the Guinness Book of World Records and counting down the Top 10 greatest music records That Will Never Be Broken. From the Elton John that sold a record 33 million copies and was only performed one time… when it was recorded, and Elton it didn’t make a dime off it... to The Dark Side of the Moon that spent almost 20 years on the charts, to The Beatles who had 20 #1 hits in just 6 years, to Frank Sinatra, the only artist to have a hit song in 7 different decades. These are the most awesome feats ever. Get ready to have your mind blown… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s No Teaser Today…We have a very special episode of Professor of Rock today covering a legendary singer-songwriter who we lost. To me, it was one of the most devastating losses ever. And it got very little fanfare. There weren’t a bunch of tributes, it wasn’t front page news, it wasn’t covered in the media almost at all. But it should have been. To me, he not only wrote some of the most beloved songs of the 70s and 80s, but he wrote modern standards with the purest tenor voice of his time. Songs like Part of the Plan, Longer, Leader of the Band, Same Old Lang Syne, Run for the Roses, and great album tracks like There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler, and he influenced so many artists that came after. His songs have been like checkpoints of our personal histories; his songs have become our songs and have connected multiple generations, fathers, sons, mothers, and daughters. If you haven’t figured it out today, we are honoring Dan Fogelberg...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The incredible story of What a Fool Believes. We have interviews with both Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald who both wrote it. It became a huge hit for the Doobie Brothers but divided fans when Michael McDonald took over for an ailing Tom Johnston and it changed the Doobies sound. We also have guitarist Skunk Baxter who brought Michael over from Steely Dan where he sang back up. a great story of a hit that stopped 34 straight weeks of a disco song going to #1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So many so-called one-hit wonders have a quirky, unexpected charm—sometimes playful, sometimes totally bizarre, but always endearing. They’re like musical mysteries or fun trivia sparks, making us wonder what could’ve been if the artists had kept it going. We call these songs bottled lightning… Artists that had that one blazing firework that took over the world and we count down the 5 craziest listening in a bottle classics including the rock band Wild Cherry who hated disco but when a fan yelled out a catchy song title, Play that Funky Music in concert they wrote a disco song as a joke and it became a smash… but it became their one and only it when they vanished faster than disco. Then there was the guy M (Robin Scott) who wrote a Pop Muzik to mock a genre and it became a bigger hit than any the songs he was ripping on, plus the band Shocking Blue who sang the wrong lyric in Venus because of a typo on one verse. And then because the singer didn’t speak english accidentally sang a profanity in the next verse... and it became a #1 hit TWICE. But that’s nothing because Tony Burrows was a one-hit wonder with 5 different bands! A great one is next on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ON THIS DAY in 1967, The Beatles began a 15-week reign at #1 on the US album chart with their iconic album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.FROM THE VAULT: In 1967, a brilliant concept album was recorded that shattered the boundaries of song arrangement, and forever changed the art of recorded music. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Maybe Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr created a concept record about an imaginary band. They were in a race with the Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to create the greatest record ever.. The last cut on their ground-breaking record A Day in the Life was a mind-altering composition inspired by the death of a notorious socialite, and psychedelia. We raise the curtain on this fantastic voyage across the perils of stone cold realism.. and the fantasy of lysergic imagination….NEXT on Professor of Rock."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we are taking the time machine back to a shocking hit from the 70s: School's Out. It was from Alice Cooper, a rock star who defined the words SHOCK and AWE, and caused some real trouble with teachers across America. There are some insane stories behind this one…from CREEPY urban legends like the band getting their name from the ghost of a 16th-century witch, to schools getting shut down for playing this song. Plus, School's Out was so dangerous that the physical record came with a switchblade, a slingshot, and was wrapped in actual underwear! Find out why they banned it and why it became an all-time anthem…Next, on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You requested it, so here it is. It was the dawn of a new decade with some of the most intriguing music of the rock era, and some of the most interesting stories... including Nothing Compares 2 U, an incredible song that hit #1, and Sinead O'Connor was livid when it did. She was so pissed, she made a blatant decision right then and there to do everything in her power to be a one hit wonder even though she could’ve had dozens of hits. Plus a Song by Depeche Mode that MTV forced a band to edit because it showed a horse's butt during a controversial sound Then there was the Motley Crue icon who died of an overdose and then came back to life and immediately wrote the band’s best song: Kickstart My Heart. Plus, the heart-wrenching song that came when a Supermodel broke up with Billy Joel, an average-looking rocker. But then he wooed another Supermodel right after. Plus, Fly to the Angels, which was written when Mark Slaughter came home from a tour and tried to call his girlfriend and got devastating news… It became a haunting epic. So many classics on our top countdown of a special year next on POR.Head to https://www.acorns.com/early/por or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up—we’re counting down the songs we’re not supposed to like… Some call them guilty pleasures, others call them bad. Some call them cheese. But when nobody’s looking, most of us sing every word when they come on. I’m gonna get REBUKED FOR THIS but here it goes…One track, To Be With You, is a ballad from a band of shredders that sounds like a camp counselor campfire song that somehow hit #1. Then, there’s the song I Want It That Way, written by a Swedish songwriter who didn’t know English. And it was so confusing that even the band, the Backstreet Boys, didn’t know what it meant. And honestly, neither do WE. Then there’s one of the PMRC’s most wanted, Sugar Walls, an infamous Filthy Fifteen track that gave the phrase “guilty pleasure” a whole new meaning. Plus, there’s a literal boy band Hanson who wrote MMMBop, a song with a chorus so catchy it’s still stuck in our heads 28 years later, and it’s been mocked mercilessly even though it’s 1 of the most emotionally mature songs of the time. They’re all songs we secretly love, but won't admit it… But when no one else is around, all bets are off. It’s the latest edition of our Guilty Pleasures countdown, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.Head to https://www.acorns.com/early/por or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one of the greatest producers of the 70s and '80s, Bill Szymczyk, gives us the lowdown on working with one of the greatest bands of the rock era: Eagles… He got recruited to help the band when their sound was softer and more acoustic, and they wanted to rock, so he helped take them to the next level, where they not only became legends but also one of the biggest bands ever. And this interview is a treat…He tells the stories behind helping craft some of their biggest hits, including the classic Lyin' Eyes that the band wrote after seeing a beautiful young woman with an old fat rich guy, and the great one-liner came from that. Plus, the song this band regrets putting on their album because it was written with an outgoing member of the group and his girlfriend, who happened to be a US President's Daughter. Plus, Take It to the Limit, that was sung by back up singer Randy Meisner, who had immense pressure to hit a certain high note every night after it became a hit, and one revelation you’ll never believe… The biggest-selling album ever took an afternoon to put together. It’s all next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oh man, we got a great one for you next… Brand new interviews and insights on the biggest selling #1 hit of the 80s: We Are the World. And the group USA For Africa was only together for a couple of hours… They put the super in supergroup… The greatest supergroup ever assembled, and I got many of those legends telling the story today. A group that had so many legendary singers, some had to sit out singing lead. So many great stories here, including one about a legendary singer who was supposed to be there but was a no-show, which opened the door for another singer to step up. And then every radio station in AMERICA played the song at the very same time.. The only time that’s ever happened… That’s just the tip of the iceberg… this is one show you don’t want to miss out on. Man, oh man, buckle up for some pure, unadulterated joy and nostalgia next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know, sometimes, songs that become classics aren’t quite what we think they are. Hidden meanings, mistaken lyrics, or misunderstood messages. All of those things. These are tracks that have fooled listeners for decades. We’re going to count down and share the crazy backstories behind the most misunderstood songs of all time… Including Van Halen's feel good party anthem Jump that we all sing, but it was actually inspired by a chilling live news broadcast about a man ready to leap off the roof of a building, then there was the obsessed fan that stalked Sarah McLachlan, sending deranged letters which she used as the basis for one of her biggest songs Possession, only to have the crazy fan sue her claiming his obsessed meanderings inspired the song, find out what happened. And finally, The Beatles wrote the most complicated nursery rhyme ever recorded, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, with a very adult theme that is so creepy it still gives us nightmares…It’s Top 6 Most Misunderstood Songs of the Rock Era is NEXT… on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next is our final countdown of our top song of each year countdown…We’ve covered every year from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we have one left. Can you guess the final year? It was a monumental year, including Janis Joplin, a nervous legend who vomited every take she did while recording a song that out did any male rocker of the time…also the last great song, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay from Otis Redding who died in a plane crash just after releasing his signature tune, as well as a psychedelic classic Pictures of Matchstick Men that wouldn’t have happened if the lead singer liked his mother in law... even a little bit. Then there’s the famous song by The Beatles, Hey Jude, with a secret cuss word that I got in big trouble for even mentioning on my radio show, for fear of getting FINED by the Big boys. As well as the creepiest song of all time, Tiptoe Through the Tulips, sung by the weirdest pop star of all time, Tiny Tim. It’s the countdown of the Top 11 Songs of 1968…NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: On this day in 2004, The Beastie Boys' album "To The 5 Boroughs" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. To celebrate, we’ve got the story of those three mischievous New Yorkers who disavowed one of their biggest songs… Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA otherwise known as the Beastie Boys hated (You Gotta Fight) for Your Right (to Party). This breakthrough track became a legendary music video on MTV but for all the wrong reasons. A rebellious party anthem they wrote to make fun of party anthems in general but in the end, it painted the trio as immature frat boys. But the thing is, it was all a big joke… a throwaway track. Their producer however loved it and pushed for its release. After that things got out of hand real quick with the song blowing up on radio and MTV. And yeah, these guys were no angels… but when fans demanded they live up to the song’s raucous lyrics, they turned their backs on the track… and License To Ill in general. It almost broke up the band. Still, fans couldn’t get enough of it. And even today it is one of their most popular songs. It’s an all-out brawl for this band’s identity and a fight you’re not gonna want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Led Zeppelin released their debut album, it literally made the entire world shake. Nobody had ever heard a band like this… They took over America, touring nonstop in support of their earth-shattering LP. Their Label begged them to get one album #2 ASAP… Their sophomore record came out just months after their debut. Unheard of in music at that time… But in the hurried pace to get that second album out, the label kept them on the road…they were so slammed they had to record it in 13 different studios all over the world. Out of this second record came a masterful feel-good classic, Ramble On, that was inspired by a classic novel. Ramble On was an instant classic with a scorched earth vocal and blazing guitar and percussion…played on.. well, Nobody is exactly sure what the drummer was playing… We’ll try to solve that today… Ramble On is one of the band's most beloved, but they NEVER actually played it LIVE until they did a one-off concert after they broke up almost 40 years later, and it was the one time! They were so big, they said no to Woodstock. It’s a great one next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. So you know, we gotta dial up the 90s. And this is my favorite yet… You know all these themes by heart. We’ve got the Friends Theme I'll Be There For You that was recorded over a weekend & was only 40 seconds long so a DJ looped it a few times, making it a full song, and it hit #1 on 3 charts and made them 1-hit wonder Mega millionaires. Then there’s Seinfeld's anti-theme song that was made up of a bunch of weird mouth sounds and slap bass, and the songwriter had to play a unique version for every single episode. The show was such a hit that he had to do 200 different versions of the same song. Then there was the classic Law and Order theme that came from the footsteps of 500 monks on a hardwood floor, and the rockstar Danny Elfman who’s made tens of millions for singing three notes of The Simpsons Theme, and the eerie X-Files theme that came from a frustrated composer slamming his elbow on the keyboard. These are some of the stories you'll hear next on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a very interesting interview that was a little off at first but got better as we went along. It’s about Soul Asylum's Runaway Train, a song that started out as one thing and ended up making a powerful change worldwide. It came out of crippling depression and it took years to finish. Initially, the lyrics were too similar to another #1 Hit from another time, but after pushing through some horrendous trials, one day a metaphor hit singer-songwriter Dave Pirner like a bolt of lightning. An old memory of playing with a toy train, and he wrote Runaway Train we know, in a few minutes. Then the song’s video would have even more impact, helping solve crimes and saving lives. A song that came from Dave's lowest times changed the world in a way he could never have imagined. Get the story next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, an interview with Gary Numan about several songs that shook radio in different parts of the world. The first one, Are Friends Electric, was a hit in the UK and it came from an out of tune instrument that was written as a science fiction story about the future one that seemed far fetched in the late 70s but one that is a reality now about android hookers… and back then it sold a million copies then the second song Cars was a hit right in middle of soft rockers like Christopher Cross, and Olivia Newton John and this song could’ve have been more different. It was strange and epic, and it came from an incident of highway anger. Gary Numan cut someone off in traffic and almost got pummeled because of it. It became his only hit in America, even though he had many other brilliant hits. He got so sick of it, he resented it. He began to detest it, and then, years later, another legend made him realize he was being a huge baby, and he was grateful for it. A great interview with a legend is next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: The Bee Gees or the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have sold more than 220 million records over their storied career. In this Bee Gees documentary we celebrate their astonishing run as the most prolific group of the 70s and list their top 5 songs from Lonely Days to Stayin’ Alive, from Jive Talking to How Deep Is Your Love. These are the stories behind their incredible music.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes, taking a bold leap or making a risky move can seem like career suicide—until it isn’t. Coming up, we’ll reveal six incredible stories of artists who faced doubt, backlash, or skepticism, only to turn those moments into their greatest triumphs... including an up and coming singer, Anthony Kiedis, who had written a deeply personal song, Under the Bridge, that he hoped to release as a single. But his label execs wanted to see how it would do in concert. Then night he performed it in front of them he missed is cues and screwed up royalty. What happened next was beyond inspiration and convinced his label to put the song out, and it became his biggest hit… Then there was Kenny Loggins, who got a chance to record on the biggest movie soundtrack of the year, but he fell off a stage and broke several ribs. Kenny had to take pain meds and, in the process, sang the soundtrack songs in the wrong key and was fired from the project. But the firing allowed him to write his biggest hit, Footloose, which became a pop culture phenomenon. Our Countdown of the Top 6 Career Killers that became triumphs is NEXT, on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a year that was so great we had to reformat our countdown to 12 songs, truly compelling masterworks here... including the song All the Young Dudes by David Bowie, which he knew was a can’t miss smash. But he gave it to his favorite band, Mott the Hoople, who needed a hit or they were done. The song saved their career and became an all-time classic. Then there was the rookie Justin Hayward, who sent the legend Eric Burdon his demo tape, and it was rejected. But then, years later, Eric ended up covering the artist he scorned... As well as the Seals & Crofts feel good classic Summer Breeze with a melody played by a toy the singer found in the studio, that made it sound different than anything on radio… Then there were The Hollies, who were known for crafting pretty pop hits, who decided to rock out, the lead singer did his best John Fogerty impression, and the song Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress became a smash. But then he got sued by the man he mimicked and had to pay him half the royalties. It’s the countdown of the Top 12 Songs of 1972, NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we have a very special episode of Professor of Rock, and I’m going to get right into it. We lost a true musical Genius recently. But Ya know.. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. And GENIUS simply doesn't cover it. For Brian Wilson, there should be a higher word or title for him that could never be bestowed up on anyone else in music history... Only him. In my opinion, He composed the highest vibrations in popular music-period. He was a light in a sometimes very Dismal world, and his music will continue to cut through the darkest times. I’ve mentioned this before, but when I started doing interviews, I made a list of 15 legends I wanted to have a deep conversation with before I left this earth, and at the top of that list was Brian Wilson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: The thing about Jon Bon Jovi and his incredible band is the music they've created has always got your back. From "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" to "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "It's My Life", their music gives us redemption and faith against all odds. Mostly it's music of hope, which is a powerful thing, especially in the times we live in. As Jon Bon Jovi says "You live for the fight when that's all that you've got". You got to keep the faith.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From rock royalty to wild misfires — today we’re covering the greatest supergroups you’ve never heard of… but won’t forget any time soon. We’re telling the stories of rock legends who almost joined forces but just couldn’t get it together… And others that actually made it to the stage and into the studio. Among them, there’s a soap opera-inspired band (featuring soap star Rick Springfield) that mixed reality television with arena rock, decades before it became a thing. Then there’s the band Hindu Love Gods that came together during a drunken jam session and accidentally cut an album that became a cult classic. We’re also covering two of the biggest icons in music history, the King of Pop and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. They had a project that was thwarted by llama drama in the recording studio. That’s right — an actual llama derailed this legendary collaboration. Plus, the near-miss Beatles-Stones supergroup that could have become the biggest band of all time. It's next on Professor of Rock.Head to http://acornsearly.com/por to download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the evolution of one of the most legendary groups ever through their greatest songs…and we have all three principles here to tell the story of their sound and its impact on the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Crosby, Stills, and Nash. SO many great stories here in our Evolution series. Including their first album that blew up radio with harmonies that moved the soul, including the Suite: Judy Blue Eyes about a torrid love affair that’s break up was so painful the singer can’t even say the famous woman’s name and then there was the vinyl cover where the photographer set the band members up in the wrong order while sitting on a couch in front of a house…They were supposed to correspond with the group name that would appear above them on the album.. No big deal, he said, we’ll just go back after the weekend and re-shoot the cover shot. Problem is that when they went back to the house, and couch was gone… over the weekend, it had been demolished! And then there was the guy who bet band member Graham Nash 500 bucks he could write a song in a few minutes… Not only did he win the bet, but the tune Just a Song Before I Go became the famous group’s biggest hit. It’s an all-star episode… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next is an interview with Kenny Rogers, a legend we lost a few years back… He was voted the greatest singer in the world several times by the people, and today’s song, The Gambler, his most famous one, is a major reason why… It’s a song that everyone knows and loves, even if they won’t admit it. It’s a song that changed the fortune of a computer programmer forever. A tech guy who was working a graveyard shift wrote the song, and in the process, he elevated a middle-aged singer whom the pundits said was done. They said at 40 Kenny was way past his prime, over the hill, they said his career was over, and left him for dead. But The Gambler launched him into superstardom. The song was so good that it became a hit TV movie and a metaphor that’s been used a million times. Up next, the making of a storybook song that grabbed an indelible piece of pop culture… in his own words. next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we honor the life, genius, and lasting legacy of Brian Wilson—co-founder of The Beach Boys, and one of the most visionary minds in rock history. In this special bonus episode of Professor of Rock, we commemorate Brian’s extraordinary contributions to music following the news of his passing.Through exclusive commentary and historical perspective, we remember Brian not only as a musical innovator but as a fragile genius whose art transcended generations.This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the man who gave the world God Only Knows, Don’t Worry Baby, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, and so many more.Rest in harmony, Brian Wilson. Your music lives on.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some songs were made to push boundaries — stirring up scandal, controversy, and uncomfortable conversations. On today’s episode, we’re featuring songs that did just that… We’re breaking down six songs that either got themselves banned from radio, blacklisted by MTV, or pulled from live shows. The list of taboo tracks includes Olivia Newton-John John who panicked after recording her biggest hit, Physical, and begged her manager to kill it — but it was already racing up the charts. Another musician, Laura Branigan, released a music video for Self Control that played out like Phantom of the Opera meets Eyes Wide Shut. So MTV banned it. But it still went Top 5 on the US charts. We’ve also got Sting, who retired one of his biggest hits to avoid modern-day backlash, and Meat Loaf, who got so sick of explaining what his song meant that he tried to delete it from his catalog. But the fans wouldn’t have it. So, what do you think, did any of these songs go too far? You be the judge, next on The Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this Petty classic should’ve been #1 next on Professor of Rock.Brought to you by Gamut Podcast Network. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMING up next, we are taking the time machines back to the Summer of Love, the birth of psychedelia, and the year when music truly became art. With 11 of the greatest songs of that magical time, including a scruffy 16-year-old kid Alex Chilton, who won a high school talent show and got to record a short 2-minute song, The Letter… It ended up hitting #1 and outdoing the Beatles. Then there was the revolutionary song For What It's Worth that came from the rookie band Buffalo Springfield that took us decades to realize was a supergroup who spawned many legendary bands. Then there was RESPECT, a song that was written by Otis Redding from his perspective as a man wanting some appreciation from his woman, but then Aretha Franklin covered it, changing the song’s gender and making it an all time female anthem and then there was the #1 band The Beatles who had 2 prolific writers, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, who each wrote a masterpiece, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever, and were in competition to see who would’s song would be the hit.. so they released them on the same single. It became the greatest double-sided hit ever. Legendary guests and stories next on the Top 11 Songs of 1967 on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the fascinating story of the 80s mega-hit Never Gonna Give You Up that topped the charts in at least 25 countries. And it almost never happened. When Rick Astley was searching for his first hit, he got picked up by one of the world's premier production teams. Only instead of letting him record an album, they had him doing chores around the studio… assigning him to make tea for the crew. But when they finally gave Rick a chance, he made the most of it and created a catchy ditty that came from an argument with his girlfriend. But when he showed Never Gonna Give You Up to his famous production team, they absolutely HATED IT and refused to release it. It was only by chance that it started to get airplay. But when it did, it stormed the charts, and nobody even knew who this mystery man was. It led to 3 massive hits and then Rick up and vanished… But then, decades later, today's Never Gonna Give You Up was resurrected and became the mother of all pop culture tracks, it became the biggest prank song in history. The story next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re moving into the shadows of the '80s to uncover the most chilling, emotionally gripping performances of the decade. They were the songs that ruled the radio dial and haunted our souls with 10 iconic vocal performances from the decade’s best. As we count down the most haunting songs of the 80s, including post-punk icon Siouxie Sioux, who gave her voice to the fall of an entire civilization… Stevie Nicks, who had faced so much pain and drama in her band that a 15-minute, 16-verse epic still couldn’t contain it all… And then there was Aimee Mann who was abducted as a child and after a detective finally rescued her she struggled to speak off and on for years, but it fueled her songs including a haunting 1985 song Voices Carry that became here biggest hit and then one haunting vocal that was the final recording of a beloved legend Karen Carpenter who left us far too soon. It’s the Top 10 Most Haunting Female Vocals of the 80s—NEXT, on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some songs are just BLESSED…seriously, it just seems like certain songs are touched by the hand of God where the miraculous and unexplained happens… Well that’s exactly what today’s song was and still is. Life in a Northern Town.. It was a mind blowing song in 1986 that didn’t sound like anything on radio. And it was meant to be. Today’s singer Nick Laird Clowes tells us how he was mentored by both Paul Simon and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd… In fact, Gilmour produced today’s hit song: Life in a Northern Town. and the real magic happened when they were in the studio and turned down everything in the chorus except for the vocals and they both looked at each other and knew it would be a smash. It would become one of the most nostalgic and haunting songs of the 80s, and even more incredible, he wrote it on his dead hero’s guitar. This interview is mind-blowing and shows the true power of music and why we‘ve lost something in all of the technology and mathematical approach to music. One of the best rock storytellers I’ve ever witnessed.. This interview is a beautiful example of the magical muse that transpires when a song is born and raised in greatness... on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next.. the story of Juke Box Hero, an all-time classic rock song from both its iconic singer, Lou Gramm, and guitarist Mick Jones, who both wrote it. It's one of the '80s greatest anthems. They each had a great song and pretty much combined it into one with dual experiences… Mick said it came from a fan who stood in the rain for 5 hours to get tickets to their sold-out show. Lou Gramm said it came from his own experience standing outside a sold-out concert hall, and being unable to see Hendrix perform. Many rock singers have called it the most challenging song to perform in history… Most can’t hit the notes, but boy, did Lou do it, even if he had to fight a legendary producer tooth and nail to get it just right. Juke Box Hero became a #1 rock song and sold a million copies twice, 25 years apart! The story is next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Songwriters have stated many times that you never know where or when a clever lyric is going to strike. It’s also that way for a guitarist. A catchy riff can come at any time and from any place. You’ll hear what I mean when we talk about some of the best solos of the 70s. For instance, Ritchie Blackmoreimprovised a solo to impress a journalist who was doing an exposé while riding on a tour bus; he dared him to do it, and this Ritchie came up with it right there. But was it classical music or rock? Another giant solo busted out when two genius musicians were on the verge of a bitter breakup. And another that came from Lynyrd Skynyrd's bassist… And finally, David Gilmour's extended solo on Comfortably Numb that may not only be the best solo of the 70s, but possibly the greatest solo ever, where a genius was sculpting emotion out of thin air, topping off a historic song that has since become one of the greatest songs in rock history. It’s the countdown of the Top 10 Guitar Solos of the 70s, NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: When you listen to the modern day standard "Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, you may not immediately hear the sadness. You may not recognize that it is song about a failing relationship.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, we're firing up the time machine and heading to an iconic year in the 70s… Can you guess it? It was the year Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record and Muhammad Ali stunned George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. And in music, it was a pummeling, too. One song came when a future rock star Donal Fagen, hit on the wife of one of his college professors when she was pregnant. Then there’s the all-time classic Piano Man everyone sings along to, but Billy Joel was embarrassed by it; he only made a couple of grand from it. Then there’s Randy Bachman, who wrote Ain't Seen Nothing Yet as a joke to make fun of his brother's speech impediment, and it hit #1 in 22 countries. And then there’s Steve Miller, who ripped off a lyric from an oldies song, but misheard it and has been singing the wrong word for 50-plus years... one that doesn’t exist in the English language. It was a fabulous year in music, and we're counting 'em down NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: Hey Music Junkies, the Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time; If you love music, you’ll want to subscribe below and hit the bell so you always get our daily content. You’ll also want to check us out on Patreon as we’ve added a bunch of exclusives and benefits there. Today we're discussing 5 forgotten songs from the 90s that will take you back to the good old days. Including exclusive commentary from the the artist. including Emerson Hart from Tonic, the Popoff brothers from the band LIT and Vinnie Dombroski from Sponge. As well as songs by Garbage and Ephraim Lewis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I really screwed up a few weeks ago. I was counting down the greatest songs of 1976 and left out More Than a Feeling, one of the greatest songs in classic rock history. I’ve never messed up like this, but here’s the thing: in any other year, it would easily be the #1 song. But in 1976, it would be competing with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. So that got me thinking… What is the greatest song in classic rock history? So that set me on a quest for rock immortality. I dug into an elite group of songs that not only ruled radio and soundtracked our lives, but have become the definition of rock itself. For this episode, I’ve assembled the ultimate musical showdown. I’ve got a list of 11 of the most legendary classic rock standards to echo across the airwaves. But the question is, which one deserves to be #1? What song is the GOAT of classic rock? My 11 candidates are special. There’s More Than a Feeling, a song that saved rock from a complete disco takeover. There's Stairway to Heaven, a song that got so big it was banned from being played in guitar shops around the world… And the one that has the greatest note hit by a singer ever. Let’s get ready to rumble… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with one of my favorite people, Huey Lewis, about one of the biggest #1 hits of the '80s, The Power of Love. It’s become legendary both because of the feel-good sing-along chorus and the iconic movies it supported. Huey was in the midst of a huge album THAT RULED the mid 80s with 4 big hits, when he was tapped to write the theme song for not 1 but 2 blockbuster films, so he had to choose. The one he said yes to (Back to the Future) was a challenge. He had no desire to write a dumb song with the movie title in it… Huey thought the title was too on the nose, so the director said, "Just send me the next thing you write…" Huey did just that, and Power of Love became a #1 smash… The only problem is that the filmmakers didn’t capitalize on it. And they missed a window to have a big soundtrack album… Up next is the story of how Huey Lewis gave 10% of the song’s royalties to an old friend for coming up with the title of the song. The only problem is the tile was the same as 2 other hits at the time. Very common, and there was the fact that this artist was banned from putting the song on his new album. It's all coming up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the legendary duo Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, or OMD for short, tells the story of their career in 5 key songs that helped invent the iconic sound of the 80s. So get this, they wrote their first big song “Electronic” when they were teenagers forming an underground synth duo, and it ended up selling 5 million copies of their single ENOLA GAY, which was written and recorded on a cheap synth they bought out of a mail order catalog… They got bigger with every release and but in the mid-80s, they were called in at a moment’s notice to write the theme for the 1986 film Pretty In Pink after a test screening went sideways. If You Leave was a last minute scramble that had them staying up all night to write and record the song and then when the song was too long at over 5 minutes they fudged the number on the tape saying it was 4 and half minutes so it would get played on the radio and it became a smash. The interview is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with a true 80s icon, Colin Hay, who people forget was on a Beatles-like trajectory... if only for a couple of years. But those years, he and his band Men at Work were as big as anyone. They actually pulled off something that not even the Beatles did… when their debut record Business as Usual, spent 15 weeks at #1 and contained two #1 hits that we still play today: Down Under and Who Can It Be Now? And two other huge hits for a total of four top tens. They won a Grammy for best new artist and were on the cover of Rolling Stone… But just a short time later, Men at Work completely disappeared, and they NEVER had another hit. Up next, we get the story behind these hits in an exclusive interview with Colin Hay to find out what the hell happened. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re gonna get into the dark underbelly of the 70s, where bad taste reigned supreme, controversy sold millions, and critical acclaim was strictly optional. We are going to take a ride through the songs that you hate to love or the songs that you love to hate, depending on your perspective. You’ll hear the tale of (You're) Having My Baby by Paul Anka, a song so far outside the norm, it managed to offend feminists and the religious right in one fell swoop… another hit that was written by a bona fide convict but crooned by one of rock’s most righteous voices…a song that even as a 3 year old made my ears bleed. And yes, even the song that dared to expose the carnal secrets of rodents: Muskrat Love… And finally, the worst song in the history of our planet by Rick Dees… One that single-handedly destroyed a disco in just 3 mins and 17 seconds… It’s going to be a lot of fun, packed with eyebrow-raising stories, guilty pleasures, tacky tunes, and head-shaking comedy as we count down the Top 5 Cheesiest Songs of the 70s…NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: The Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar tells the story of Van Halen’s 1988 top 5 hit: “When it’s Love" from their magnificent album 0U812. The song was a #1 hit on the rock charts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So a few weeks ago, I told you we had our final top 10 songs of the 80s, but I was wrong… We have one more I overlooked, and arguably its best year: 1983. That’s right, we’ve got the top 10 songs of 1983, including Prince's Little Red Corvette which was written during a nap. It would become one of the dirtiest songs of the time, even though some people still think it’s about a car. Then there’s the song All Night Long, which Lionel Richie interrupted a doctor's appointment with his wife’s gynecologist to nail down. Then there was the catchy song that came to a failing duo, The Eurythmics, who knew it would be a smash until they showed it to their record label said the song lacked any hooks… The bewildered songwriter said the whole song is a hook, and he was right. Then there’s my A Flock of Seagulls pick, which I’ll tell you right now will be a source of controversy with all the great songs that dropped in 1983… It only went to #30 and the band is mistakenly called a 1 hit wonder, but it’s the most exhilarating song of the year, and if you really listen to it… I know you’ll agree. It’s the top 10 of 1983… You’re gonna love it… I just know it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the mid-80s, just when we thought we had seen everything, out came a large and possessed 6-foot-6 bald singer named Peter Garrett who scared the hell out of everyone. And strangely enough, his band Midnight Oil was one of the biggest draws at the box office. But as they were rising, they turned down lucrative concert offers and a huge tour to play the most remote places in their region. They wanted to be among the people. Midnight Oil witnessed the harsh conditions and poor health that ran amok within the communities they toured. For decades, the people there were mistreated and misrepresented... Outraged by what they saw, the band wrote a song called Beds Are Burning that conveyed their fury and beseeched the public to join them in a crusade to fight… It was a rock anthem that blared out of every radio in 1987, and we all sang along... not knowing that the anthem was actually a protest song. And one of the coolest parts of the music came when a band member put a metronome in their mouth! It made their album a masterpiece. Up next... the story behind Midnight Oil's biggest American hit, one that actually brought about real change, on Professor of Rock!!”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s episode, the songs are coming at you from every channel on the dial—we’ve got songs about superheroes, secret agents, and stranded castaways. It’s time for another TV theme countdown. This time from the 60s. We’ve already hit the 70s and 80s. And you loved them both. But as good as they were, this decade is a goldmine. We’ve got themes that were sung, whistled, and snapped into pop culture history. Including the Batman theme locked us all in with just a single word. Then there was the Star Trek theme that was the subject of some behind-the-scenes controversy, when the show’s creator wrote secret lyrics to the instrumental theme… just so he could rake in the royalties. Then there’s the Andy Griffith Show theme that a songwriter tried to nail down using actors, musicians, different instruments, and nothing worked. He was so flustered, he walked up to the mic and whistled the song… it became 1 of the most magical themes ever. We’re counting ‘em all down NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… I found an interview I did years ago with 80s icon, Howard Jones, that I thought was lost! This legend takes us through his songs that were the backbone of the 80s… Songs everybody knows and loves… including Things Can Only Get Better, a song that was measured by scientists to have one of the highest vibration readings in a special experiment. It might be the most positive song ever recorded and has a chorus we all sing at the top of our lungs… It’s impossible not to sing along to. Then there is the story of his biggest hit, No One is to Blame, that would’ve been a guaranteed #1 hit, but his label was in a dispute with some big radio stations. So in protest, the stations wouldn’t play the song, and it cost him #1. No One is to Blame came from a cheesy line a promoter said to him, and he turned it into a smash. The song was praised for it’s unique drum loop which everyone assumed was played by the famous drummer/singer who produced the tracks but it was actually today’s singer who didn’t even play drums.. and it really confused fans when he put out 2 versions of the song that were on radio at the same time. The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, we have the whole band sitting down to share the story of an absolute Zombies classic. Today’s classic Time of the Season was so ahead of its time in its lyrics, music, and feel... it capsized. This famous song was released in 1969, going into the 1970s, it was the perfect invasion of psychedelic 60s blessing into the excessive 70s, and it has so many back stories. First of all, Time of the Season didn’t become a hit until a year after Zombies had actually broken up. Its unique handclaps and audible breathing made it one of the most unique million-selling hits ever, and it contained a cool phrase that would become part but the label was ready to cut their losses with he classic album this song came from. But it was saved at the last minute, but even then the record’s title was misspelled, and it still hasn’t been corrected all of these years later. Then, to add insult to injury, when the song hit the top of the charts, with the band broken up a promoter put out a fake version of the band and began to tell people the lead singer had died… in fact, The lead singer found out about his own death when reading the paper. The story is next on Professor of Rock…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was the decade full of blistering shredders, but the greatest solos weren’t just about melting faces—they were about moving hearts. Some of the most unforgettable licks came from guitarists you’ve never heard of… players who sounded like they were channeling something divine. One guitar icon, Eddie Van Halen, delivered an all-time classic solo as a personal favor to Michael Jackson… It’s probably the most famous solo of its time & he didn’t get paid a thing for it. And it contributed to keeping his own band out of #1, see what I mean next... and then there’s the legendary guitarist who’s solo was too complicated for the band so the producer told him to play something really simple so this legend played the cheesiest most simple solo he could and it became the best part of the song! So many great stories and special guests as we’re opening up the case, plugging into the amp, and counting down the Top 10 Guitar Solos of the 80s... NEXT on Professor of Rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we jump inside the time machine and travel back to a year of radio magic… as we count down the top song of the bicentennial. Including the story of Bohemian Rhapsody, an epic track that a major label tried to bury because it was too epic... too spectacular… Freddie Mercury got even by leaking it to the radio on purpose. It became the biggest song of the 70s! There was Aerosmith's breakout smash Dream On, which was written when he was barely 14 years old… Then there was the throwaway song 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover that a Paul Simon wrote as a joke with his toddler to teach him how to rhyme… and then there was Take It to the Limit that was written and sung by the backup singer of the Eagles, but his lead vocal was so powerful, it because the show stopper of all their live shows thereafter. Many people buy a ticket just to hear that one note. It’s our countdown of the Top 10 Songs of ’76..NEXT on Professor of Rock.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Robert Plant, rock's greatest frontman, was given an ultimatum by his girlfriend. Choose me or your music. Sure, Robert was deeply in love and was dirt poor with questionable prospects... at least at that moment. He was scraping by searching for his big break. And as heart-wrenching as the decision was, he chose music. But the love standoff was one he’d never forget. 10 years later, after a gaggle of legendary albums and songs under his belt... and sitting on top of the world, he seized upon that moment and wrote Ten Years Gone. Reflecting on his torment and heartbreak, and what might have been... it became one of the greatest album cuts in history. And the song influenced a genre that would be Rock’s last stand. Up next, the compelling story of Ten Years Gone, a song with one of the most epic guitar solos of the 70s. In fact, the 14 guitars on the track made the song impossible to play live, even though it came from one of the biggest records ever.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some music careers collapse slowly, others implode in an instant. In the world of rock, where egos are amplified and every move is under the microscope, even legends can sabotage their own careers. With this in mind, we’re counting down the Top 5 worst decisions in rock. Blunders so bad, they’ve gone down in history as cautionary tales. These missteps derailed albums and turned icons into punchlines. One of these stories is about an obsessed Axl Rose who sunk 13 million dollars and a decade into the album Chinese Democracy, which in the end was kinda lame. Another one is about Kevin Dubrow, who had the #1 band in the world: Quiet Riot. But one Bad interview and his career ended almost overnight… U2 thought they were clever when they gave away an album for free to many Millions of people, only to have them lead a worldwide revolt. And Billy Squier flushed his career down the toilet after putting out 1 of the worst music videos ever. These stories and more are coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next a classic rock standard that came to legendary guitarist Joe Walsh while he was mowing his lawn. He saw the beautiful scenery around him, the mountains, the greenery, and nature, and the lyrics to the 70s classic Rocky Mountain Way came to him in an instant. He was so excited and so worried he’d forget them, he ran into his house to write them down… The only problem is he forgot to turn off his lawnmower, and it created havoc on his neighbor's yard. Find out what happened next in the story of the guitar classic, and we also have Kenny Passarelli, the co-writer and bassist of the song, to tell us his side of the story next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, After the Fire, a band that became a one-hit wonder… After they broke up. Today’s song, Der Kommisar, is a true classic from the 80s, but it had 2 very different lives… First, it was first released by Falco and it was in German… it was a massive hit in 10 different countries, but it flopped in AMERICA. Then American Prog Rock band After the Fire was dabbling in new wave and got hold of it… They translated it from German to English, except for a few mysterious lines, and released it. And it FLOPPED AGAIN! So at this point, this band was in massive debt, they were burned out, and in a war with their label. So they broke up. And then out of nowhere, Der Kommisar climbed to the top of the charts and became a classic. Up next, we find out where After the Fire went and after 40-plus years of wondering what the hell Der Kommisar means… We finally find out coming up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 10 intriguing and in some cases most bizarre stories behind the greatest album covers of the 70s… We’ve got a lot packed into this one… controversial covers, urban legends, and death-defying photo shoots. For Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy, two kids were coated with vehicle-grade spray paint to get just the right look. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers cover featured a pair of jeans with a working zipper. But it had to be unzipped because it was scratching other records when it was shipped. The Cars' Candy-O featured a provocative illustration of a woman. But she later backed out and didn’t want her face on the cover. So they kept her body and drew in another woman’s face. Oh, and then there’s Wish You Were Here where a man was lit on fire to get the perfect shot, but the wind blew the fire and it burnt his face... and then there’s the famous photographer who took the worst shot of her life, and it ended up being her most famous photo! WE have the songs, the stories, and special guests next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it's a countdown of some of the greatest songs of the Rock Era from a year that is always in the conversation for the best year in music history. Including the #1 hit 96 Tears by a mysterious singer whose identity wasn’t known for decades. As well as Wild Thing, the song that was so bad the singer couldn’t stop laughing when he recorded it... and it became such a classic the writer Chip Taylor blew all the money in casinos and his habit got so bad he was kicked out of every major casino in Las Vegas. Then there was the song The Sound of Silence that flopped so badly that Simon & Garfunkel broke up. But then a producer remixed it, adding more instruments to it, and released it. The duo was livid till it hit #1. And then there’s the song California Dreamin' that a famous singer recorded. But he went scorched earth when he heard it on the radio, and his entire voice had been erased. We have legendary guests and stories on a special countdown coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a crash course on the top 5 of the greatest tracks from one of Rock’s Heaviest bands, Van Halen. They had 3 different singers over the course of their tenure and in the process created some of the best hard rock of the last 50 years. Fans fight about what era was their best, but no one can deny the one powerful presence that linked all of the eras together… their Incredible guitarist Eddie Van Halen. And today we're featuring their 5 greatest songs that all should’ve been hits, but were never released as singles. It’s Van Halen's best hidden gems, including a song that Eddie was so excited about writing, he called up and woke up Sammy Hagar at 4 in the morning. Then, he coaxed him to write it half asleep over the phone… Plus another song where the guitar was so epic and all encompassing, the singer had no clue where to sing because there was no break. Plus another that made Rock and Roll dangerous again after DISCO had taken over. We have the classics and a special guest next on Professor of RockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we turn the spotlight on those spontaneous bursts of brilliance when rock legends threw out the script and created something historic on the spot. These are the unplanned performances that turned into moments of legend... including a kid who was traveling with his parent and wanted to see a legendary studio. He happened to play guitar and asked if he could sit in on a session. He played a riff so cool it made the cut, and the song became a classic. Then there was Incense and Peppermints, a song that Strawberry Alarm Clock was struggling to nail down the vocals. Everyone in the band tried it, but it wasn’t working. Then a random kid who was watching the session stepped to the mic and nailed it. Next thing he knew, it was a #1 hit. Then there was Bon Scott, who jumped on stage and jammed with AC/DC on a whim and became one of the most legendary singers ever! It’s a countdown of the Top 5 Moments of Improv Magic… NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1970. 52 years ago. This top 10 has one of the greatest, most revered tracks gracing its ranks. Will The Beatles be crowned #1? Not if the Jackson 5, The Guess Who, or solo John Lennon have anything to say about it. Plus, we have some surprise underdogs and one of the most successful one-hit wonders of all time looking to make their mark. Find out how it all shakes down, next on our latest edition of the Hit Song Redux!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with the famous singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, who’s renowned for her confessional writing and character-driven narratives... but technically only had one hit: Sunny Came Home but it was massive. It was #1 on several charts and won Grammys for record of the year and song of the year from one of the most iconic albums of the year it was released. And right in the middle of her Grammy speech, a rapper jumped on the stage and protested a rival artist winning over his group. Sunny Came Home is a classic of its time, and it actually came from this artist’s friend… Or her painting… Shawn Colvin loved her friend’s painting so much that she made it the album cover, and it sparked the idea for the classic song that was about a woman who started her own house on fire. The interview is next on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s story has it all. A song by The Cult called She Sells Sanctuary that divides fans so much that one punched the singer Ian Astbury in the face. Then, a producer wanted to work with the band so badly that he stole their demo tape from his rival. And then The Cult's drummer stole a car on his way to the music video shoot and was arrested. And then the secret sauce of She Sells Sanctuary actually came from the ace guitarist playing his instrument with a violin bow. All of this happened with today’s hard rock classic. Today’s all-out rocker Ian Astbury launched this underground band into the international spotlight and made them one of the coolest bands of their time. Get the story of how The Cult fought back and established themselves as an iconic act for the ages. So Iconic that both New Wave kids and Metal-Heads loved them… It's the most mystical song of 1985, next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it's the ultimate countdown of classic crushes, heartbreaks, and unforgettable anthems. Some of these songs were written about real people, while others just needed the perfect name to make them timeless. It’s our Girl in the Song countdown, including Prince's Naughty Song Darling Nikki that Offended Every Politician’s Wife in Washington DC. And Angie, a song that Mick Jagger allegedly wrote to make peace when his buddy's wife found them in bed together. Plus Brandy (You're a Fine Girl), which made an obscure Girl’s name one of the most popular of the 70s. And another song, Beth, that Kiss hated so much, most of the key members didn’t even show up to record it, and then it became their biggest hit. Interviews and stories are NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a year of rock and pop magic. Today, we do our final top 10 countdown of the neon decade. It was year that saw Peter Gabriel replace his old band Genesis at #1 with the happy-go-lucky song Sledgehammer that most people still don’t know is about making whoopee. And then another #1 hit Addicted to Love that was written while its suave singer, Robert Palmer, was asleep. Plus, you had a music critic quit his big-time magazine to go write music as one half of the Pet Shop Boys… His co-workers mocked him relentlessly until West End Girls became one of the biggest hits of the year. And this is the year that included what I believe is the coolest song of all time… Something About You by Level 42. Seriously, if I could only listen to 1 song for the rest of my life… it would be this one. Can you guess the year? We have special guests and epic stories coming up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I got one for ya. Today's song Soul to Squeeze was cut from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' ground-breaking album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It was turned into a B-side several times, and then put on the soundtrack of one of the worst movies of its time, The Coneheads, as an afterthought… And then out of nowhere, it flew up the charts and became a #1 smash? Well, Soul to Squeeze did exactly that. The Chili Peppers had it all ready to go as a part of their famous double album, but at the last second, their label demanded they cut the double record in half. And since they’d already written a similar song, they just dropped it. They thought it was just OK anyway, so it was no skin off their noses. But as it turns out, Soul to Squeeze resonated with a lot of people who felt like outcasts. I guess everybody loves an underdog. Up next, we have the unlikely story of a second-class b-side from the soundtrack of the worst movie of the year that became a bona fide rock classic on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re uncovering the backstories behind the greatest movie themes of the 1980s. Songs that became pop culture history. And some of these backstories are just insane. The Batman theme was recorded in the cramped bathroom of an airplane at 30,000 feet. And the former 80s frontman turned composer, Danny Elfman, had to run back to the lavatory every time inspiration struck with the next part. Another classic adventure score, The Raiders March, actually started as two separate pieces of music—but they were both so good, the director made him stitch the two songs into a single, unforgettable track. Then there was the ET Theme that was so moving that it made Steven Spielberg cry the first time he heard it, and then he actually re-cut the film to match the flow of the music. We’re telling these stories and more… Stick around as we count them down, NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a conversation with The Stylistics, a band that helped carve out an Incredible Musical Movement in the 70s. One that would influence everyone from Prince to Judas Priest to Daryl Hall and John Oates with some of the best baby-making music of all time. In fact, the members of this group told me that a couple told them that they have 3 kids and all were conceived to each of their 3 hits: Like You Are Everything, You Make Feel Brand New, and Betcha By Golly Wow. Up next, they tell the story of 2 of the biggest hits ever including one that came from an old Country Bumpkin Saying that they turned into a classic and another one that has one of the most striking falsettos of all time. The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of the 80s classic that just gets bigger every year, and it almost didn’t get recorded. Today’s singer-songwriter Robbie Dupree moved to LA and began to pay his dues, and he did for years, but he got nowhere. He submitted demos, including his song that would become an all-time classic: Steal Away. But it was rejected by every single label outright. So Robbie decided to move back to his old town and took a job loading carpets into trucks just to make ends meet, feeling like his chance had passed and he was ready to move on with his life. Then something completely unexpected happened. And it made his song a classic that has had a major resurgence in pop culture and is now one of the most played songs in radio history. Robbie himself tells the story next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to the greatest Male rock singer of all time—critics, fans, and forums have debated it endlessly. And while we don’t necessarily disagree with the usual names, there are some incredible voices that rarely get the recognition they deserve. So on this episode, we're shining a light on the unsung heroes—the vocalists who should absolutely be in the conversation of the greatest ever, and there are some real surprises in here. It’s our countdown of the Top 10 Most Under-Appreciated Vocalists… including the raspy rocker Bob Seger who was so poetic he made a seedy stripper seem like a Goddess, and Sammy Hagar who had such a talent at this peak that his 1986 hit with his new band was so grand it felt like he was just showing off. And then there’s David Gilmour, who is one of the greatest guitarists ever and the secondary singer in Pink Floyd, but his melancholy performance on 1975's Wish You Were Here was so sensational it’s become the greatest album cut in history. The stories are coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s year was something else. Where it was the last hurrah for one Genre… Rock made a huge comeback with songs that have become like old friends. Including Who Are You by The Who that dropped the F-bomb clearly several times, but somehow got past the censors and is still played today…Then there was the Punk Icon that questioned Freddie Mercury's masculinity, and then Mercury turned around and wrote the Toughest Rock Anthem of the time: We Will Rock You. Then there was the rookie band Foreigner that ran out of songs at their first festival, so they ad-libbed Hot Blooded on the spot, and it became a classic. Plus, the Saxophone song Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty made sales of the instrument skyrocket across the world. But the guy who played the sax part only got paid 36 bucks for it, and the check bounced! We’ve got a great countdown coming up on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the unbelievable story of the quintessential 80s classic that made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest hike to #1... from the strange and entraining band Dead or Alive, led by larger than life frontman Pete Burns, whose botched plastic surgery became his downfall. He started out as a militant record store clerk berating customers whose musical tastes didn’t align with his! He even got nasty, throwing their purchases back in their face. But then, later, he threw down a record of his very own… a song that would flood any dance floor or club anywhere: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record). Later, it would become the most rehashed karaoke song of the time… The band would have 7 top 10 hits over just a couple of years, even though to this day, people all think of them as a one-hit wonder. The problem is that, the moment the 80s ended, the band vanished. But 21 years after the song hit #1 in 1985, it hit #1 again! The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writing songs that felt like letters from a lonely highway or the deck of a sinking ship, Gordon Lightfoot turned heartbreak and history into chart-topping hits. And sometimes, the stories behind the songs were just as intense as the ones he told through lyrics. On this episode, we’re telling the story of one of Canada’s finest through five defining songs. Including the chart-topping hit Sundown, fueled by jealous obsession over a passionate relationship with a woman who would later be jailed in connection with the death of a major icon.. And there is also The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a song that stopped radio listeners cold—a six-minute ballad about a doomed freighter. It became one of the most haunting songs of the 70s. Plus, If You Could Read My Mind, a song that was so commercially successful, the artist’s label changed the name of the album to match it. We’re tracing the evolution of one of the premier troubadours of the rock era… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, possibly the most likable person I’ve ever interviewed. Rupert Holmes…He’s Such a great storyteller… Well it’s a special one today as he tells the story of a beloved song that was the final #1 Hit of the 70s and would’ve been the first #1 of the 80s but Payola ruined that… Escape (the Pina Colada Song) Although he did hit #1 a week into the new decade but it’s ironic that this song was the last #1 of the 70s and one of the first of the 80s because the song itself has one foot in both decades and to think it’s singer and creator had a completely different lyric when he went into the recording booth but in a split second he changed the main lyric from one unique phrase to another that was completely off the wall and the split second decision changed everything. He was freaking out because he had to some crazy word play to make the syllables fit and the song had to have a second drummer to make it all fit but it became one of the most famous songs ever… The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of the nearly forgotten rockstar Adam Ant… He should be remembered more than he is… He started out destined for the top of the charts… His mother was Paul McCartney’s housekeeper, so he ended up walking McCartney’s Dog and later got the guts to sneak into his music room. Later, he formed a band, and they actually had 7 songs in the top 40 charts at the same time… He got so big he was voted World’s Sexiest Man in an MTV poll, which may have been the strangest choice, as he beat out everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. But it was his odd style and persona that won over everyone and influenced the biggest stars of the time, including the King of Pop. Adam Ant's music dominated the new romantic new wave landscape of early MTV. He really was the face of early MTV with Goody Two Shoes that many confused as a critique of righteous living. But as you’ll find out today, it was actually about him in a way. And later, we’d find out that he made his bandmates sign an agreement they wouldn’t drink or smoke! It’s a story that has rarely been told. Next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Up next, we celebrate a magical year in our culture. See if you can guess the year. A wide-eyed alien named E.T. captured our hearts on the big screen, and the alien the Thing filled our hearts with fear—but over the airwaves, some of the most unforgettable songs of the Rock Era were blasting out of our speakers! Including New World Man, the only hit Rush ever had, and it was kind of a fluke. They had 3:57 of dead space on their finished album, so even though they never wrote short songs, they set a goal to write one in less than a day. Then there was Jackson Browne, who had his biggest hit ever: Somebody's Baby. But he thought it was fluff, so he refused to put it on his new album. And it may have cost him #1 and at least a million sales. Then there was Phil Oakey, who begged his label not to put out his catchy song Don't You Want Me. So, of course, it became the biggest song of the year! And finally, there was the duet Under Pressure that Freddie Mercury and David Bowie declined to sing in the same room. Crazy stories with Iconic guests…NEXT on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, Earth, Wind & Fire's September, a 70s classic that contained a date that would become the most famous in song history! Many have wondered why the legendary group or songwriter chose the particular date… We’ll find out next. September is a stone-cold classic song that, whenever played, is a guaranteed floor flooder from a group that grooves like no other. It was a song written by a woman who was on food stamps, but this classic would immediately pull her out of poverty and make her one of the richest songwriters ever. But the legendary singer of the band, Maurice White, threw a nonsense word in the chorus that he was severely criticized for. Many wanted it changed… He stuck with it, believing it was a key to the song…But what did it mean? Find out why it was so important as we celebrate maybe the greatest crossover classic in music history!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before streaming, before binge-watching, and long before the skip-intro button… there was the TV theme song. And in the 1970s, they weren’t just an afterthought—theme songs were an art form. A great theme could sell you on a show before the first line of dialogue. On today’s countdown, we’re rewinding back to the golden age of polyester and primetime to bring you the Top 12 TV themes of the 70s. Along the way, we’ll feature the M*A*S*H Theme Song written by a producer’s teenage son. And it became an enduring classic—even though he was told to make it sound “stupid.” Another song, Come and Knock on Our Door, was supposed to be sung by the show’s cast, but they were so incredibly bad, they were replaced by professional singers. And the song Welcome Back Kotter was so good that the name of the TV show was changed to match it. These stories and more are coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next: one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the '80s and beyond, Neil Finn, tells the story of his first band, Split Enz. They were underground heroes who would later conquer the mainstream with some of the best songs of the decade, including their 1980 single I Got You that became the biggest-selling single in Australian history, even though Neil thought the chorus was Corny and was planning to replace it but ran out of time. Then, another single One Step Ahead that became one of the first videos played on MTV, where one of his bandmates did the Moonwalk years before Michael Jackson would. Then there’s the song that he wrote for a fan because they traveled all across the world to meet him. It’s an entertaining interview with one of the finest songwriters ever next on professor of rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fleetwood Mac was a true supergroup in the ultra-competitive 70s and became the most enduring soap opera in rock history where it seemed like every band member was sleeping with each other at one time or another, and it actually enhanced the music. But fast forward to the 80s, and it got progressively worse and came to a nasty conclusion in 1987 while recording Tango in the Night, a record that had more hits than any of their albums tied with Rumours with Little Lies, Everywhere, Seven Wonders and Big Love..Already known for having more than their fair share of secrets, intrigue, and infighting, one tragic day after recording their new record. The experience took the band’s brand of musical mayhem to a putrid level, leaving one band member, Stevie Nicks, fearing for her life. And another, Lindsey Buckingham, outright quit the band for good. Several of the band members were struggling with substance abuse, and another, Christine McVie was feeling left out of the creative process even though she may have had the best ideas. But through all this turmoil, the band manager recorded a hit song so magical, so joyful… even happy-go-lucky, that it puts you in a Great mood every time you hear it. So could that joy and the record's success overcome the drama?? Well, the story is coming up next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OK, everybody! It’s time to shift into high gear with the ultimate soundtrack to power your next road trip. On this episode, we’re cranking up the volume and celebrating the Top 5 Driving Songs that turn every journey into an epic adventure. Along the way, we have Radar Love, a song that caused the most speeding tickets in history. Another song called Driver's Seat that was held out of #1 because a factory went on strike and couldn’t make enough copies. Plus, GNR's Welcome to the Jungle, one of the most iconic hard rock songs ever. But at the time, nobody would play it because the band was too controversial. MTV made them a deal that they’d play the song 1 time at 4 AM… So many fans called in after to request it be played again it tied up the switchboard for days… It made Appetite for Destruction a hit, selling 30 million copies. And finally, Born to Be Wild, a song that was written as a slow ballad until Steppenwolf sped it up and made it the greatest driving song ever. The stories are next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was the end of a decade and the beginning of a brand-new era in music. It was the year the Beatles said goodbye, and a new wave of singer-songwriters took center stage... and rock, soul, and pop collided in revolutionary ways. So many classics with incredible stories and legendary guests, from No Sugar Tonight, a song inspired by Randy Bachman witnessing a wife cussing out her husband in public with a funny comeback. He turned into a #1 hit. And Bridge Over Troubled Water, a song that famous songwriter Paul Simon forced his less famous singing partner Art Garfunkel to do. But Paul was jealous and LIVID when it became their biggest hit. Another, Free's All Right Now was written on the fly before a gig, and it went over so well that the audience made the band play it again. And Eric Burdon & War's Spill the Wine, a song that most people don’t realize is about an O-R-G-Y, but we sing it all the time. The countdown is NEXT….on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Desperado was the first song the Eagles actually wrote together and it ended up being the last song they ever played tougher before they broke up. And to think that this complex classic was written by Don Henley when he was only 17 years old and it became a true classic for a band that had at least a dozen of them from Hotel California to Take it Easy but this became their crem de la crem. it became an all time standard, and one of the most covered songs ever. but it missed the charts entirely. but the song’s history is just as profound. From a starting a fire at the photo shoot for the record, where the fire department had to come save them to the band having zero budget to record it… In fact he band could only afford two takes on the song so the singer had to be perfect to nail a difficult vocal and with a renowned orchestra playing behind him. No pressure at all right? Even though the song wasn’t a hit, it was including on a greatest hits album and it is the major reason why that album has sold over 40 million copies… The story is next. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know, some of rock’s best tracks just don’t get their due for a lot of different reasons. Maybe they were buried too deep on the album or overshadowed by a hit single. Or maybe they didn’t fit the mold for radio airplay. But these are the tracks that fans hold close to the vest—the ones you brag about knowing before anyone else caught on. They are true hidden gems. And these songs hit just as hard—and sometimes harder—than the familiar classics. So, on today’s episode, we’re digging up five of these deep cuts... songs that didn’t top the charts but still move the dial in the heart of every diehard fan. The entries include Rush's YYZ, which contains a message written in Morse Code. The Led Zeppelin track Celebration Day had its drum part accidentally erased, so it forced the band to get creative. And then there's The Jack by AC/DC, which most fans don’t realize is about an STD, with the lyrics hidden in plain sight. It’s time to shine a light on five underrated classics that deserve way more love. It’s all coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next…Do you ever need a short rest from some of the most overplayed songs of the 80s? Well, I got your remedy today with 5 classic hidden gems. Today, I have all five artists behind these songs here to tell the stories, including legendary singer-songwriter JD Souther, who wrote a load of classics for different artists, and we just lost him even though the media virtually ignored it. But fortunately I was able to talk to him about his massive solo hit You’re Only Lonely that sounded so much like another legend that DJ mistook him for that icon and wrongly announced the song and artist on air… leading many to go to the record store to buy the record, confusing the store clerks… Another is from Daryl Hall, who had the most hits of the decade with his partner John Oates, but found enough time to put out a solo song called Dreamtime that became a huge hit… And Paul Carrack, who is the only singer in history to have a top 10 hit with four different groups including today’s hit Don’t Shed a Tear which was supposed to be cut by another band. But the guy who wrote the music hated the lyrics…so it fell to Paul. They are all here to tell the tale next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a legendary song by The Little River Band that had the same title as several big songs that came out at the same time: Lady. It managed to hit the top 10 due to this band’s incredible harmonies and infectious melodies. Graeham Goble, the man who wrote the song, is here to tell the tale. He wrote Lady about a beautiful girl he saw dancing at one of the band's live shows. And to this day that woman has no clue the song was written about her. And he doesn’t even know her, because he didn’t formally meet her. Today’s episode is bittersweet because our guest wrote or co-wrote some of the biggest hits of the 70s and the '80s as a founding member of today’s famous band, and now this group has ZERO original members and is controlled by a group of individuals who aren’t even from the band’s native country. And they tour and record with many fans not knowing this. The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… I’m trying to keep my cool and not throw a chair through the window as I give you my top 6 picks for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 14 are nominated, and like many of you, I’m livid that Paul Rodgers has been eligible for induction for over 30 years and isn’t in. He only happens to be the blueprint that God created for the perfect Rock Singer and a favorite of Legends like Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury. There’s another band on here that is nominated as two bands in one nomination: Joy Division/New Order. And another who is one of the most distinct voices in history. Joe Cocker. And clear back in 2014, Billy Joel yelled out his support in concert for the Hall to recognize him… It would take 11 years, and now that artist has passed. We get through a tough countdown NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a year of BIG moments—Ronald Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down” the Berlin Wall, on Black Monday the stock Market Crashed, and scientists spotted a supernova exploding in the depths of space. But back on Earth, music was having a supernova of its own. Some of the biggest albums ever to hit the charts made 1987 a candidate for the greatest year in music history, from Def Leppard to Guns N' Roses to REM, to U2 to The Cure and many more, led by incredible songs that were so unforgettable they still resonate today. Including a rock anthem, Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi that has such a fist-pumping singalong lyric we all stop everything we’re doing to sing along to it, another… Billy Idol's " Sweet Sixteen " is so haunting it still sends shivers down our spines, plus one that came from Paul Simon from getting dissed at his own dinner party in the 70s so he put it in the song You Can Call Me Al as an inside joke, and it became a smash. And another by Genesis that has truly deranged music video with puppets that cost 10 grand each in Land of Confusion… It's all coming up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Simple Man was a track on one of the greatest debut albums of the rock era, Lynyrd Skynyrd's (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd). And it’s been streamed over a billion times and is one of the most beloved songs of rock’s most storied genres. But despite its popularity, Simple Man never actually charted on the Hot 100. The only reason it wasn’t a hit is that the band failed to release it as a single. But that finally charted decades later. Funny story: Apparently, Skynyrd’s producer didn’t want them to record the song. He put his foot down and denied them. But the guys got together and hatched a plan; they coaxed him outside and then locked him out of the studio... and told him not to come back until they were done. At the time, Lynyrd Skynyrd and their producer were at each other’s throats all the time. But somehow, despite the constant fighting, they managed to put together a historic debut album. And Simple Man is some of the best advice for a happy life as it came from several of the band members' loved ones... to be precise their grandma and mother. It’s the story of a tear-jerker from one of rock’s toughest frontmen next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next was Human League, a new wave band that came out of nowhere to rule the charts in 1982 with the #1 hit Don't You Want Me, which kicked off the second British invasion. But 4 years later, the pressure was on to replicate the success in America after a failed album and a song that didn't make the top 50. So they came up with another left-field idea, trading in their robotic sound for a smooth and emotive track where the singer admits to his girlfriend he cheated on her and is shocked to find out that she is forgiving because she cheated on him too… That song is called Human. Up next, the legendary cowriter and producer of Human tells the story of working with the new romantic new wave band and how he transformed the robotic singer into one of the most moving performances of the 80s. And how Human hit #1, ruled 4 major charts, and has become one of the foundational tracks of the 80s, next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the latest edition of our Taboo Songs countdown. That’s right today we’re exploring the stories behind five controversial tracks that deeply offended certain segments of society. One was a hilarious double entendre song by Chuck Berry that sounded like a nursery rhyme, and it came under fire from a teacher-turned-crusader who tried to ban it from the airwaves. But it only made it his most popular song. One track by Matchbox Twenty was accused of glorifying domestic abuse, but it was the complete opposite of what it was accused of. Another song by Carl Douglas got a man arrested just for playing it. And then there is the kid's song by Peter, Paul; and Mary that supposedly contained hidden messages promoting drug use. They’re tracks that had the morality police hyperventilating, melting down, and losing their freaking minds… and their stories are coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a candidate for the most famous #2 hit of all-time and the song that was almost lost in the vaults: Start Me Up… It was written by the Rolling Stones in the 70s. In fact, the Stones did about 70 takes of Start Me Up and most of them were a very sad attempt at creating a reggae song. They crashed and burned, but on one of the takes, they did a straight-ahead rock version. Well, in the 80s, the Rolling Stones really needed a hit and songs for their new album. Luckily, their engineer remembered the one take they did that was a diamond in the rough and knew it could be a hit. But going back to the vaults, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. It’s the story of a song that sat on the shelf for years, and then the Stones had to be convinced to play it straight… Find out what happened next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re exploring one of the most polarizing yet powerful forces in rock history—the power ballad. Loved by fans, loathed by many artists, and even dismissed by record labels who feared it would drive listeners away. Yet, this so-called guilty pleasure became a defining sound of generations… one of these hit songs by the Scorpions was so powerful it started a baby boom in one part of the country and another one by Motley Crue was so beloved it forced a cable network to stop playing it to give other bands a change and yet another that had one of the most electrifying vocals ever because the band Nazareth transposed it in the wrong key forcing the singer to sing a full two steps above his vocal range. —NEXT on Professor of Rock!.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The year we are traveling back to today was a year of seismic pop culture shifts—Jimmy Carter was in the Oval Office, Star Wars took over theaters, and Saturday Night Fever lit up the dance floor. New York City went dark in a massive blackout, but the music scene was burning bright. One of the biggest rock songs of the year by Ram Jam came from the 1800s. Another by Heart came when a sleazy radio promoter’s dirty innuendo pissed off Ann Wilson, causing her to write one of the greatest rock songs in mere minutes… another song by Paul McCartney was released on an album 7 years earlier but a live version of the song hit the top of the charts and another one by Fleetwood Mac came from one of the greatest soap opera’s in music history. It made today’s year a revelation… see if you can guess the year in today’s top 10 countdown coming up next! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s legend Warren Zevon was told by one of the founding fathers of rock, that he should write a novelty song and not just any novelty song. He reasoned it could be about an old horror movie he had just watched on TV the night before. So Warren followed his advice and wrote Werewolves of London… a silly song he called a piece of crap. And even though Warren would become a legend, this novelty song became his only hit! Werewolves of London is about a mysterious, sophisticated gent who could be seen dining at Chinese restaurants and drinking Pina Coladas in posh areas of the city. He’s a dapper fellow, with tailored suits and perfectly coiffed hair. But don’t let appearances fool you….Despite his dashing looks, you best keep your distance... cause he’ll rip your lungs out. Up next. the story of a song that a tortured legend wrote on a dare and loathed his whole life, but we all adore it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s featured foursome The Monkees was cast as a fictional TV band, hired to sing and paid not to play. They were expected to follow the script, but their career would be anything but scripted. It’s the unlikely saga of four actors turned rock stars who then fought to control their musical destiny. Along the way, they scored some of the most iconic hits of the 1960s (outselling the Beatles on a few occasions)... including The Last Train to Clarksville, a secret protest song that snuck past the censors and came from their main rival’s misheard lyrics… another called (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone that was a forgotten B-side that became a garage-rock classic, and the #1 hit I'm a Believer that one of the singers called absolute Crap, begging the band not to do it… in fact he was so upset that he had to be kicked out of the studio, and yet another song where the wrong lyrics were sung due to bad penmanship. In this episode, we’re tracking the wild ride of The Monkees, a band that started out pretending—and ended up proving they were the real thing… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Go to https://geolog.ie/PROFESSOROFROCK70 or scan QR Code on the screen and use code PROFESSOROFROCK70 to get 70% off your custom skincare starter set. Plus, you can grab any add-on of your choice absolutely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back when the Grammys actually meant something in the 80s, no single artist had swept the big four awards… Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artists… Until Christopher Cross… The most unlikely star of that year, he was facing some fierce competition: Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. But his song Sailing was so heart-shaking and smooth that it would invent a genre that wouldn’t be named for 30 years in fact: Yacht Rock. In the end Christopher not only beat that fierce batch of artists, but he had such a career year that nobody in their right mind could ever dream of topping it with an Oscar and 5 Grammys. But in the end, he banished the awards to his garage and wondered if was worth it. To this day he remains one of the most distinct voices in history… Nobody has ever been able to mimic it and Christopher's debut album is in a category all by itself. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 10 television theme songs from the 80s... Songs that were at the top of their game back in the day, and still hit you in the gut with a potent punch of nostalgia whenever you hear them. Some of these you’ll recognize from the radio like the theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) because they became major hit singles. Others like As Long As We've Got Each Other sparked some behind-the-scenes drama and were almost axed before they got the green light. And a story that will blow your Mind… one of the most beloved TV Themes Ever, The A-Team, used an intentionally ripped-off riff from Cream’s Epic Rock Classic Sunshine of Your Love, with the composer freely admitting it. Find out what song and if it landed him in hot water. What will be #1…Let’s take a time machine through the golden age of television when theme songs were still king. It’s the ultimate trip down memory lane… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we go back to a strange year in music that was equal parts wild & unpredictable: 1989. A true transitional year that was stuck between the past and the future and it wasn’t really sure of its identity... where rock, pop, and R&B collided in the most unforgettable way. Where one metal band had such an epic drum sound that an elder statesman of 60s rock was a surprise fan…Wait till you hear this story. Also, Tears For Fears copped a Beatles record so blatantly that Paul McCartney joked he should be in line for Royalties. Plus teen sensation Markita, who released one of the darkest songs of the year and then disappeared. As well as legendary rocker Tom Petty who sang a bunch of hilarious one-liners as a joke to get his famous producer to laugh… It worked but the producer actually made him turn the running joke into a song and it became his biggest hit. We count down the top 10 songs of an eclectic year in music. See if you can guess it before we announce it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with one of rock’s greatest storytellers… Randy Bachman. Randy has accomplished the rare feat of having a number-one hit with two different bands: the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive. In fact, he got very sick and needed to take some time off and his first band moved on without him. So he eventually formed another BTO and ended up outselling them... but today’s classic song Let It Ride actually came when he was on tour with the Doobie Brothers. BTO was on the way to a gig when they got pinned in a traffic jam. A truck driver with his rig had boxed their tour bus in and they couldn’t move. So after a frustrating wait, this rock legend confronted the trucker at a rest stop.. It was about to get ugly as a fight was about to break out… Just when all hell was about to break loose this trucker said something in anger that inspired a rock classic. Find out what it was next on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we’re gonna turn up the heat and count down the Top 5 Carnal Songs of all time. These are tracks that pushed boundaries, raised eyebrows, made people blush, and sent the morality police into a frenzy. These songs weren’t just hits; they were bold, seductive, and unapologetically raw. A few were straight-up banned like the biggest hit ever from the golden gods of rock, Whole Lotta Love, whose lead singer mimicked the sounds of carnality so vividly it cost the band a #1 hit. And then there was the music video by Van Halen that was so bad Friday Night Videos had to put black bars over the screen to cover some naughty parts. And you’ll be shocked to find out that the most famous song about getting it on, called Let's Get It On, is actually about praying to overcome substance abuse? All 5 of these classic songs left their mark on rock history. The countdown of the Top 5 Carnal Songs of the rock era is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with Steven Page a former member of Barenaked Ladies one of the most interesting bands of the last 35 years. He was a co-writer and co-vocalist on many of this iconic band's biggest this. Including a poignant song that he wrote about his hero, Brian Wilson a legendary figure of rock history… Then amazingly, years after he released the song Brian Wilson invited him to his concert and played the song with him in the front row. He also tells the story of his former band’s most iconic hit, If I Had a Million Dollars, it happened to be the very first song he ever wrote with his frequent collaborator in the band… They were camp counselors together and on a bus ride home from camp they wrote the song in a few minutes… It was a silly song but it ended up helping them sell millions of records and get pelted with Mac and cheese whenever they played it live. the interview is next on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, John Mellencamp, a man who had to change his stage name so many times... to this day some are confused about what to call him and it all started with his label. We’ve talked about some really boneheaded decisions that the execs, and the suits have made in the history of rock... but this may be the winner. Even though he was a midwestern rocker with a chip on his shoulder, his label wanted to groom him to be the next Neil Diamond. They said his 1982 album American Fool was garbage. They said it was unlistenable and would ruin his career. It got so bad he got into a shoving match with one of the suits. In the end, his record became a smash selling 5 million copies and hitting #1 and giving him enough success to use his real name instead of the cheesy one the label forced him to use. Up next, the story of Jack and Diane, a song that John hated because it had handclaps and he felt it was too easy to singalong to. But he put it out because his wife made him. It’s a funny story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in the day if your song wasn’t under 4 minutes, it wouldn’t get played. In fact, if it was over 3 and half minutes it was a gamble. coming up next we are telling the stories of 5 songs that defied the odds and at over 7 minutes long made it to the Top 40. in fact a few of them became the biggest hits of the year they were released in. One by the Moody Blues may have invented prog rock and it was inspired by bed sheets. It failed when it was first released not even hitting the top 100 but then it went straight to the top of the charts 5 years later when a DJ played it so he could go take a long smoke break…and another by Iron Butterfly that came from the singer drunkenly slurring the words… They were written down incorrectly and people had no clue what he was saying so naturally it became a smash. And one from The Beatles where their singer dropped the F-bomb when he screwed up a line and it got left in and still went to #1 60 years ago! Stay tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we travel back to 1979, a year packed with iconic moments in music! From a Disco song that Blondie wrote as a joke that pissed off their fans when it went to #1, to a song by Journey that Steve Perry wrote right after he watched his girlfriend cheating right in front of him, to the Knack, a rookie rock band that Killed Disco Dead when the biggest hit of the year but fell flat on their face soon after... never heard from again, to a song by ELO that contains one of the greatest misheard lyrics ever and it came from the genius singer shouting nonsense as a filler word only to find out later that it was a real word and had deep meaning. Up next ground-breaking hits from punk & new wave pioneers, and tracks that are still classic rock radio staples today. It was an eclectic year in rock history and we're putting it under the microscope next with special guests on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next. An insane 80s rock story about everything but the kitchen sink. It is the story of Here I Go Again, a song that today’s sensational rock singer Devid Coverdale felt would be a hit when his band put it out in 1982. Instead, it became the spark that started a chain of events that nearly killed his career and that of his band. The song failed, but David went back to the drawing board and was on the cusp of a major breakthrough record when he lost his voice and had to have voice surgery. He was told he would NEVER sing again. He would beat the odds and get his voice in shape but at this point he was destitute… he had to sing ad jingles just to make rent. He was 3 million in debt and it got so bad his label wouldn’t give him the cash to make a music video to promote the song… yet somehow he overcame…he dug up his failed 1982 recording of Here I Go Again and did it again… In fact, he had to record it 3 times with 3 different bands because he fired his entire band before the album came out. But the song and its music video would dominate the late 80s with one of the hottest video vixens in history. You’ll love this story coming up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some songs were always destined to make millions, usually through chart dominance and endless airplay. But sometimes, the biggest paydays come from the most unexpected places. Some songs have made their creators absolute fortunes in ways no one saw coming or could ever predict, including the artists themselves. Today we’re counting down five songs no one expected to win the lottery… including the story of one songwriter who unwittingly missed millions in royalties because he thought the song Happy Together was dumb and rejected a writing credit. And another that was a forgotten album cut by Devo until it hit pay dirt and now the author of it makes a million a year off it and it’s become the most played song in MTV history... even though the song has no actual music video! Their stories are coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, the hippie band Jefferson Airplane revolutionized 60s rock with a rebellious psychedelic spirit, but after a split, they changed when the decade ended. Transforming into a classic rock 70s outfit named Jefferson Starship with a more accessible sound starting with the hit song JANE. sung by newcomer Mickey Thomas. who share this insight along with band member David Frieberg who co-wrote the classic, turning Classic Rock radio upside down but didn’t they get some inspiration from Hold the Line by Toto. Find out next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with an all-time legend who had 36 hits with his group and his solo career but only one of those songs hit #1 and it’s insane how it happened. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles with the Tears of a Clown! The eventual #1 hit was originally a forgotten album on an album. Nobody thought it was anything special… In fac,t Smoke Robinson and the Miracles released 7 albums over the next three years after the album with the forgotten song fell out of the charts… Then one day a lady who worked for their label in the UK chose that 3-year-forgotten album cut as a single in a place where the group had only a few hits… It soared to #1 and so it was released in America and it did the same thing. Becoming his only #1 hit and the only major hit featuring a basson. Up next, it's the story from the legend. along with stories of his hits Cruisin, Being With You, and Just To See Her! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Standing at the crossroads of her career, Stevie Nicks decided to walk away from one of the biggest bands on the planet which had just had 2 massive albums... to go solo. But it turned out to be an uphill battle. First of all, two tragedies would shake her to her very core. Stevie would try and ease into her solo career by releasing two duets with legendary rockers Tom Petty and Don Henley. But the real risk was when she put out Edge of Seventeen, the heaviest song of her career. Guitar-driven and explosive, the song came from a misheard word that Stevie misunderstood because of a thick Southern accent. But thank heavens for it because it would become a catchphrase… She also got other parts of the song from a menu…. It became a smash and proved she could make it on her own. Next on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A cautionary tale is more than just a story—it’s a warning wrapped in a lesson. Today's songs spotlight the consequences of risky choices, showing exactly what can go wrong when someone ignores the red flags, turning life’s hard lessons into unforgettable lyrics and melodies that serve as a brutal wake-up call. Up next, Harry Chapin's Cats in the Cradle, a song that is the measuring stick for every father in the world. If you can listen to this one and not feel like a total loser you are doing well. It’s a song that was written by a legendary singer’s wife…he didn’t give it much credence when she showed him but a short time later when his wife found out he’d been cheating for years, he lost his marriage and his son for a time. When he turned his life around the song became a reality… Then there’s Hurt, a song that was covered by all-time legend Johnny Cash, and when the original artist Trent Reznor heard it… He hated it. His song was far too personal for someone else to cover it… But then he saw the music video and he released the song was no longer his. The stories are next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I gotta say this is one for the record books… One of the greatest collections of songs we’ve ever had on this show. Coming up I’m counting down the top 10 songs of 1969, a year so full of classics I could’ve done 5 different top 10s… Including a song that has become such a cultural singalong that we the fans have created our own lyrics to the chorus! Then another one that was the #1 song of the year Sugar Sugar, but decades later nobody knows who really sang it because it was an imaginary band! Then there’s the classic record by The Zombies where the main word in the title was misspelled and nobody caught it… so millions of sales and decades later it still hasn’t been fixed and then there is Creedence Clearwater Revival that had half a dozen songs hit #2, but never got to #1. You’ll be shocked… Next, we have many legends here with us to tell us the stories behind the greatest songs ever! on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next it’s one of the biggest songs in rock history: Hit Me With You Best Shot. Everybody knows it. It’s played at stadiums and arenas the world over…from pro sports to colleges to high schools… And it would become Pat Benatar's signature song… but recently the song has been banned… banned by the rocker that made it famous. She has said she’ll never play it again. What? Well, this story we covered briefly in a countdown, but ya gotta hear the whole story. It's pretty incredible. And to think it all came from a pillow fight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the five best debut albums of the 70s. These are records that reshaped the sound of that glorious decade. Each one is a game-changer and an instant classic. One turned Lynyrd Skynyrd, a group of barroom brawlers into the kings of Southern swagger. Another by Black Sabbath introduced the world to a terrifying new sound, laying the foundation for the genre that millions of mothers would ban from their homes. The debut album by Boston was recorded in a basement, and it turned out to be one of the best-selling debut albums ever. And another by Van Halen redefined what was possible on guitar, leaving listeners’ jaws on the floor. Eddie even wrote a parody song making fun of punk and it ended up as one of the heaviest riffs ever. Each started a revolution in their own way. These records didn’t just introduce bands—they changed rock and roll forever. So stick around as we count ‘em down… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m going to do something a little different today. No teaser, no regular intro just a brief explanation of a very special episode of Professor of Rock… Do you remember back in the 80s they invented that term…. A very Special episode… It was kind of an advertising term that was used in promos that referred to an episode of a sitcom or drama series that deals with a difficult or controversial issue. These episodes usually had a brief message from the cast or like a title card that said viewer discretion advised… ya know just to let viewers know that the normally lighthearted show would have something potentially graphic or something that could be very personal or unsettling to some. Different Strokes had a few of them, like the one where Arnold and Kimberly hitchhike and are picked up by a bad guy and Arnold escapes and leads the police to arrest the man or I remember the one on WKRP in Cincinnati where the Staff at the station reacted to the real-life incident of that fatal Trampling that took place at the Who Concert… The story of Teach Your Children by Crosby Stills and Nash as told in my interview with Graham Nash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, one of the funniest interviews I’ve been involved with and it’s one of the last full-length interviews this famous rocker ever gave and it’s entertaining as hell! His name is Eddie Money and today he tells the story of both a 70s rock classic Two Tickets to Paradise and his big comeback song of the 80s Take Me Home Tonight. He was a poor kid from the other side of the tracks dating a rich girl. Her parents didn’t want her seeing him He wanted to take her somewhere special but didn’t have the money so he wrote her a song… It became a rock classic then about 8 years later his career hit the skids when He had a sensational idea for a song that paid tribute to the music of his youth so he pulled a '60s legend out of retirement and had her sing a duet with him…It became one of the biggest hits of the decade… The interview is next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just call him smooth… The familiar voice of Billy Ocean took the 80s by storm with 8 Top 10 hits in just a few years, including three #1s and two #2s. And you know all of them by heart. There are also some surprising stories around these songs including Caribbean Queen that was recorded under three different names for three different continents. Another, Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car that was an innocent track, but almost blacklisted because DJs thought the song was about solicitation. . And Loverboy that had a music video so strange, not even Billy Ocean knew what it was about. Plus, Billy is also the subject of a bizarre urban legend that claims that he is such a good singer because he has a third lung… Could it actually be true? Stick around to find out. All this and more is coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1981 was a wild ride for music, bursting with fresh sounds and unexpected hits. Some of the year's best songs came together through Mistakes, mysterious women, and a little bit of chaos. Jessie's Girl was written about another guy’s girlfriend…and when it hit #1 they tried to track the mystery girl down…45 years later they still haven’t found her find out why… another classic Steve Winwood hit was almost lost forever thanks to a major studio blunder when the engineer erased an entire drum part but in the end instead of freaking out, the legend put his head won and found a better way. Then there was Foreigner singer Lou Gramm who was struggling with a vocal for a song when the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen walked in the recording studio… it motivated him to dial his vocal to 11 and after he rushed to go meet the girl but she vanished into thin air. And find out how an AC/DC warm-up guitar part became one of the nastiest riffs ever! It was a year packed with legendary tunes and even crazier backstories from rock royalty as we countdown the Top 10 Songs from 1981 is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Huey Lewis and the News came out of nowhere in the eighties to take over radio… fact is Huey paid his dues for almost a decade and had a failed band and record deal before he finally made it with his first hit at 33 year of age. But Huey stole the spotlight in the most completive year in music. and the song that put them over the top for good was one the singer wrote in mere minutes: I Want a New Drug… he was driving and the song came to him in a flash so..he quickly pulled over and ran into an office and screamed for a pen and paper and wrote it in about 90s seconds. It became a smash but was sorely misunderstood then later it was part of a huge lawsuit when the biggest film of the year Ghostbusters asked him to write a song for their soundtrack. And when he had to decline they allegedly asked another artist to write a song with the exact sound of this one. This legend is here to tell the story next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bass players don’t always get the credit they deserve when it comes to hit songs. A lot of it comes down to their role—laying down the foundation of the track in a lower frequency range that isn’t always front and center. To the casual listener, the bass can feel like it’s just hanging out in the background while the melody and vocals steal the spotlight. But the truth is, a killer bass line is what gives a song its groove and holds everything together. Up next I’m going to attempt the impossible... Naming 5 of the most killer bass lines of the rock era, including the guitar riff by Cream that probably invented heavy metal and is played by guitarists all the time in guitar shops around the globe... but it’s actually a bass riff! Plus a killer bass line by Queen that tops dozens of lists of the greatest baselines ever… but the band admittedly ripped it off the disco band Chic. In fact that disco band’s bass line is the most sampled and ripped-off piece of music ever. We get the stories next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a band that took over radio with 6 hits in the late 70s. Soft rock kings…Firefall. They ruled radio with You Are the Woman and Just Remember I Love You and then up and disappeared in the 80s. These are classic hits we still listen to today and they were written and sung by a master of am gold, Rick Roberts…. I’ve wondered for the longest time what happened to Firefall and Rick so I tracked him down and drove across several states to talk to him… Up next I solve a music mystery as this lost singer-songwriter tells me the story of a 70s classic that half a dozen women have sworn is about them but we get the truth... plus another classic that is so smooth it’s like a big stick of butter set to music but come to find out it was a famous serial killer’s favorite song. Up next we travel to beautiful Colorado to get the stories of the songs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s band Survivor was flying high in the early 80s they’d just scored their first #1 hit Eye of the Tiger. In fact, it was one of the biggest hits of the year and they were ready for more but when their next album flopped and their lead singer lost his voice, many wondered if this band would survive… After auditioning many singers they found the perfect frontman Jimi Jamison, which led to several songs that the band knew would be hits... and they were right. But the best song The Search is Over came when the band had already handed in the album. In fact, it came to them minutes after giving the label the finished product. So they hurried and recorded it and it’s a good thing they did because it became a #1 hit and took them back to the top. Up next we have the songwriter and a founding band member to tell the story of one of the greatest records of the mid-80s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all have those songs—the ones we blast in the car but quickly turn down when we come to a stoplight. You know what I’m talking about, songs we pretend not to know every word to… We often call them guilty pleasures. Tracks that are just SO UNCOOL…So we listen to them in secret when we think no one else is around…Today, we’re coming clean in the ultimate musical confession booth and counting five guilty pleasures most of us are embarrassed to admit we love. On this countdown, we’ve got the theme song from The Monkees, a manufactured boy band that has finally started to get the rock cred they deserve, as well as Copacabana, a song that was made into a TV movie and a Broadway musical that everyone sings along to even if they won’t admit it, and my #1 pick by Paula Abdul will most definitely lose me some subscribers… Let the hate begin. I hope you’ll drop your inhibitions and embrace my top 5 Guilty Pleasures… Love ‘em or hate ‘em I swear you’ll be entertained… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…. we tackle the challenge of ranking the top 10 songs from yet another legendary year in music. This list is jam-packed with unforgettable tracks, including a Bee Gees song inspired by the road noise of tires on a bridge that unlocked a legendary falsetto 10 years into a legendary career… another by Sweet was born from the band’s chaotic escape from a bottle-throwing crowd, another from War came from the drummer screwing up the beat but the mistake made it a smash and yet another where the Aerosmith's Steven Tyler ripped his guitarist's wife apart and my #1 pick is, in my opinion, the greatest song in rock history. It’s the Countdown of the Top 10 Songs of 1975—NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a song by Joe Jackson called Steppin' Out. It is so haunting, fascinating, and unique, that it rose above the regular rock and pop fair of one of the greatest years in music… I mean this song was unlike anything on radio or MTV at the time then and now. This song sounds out of place in any decade and that’s a great thing... Joe was absolutely on a higher musical vibration at his peak. Joe Jackson rocked the end of the 70s with his new wave hit Is She Really Going Out with Him, but then after several albums, Joe got tired of being categorized in that genre. So he wrote Steppin' Out, a song that called on the ghosts of George Gershwin and Cole Porter with a modern flair, and a sonic quality that whisks you away to musical ecstasy... from an artist who in these days of social media instant celebrity still has an air of mystery about him… Today’s song may be the most overlooked masterpiece of the 80s and that’s saying something. Up next the story of the most unsung hit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re breaking down seminal vocal performances that defined the ‘80s. One where John Bon Jovi hit such a high note, that he would never be able to perform it in the same key live ever again with Living on a Prayer.. and then Steve Perry when he was in Journey was so overwhelmed by the song Mother Father's realism, he barely made it through the recording. and Total Eclipse of the Heart, sung by Bonnie Tyler about Vampire’s hooking up but it was sung with such feeling nobody noticed, and another Alone that saved Heart’s career. And the artist at #1? His voice was so spectacular, with so many stunning performances, he could’ve easily dominated the entire list. Our countdown of the Top 5 Vocal Moments of the ‘80s is NEXT—right here on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with a band that was a major force in the 80s and 90s and you may have wondered whatever happened to them? I’m talking about 10,000 Maniacs... Well, they’re here today to tell us their story. they were an underground band for years but just when they started breaking through their lead singer Natalie Merchant told them she was quitting to pursue a solo career but she would do one more album with them. That album Our Time in Eden became their biggest one yet and led to one of the most iconic Unplugged albums ever…When Merchant left, instead of packing it in, the 10,000 Maniacs decided to make their backup singer Ann Ramsay the lead and their next album flourished giving them their 2nd biggest hit as a band in the cover of the Roxy Music classic More Than This and they still tour to this day… The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the 80s Def Leppard, AC DC, Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, and Whitesnake ruled rock radio. But we have lead singer Stephen Pearcy in our midst today whose band RATT was right there with them, selling 5 million albums out of nowhere! Fueled by a true classic Round and Round due to a renaissance in pop culture might be more popular now than it was in its heyday. Next Stephen tells us where the song came from and how he and his guitarist threw live rodents at an 80s model for an album cover shoot during that time. And he talked his teen guitarist into quitting college to play with his band. Payola kept them out of the #1 spot there is no question about that. Find out how next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re sharing the cold hard facts on the velvet-voiced soft rocker Paul Davis, a guy who looked like your next-door neighbor and ordinary average guy... but who was extraordinary for a time when his classic 1978 hit I Go Crazy spent a record 40 weeks in the charts… In fact, he had 8 hits. But after his biggest-selling record in the early 80s, he wanted nothing to do with recording. It was so bad he ended his contract with his label and never recorded another album. He went MIA from the charts, preferring to write songs for other artists. But just as he was getting going he was shot in the stomach by a robber outside a Nashville hotel. He survived the ordeal, but would his music career survive? At this point, he seriously thought about packing it all in. These stories and more are coming up as we cover this hidden gem artist from the 70s and 80s on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1988 was an absolute goldmine for music—an era of massive hits, legendary albums, and songs that still give us chills. Looking back, it’s wild how many classics came out of that year! From soaring rock anthems to unforgettable pop gems, these tracks captured everything—passion, joy, romance, seduction, escapism, and pure musical magic including a song by Def Leppard with so many guitar parts it was impossible to duplicate live, also a Guns N Roses song that was guitar exercise that sounded like something the circus would play but the lead singer made the guitar player turn it into a song against his will and it became MASSIVE... There’s also the rookie Tracy Chapman who SUBBED in for a Legend at the last second when He had to cancel an appearance at a benefit Show that had an audience of 600 Million people. Her song Fast Car was so powerful it made her a star in 4 mins and she sold 2 million records the week after. We countdown the 10 best songs of 1988 next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s song Vienna by Ultravox has been voted the greatest bridesmaid song in history. The Greatest #2 ever. Sadly it was kept out of the #1 spot by one of the worst songs ever. It was a novelty song that annoyed everyone all the way to the top of the charts. But today we have Midge Ure the singer and writer of the classic #2 song with us to tell the story. Vienna also has a badass viola solo in it that was nearly impossible to get recorded and it still haunts anyone who dares to listen to it. One of the 80s most underappreciated artists has the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… we’re counting down 5 massive hits from the Rock Era that were once everywhere but have since become socially unacceptable. These songs topped the charts, ruled the airwaves, and seemed untouchable—until shifting times and cultural scrutiny pushed them into taboo territory. Some artists refuse to play them, others have tried to rewrite history, and a few have vanished from pop culture. Which songs made the list? Well, there are two #1 hits on this countdown that two legendary artists have refused to play… In fact, one was one of Cher's biggest hits and she left it off her greatest hits album! Another is a classic of the rock canon from The Who that the band refuses to talk about, essentially erasing it from existence. And another by Sheena Easton that pissed off feminists when it hit #1 in the 80s even though it was sung by a female. Very interesting stories here, including an artist interview… NEXT on Part 3 of our Taboo Songs of the Rock Era countdown on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s band Foreigner was a revelation in the '70s and '80s. A British band with an American singer, they set the FM radio dial on fire with half a dozen smash hits over their first few albums getting as close as you could get to #1 but they were always the bridesmaid. Actually, they created the biggest #2 hit in history, sitting at the runner-up spot for a record 10 weeks. Then in 1984 into 1985 that all changed. Releasing the no doubt about it #1 hit I Want to Know What Love Is, with one of the most inspired vocals ever. So inspiring everybody in the control room was bawling. Pretty good for a song that was written at 3 in the morning minutes after this legend was awakened by inspiration. The 80s power ballad not only gave them a #1 hit across the globe, but it has recharted 4 more times for various artists after the 80s. But no one can touch the original vocal. In fact, it might just be the greatest vocal performance on a #1 hit with the song being further opened up by an amazing and unexpected musical weapon… and it knocked 2 record-breaking hits out of #1. Interviews with the Singer and guitarist are next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the most requested band of the last year… April Wine. I’ve received over a thousand requests in our comment section for the last year to interview or cover this band. Well, I actually interviewed their guitarist Brian Greenway over a year ago, but the Zoom interview didn’t work. The file wouldn’t open. Well, the other night I tracked it down again and was finally able to make it work! So up next an interview with the longest-serving member of April Wine, a famous hard rock band that had 20 hits in their native Canada but only 3 in America but what a band! They were the first Canadian band played on MTV and still ignite classic rock radio. Plus they had a song that most 80s kids remember because it spelled out a hardcore profanity in its chorus but got past censors. Stay tuned for a treat next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve all been there—watching a movie we thought was amazing, only to find out that someone else absolutely hated it. Or going to a restaurant a friend swore by, only to think it was terrible. You’ve probably said to yourself, “I’m never listening to that guy again!” Well, music works the same way. You might totally vibe with a song that someone else can’t stand. It’s all so subjective, and that’s part of the fun—finding something you truly love, even if others don’t get it. Coming up, we’re going to dive into that spirit and shake things up with a countdown of the Top 5 Songs from the 80s from bands that Shoulda Been Bigger including The Sundays' singer Harriet Wheeler who has gone MISSING, as well as Can't Hardly Wait by the Replacements, a band was so worried about not selling out that it stopped them from being the greatest band of the 80s, and How Soon is Now by the Smiths that has been called the Stairway to Heaven of the 80s with a haunting guitar drone that came from a butter knife. The stories and song are …. NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re telling the story of Cheap Trick, a band who may have invented the phrase “Big in Japan.” These guys really struggled to get off the ground and were flirting with disaster when they discovered they were revered as rock royalty halfway around the world. Capitalizing on this good fortune, things really blew up when they recorded their live album Cheap Trick at Budokan which wasn’t meant for distribution in the US. But it got so popular, they released it here as an import even though they are an American band! But it ended up saving their career. But then after scoring a handful of hits Cheap Trick once again found themselves on the brink of extinction. Looking to make a big-time comeback, they agreed to record someone else’s song… a surefire hit called The Flame. Only their guitarist hated it. In fact, he hated it so much that he crushed the demo tape underneath his boot. Find out what happened next as we get into the story of rock’s most resilient and entertaining bands… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many called Bonnie Raitt an overnight success when she swept the Grammys in 1989… but today’s guitar-toting songstress was actually two decades and ten studio albums in the making. Without a doubt, it was a long, hard road to get there. Dropped by her label, written off by critics, and getting loaded after every show, it seemed like Bonnie's career was over. But Raitt’s comeback was oh so sweet when she hit #1 in 1989 and swept the Grammys. Her legend was etched in stone when she covered a former NFL football player's song I Can't Make You Love Me that was so heart-wrenching she could barely get through it because she was sobbing over the entire recording. Today’s song is definitely a candidate for the saddest ever written. It’s one you can only listen to a few times a year... and it was inspired by something a man said to a judge when he was being sentenced for shooting up his girlfriend’s car. With an amazing guest instrumentalist, the story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we're celebrating 10 songs from one of the greatest years in music, 1973. It was a year when we were gifted with songs that rejuvenated our souls like few others. There were iconic guitar riffs and solos that were considered the best of the Rock Era... including a song called D’yer Mak’er that was so hard to say DJ’s and fans still mispronounce it 50 years later even though it’s played all the time. Then there was the Reelin' in the Years guitar solo that was perfectly executed on its first take, everyone in the room was astonished… problem was the engineer forgot to record it. As well as a song that a legendary guitarist helped write but out of the goodness of his heart gave full credit to the drummer who helped write it… That kindness cost him millions. We have legendary guests here to help us countdown the Top 10 Songs of 1973... NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next an interview with a true legend… Smokey Robinson. I’ve been wanting to talk to him for a long time because he has one the greatest voices of any era, not to mention he's one of the greatest lyricists and producers…and he has some legendary stories behind today’s songs… one he started singing in the middle of a concert as his group was ending a song, he got caught up in the moment and started belting out an entry new song on the spot… It would later become a #1 hit. Then another one that he recorded as a slow bluesy number. It got released and was played on the radio… Then one night he got a phone call at 3 in the morning… It was the head of the label who said I just figured out that you need to re-record your new song with a faster tempo. problem was he wanted him to come into the studio that minute to do it. So he did and sure enough, the song became a smash. The interview is coming up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the most played song by an Australian act and if you took 100 guesses you get it wrong. It’s not a song from Men At Work or AC/DC or INXS, it’s by Little River Band that had many hits in the 70s and 80s on the American charts, but "Reminiscing" was their biggest... It went to #3 and since then it’s been played over 6 million times on American radio and the song was almost thrown away. As the band was recording it, they couldn’t get the arrangement right so they decided to nix it after trying to record it 2 separate times … today’s guest, the writer of the song, talked them into trying it just one more time and someone who wasn’t even in the band is the one who figured out how to make it work… It’s a great story and it’s coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up I’m gonna take you back to the 80s as we count down five Phenomenal songs from the decade that are severely underplayed..maximum velocity tracks that were hits in their day but for whatever reason have gotten lost in the shuffle as the years have gone by. when you hear them, you’ll wonder why you don’t listen to them more often including One that was written by an 80s rocker for a big name 70s band, but they passed on it…So the songwriter recorded it himself and after it became a hit the band who passed said they never actually heard the demo, apparently their label passed and didn’t tell them. Then there’s another song that was written about the singer’s old high school girlfriend. The song inspired him to go track her down decades later… but it didn’t go so well plus another song that has become a lost art!. plus I’m including my favorite song of all time in this countdown. Find out… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’ve got another great countdown, spotlighting songs that brought some of music’s biggest legends back into the spotlight— it's the top comeback songs of all time including one that came when the singer Tina Turner was playing half-empty ballrooms on the oldies circuit. When it hit #1 it made her the oldest singer to have a #1 at almost 45… Another was from former teen idol Donny Osmond who was so uncool radio wouldn’t touch him so a fans sent new song on a blank cassette. When it was played everyone loved it but nobody knew who it was… eventually it became a smash… And then one where Elvis Presley was walking down the hall of a recording studio and heard an anonymous song being performed in a studio by girl singers, it was so good he pointed to them and said I want that song and I want those girls… He got both and it hit #1… So many great stories next on our countdown of the Top 5 Comeback Songs…. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a tale of twin brothers of The Proclaimers who were told by all the tastemakers that if they wanted to make it in music they should learn to sing without an accent. Their thick accents stopped many labels from giving them a chance and they were so original that a famous TV host called them weird on live TV… But this only motivated them and eventually, they had a massive hit all over the world in 1988 well everywhere but America… I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles). They couldn’t understand why it didn’t take off in the US. But then in a stroke of good luck, a famous actress made the director use the song in her scene in a movie, and it blew up 5 years after it was a hit everywhere else. 500 Miles hit #1 here, but even then some radio stations wouldn’t play it because of a misheard lyric that they found offensive. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1965 was a landmark year in music because it marked a moment when creativity, experimentation, and cultural change collided. It was the year rock music found its voice as a serious art form. Bob Dylan went electric and proved that lyrics could be as profound as poetry. The Beatles and the Beach Boys were showcasing their evolution from pop idols to groundbreaking artists, while The Byrds an Americana supergroup merged folk and rock with biblical proportions, introducing the world to the jangle of the 12-string Rickenbacker and then you had a legendary artist write one of the greatest songs ever only to give it to a rival band! So many great stories are included and so many legends are here to help me count down the 10 greatest songs of 1965. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with the greatest rock impersonator ever, Jess Harnell, and one of the funniest most entertaining stars in the business. He’s become a dear friend and you’ll love this interview. Jess has done something incredibly unique in rock and roll where he combines some of the biggest rock songs ever in a fresh and exciting way and he’s so great at it, that one of rock’s all-time greatest frontmen actually sued him for sounding too much like him. His talent for rock impressions has made him the best voice actor on the planet and one of the coolest singers out there. He has a new project out that you’ll love and next, we get the story of it and how he had fooled some of the most famous people into thinking he’s Gene Simmons of Kiss. You’ll love this! Coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today it’s the origin story of rock’s greatest drummer Neil Peart and how a failed pilgrimage to England brought him face-to-face with his destiny. Namely, a force of nature that defined classic rock excellence forever... Rush. After returning to his Canadian hometown, Neil auditioned for Rush, but he felt his tryout was a complete disaster. It’s proof that 1st impressions aren’t always accurate, especially in rock and roll. Not only did he step into Rush as the final piece to their musical puzzle he also became the most compelling drummer lyricist on the planet. Coming up, the story of the rise of the great ones and the song that is now a 70s standard Fly Ny Night, that paid tribute to his struggle to find his place. The high school dropout who became the smartest lyrics in rock and the backbeat of rock’s most complex band… one who the Rock Hall of Fame passed over for 14 years even though they are the epitome of musical perfecto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is this the most hated genre on the Professor of Rock channel? I don’t know. You tell me. Whenever I release videos from this genre I never know what’s going to happen. Some episodes have blown up, getting phenomenal feedback. And others have been torn to shreds. I might be taking a risk with this one, but I’ve gotta confess that I love this genre. So today I’m giving you my top 5 songs that I hope will win you over to this genre. Including one that was created in a cramped closet for an imaginary album. Another that is the definition of schizophrenic. And one that the band refused to release as a single, but it got picked up by radio and became their most iconic track. five songs from the last great rock revolution of the rock era… and they’re coming your way NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready to rewind more unforgettable sounds of the '80s as we count down the Top Cover Songs of a decade full of them. From unexpected twists on classics to fresh takes that outshone the originals, these songs left an indelible mark on the music world... including one where The Bangles transformed a Simon and Garfunkel folk song into a driving rocker and another where the wailing banshee from Led Zeppelin had a smash hit by crooning a 50s tune that to this day most people have no clue it’s him, and another one by Paul Young became one of the funniest misheard lyrics of the decade and a Los Lobos cover that was first all Spanish song to hit #1 in the rock era. We break down the stories behind these iconic covers, the magic they brought to the table, and how they became monster hits in their own right. The countdown is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the 60s The Beatles threw away the rule book. They were used to writing catchy #1 hits but with today’s brilliant concept album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, they shattered the boundaries of song arrangement and forever changed the art of recorded music. And during the time they were creating this masterpiece they were in a race with another progressive band the Beach Boys, with a goal to create the greatest record ever. And it was only recorded on a 4-track machine. The last cut on their ground-breaking record A Day in the Life was a mind-altering composition inspired by the death of a notorious socialite, and may have invented a whole new genre… it had an accidental bridge that started out as its own song and only meant to be filler but in this song it became a revelation. A Day in the Life would’ve been a surefire #1 hit, but the Beatles never put it out. But it was so exceptional it put them in a class all their own and became the greatest album closer ever. We raise the curtain on this fantastic voyage across the perils of stone-cold realism.. and the fantasy of lysergic imagination….NEXT on Professor of Rock." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The year 1980 was a fascinating time for music…. The decade was ushered in by some bold songs by artists who pushed their own boundaries to stay relevant and challenge their fans. It’s also a year that gave us some of the most influential & timeless tracks of the Rock Era. Including two of rock's greatest bands, Pink Floyd and Queen releasing disco-influenced tracks… by rock’s most progressive band in Another Brick in the Wall part 2 and Another One Bites the Dust by Queen who stole the iconic bass line from Disco group CHIC but everyone claimed Chic ripped Queen off. then there Kenny Loggins' I'm Alright that has a mystery vocalist that shocked people when they figured out who it was and as well as Call Me by Blondie that we’ve all sung for years even though it’s about a male... well ya know... And AC/DC's classic song You Shook Me All Night! it’s all. Coming up NEXT as we countdown the Top 10 Songs of 1980… on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s track Lovesong by The Cure is extremely complicated. First of all, it only exists because its creator Robert Smith saved its lyrics from a house fire. Then he gave the song to his wife as a wedding present. It’s also the song that drove his band kicking and screaming out of the underground of obscurity into the Mainstream. He called the record total shite, his label called it commercial suicide. Thematically, it was completely out of character for him… He said it took him 10 years to even feel comfortable singing a song like this. And it was an unexpected bright spot on a very dreary album, Disintegration... a classic 80s album that makes you feel like you might never see daylight again. A moody, melancholy masterpiece that has not only been hailed as the peak of this band’s career but also one of the greatest albums of the 80s. So what was this so-called ‘happy’ track even doing there? And could The Cure's reluctant rockstar make peace with the song that turned this indie band into stadium headliners? Well, I’ll give you a clue… Smith hated the popularity it was bringing him, but then got pissed when it missed out on #1. You gotta hear this one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next we break down the evolution of the Doobie Brothers named after a drug and half the band didn’t know what it was! Today we have four famous members here to tell the tale. Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons and Skunk Baxter! It’s the story of a group that was a straight-up rock and roll band with a score of classic rock standards and a huge number-one hit. and then became something entirely different when their lead singer Tom Johnston was sidelined and they had to bring in a replacement in Steely Dan alumni Michael McDonald to keep the music playing.. and they moved their sound to a more smooth and soulful place returning to #1. Up next we have Sheriffs with Samurai Swords in the song China Grove, a record that a DJ accidentally turned around and played the B-side of in Black Water going straight to #1, and another song in What a Fool Believes that defeated disco in 1979. We have all the legends here to tell the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s the voice that saved an underperforming jam band and kicked off an arena rock revolution. After three hitless albums in the 70s, this Journey was on the chopping block. But the addition of an unknown singer named Steve Perry changed everything—transforming them into one of the biggest rock acts of all time. From stadium-shaking anthems to soul-stirring ballads, their music dominated airwaves and defined an era, becoming the soundtrack of a generation. In this Evolution episode, we've got Don't Stop Believing, a song that broke every rule in the book and is now the #1 song ever, as well as Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) the most epic rock song to be made into the most cringe-worthy music video and Open Arms, a song that almost made the guitarist puke and it became their biggest hit. The band is here to tell the stories next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

'Go to http://www.hometitlelock.com/professorofrock and use promo code ROCK30 to get a 30-day FREE trial of Triple Lock Protection and a FREE title history report! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we are going back to the classic year of 1983 and counting down the top 10 songs of this same week and then we’re going to put the actual top 10 plus some other great songs from that week and recalibrate them to tell you what the real top 10 songs are based on all-time streams, views and radio play. 4 decades later you’ll see what lasted and which ones died. And we have interviews, stories, and your comments… including The Clash who wrote Rock the Casbah protesting Iran banning Disco songs, as well as a song that failed on the charts until a soap opera used it, and then it went to #1 after it’s broadcast. Then a duet between the two biggest stars in music that was a huge letdown to the backing band because it was so cheesy and another song that a legend wrote a big old middle finger to the media. I’ll tell you what there’s no autotune here, just absolute talent. Coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1971 was a game-changing year in music history—a period when creativity exploded across genres, legendary albums dropped left and right, and artists redefined the sound of a new generation. Many refer to ’71 as the most pivotal and exciting of the Rock Era, and I wholeheartedly agree It’s top 3 easy. So I’m doing the impossible…I’m counting down the Top 10 Songs from this emblematic year. All 10 of these songs are legendary including Marvin Gaye's revolutionary song What's Going On which was written on a golf course by some drinking buddies. Another Joy to the World was written for a kid’s cartoon that never got off the ground so a band made it one of the biggest rock songs ever... and Take Me Home, Country Roads that came from the songwriter misreading a road sign and yet another by Led Zeppelin that was written as a joke but the fans took it very seriously and made them rock gods because of it… It all coming up on … on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Wang Chung, a band that finishes many of the top one-hit wonder countdowns but the problem is..the band had 5 hits including 3 everyone knows and radio still plays. Today’s song Everybody Have Fun Tonight is the one that many point to as their one hit… it also finishes in the top countdown of worst songs and that’s why I wanted to cover it. It is definitely not one of the worst songs ever. Everybody Have Fun Tonight is a classic from the 80s that did a couple of really cool things. It became an accidental catchphrase of the decade that defined the 80s and it introduced a new word into many dictionaries which also happened to be the band’s name. When this singer brought the song to his bandmate, he wanted nothing to do with it. He thought the band was too smart for it and that it was too commercial. But it became a smash and its iconic music video was banned for being too visually dangerous for some with the potential to cause a severe medical condition. the band is here to tell the story… It’s next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, Lost interview footage I didn’t know I had with one of the greatest band’s in recorded history. and there are Some real revelations here. An all time #1 Hit that happened because the band re recorded a song they’d already released on their album. When they put it on the album it was thought of as filler…An album track but then The genius behind their music woke up one day and knew if he had the band rerecord the song and drop 1 instrument and change the spelling of a word in the chorus it would be a hit. He was exactly right… the song soared to #1 with a totally different singer then the band had used on their singles before and it immediately had an effect on what parents would name their newborns. also exactly 25 years to the day after this song hit #1 the writer’s 2 daughters would have a #1 hit for themselves. Plus we try to solve a long term mystery about one of the most famous song ever on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve all felt that pressure to act a certain way just because someone else expects it. That’s when a solid "don’t give a damn" anthem can really hit the spot, maybe even stopping you from doing something you might regret. When an artist makes it big, the tradeoff is constant scrutiny from the public, with everyone having an opinion on how they should live their life. But when you find a song that captures that feeling of frustration and defiance, it gives you a jolt of energy and strength. You feel as if that artist wrote that song, especially for you. We’re plunging into that sweet, purging spirit, with a countdown of the Top 5 "Don't Give a Damn" songs including Tom Petty’s You Don’t How It Feels that had naughty words so bad MTV played it backward making the song even bigger, and another Watching the Wheels that brought Beatle John Lennon out of retirement and one, My Life by Billy Joel that got me grounded—coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’ve got a super-sized episode coming your way… featuring Pink Floyd's Echoes, a song so epic that it began as 24 separate songs. Songs that the band didn’t know what to do with. In fact, they called them “Nothing, Parts 1-24.” Well, when Pink Floyd did figure it out, what they had on their hand was a song so monumental that it changed the course of their entire career and rock music… jumpstarting The Dark Side of the Moon, one of the best-selling and most iconic albums of all time. But the intrigue doesn’t end there. Echoes may also have an unexpected connection to oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, a two-thousand-year-old volcanic blast, and an anti-Woodstock concert played to an empty stadium. We’ve got an incredible story from one of my all-time favorite bands, coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next one of rock’s great frontmen Rob Halford of Judas Priest tells the story of the 80s classic You Got Another Thing Coming that became the mantra of hard rock and the iconic phrase actually came from a thesaurus! The song was also just a throwaway B side until it was played and became the song that brought metal to mainstream radio and to MTV and became the crown jewel of the 15 most dangerous songs that were banned by Big Brother with the PMRC... It’s the 80s underdog song that became the hard rock expression of the decade with one of the 80s biggest rock stars next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know, I agree with a lot of music historians who have called 1984 the greatest year in music. There were a ton of great songs and albums released that year… But, after going back and reviewing the music that came out in 1985… I am not so sure that ’84 is better than ’85. You will see what I mean when we countdown the Top 10 Song of 1985 NEXT on Professor of Rock... INCLUDING a Movie song -- Don't You Forget About Me -- that was turned down by everyone except for a female-fronted rock band. But she was pregnant and couldn’t do it so she talked her husband Jim Kerr of Simple Minds into it... and Born in the USA, which is the most misinterpreted song ever, and even to this day it played for all the wrong reasons... and another #1 hit by Tears for Fears that the band admittedly ripped off the title from a rival band’s song and paid him 5 bucks for it. It’s the best of 1985 next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next an interview you won’t be able to take your eyes off of. I tracked down a lost paragon of the 80s. Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons This interview is a train wreck in the best possible way with Bozzio a singer whose band had 3 songs that everybody knows. And Even though any 80s kid can sing along to these songs and they defined early MTV.. NONE of them were actually hits. They got really close two of them hit #42 on the charts including Destination Unknown and Words and two others hit the Hot 100 including Walking In La and were all over the radio. The funny thing is Missing Person always gets included in the greatest one-hit wonders so really you could say they came close to being a one-hit wonder four different times but they definitely left their mark with a frontwoman whose strange costumes and futuristic style made here one of the most influential personalities of the time and it almost never happened… She almost died early in her career when she fell out of a high window at a holiday inn escaping an attacker. You gotta see this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After 4 straight #1 Albums in their Native UK and a #1 album in America that contained the #1 song of the year The Police were the biggest band in the world. And while they were at their peak they BROKE UP! Their fans were perplexed! Today we try to figure out why and tell the story of how their legendary lead singer Sting gave up a goldmine to go it alone... while taking a major gamble with his solo album and writing a hit song -- If You Love Somebody Set Them Free -- that was a therapeutic antidote and sequel to his disturbing and misunderstood smash hit Every Breath You Take. We have exclusive interviews with band members… the story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Music has the power to change the course of human behavior. It’s truly the best medicine for the soul. When you're stuck in a funk, frustrated with everything, and feeling like your world is falling apart, sometimes all it takes is one of your favorite feel-good songs to turn it ALLLL around. It’s magic we can’t always explain, but who needs explanations. This is actually the hardest countdown I’ve ever had to put together because there are so many worthy choices, but we’re gonna count down the Top 5 Feel Good Songs of all time, including some exclusive insight by the artists that created them… including Walking on Sunshine that was so positive it irritated Katrina and the Waves and Come Sail Away that ‘supposed to be science fiction but it actually happened and Good Vibrations that might be the most insane production ever —NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re giving you a front-row seat for a behind-the-scenes look at Aerosmith, one of the most chaotic, bad-boy rock bands ever. This five-piece knew how to grab headlines for all the wrong reasons. I mean the evolution of this band’s career was a wild ride fueled by drug abuse, in-fighting, and even a toxic disdain for the lead guitarist Joe Perry’s girlfriend… In fact, one of today’s songs Sweet Emotion put that girlfriend in the crosshairs…calling her a pig with a man’s face. Another song, Janie's Got a Gun, is a haunting narrative of vigilante justice that owes its origins to a treadmill epiphany. And then there’s Back in the Saddle which features a pretend bullwhip, coconuts, and yodeling. And it was written while the guitarist was stoned out of his mind. We’ve got decades of drama, controversy and unexpected song stories that you’re not gonna want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with Carlos Santana, a musical genius, a guru of the highest order, and a saint. You have to see this interview. So try to follow this if you can. Santana's biggest song of the 70s, Balck Magic Woman, was a rock classic that many people have no clue is a cover from a band that started as a blues band... but would end as one of the biggest rock bands ever when it became a completely different set of members but that’s not all. It was a cover but the guy who wrote it basically admitted that he ripped off the music from a song from the 50s. So when the cover song became a huge hit for today’s guitarist he decided to send royalties out of his now pocket to the guy who got ripped off! Today’s legend got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after several decades of legendary songs and albums and everybody thought his career was winding down and then the year after his induction he had one of the biggest albums ever including a song that was the #1 song of the year in two different years falling at the end of a decade and beginning a new one. The stories are next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know, the best songs often come from a whirlwind of emotions—whether it's fiction, non-fiction, or somewhere in between. The heart and soul behind the lyrics are what makes them so compelling. In this episode, we're turning the spotlight on songs that were lit by frustration, anger, and even heartbreak. From Paul McCartney answering a critic who claimed a legend wrote silly songs to Carly Simon calling out a cocky lover that became the biggest mystery in the history of recorded music, to Roger Waters voicing political frustration and one that ripped a Stevie Nicks so deeply she asked her ex-lover to change the lyric but he wouldn’t and then she had to sing it next to him for decades… it’s all here! It’s a countdown of songs in the key of diss… the top 5 disses of the 70s, coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, it's a story that you have to hear to believe. Today’s band The 5th Dimension was coming off a huge song that took ‘em to the top of the charts and won them multiple Grammies. But they needed a follow-up song to keep the momentum going. And they found it in the most peculiar place. The band’s singer left his wallet in the backseat of a taxi one night and he knew he’d never see it again. Then out of nowhere, a stranger returned the wallet to him and they got to talking and turns out the man who found his wallet was a songwriter and asked him to bring his band to see his Broadway musical. They attended the play and were blown away by several songs in it that they knew they had to put on their next album. Turns out the song wouldn’t only be a #1 hit but a transformative song in the history of music. The band tells the whole story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s bass line broke 70s radio! It was from the song was Green Eyed Lady by the rookie band Sugarloaf, and it flew out of the gates with mysterious lyrics about a mysterious woman that took them to the top of the charts. But then just as quickly the band fell apart…Then Sugarloaf lost their record deal, not once but two times… desperate to overcome the one-hit wonder label the band re-formed and recorded a demo at a friend's studio, no record deal, just a demo. They actually recorded a song about what they were going through at the moment. it was a song about getting rejected by labels and the quest for a hit song and the song became their second hit and destroyed the one-hit wonder curse... or did they? Turns out they were in trouble with the feds when the random phone number they cited in their song ended up being the phone number to the white house! Find out next as I track down this band to find out what happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…. Tom Jones, one of the greatest singers of all time, and the story of two of his classic songs that we all know by heart: It's Not Unusual and What's New Pussycat? The first one was recorded by him before anyone knew who he was… He sang it as a demo to show an icon of the time how the song should sound. When this icon heard the demo, she knew it would be a hit but his vocal was so perfect she told him he should record the song because it would be a smash and she was exactly right. Then another song became a top 5 hit and a touchstone of the swingin’ 60s but it was so bizarre when the singer heard a demo of the tune, he asked the prolific lyricist who wrote it “What in the bloody hell do you want ME to sing this for?” thinking the song was a big joke. And it kind of was but the famous musician behind it asked him to be serious and sing it with some authority… he did and it became a standard, the stories are next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Billboard Magazine called 1984 as the ‘greatest year ever in pop music.’ I don’t often agree with the music press, but I have to say that I concur with that evaluation. Some of the best singles and albums were released in ’84, including many of my all-time favorites. To celebrate that glorious, impactful year in music, we’re counting down the Ten Best Songs of 1984. Including Night Ranger's Sister Christian one where the singer let the drummer have a go at recording the vocals and it became the band’s biggest song… Another, Prince's Let's Go Crazy, is a party anthem that most people don’t realize is about God and one where Billy Joel hit a high note in the chorus that was so grand he knew he would never be able to hit the notes again and sure enough on his next tour he had to bring in a backup singer to nail it. We have many of the artists participating in this celebration of the best song of music’s best year. See if you agree with my picks, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s band AC/DC was blowing up radio and arena when their frontman Bon Scott passed away in a most horrible fashion. The band was devastated and had no idea what was next. Little did they know that in the form of a large bell, a supernatural visit from their dead singer, and a new singer who said he could write lyrics but then battled writer's block for months this band would create the biggest-selling rock record in history: Back in Black. It has sold 50 million copies but it never went to #1 and didn’t contain any hit singles. And it had a perfectionist producer Mutt Lange who spent months recording to get just a drum sound on 1 song. But here’s the thing…even with all of those hours recording, and 15 mics capturing the sound of a large bell the band had commissioned to be the backbone of one of the album’s most famous tracks, Hell Bells... to this day AC/DC has never been able to capture the exact sound of the bell on the recording when they play it live. Coming up the story of the biggest-selling rock record ever and the uphill battle to get it right and out to the masses and trying to solve the mystery of who really wrote these classic songs the dead singer or the replacement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, back by popular demand: we’ve already done five. And now we’re doing five more. It’s another countdown of the most controversial songs from the Rock Era. Last time we covered taboo tracks by Heart, the Stones, and even the Beastie Boys. This time, we’ve got five more fiery offerings that rustled up cancel culture, provoked radio censors, and got blacklisted from the airwaves. For Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax, a DJ literally lifted the needle off the record mid-song because he thought the lyrics were too obscene. David Bowie's China Girl was accused of being xenophobic but was actually the opposite. And then there’s Bloodrock's DOA, a song that has to be the most disbarring single of the 70s… It was so bad that drivers were freaking out and pulling off to the side of the road while listening to it And that’s just the beginning. We’ve got five more controversial songs coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Johnny Mathis, the 3rd Biggest Selling Solo Artist in History tells the story of both his Christmas album and his #1 hit Chances Are. Johnny Mathis tells how he recorded this all-time standard of the great american songbook in an exclusive interview with the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Wally Palmer and Mike Skill of the famous 80s rock band The Romantics set the record straight on a true mystery… First of all, they had two huge hits that everyone knows. Including one of the most recognizable riffs ever on What I Like About You. But surprisingly the song was never actually a hit! And it was a song where the drummer stepped in to sing instead of the lead singer. It got a lot of MTV and radio play but stalled at #49. Then they had a massive #1 in 1984, Talking in Your Sleep. It hit the top 3 on all of the charts: Dance, Rock, and Pop… The Romantics were poised for stardom, THEN they found out that their managers had been stealing the profits earned by the band from its records and live performance since day one. And they were entangled in a lawsuit that kept them from recording anything for 11 years. The Romantics vanished into thin air and it cost them dearly. …. Up next Wally Palmer and Mike Skill tell the story of their #1 hit and how they came back from an 11-year hiatus to reclaim their legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one of the greatest living guitarists Journey's Neal Schon tells the story of two of the 80s most famous solos: One he played the hell out of, but it was cut from the song, Who's Crying Now, when it was climbing the charts to the top 5. But angry fans called radio stations and complained so they put it back in. And another song Faithfully was so inspiring that one of the greatest guitar players and geniuses of the 80s, Prince, actually called Journey because he had written one of his greatest songs, Purple Rain. But he was afraid he might’ve subconsciously ripped off the guitar part of Faithfully, from the year prior and he asked them if they would listen to it and see. Journey graciously said it was similar but a whole new song. We have Neal Schon with us to tell the story of these two amazing songs next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The complicated story of the best-selling 12-inch single of the 1980s. New Order’s Blue Monday from 1983 would become the stuff of legend. Up next former bassist and co-founder Peter Hook on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a song unlike anything he’d done before—a complete departure from the rough edges and restless spirit that made him the voice of a generation. With his track Lay Lady Lay, Bob Dylan didn’t just change his sound; he flipped the script on what fans thought they knew about him. But here’s the kicker: If it were solely up to him, Lay Lady Lay wouldn’t have been released at all! Dylan begged the label not to put it out. So… what changed his mind? And what’s the real story behind the song that became one of Bob Dylan's most unforgettable? Was it about a mystery woman, or was it really meant for a public figure that shocked everyone later? It probably missed #1 because of a misunderstanding that the song was dirty. and the vocal was sped up making the icon unrecognizable plus a famous janitor helped play the drums… It’s a great story coming up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re talking lost songs, underrated classics, and B-sides that should have been A-sides… all coming from the rock’s mightiest band Led Zeppelin… It’s a mystery how some of these tracks weren’t bigger than they were. In the mix, we’re uncovering one of rock’s holy grail songs. An epic song that could have rivaled Zeppelin's most iconic tracks… But it didn’t made the cut for its album. So it was broken up and scattered across at least four other songs… so you can hear parts of it, but what does the actual song sound like and why wasn’t it released? Especially since it had the potential to be Led Zeppelin's biggest anthem… It’s an episode packed with some of the best odds and ends and hidden gems from classic rock’s most legendary band… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s classic band Kansas was coming off a massive rock hit Carry On Wayward Son and album Leftoveture and needed to keep the momentum going. And the answer came in one of the most unlikely hits of the 70s, Dust in the Wind. First of all the song was a simple fingerpicking exercise that the guitarist Kerry Livgren was working on to get more limber. As he was playing it, his wife commented on how great the song was and that’s when Kerry laughed and explained it was just a simple exercise. But his wife told him he should put lyrics to it. Kerry was worried about showing the band this crazy idea, it didn’t fit their sound at all and it wasn’t even really a song! But against his better judgment, he listened to his wife and put some lyrics to it. But not just any lyrics, words from a 6000-year-old book. So he played it for the band and they all knew it had to be their next single. It was not an easy song to record though it made Kerry's fingers bleed and lead singer Steve Walsh had to pull the emotional vocal from deep in his soul. … it was a revelation… It became Kansas’s only Top 10 hit and is one of the most famous songs of all time. Up next, an interview with the band on the unbelievable story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Go to incogni.com/professorofrock, and use my code PROFESSOROFROCK (ALL CAPS) on the link below to get 60% off an annual plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the early 80s, this Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik came home for Lunch and checked his answering machine. He couldn’t believe his ears, Sylvester Stallone asked him to call him right back. He thought it was someone trying to prank him. but when he called back it was really him… Sly Stallone wanted unknown band Survivor to write the Anthem to a sequel to one of the greatest franchises ever, Rocky 3-apparently Queen had turned down the use of their #1 hit Another Bites the Dust… In a very cool interview, Jim tells us how he and guitarist Frankie Sullivan wrote Eye of the Tiger for the opening montage of Rocky 3 when he went up against Clubber Lange (Mr. T) and went to #1 for 6 weeks because Stallone was willing to give his rookie band the chance even though they’d never had a hit. They couldn’t get the lyrics down so they ended up stealing a line from the movie and it became a classic! How they created the perfect 80s classic rock anthem that still rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I’m fortunate to have a true legend with us. Neil Sedaka, part of the brill building legends! He had 12 hits by the age of 21 including one of the most memorable #1 hits of all time in Breaking Up is Hard to Do but then the Beatles came on the scene and his music went out of style in a flash. He was considered square and for over a decade he was Shut out of the charts, not only that he had to move to England to get gigs and times were so tough he had to play dives to as little as 20 people and several times had to follow strippers then one night the #1 star in the world, Elton John caught his act and hatched a plan to wage one of the greatest comebacks ever He had his first #1 hit in 12 years with Laughter in the Rain and followed that up with a duet with Elton John that was a pretty edgy for Sedaka’s Goody two shoes persona called Bad Blood and somehow it got past censors with profanity to hit #1 and Neil also became the 1st artist to remake his first #1 hit turning it into a ballad and hitting #1 again. Get ready for a great show next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready for a lively blast from the past as we countdown the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders! These tracks skyrocketed to fame, only to see the artists who recorded them fade into the background of music history. From the band Kajagoogoo whose lead singer took them to #1 and then they canned him to Autograph who were a bunch of drinking buddies who jammed on weekends got a chance to open for the #1 band on the planet because their drummer was jogging buddies with their lead singer to a song by Nena that the label refused to release because it was in a different language until a DJ accidentally played it and it lit up phones lines… So they hurried and did an English translation but the foreign language one did better. We have great stories and interviews… NEXT..on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1986. 38 years ago. Once again we will re rank them based on their performance since and we have some Insightful artist interviews… In this chart we Have what may be the most unlikely #1 hit of the decade as well as the biggest hit of 1987 battling it out as well as a couple of great songs that didn’t even make the top 10 that year that years later have been massive find out what the real #1 song is next. Is it Bon Jovi, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, the Bangles, Toto, Journey, Huey Lewis, Billy Idol or a one hit wonder? Find out next on our hit song redux! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Go to https://www.surfshark.com/professorofrock and type in the promo code PROFESSOROFROCK for extra months of SurfShark at an unbeatable price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s the age-old tale… Toto didn’t think much of their song Africa and it became a huge hit. But this one is totally nuts because it was written on a $16,000 instrument that only 3 people in the world could actually play. And it was written about a place the singer had never been. And it has become the ultimate pop culture punchline. Africa came from flipping through National Geographic and it almost didn’t make the album. And to make matters worse, the lead singer had a tough time pronouncing the words of the chorus, and on the recording half of the singers sang the wrong lyrics. So you actually have 2 different lyrics being sung. Get the real story straight from Toto, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I try to keep it positive here guys, but every now and then I have to look at songs and artists from a different perspective. And the truth is even the greatest artists can write a stinker. So today we venture into the age-old conundrum... When Bad Songs happen to great artists. And you’re going to have a heyday here. Including a Paul McCartney song that is so annoying that it causes angry convulsions. Another by Heart that they erased from their history. One that was written for Celine Dion and then given to Aerosmith and it became their biggest hit ever. And another that tries so hard to be deep it’s boring. We’re gonna push the envelope a bit on this episode, with a thought-provoking list of '5 Bad Songs by Great Artists’ NEXT…on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How would you like it if you wrote a masterpiece with some pretty deep lyrics and it failed? But then another band cut the song and made it a #1 smash, but then botched your lyrics so badly that it turned the words into a big joke that people are still laughing at today! The lyric in question was from Bruce Springsteen's Blinded by the Light, and it was about a bada$$ hot rod. But the words were so BOTCHED by Manfred Mann's singer Chris Thompson, that it turned the hot rod into a lyric about a hygiene product for private parts!. It became arguably the funniest punchline in rock and one of the most notorious misheard lyrics ever… but the story is even better. And in the end, Bruce Springsteen is still laughing about it... decades after laughing all the way to the bank. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, another great song mystery. It’s a famous song everyone knows: House of the Rising Sun. But Nobody really knows who wrote it or what it’s specifically about. Today we have a special guest to help us solve it, The Animals Eric Burdon. It was either about a hooker or a prisoner. It’s centuries old but became a #1 hit when the lead singer of today’s Hall of Fame band covered it and may have invented a whole new genre with it. They were also the first British invasion band to wrestle #1 away from the Beatles who had dominated the top spot week after week and in the end, this singer didn’t really get paid for this song since he wasn’t listed as an arranger on the song. Also, other hilarious stories from this legend on several other classic hits from this band is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You are never gonna believe this story! Today’s legend Joan Jett was rejected 23 times by labels. When she finally made it, Joan had a song she wanted to do that she knew would be a smash hit: I Love Rock n Roll. She saw it performed on TV in her hotel room when she was touring with her band... Joan was so blown away she made a vow that she would cover it… The thing is I Love Rock n Roll took 6 years because it was rejected by her band time and again. And then when it was finally recorded it was released as a B side not once but twice. When Joan went solo, She re-recorded it and this time put it out as an A SIDE. It was a #1 smash… It's one of the biggest rock songs ever. Get the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it's the untamed story of the Southern rock anthem Midnight Rider which was born in a farmhouse outside of Macon, Georgia. The artist The Allman Brothers' Gregg Allman penned most of it in under an hour, but when he hit a wall with the crucial third verse, inspiration ceased. Refusing to let the moment slip away, Gregg did the unthinkable. In the dead of night, with nowhere open and his creative fire blazing, he called on the band's trusty roadie. Together, they ACTUALLY broke into a recording studio to capture the magic before it faded. Breaking and entering might be a crime. But in this case, it was a necessary step in the fulfillment of his destiny. One that was part of a journey packed with triumph and heartbreak to create one of the greatest rock songs ever…It all unfolds NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There is something about an opening lyric that can make or break a song. And as a lyricist, when you get it right, it launches your song into the stratosphere. For today’s show, we’re paying homage to some of the most gripping opening lines of the rock era… written by master wordsmiths. We’ll tell the stories of their songs and where their inspiration came from… including Jackson Browne who found his muse when his car broke down in the desert and had to hitchhike home and inspired him to write Take It Easy for the Eagles. Then there's Roger Waters and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd with the greatest lyric and guitar combo in history. Roger, who was haunted by a bandmate Syd Barrett's ghost. There’s also the Ramones who copy-catted one of the first boy bands and their bubblegum hit with one of the best rockers of the time. And U2's Bono who couldn’t stand to sing his own iconic opening lyric... thinking it was cheesy but it became the masterpiece of The Joshua Tree. We’ve got some killer stories coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s band Boston REVITALIZED Rock in the Disco era when some thought Rock was dead and buried. Their first two albums lit up the charts and knocked disco down. But then it took 8 years for their 3rd album to come out because of a lawsuit with their label. Boston beat the big bad label in the lawsuits, but as we all know 8 years in the music industry is a lifetime. And by the time they put out their record, the musical landscape had completely changed. And to make matters worse, someone leaked a rough demo of their new song Amanda to radio months before it was supposed to come out. But then Boston did the unthinkable. Their leaked single Amanda went straight to number one as did their album. And they ruled the mid-80s just like they did the 70s. It is a great story filled with a few surprises next on Processor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… it’s a countdown of the Top 5 hit resurrections of the Rock Era! These are the songs that made it into the upper reaches of the charts not once, but twice—on separate campaigns. Our list includes a Queen song about a homicidal cowboy that lingered in a legend's mind for years before being recorded, a Righteous Brothers track where the lead vocal was decided by a coin toss, a controversial Benny Mardones ballad about a 16-year-old that had radio programmers sweating, a Prince song so ingeniously full of metaphors, it managed to slip by the moral majority, and a timeless classic sung by Chubby Checker who cut the session short because he to go race back to his house and do his homework. The countdown is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You won't believe today's story. The story of the hit rock classic Kryptonite straight from the band, 3 Doors Down. When today’s lead singer Brad Arnold was 15 years old, he was in the middle of his high school math class bored as could be. And so he wrote a song called Kryptonite. That song would later be recorded by his band 3 Doors Down, made up of his school chums. And then they would beg the local radio station for a year to play their rough demo. When the radio station finally did, Kryptonite blew up and went to #1. One day Brad was driving a forklift and virtually the next day he was at #1. And it would launch of the most successful rock bands of their time. And it all came from a silly song he wrote in math class as a freshman… Coming up next, the interview and story from two of the nicest guys in rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, interviews with two legends that we’ve lost over the last few years. One was one of the most successful songwriters in history: Lamont Dozier. Giving Lennon and McCartney all the competition they could handle at their peak. And another was Duke Fakir, the last remaining member of the hall-of-fame music group the Four Tops. Together they tell the story behind several of their biggest hits including their first #1 I Can’t Help Myself (Sugarpie Honeybunch), which came from this famous songwriter’s grandpa and the pet names he used to FLIRT with the women who would come by to get their hair cut by his wife…After it hit #1 the band’s former label put out their early material to capitalize on their popularity and steal their new label’s thunder. So The Tops needed a good follow-up single to head off the threat. And so they took this I Can’t Help Myself and played it backwards putting new lyrics to it. Then the named it The Same Old Song. It hit the top 5 and was almost a carbon copy! See what I mean next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a snapshot of international supergroup ABBA in 1976, with two massive hits on the horizon... Fernando and Dancing Queen. Yet they made a choice no one saw coming. Fernando was a reworking of a song originally written by ABBA's manager for one of their singer’s solo careers. The principal writers of ABBA wanted the band to record it but they didn’t care for his lyrics. So they rewrote it. The other song Dancing Queen was inspired by a smash that opened the gates for an entire musical movement and later science would prove that it is the happiest song ever recorded. … But Why did This Group pick one song over the other? And what impact did it have on their legacy? We explore the surprising decision to sit on a song that made one of their lead singers burst into tears because She knew would be their biggest hit in favor of another more complex one… that may have been code for a man who saved them from an earthquake …Huh? Don’t worry you’ll get it soon… It's next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Coming up next… REO Speedwagon's I Can't Fight This Feeling was a classic #1 that took 10 years to get together. It sat on the shelf for a decade because today’s legendary guest Kevin Cronin had no clue how to finish it. He had no idea what the song meant.. so one day, desperate for a hit and desperate to finish it, Kevin decided to bring in another iconic singer-songwriter to help him. But right before he was supposed to come, this singer got pissed. What the hell does this song mean… And in that second, Kevin realized that the opening line should be the chorus and title of the song and it all came together…what had taken 10 years now took mere minutes to finish and it became a #1 smash…but Kevin admits that He has taken a lot of Crap over the years for a cheesy lyrics that still haunts him. Get the hilarious story straight from the icon next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next we’re going to Go Go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1987. One of my favorite years in music. 37 years ago. We are going to re-rank them based on their performance since then and you’ll be shocked at what artists we have interviews with trickled in. Who do you think has the #1 song? George Michael, Guns N Roses, Sting, or Belinda Carlisle, Let’s find out… Well, we’re going to find out that Payola stopped a couple of great bands from going top 10 like Pink Floyd’s Learning to Fly and the Cure's Just Like Heaven. But today we right that wrong and we see what the real top 10 is. Today on the Hit Song Redux. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Today’s episode is a bottled lightning two-for-one. Singer Freddy Curci had Two chart-topping tracks though his bands vanished into thin air shortly after. One with the band Sheriff called When I’m With You went to #1 in 1989 and one with Alias called More Than Words Can Say that hit #2 the very next year in 1990. So two massive hits with the same singer but two completely different bands.. He also set a Guinness World Record when he held the last note out for nearly 20 seconds. He had a #1 hit in 1989 and then another million seller the very next year. It’s a lot to unravel, but it’s really cool. We’re bringing you the rare story of two bands, one singer, and two-1 hit wonders, coming up... NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next iconic singer-songwriter Johnny Rzeznik shares the story of one of the biggest songs in history: Iris. He was going through one of the worst periods of his live. Johnny was in the middle of a heartbreaking divorce. He had a horrible case of writer’s block and he was so low he was on the verge of quitting his own band, the Goo Goo Dolls. He felt hopeless. So he left his home in New York and ran away to Los Angeles to hide away from it all, holding up in a hotel. Just then a major film, City of Angels, recruited Rzeznik to write a song for the soundtrack and that's when inspiration struck. He felt the song Iris coming through him when he broke 2 strings on his guitar. He just kept playing through the adversity because he knew he had something special. When it was done, Johnny knew he just written a smash… it was touched by a higher power especially when he recorded it. Iris would become one of the biggest songs ever and save his career and his life. Up next this legend shares the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In ’66, the Beatles introduced the world to a character so mysterious, that her name alone sparked curiosity and speculation... Eleanor Rigby. Who was she? Where did she come from? And why did she captivate the imagination of millions? This haunting, string-laden track from a seminal album wasn't just a song—it was the beginning of a musical enigma. Did Paul McCartney make up the name or did he steal it from a gravestone? And who wrote the song? The most famous songwriting duo ever - Lennon-McCartney - got into a nasty argument through the press about it. The story is coming up, NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Coming up… Steve Miller's career was on the ropes before it even started… he had 7 consecutive albums that flopped… If his next one wasn’t a hit the label was gonna get rid of him and his career would likely be over. Miller was desperate for a hit. A short time later he would write a song that he thought was just ok… The Joker. But it was hilariously unique in its lingo… with words and phrases that we still sing today, and a guitar effect that truly set it apart. Steve Miller thought The Joker would be a decent album track, whereas the suits from his label were predicting it would be a smash… It went to #1 and had a lyric that Miller has sung incorrectly for decades because he took it from another song. But he misheard it and then 16 years after it was #1 it went to the top spot again after being used in a Levi’s commercial… It's the story of The Joker, the song that gave Steve Miller his first gold record which he put above his washing machine! Find out why next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the commercial world of music, not every great song gets the spotlight it deserves. Some tracks, though overshadowed by their chart-topping counterparts, stand the test of time just as powerfully… Songs that are ‘just as good,’ if not better, than the hits that stole the limelight… From underrated classics to fan favorites, today we are gonna uncover the magic behind these unsung songs from some of the greatest artists of all time like The Beatles, Don McLean, Crowded House, and the Beach Boys. Including a song that was on its way to #1 but the genius behind it had the song completely stop for 5 seconds and DJs hated dead air so they stopped playing it. AS WELL AS A SONG THAT had an iconic gruff male vocalist sing from the perspective of an old woman and it’s awesome, plus a song that makes women’s hearts swoon and grown men cry, including interviews with some of the artists. NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one of the greatest singers of the rock era, Daryl Hall tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits. He was in one of the most famous twosomes in rock history, Daryl Hall and John Oates and he drops a bomb in the interview. Daryl Hall never really collaborated with his Duo partner John Oates. . Find out more in the interview also he tells the story of using a Boy Scout canteen to come up with the iconic percussion sound on the 80s classic, Method of Modern Love the same song that taught some of us how to spell! He also tells the story of being involved in the largest gathering of legends ever to sing a #1 hit WE are the World, that he described as like going back to the 8th-grade choir and the song that he gave away to an old school band but their producer gave it back saying to him: are you crazy you can’t give away this song in Out of Touch as It’s a smash…He was right it became this legend’s final #1 hit! The stories are coming up on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Eva Boyd wasn’t a singer, and had never earned a penny performing…She was a babysitter! And she hadn’t even been filling those duties for long. But when an emerging songwriting couple, Gerry Goffin and Carol King, handed her a song called Loco-motion that they’d written for somebody else and was rejected, she agreed to give it a try. What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. With one joyful, unpolished take, Loc-motion became an unstoppable hit, sparking a dance craze and launching an unlikely sensation. This song would not only hit #1 but It would be a hit over and over again for many different artists over the next few decades. Get this… Loco-motion was a #1 hit 4 times! A rock band and two foreign acts would all take it to the top of the charts. This is the story of how a household helper became star—and, ohhhh how quickly a star can fade. The chronicle of this bittersweet journey and the anthem that outlived it all is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready for a journey back to the '80s, when artists weren't afraid to join forces in unexpected and unforgettable ways. On this edition of Professor of Rock, we’re counting down the Top 5 Most Interesting Duets of the neon decade—From surprising combinations to boundary-pushing sounds, in one strange duet a legend thought the demo of the eventual #1 song was dreadful and had no desire to record the song within the same room as his counterpart… in another song the legendary duet partners only had a few hours to record their song working against a non-negotiable deadline…and then to make matters worse, a famous diva wanted the male singer’s part so he had to come up with a whole new take. and in yet another one a legend had to call his wife to get permission to hug his female partner. I’ll also give you make pick for the worst duet ever…Great stories coming up next! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine a smoky studio… late in the evening. One of the most celebrated bands of the Rock Era the Rolling Stones are restless, searching for a sound, an edge that will take them into the next phase of their career. And then, all of a sudden they heard a ruckus out the window. It was the mysterious figure of a guy jumping in and out of view. Was it a criminal? Was it a peeping tom… Nope, it was the gardener. A strange dude who not only inspired the Stones' new sound but one of the great rock songs ever from that kooky gardener the song came to life—a track so raw and charged with mystery, it felt like it was conjured from another realm. Who was this shadowy figure, and how did he ignite a rock 'n' roll ritual that would leave an indelible mark? In this episode, we reveal the untold origins of the masterpiece... Jumpin' Jack Flash. But who really wrote the music? Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are credited, but a few others from the band have a different story. Also what happened to the gardener after? Find out next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s song Bette Davis Eyes was recorded several times and didn’t go anywhere… in 1974 it was released and was a total flop. It was written about an old-time movie star that the newer generation didn’t really know. 5 years later it was re-recorded with a completely different arrangement… adding an undeniable 80s synth line with a voice so raspy everyone mistook the singer for Rod Stewart… only it was a woman: Kim Carnes. With her distinct voice, the song spread like wildfire. It hit the #1 spot for 9 weeks and became the biggest song of the year and one of the biggest of the decade. It was so big. Its success was impossible to duplicate. A true bottled lightning classic. When it was on top of the world, the legendary actress Bette Davis had no idea about it, since she didn’t listen to the radio. The only way she found out was when her grandchildren told her. Even though she’d been in over 100 films it was this song that made her grandkids think she was cool! A great story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It finally happened! Seventeen years in the making, and 41 years after the song was released the search for the internet’s most notorious lost song has come to an end. Dubbed the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet, the song's real name is Subways of Your Mind. Song detectives have been chasing clues for this one for a long time. And I’m not going to lie, the reveal to this one completely lives up to the hype. If you’re in need of a feel good story with happy ending today, then this is your episode. You’ll be smiling from ear to ear when you hear about the origins of this famous undiscovered track. And you’ll fall in love with the band who wrote it, they are called FEX. These guys are the real deal. It’s a comeback story the likes of which has never been told before. The details of a lost band, their lost drummer, and the identity of an unknown mixtape track recorded in the 80s have all finally been revealed. You’re going to love this one… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1984 two Brothers Neil and Tim Finn found themselves at a crossroads. Their band Split Enz, which had a bit of success on one side of the ocean broke up coming short of the goals they’d set to make it in the States. They were ready to quit the business, but a year later they formed a new band called Crowded House and dug down deep to create their debut album. They knew they had something special but when the first 3 singles flopped, failing to chart, they thought it was over… but then a funny thing happened, their record label put out a fourth single Don't Dream It's Over and it scorched the charts becoming one of the biggest songs of 1987 with a message so unifying and enduring, many legends have since said it’s the one song they wish they’d written. Up next the singer and writer of the song Neil Finn tells me the story of this classic song that has a shocking double meaning and made this band arguably the greatest 2 hit wonder of the 80s in America at least. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On his way back from Europe, one of rock’s greatest icons Bob Dylan was emotionally drained—disillusioned to the point of nearly quitting music altogether. When Dylan got back home, he started pouring those raw emotions onto paper, not thinking about a song, just scribbling his frustrations across 10, maybe 20 pages. He stashed it away, thinking it was just scattered ramblings. But those words didn’t stay hidden for long. They took shape, emerging as an unfiltered, six-minute epic: Like a Rolling Stone. A song too explosive to fit the industry’s clean-cut molds. Radio stations and record execs were baffled, but then… something completely unexpected happened. The artist had created more than just a song…He had created a cultural earthquake! This song made Bob Dylan an unlikely inspiration for Jimi Hendrix, who before hearing it considered himself a guitarist but not a singer. Dylan proved you didn't need a conventional voice to sing rock and roll. later the original lyrics sold for 2 million... The story is next, on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… the second part of my interview with everybody’s favorite jokester Weird Al Yankovic! This time around he tells the story of doing weeks of research on a funny animal to nail a classic 80s parody I Want a New Duck. As well as the time he tried to get legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler to approve a comedy version of his famous 1985 hit Money for Nothing. Mark hemmed and hawed and finally agreed to it if he got to come in and play the guitar part and as it turns out, his own guitarist played it better.. find out why next. As well as how Madonna begged Al to make fun of her song even giving him the song title Like a Surgeon and how a pizza delivery guy talked him into letting him be his famous 1988 music video. All of these great stories are coming up next in our exclusive interview next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COMING up next, the last extensive interview iconic 80s singer Tony Lewis of The Outfield gave before he passed away. I was fortunate to speak to him about one of the most beloved songs of the 80s Your Love. He said when he and his guitarist wrote the opening line they knew life was about to change in a big way. It might be the most memorable opening line of the entire decade sung by one of the most under-appreciated singers of the 80s. After they wrote that line the song came effortlessly in about 15 minutes, and the song took them to the top of the charts. A couple of working-class buddies were soon surpassing the Madonnas, Whitney Houstons and ZZ Tops of the chart... the story is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, today we’ve got something of an unusual show lined up for you. This one is going to be a little weird, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun. You know in the past we’ve told plenty of stories of songs that started off in unexpected and unconventional ways. From vampires to pillow fights to hymn books and kung fu confrontations… the inspiration for a hit song can really come from anywhere. And for this episode, we’re leaning into that idea as we feature three solo artists, Tina Turner, Kate Bush, and Cyndi Lauper who broke out in the 80s thanks to some really off-the-wall inspirations… I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but be ready for a role-reversal stripper, some flatulence used for sound effects, and a trip to the grown-up section of the magazine rack to write a song no female had ever attempted. We’ve got the top 3 strangest 80s song stories coming your way … NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up one of rock greatest vocalists Ann Wilson of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart tells the first-hand account of a song that has become part of classic rock folklore, the 70s classic Barracuda. Her record label Mushroom set up a publicity stunt that and a radio promoter harassed her about implying a sexual relationship with her sister Nancy Wilson. She was so outraged. She was so livid she went straight to her hotel room and wrote this seething rock masterpiece. This rocker tells us the story as well as several original members Steve Fossan and Michael Derosier and how guitarist Nancy Wilson pissed the band Nazareth off when she admitted to borrowing their riff when Heart was opening for them early on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era, Elvis Costello… on his breakthrough Watching the Detectives, a song that took him to the masses, and an in-depth look at one of his finest albums My Aim is True. Costello stayed up for 36 hours straight to write this iconic song coming from insomnia, a lot of coffee, and a debut album of a band that would be his inspiration but was also a rival. It would jumpstart the career of one of music’s greatest writers culminating years later when he would sit eyeball to eyeball with Paul McCartney and write over a dozen songs that impressed the former Beatle so much he said it was the closest he’d felt to writing with John Lennon since his death. You gotta see this interview, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next two principals from the classic Reggae group UB40, original singer Ali Campbell and toaster the late Astro tell us the compelling story of a song that took 5 years to get to #1! Red Red Wine was originally composed and sung by Neil Diamond. In 1983 Red Red Wine went to the top of the charts in the UK but stalled at #34 in America then 5 years later a DJ played it by accident confusing this band with another one and people started requesting it. Other stations followed suit and it went viral before the internet. Word of mouth took it to #1. Now all these years later UB40 has broken up into two different bands using the same name! Ali’s brother took over the other group and they’re rivals. Find out the story of the song and the latest from this legendary group who had another #1 hit in the 90s with the Elvis cover, Can’t Help Falling in Love next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, a song that was featured in the blockbuster movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves... despite efforts by the record company and the film studio to bury it. The label warned Bryan Adams that the song would ruin his career, and the film studio tried to hide it, tucking it away in the end credits like a guilty secret. Yet somehow, this single defied all the naysayers to become one of the most successful tracks of the Rock Era. One that I have loathed since I first heard it, but I’m listening to it with an open mind… Let’s see if I can be converted as I tell the history and listen to it from a new perspective. The ironic and remarkable journey of this smash hit is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Tommy James had dabbled in a lot of different styles to great effect. But then he rolled out of bed one day with an incredible song idea that would turn into Crimson and Clover. He would take the idea down a road of musical experimentation, unlike any song before it... from an ethereal vocal that sounded like it was from another dimension. Tommy put his two favorite words together for the chorus which people thought had a profound message even though it meant nothing. As he created layers of immaculate sounds and off-the-wall lyrics it all came together around a cool guitar effect that’s the grand result was a sound unlike anything that had ever been on the radio. What’s crazy is that Tommy made the demo in a couple of hours, but it was raw and uneven. He planned to finish it later but he was so excited about it that he showed it to a New York DJ. When Tommy got in his car to leave the station, he was shocked to hear his song coming out of his speakers The DJ was playing his rough demo without his consent. Turns out the DJ had recorded it, unbeknownst to Tommy, and played it. Well, the cat was out of the bag and it immediately went crazy, hitting #1 overnight. Up next icon Tommy James tells the story of Crimson and Clover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. We’re going back to the days of the cassettes and compact discs to feature a mammoth-sized band. One that has delivered some of the most ramped-up rockers of the 20th century as well as six multi-platinum albums to start their career. I'm talking about Van Halen. Only after that, the band lost their larger-than-life frontman, David Lee Roth. But resilient as they were brilliant, Eddie Van Halen and crew recruited a new lead singer, Sammy Hagar, who took them higher and higher with hits like “Finish What You Started, Dreams, Love Walks In, the Best Of Both Worlds, When it’s Love and Right Now Van Halen is a textbook case of how to thrive after losing your main man behind the mic. Not many bands have done it. But this version 2.0 outfit did. Today we’re telling the stories behind the most compelling tracks from Van Halen’s second life. Get ready for Lamborghini’s, naked songwriting sessions, interrupted intimate moments, and long walks on the beach. Plus, we’ll hear these stories straight from Sammy Hagar himself… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the middle of the most innovative time in music history, today’s classic hit White Room by Cream composed of Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce was 5 years ahead of its time. And the amazing lyrics came from one of those ‘gut check’ moments in life when a person faces great adversity or despair. This episode is about one of those critical life-changing events... With one foot in the grave, professional lyricist Pete Brown was in the midst of fighting a chemical addiction when He wrote a poem about his apartment. A poem about real estate. Then one of rock’s greatest trios Cream took that poem, cut it down, and added their heavy touch to the song to make a smash in the late 60s... influencing both Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, pretty much inventing heavy metal. The problem is the three members of Cream could not stand each other. In fact, the singer was fired one night on his way to the stage and the band secretly broke up before White Room was even a hit. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of Wooly Bully, a song that has conquered every aspect of our culture. From movies to TV to cover songs by some of the biggest artists in history to bringing humor to U.S. soldiers escaping from the drudgery of the Vietnam War. It’s a track from a band that many of us wrongly assume is a one-hit-wonder: Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. It’s a song loaded with hilarious, off-the-cuff moments from the recording studio and many listeners and DJs thought the song was code for sex or something even dirtier. But the singer claims the strange title was his cat’s name... Wooly Bully was what the business calls a “novelty track,” but even without lyrical substance, it was the first single to sell over a million copies during the British Invasion and the first song in history to barely miss the #1 spot and yet still finish ahead of every band and artist of that year including the Beatles and the Stones as the #1 song of the year. Details of this tantalizing party ditty that shockingly outperformed some of the biggest songs in music history are NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with one of the most underrated singers of his time… Peter Cox of the band Go West. He fronted Go West since the 80s and this duo killed it on the other side of the Atlantic while making some inroads here in the States with their 1985 hit We Close Our Eyes. But then at the turn of the decade, they blew up the charts with a heart-wrenching vocal performance on a song that came from the biggest movie of that year 1990. The song was King of Wishful Thinking for the Pretty Woman soundtrack and to think that the song title came from a random comment they heard at a bar! The second he wrote the song, I mean the moment Cox put his pen down he knew it would be a smash hit. Then they immediately had another huge hit and then they never touched the charts again. This is one you gotta see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, ee go behind the TOP 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1976. 48 years ago. Then we re rank them based on their legacy since that week. including songs by the babd Heart, Chicago, the Bee Gees, Gordon Lighfoot and the Steve Miller band, as well as one of the worst songs ever ? Let's take a walk down memory lane! What do you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a special episode of The Professor of Rock. We have 2 legends on today’s show, Elvis Costello and Paul Carrack, telling the story of one of the greatest songs of all time: Tempted by Squeeze. It’s one of the most well-known classics of the 80s but… it wasn’t actually a hit. It stopped just sort of the top 40. Tempted was recorded by Squeeze's longtime lead singer Glen Tilbrook and then out of nowhere a legendary artist, Elvis Costello, who the band brought in to produce the record felt the song wasn’t quite right. So, Costello, had the whole thing re-recorded and used a newcomer to the band who was hired to replace their long-time keyboardist… and maybe add some background vocals from time to time: Paul Carrack. Tilbrook was Pissed. Not only had he co-written the song but he had a great voice. But Elvis took a chance on Paul and he nailed it. And one iconic line from Tempted became so popular that fans threw toothbrushes on stage at the band whenever it was performed. We have the story from the legendary producer icon who made the controversial decision and the backup singer-keyboardist who made the song iconic next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the unpredictable story behind the Monkees feel-good anthem that almost didn’t happen: Daydream Believer. The songwriter nearly gave up on finishing it, nobody wanted to record it, and when The Monkees finally did, the vocalist Davy Jones was so frustrated with multiple takes, he almost told the producer to shove it. The only reason Daydream Believer became a single in the first place is because the intended A-side wasn’t ready for release! And then Davy had such a hard time reading the lyrics sheet, he sang the wrong words…It’s another crazy journey of twists and turns that was the legacy of one of the biggest hits of the Rock Era, NEXT… on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… we’re counting down the Top 5 Most Overplayed Rock Songs—the ones we all know by heart, are tired of, but we still love them whether we want to or not. We’re not stopping there. We’re also introducing the 5 underrated gems from Journey, Zeppelin, Queen, Eagles, and Bon Jovi to replace the old guard at least for a little while... These are songs by the same artists that deserve their shot in the spotlight and can give those overplayed tracks a well-deserved break. Including a song that’s the most played song in FM Radio history but was never released as a single being replaced by a song that a legendary band did after a rival legend said all they do is heavy rock songs. This is gonna be a fun, spirited discussion on a topic that we’ve all thought about, but maybe felt it was sacrilege to say out loud. We’re gonna start a rock n’ roll revelation NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, it’s the story of Tom Petty, a songwriter who risked everything to take down a cheating record company... His finances, his reputation, his future in music, even his mental health… a corrupt label had stolen all of it. Tom took a major risk that could’ve cost him his career. But the alternative was something much worse, working under a dishonest contract that was more or less musical servitude. Going bankrupt in the process, Tom Petty took his label to court while at the same time writing and recording what many consider to be his masterpiece album: Damn the Torpedos. And along with it Refugee, the scorching rocker that history would never forget. It took 80 takes to get down right. Find out how it all played out…with a special interview NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up we’re talking about some strange bedfellows… There have definitely been some unusual collaborations throughout the Rock Era. And this one between Rush and Aimee Mann definitely qualifies. During the 70s progressive rock and punk were at polar ends of the musical spectrum. But by the 80s, both genres were evolving… with Prog-rock becoming more bite-sized and punk going post-punk and new wave. Still when today’s Prog-rock titans Rush invited rookie new wave singer-songwriter Aimee Mann of Til Tuesday to collaborate with them on their song Time Stand Still… it was a match no one could have predicted. In fact, this was the band's first and only collaboration with another lead vocalist. Ever. Very out of character for Rush. And even better Aimee Mann had never heard the band before… And yet, the collaboration was a smashing success. Aimee's vocal cameo was phenomenal and she took this song to another level, which leads to the real discussion. Rush might be the only band with ZERO FEMALE FANS. Find out why NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years rock legend Ozzy Osbourne had been fighting a losing battle against alcoholism and substance abuse. He was always a controversial figure in rock, but in the late 80s, his personal demons took over. In a drunken act, he would forever regret, Ozzy went completely off the rails and almost killed his wife. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in a jail cell charged with attempted murder. How can anyone come back from something like that? Well, today we’re telling the unbelievable story of how he did. And how it all relates to Mama I'm Coming Home, a hit song he wrote for his wife that launched an impossible comeback. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era... Sting! We discuss a few of his biggest hits ever and he’s had a lot of them with both The Police and his solo career. We separate fact from fiction on some of the stories that have circulated about them... including one of the first songs he wrote about a girl he was in love with, but didn’t know he existed... the song would take many years to finally get a release and it went to the top of the charts and then many years after that Sting actually married the song’s muse! We also get the story of the massive hit Wrapped Around Your Finger, a song that used several words that have never been used before or after in a hit song... Plus If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, the song he wrote as an antidote to his earlier #1 hit Every Breath You Take. It’s a great interview and it’s next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re telling the tale of a misunderstood sibling rivalry between Paul McCartney and John Lennon. We’re talking two legendary singer-songwriters who were the driving engines behind one of Music’s most legendary bands The Beatles… until it all fell apart. And yeah, it was one hell of a fallout. And that’s where we’re going with today’s episode, the aftermath and all its wreckage. As Paul and John went solo, a war of words ensued through their music… songwriting skirmishes and potshots launched via lyrics. Including some low blows. But was it really as bad as it seemed? The answer may surprise you. Today, it’s an all-out, free-for-all, “tell us how you really feel” songwriting slugfest and a multi-song episode that proves that the pen is mightier than the sword… Would there be a happy ending? Find out NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an underrated treasure of the 70s and 80s, Dan Hartman, who wrote and performed one of the most ear-candied, hook-laden classics of 1984: I Can Dream About You. This song might be the best-kept secret of that year. It’s the one song that takes me right back to the 80s more than about any song from the decade, a true sonic time machine. And interestingly Dan Hartman actually wrote it for one of the biggest acts of the decade, Daryl Hall and John Oates. But they had to turn it down because it missed the deadline for their new album. So Dan basically impersonated this group and recorded it the way he thought they would. And I tell you, I Can Dream About You was so spot on to that to this day many people mistake it for Hall and Oates. It ended up being the main song for a film that flopped in its theatrical run but has become a cult classic. Stay tuned for the story of a classic on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the story of a band that just might be the greatest rock group you’ve never heard of… Often compared to Led Zeppelin, and sometimes Triumph, this band called Zebra had a unique blend of rock influences that set them apart and gave them their own unmistakable edge. For nearly a decade, Zebra battled to make their mark, and when they finally broke through, it seemed like luck was on their side. With a debut album that sold 600K with rock hits like Who’s Behind the Door and Tell me What you want. Everyone thought they’d be the next great rock band. But as the plot thickened… a sudden turn of misfortune changed everything for this band, and their ascension was cut short. A slow rise to fame followed by a swift fall from greatness—is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The J. Geils band paid their dues for over a decade on the road. They released 9 albums and not one was a hit, 11 singles with not one MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH… By the early 80s this hard-working, well-respected band was overdue for a breakout. Then all of the sudden in 1982 they were the toast of the charts with one of the biggest hits of the year: Centerfold. But the song wasn’t without controversy. Centerfold spent six weeks at the high-water mark and it was about a dirty magazine... yet it was so catchy everyone was singing it. Hell, I even got kicked out of Church for singing it. Then the band had a second straight smash hit Freeze Frame before completely disappearing from radio! Up next the story of the mysterious The J. Geils Band and their risque hit... and what the heck happened to them next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…we uncover the story of the New Radicals' "You Get What You Give" a 1998 hit that took shots at healthcare giants, the banking industry, and corporate oppression. A PROVERBIAL middle finger aimed at the man… Maybe the last great mainstream song to do so. The song even railed against the artificiality of celebrity, with the singer threatening to kick the butt of some of the hottest musical stars of the time. The frontman of this group Gregg Alexander despised the flashy, superficial side of pop stardom. After just one hit song and one successful album, he walked away, disbanding the group because he couldn’t fake it anymore… he headed to London to rediscover his passion. It’s the story of an artist who captured bottled lightning, only to become disillusioned by the very success he worked so hard for... NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Doors were coming off a year that included their breakthrough to the masses with one of the most iconic songs of the rock era, Light My Fire hit #1 and it didn’t sound like anything or anyone. Then they had another strange song that was a major hit from their second album that killed the sophomore jinx... People Are Strange. When they released their third album in 2 years Jim Morrison wanted one thing and the record label wanted another. The label pressured the band to release another hit single. Well, it just so happened that they had been sitting on a no-doubt-about-it hit song for years: Hello, I Love You. But they thought it was a sellout and felt the lyrics were too shallow. But with the pressure on they put it out. And just like the band thought… it became a #1 hit. Up next one of the last living members of the band Robby Krieger, tells the story as well as the fact that the band tried to recruit Paul McCartney to be their lead singer when the Beatles broke up. The stories are next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've been singing this 1983 classic all our lives and come to find out it's about a couple hooking up during nuclear war? I Melt With You by Modern English was written by all of band members...Robbie Grey Gary McDowell Richard Brown Michael Conroy Stephen Walker and produced by Hugh Jones and actually only hit #78 when it was first released but it became an MTV New Wave Classic and re charted in the 90s when the song became a smash all over again. Singer Robbie Grey tells the incredible story of this classic in an exclusive interview. One of the greatest one hit wonders ever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one a scary story for ya. Our story revolves around singer-composer Danny Elfman who stayed in a haunted room where 7 people were murdered. He was told he might see their ghosts, and by the morning he had the idea for a song that would become one of the most recognizable songs of the 80s. But the thing is even though this composer has written dozens of the most recognizable songs in both radio and film, he never had a top 40 hit. In fact you could make the argument that his group Oingo Boingo the greatest band in history never to have an actual hit. Up next, the true story of the haunted room that spawned his biggest claim to fame and its aftermath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’ve got a drama-filled double feature from Def Leppard, a band that ruled the airwaves with one album, Hysteria, from 1987 to 1989. At the time these guys were everywhere. Not only did they dominate radio, but every kid from the age of 8-18 had Hysteria. When all was said and done it boasted six Top 20 singles and a seventh that went Top 10 on the Rock Charts. Was there anything that could slow these guys down? Well, how about themselves? Get this, Def Leppard had been on tour for a year and they had no idea how to play their biggest hit Love Bites. How is that even possible? This track completely caught them with their pants down. Plus, we’re also telling the story of another hit song Animal, that was written in reverse… you’ll see what I mean. And this one may have saved the album from flopping. The tale of two rock classics is coming NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 5 songs that stirred up so much controversy, for the most part, the artists themselves won’t perform them anymore. From the Beastie Boys who actually came out and apologized years later after getting married, to the Rolling Stones who own one of rock’s greatest riffs that due to some lyrics now won’t ever be heard live again, to one Heart song Ann Wilson calls hideous and creepy, to one by the Kinks that I had to bleep out certain words while talking about it because this platform would ban it. These songs were so controversial most of their creators will not play them live.  Find out which songs made the list and the stories behind their taboo status, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s band Red Rider was a well-kept secret in their time and they had multiple hits in their homeland of Canada. In the early 80s inspired by several transformational moments, they wrote a masterpiece: Lunatic Fringe. It’s been called one of the coolest one-hit wonders ever. The only problem is… It was never a hit. At least not in America where it’s always in the top one-hit wonders of the time. Well, today we give Lunatic Fringe its due and the Cinderella band that created it, Red Rider. They crafted many hits in Canada but always came up short here in the States. But when lead singer Tom Cochrane went solo, he had a top 5 hit his first time out of the gate. The story is next on Professor of Rock The song had to be re-recorded because the master tape fell apart. This was devastating for the band, but they ended up with a better version, complete with the Peter Wolf keyboard intro - he wasn't part of the first recording. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Coming up…the story of metal rock icon, Lemmy Kilmister who toiled behind the scenes as a roadie for the great Jimi Hendrix, and was fired from a band after being arrested. But soon after the tables were turned and the band he was fired from was opening for him! He was a scruff from Newcastle with the most famous chopstache of the Rock Era, who LOVED to gamble- while playing his music with Motorhead ‘fast and vicious.’ We push up the ante, and play with the 'dead man’s hand’. with the 80s metal classic Ace of Spades a song that helped invent heavy metal and the a song that will split your head open!..NEXT…on Professor of Rock.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the strange tale of how a lead pipe falling at a construction site allegedly gave Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas one of the most iconic voices of the '60s the ability to sing three octaves higher. As the story goes, Cass auditioned for the up-and-coming band but was initially denied because her range was not good enough. Then Cass was at a construction site and got hit in the head with a pipe and when she came to, her range drastically expanded. And Cass got into the group because of it and had an incredible career. But did this really happen? And if not, why was the story told in the first place? Was there another reason why she was initially rejected? We’re delving into another fascinating case of fact vs. fiction, thought the songs of the Mamas and the Papas including California Dreaming, and CREEQUE ALLEY next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one of my favorite singers ever and one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of the past 50 years, Daryl Hall tells us the stories of many of his biggest hits. First of all, Daryl Hall and John Oates dominated the 80s with the most hits of the decade. But the #1 hit that set it all up, Rich Girl, happened in the 70s and it was a doozy. It had a swear word in it and it riled up radio pretty good. In fact Rich Girl became the first #1 hit to have bleeps in it. We also talk about several of Daryl's hits that were inspirations for Van Halen and Micheal Jackson’s two biggest hits, as well as his new record D. And the hits I Can't Go For That and you Make My Dreams, Get ready for a conversation with one of the greats next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For just short of a decade today’s classic song Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas was the most-played song on rock radio... and it was almost never released. The band almost left it off the album. Kansas was shocked when it was a hit because it was so out of the ordinary… Carry On Wayward Son was a revelation, it felt like 4 different songs combined, it changed tempo and the funny thing is the band pretty much nailed it in one take. I know you’ve heard that before, but to do that on this classic song is hard to believe. It is the song that every rock song is measured by and it never gets old. And today we have 2 members of the band to tell the story... one who was the guitarist who was there helping formulate it and their current lead singer who bought the song in high school, loved it, and probably had no clue he’d be singing it with his favorite band decades later. You gotta hear this to believe it, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… we get into the story behind a Top 10 hit from one of the biggest duos EVER, The Carpenters. Known more for their angelic harmonies and light and easy hits than for a shredding guitar solo, but in the 70s they took a bold leap with today’s song Goodbye to Love… Going hard rock for one hot minute… Goodbye to Love was a major departure from their usual sound, and their fans weren’t happy—hundreds wrote in, accusing them of “selling out.” But the song was a smash and would set the tone for the Motley Crue’s and Def Leppard’s of the world as quite possibly the first Power Ballad ever. So, what led to this dramatic shift? Find out NEXT… on Professor of Rock.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. I’ve got an impossible task ahead of me and I don’t know how I’m going to do this. For this episode, I’m tackling the story of one of my Top 3 bands of all time, Pink Floyd. They have over a quarter of a billion albums sold and a catalog of studio albums spanning nearly five decades. But their acclaim isn’t counted in albums made or sold. It’s all about the music… songs that have captivated generation after generation. And to do it in the way that they have, it truly is the greatest rock and roll story ever told… Light and dark, genius and insanity, high stakes drama, hostile takeovers, decades-long feuds, bitter firings, near breakups… and then a real break up. But mixed within the madness… some of the greatest albums ever put to vinyl. How can so much dysfunction breed so much brilliance? Find out… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can’t make this up… a foreign language song that was originally released as a B-side all of a sudden became a massive worldwide #1 smash nearly 30 years after it was released. How does that happen? Well, it helps when one of the great rock and roll stories comes back into the zeitgeist. Ritchie Valens was a mere 16 years old when he recorded La Bamba. He came in a time of teen idols who had their own songwriters, but he was one guys who wrote his own stuff and had a world of possibilities ahead of him... until he was killed in a tragic accident. Since then, we have all wondered what might have been. 'What ifs’ are always hard, but this one is even worse because his fate was determined by a coin flip. Join us for a great tribute to Ritchie Valens, an original guitar hero next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of an epic collaboration between one of rock’s most iconic rebels Joan Jett and one of the most prolific songwriters of the era Desmond Child. This rock legend had a bold, risqué song title that no one would dare play, but she had the riff to back it up. All she needed was some expert help to craft a radio-friendly title and some unforgettable lyrics. The song, eventually titled I Hate Myself for Loving You became a big ol’ hit, making waves in pop culture, with NFL fans, and even catching the attention of a fellow Hall of Fame singer who tried to use the chorus as a pickup line at her hotel door. You’re gonna love this saucy narrative…NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… an interview with Tommy James, a legend who technically recorded his first hit at just 15 years of age. He snuck into a club and heard today’s song Hanky Panky being played and noticed that the audience LOVED it. So he decided to cut the record himself. But he forgot the lyrics and made up some of his own. The recording wasn’t very good and he didn’t think it would go anywhere. The song was released and got some airplay. But it was forgotten until a few years later when it re-emerged after getting played at dance parties and then it was bootlegged and almost 100K copies of it were sold. 6 major labels picked up on this and a bidding war to sign the artist was brewing until a small label owned by a mobster threatened everyone and swooped in to sign this young artist. A short time later Hanky Panky hit #1 across America and to this day many people think the song was recorded by this now older artist. But come to find out it was the old crappy demo that many point to as the first punk rock song. The crazy story is next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. It’s a subject we’ve talked about quite a few times on here. How does an artist or band blast onto the scene and hold the world hostage for several years and then disappear as quickly as they came? Well, in 1988 the underground band Information Society took over radio with zero gimmicks and zero support from their label. It was all about their music. Their first song What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy) blew up the charts and had everyone singing along, as did their second Walking Away… Then they had another big hit and POOF, they went up in smoke and disappeared… From overnight success to commercial extinction, what led to the demise of Information Society? Find out next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we celebrate Dan Fogelberg's The Innocent Age, an underrated masterpiece that deserves recognition for both its impact on the music industry and its timeless lyrics and musicianship. One of the most accomplished albums of the 80s by Dan Fogelberg, an artist whose achievements never get the credit that he deserves. In the early 80s, there were only 2 musical acts that had 4 hits from one album Same Old Lang Syne, Leader of the Band, Hard to Say, and Run for the Roses! … One was Michael Jackson and the second one may surprise you. A reluctant star who could’ve had dozens of hits had he chosen to. Get the story of the most under-appreciated artist of his time and his 1981 masterpiece next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world of rock n’ roll has many of those wild, fascinating stories. As time goes on, the stories get wilder and wilder…the myths get further & further from the truth. In this episode, we’re going to explore the Top 5 Urban Legends of Rock n’ Roll and separate fact from fiction from Mama Cass Elliot dying from choking on a ham sandwich to the Beach Boys writing a song with a mass murderer to Ozzy getting a rabies shot after some wild antics… Today we get the real stories of the stories that have been passed down forever on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s song Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest is one of the most beloved of the 70s. It is a happy-go-lucky singalong that no one can deny, yet it came from one from an absolutely chilling experience. The song’s writer Sherman Kelly and his girlfriend almost lost their lives in a terrifying ordeal right out of a horror movie. But the writer turned the evil event into one of the most positive songs of its time! When the band was recording it the song just wasn’t gelling. But in a strange twist, a toilet brush made the song perfect. Stay tuned for one of the craziest song stories I’ve ever heard on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay, we’re getting a little controversial here today. I mean, it’s unavoidable when you’re talking about the legendary and reckless Guns N Roses. As a way of introduction, let me give you their calling card: It simply reads “Sex, Drugs, and Rock N Roll.” Yeah, everybody knows this catchphrase. But GNR epitomized it. Especially on their 1987 debut album Appetite for Destruction. Which by the way is the biggest-selling debut LP ever. With their fingers hovering over the self-destruction button, these guys wrote bad-ass song after bad-ass song. Two of which we’re diving deep into today: Paradise City and Rocket Queen. And one of these, I tell ya, it may be the most controversial track of the 80s. Let’s just say it contained some explicit extra-curricular vocals. It’s pretty shocking. You’ll see why coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up….the story of a hall-of-fame rocker Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band who found inspiration for the lyrics of his last BIG hit Abracadabra when he saw another superstar Diana Ross take a MAD tumble on the ski slopes in Idaho. At first, he was solely concerned about whether one of the diva was OK from the fall, but, later, the incident triggered the words for a song that he had shelved for years! It’s a song that brought us pop-rock sorcery with a hook that’s impossible to shake, with one of the longest words in a chorus of the time… AbracadabraThat most would find difficult to rhyme to, but it caught fire around the world Even thought the record label offered no support and had given up on him since they thought he was turning into a dinosaur. but in a strange turn of events, the #1 hit didn’t really move the needle and he left music for 6 long years. find out what happened NEXT…on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, I have an interview with a real blast from the past band, Yacht Rock sensation Pablo Cruise… They had 6 hits in the late 70s into the early 80s, a few of which we hear all the time, including Whatcha Gonna Do, Love Will Find A Way, and Cool Love. But then they disappeared! Would they be forgotten… Not exactly. There were two major events that brought this band back to the masses…two major things that brought about their resurrection into pop culture. .. When the term Yacht Rock was invented they blew up again, as one of the foremost purveyors of the genre. And then at about the same time in 2008 one of the world’s #1 comedian/actors Will Ferrell wore their band t-shirt in his movie Stepbrothers and put them back in our collective conscience. Up next the two principals from the band Cory Lerios and David Jenkins tell us the story of their biggest hit including singing their song to someone at an airport to see if it would be a hit single. Plus the story of their rise to the top of the AM radio dial in the 70s on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is it the most elaborate cover-up in rock history? Some would say yes. For today’s episode, we’re covering The Beatles, a band that was at the forefront of the cultural revolution, and that would go on to change music forever. However... there are some out there who would have you believe that The Beatles' entire history is a lie. And they say they have the evidence to prove it. It’s a story filled with intrigue, deceit, car crashes, doppelgängers, plastic surgery, strange mammals and a band that hid allegedly hid clues in their art. We’ll consider the evidence and follow the clues to see if we can get to the bottom of all this. Is there any scrap of truth to these incredible claims? Or are we just talking about a fun and entertaining urban legend? The Paul Is Dead urban it broken down from the clues in the albums Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Magic Mystery Tour, and Abby Road. Find out… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get tickets for Weird Al's upcoming "Bigger & Weirder" tour. Dates will be announced on Monday, September 23rd. Check out Weird Al's website for more details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the so-called Filthy Fifteen, today’s rebellious rock anthem We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister never got a fair shake... not from parents, not from the media, and not even from the Government. This classic rock anthem had a target on its back for years from the powers that be...Their gameplan? To censor so-called offensive music across the nation. But that was the whole reason the song was written in the first place… To defy authority. And lead singer Dee Snider actually took his fight against authority all the way to Washington DC and ripped the censors on live TV. Coming up next, the story of the 80s most rebellious anthem. It took Dee Snider 4 years to write it due to writer's block and his producer didn’t want them to put it on the album! He felt it sounded like a nursery rhyme... too sing-songy. And to his point, the band did push their hardcore lyrics against the melody of one of the most famous Christmas songs ever… It was unbelievably catchy… but the singer had to beg the label to get the song released. It became a smash but it would become their only hit. Get the story of this rebel anthem, Christmas song rip-off next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a room with people you couldn’t stand, but had no choice but to grin and bear it? Well, the two leaders of Stealers Wheel, Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan, knew that feeling all too well. They captured that awkward vibe and turned it into the song Stuck in the Middle with You, which unexpectedly became a massive international hit! The funny thing is, they never thought the single would take off. They wrote it as a joke… a complete parody. In fact, Gerry Rafferty mimicked Bob Dylan’s vocal for a laugh… It was a throwaway gag… The frontman had even left the band to go solo and then suddenly…the song blew up! Rafferty’s impersonation of Dylan was so Good, people thought the song was actually Bob Dylan…. The record label came begging for Gerry to return, and he did…. but it was too late. At the core, this is a story of two musicians who built something special from their shared love of music. Along the way, there were setbacks, lawsuits, breakups, and unexpected triumphs for two guys who loathed the spotlight. We’ll take you into the middle of the action NEXT….on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When legendary frontman Jim Morrison of The Doors told his band members they should go home and write some songs to fill out their live show and have more to record. Teenage guitarist Robby Kreiger took him seriously and wrote a song that night... Light My Fire. When he brought it into the band they were blown away… thing is today’s Robby not only wrote the music, he also wrote most of the lyrics and that fact has been lost on pretty music everyone who assumes Jim Morrison wrote it. It would take the rookie band to #1 after their first single flopped and it would become one of the greatest songs in rock history… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can you say about today’s band The Cars? They mixed two genres perfectly to become one of the greatest rock bands of the late 70s and 80s helping save rock and roll and giving it a new sheen. The Cars had two lead singers, Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, who on their own could’ve led any band. But their power was drawn from the other members of the band who all brought a magic that couldn’t be planned. After blowing up the late 70s with one of the best debut records ever, the band was worried about the sophomore jinx. Well, today’s song Let's Go was so electrifying it PULVERIZED the sophomore jinx. One of the coolest rock songs ever that balances guitar and synth perfectly and contains what may be the most magical vocal part of the 70s, with an addictive hand clap part that you had to participate in even if you were driving or carrying groceries. You’ll see what I mean next from the band everyone agrees on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You’ve heard them all a million times or more. The most overplayed songs of the 80s. Not only did they flood the radio airwaves back in the day, but since the neon decade they have conquered pop culture media, getting played again and again in movies and television shows. I’m talking about tracks like Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer’s and TOTO’s Africa But for today’s episode I want to give 6 songs that are just as good and truly under-appreciated. They made their mark on the 80s. But they’ve been missing in action since but that doesn’t mean they aren’t outstanding. We’ve got some real killers here. One hit song where Van Halen forgot to credit a legendary writer… one that was produced by an iconic member of Pink Floyd, and 1 that might be the most chilling top 10 hit ever. Coming up I’m going to count ‘em down for you. See if you remember these classics and agree with my picks… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up... the story of the mini-rock symphony Love is Like Oxygen from Sweet, a band once dismissed by critics as a "bubblegum group" focused only on making money. But with their final big hit, the band reached the pinnacle of their artistry, delivering a track that was a complete departure from their usual sound. SADLY Their redemptive success was short-lived, as their lead singer left the band amidst deteriorating health—at one point, landing in the ER for emergency heart surgery. On the operating table, he suffered 12 consecutive heart attacks, yet somehow, he survived. The story of how this musical triumph was created. Why Sweet should be more revered and what happened to one of the pioneers of Glam Rock is NEXT …on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where do I even start with this one? Over 50 musicians came in and out of this one-hit wonder band in its time... Dexys Midnight Runners. And its principal, the singer Kevin Rowland absolutely detested his #1 hit Come On Eileen. He hated it because he didn’t think it was mixed right… He was so angry about it, he didn’t listen to the song for 40 years, which is hard to believe because we all LOVED IT. Come On Eileen was such a big song it bested the biggest-selling artist on the planet during its unprecedented peak. This was the song that stopped him. It was a dirty song in more ways than one and it still moves the needle. A bottle-lightning classic and besides its controversy a former band member would come out of the woodwork and claim the singer stole it from him. The story of an 80s classic next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story behind one of the biggest hits of 1966 Mellow Yellow by Donovan. Packed with hidden meanings and controversial themes, this song, somehow, managed to sneak past the old-fashioned ideology of the media gatekeepers' values and came close to topping the American Pop charts. It’s a song about recreational drugs, young desire, having a laid-back disposition, and, believe it or not, a sexual device with a very catchy name. The song also had a strange whispering backup vocal that many claimed was one of the Beatles…But was that just a myth? We’re exploring the origin and evolution of this '60s counterculture classic—one that would NEVER FLY in the 21st century… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes you hear a rock and roll story and it’s so good you feel like it was scripted or made up. Well, today’s story seems too good to be true, but it’s 100% true. It’s the story of John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band who paid their dues for years, playing 3 gigs a night sometimes. Well, they caught a lucky break when a producer wanted to use their song On the Darkside for a big Hollywood movie: Eddie and the Cruisers. But when the movie opened, it completely flopped. The band moved on after the disappointment wondering if they’d ever get another shot… well a year later John Cafferty got a call from his manager who told him their year-old failed record had just sold 25k copies virtually overnight. Eddie and the Cruisers had found new life on cable TV and it sent the record to the top of the charts. Up next, an interview with the singer on the miraculous story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… A Holy Grail interview. When I started doing this years ago I made a list of 15 artists I have to interview before I die and my top 3 were no brainers… Well I just got one of them… Sting! They Say to Never meet your heroes well I did and he blows that theory out of the water. Up next a very personal interview with a musical genius about one of my favorite records ever… he’s the only artist to have 2 songs in the top 10 most played songs in history… Not even the Beatles have done that! Stay tuned for a very moving conversation, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the early 70s to the close of the decade, the Eagles were flying high, having written a litany of beloved rock-era hits. As well as some classic rock standards that were never released as singles. But life in the fast lane left this 100 million-plus record hit-machine running on empty. Quick tempers, in-fighting, and backstage brawls would plague this band of guitar-slingers for the long run… and their eventual break up was only a matter of time. Today, we’re re-examining the Eagles' explosive story through the lens of some of their most iconic tracks. Hits that were written in unexpected places, like a broke-down road trip, a locked-up nightclub, and one that was about California’s most sinister and haunting locale. The drama unfolds… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Get ready to take a nostalgic journey as we countdown the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders of the 70s with the actual artists telling their stories… We have so many classics here: like Mountain's Mississippi Queen that came when they were playing a live show and a blackout happened so they started to play an impromptu jam to keep the crowd going and it turned into an all-time classic. Or when David Bowie wrote All the Young Dudes, a song that he knew would be a smash but he gave it to Mott the Hoople because they were about to break up and needed a hit. Or Warren Zevon who wrote Werewolves of London as a joke after he heard a band member howl like a dog! and so he added the howl into the chorus! You’ll love this… Celebrating the great bottled lightning hits with unforgettable moments and memories that made these songs special to each of us. The countdown kicks off NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Once upon a time at a Halloween party in the 70s, a notoriously shy, unsociable future hall-of-fame rockstar named Donald Fagen got the courage to hit on a beautiful woman… He slipped her his phone number, but the problem was this awkward genius had just hit on his college professor’s pregnant wife… Would it lead to a torrid affair? We’ll find out the details next. But the embarrassing moment was turned into Steely Dan's Rikki Don't Lose That Number, one of the best songs and biggest hits of the 70s, and a guitar solo by today’s guest… Also, the man who helped this band become a household name and later stole their backup singer to front his next band. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… we're putting the spotlight on Sunglasses at Night, an iconic '80s anthem-ditty created by Corey Hart who caught the attention of two of the most famous singers in recorded music history before he was a teenager. From its mysterious lyrics that most of us have been mumbling through cuz we have no idea what Corey is saying, to that unforgettable synth riff, this track didn't just define a decade—it became a cultural staple and ignited sales for the accessory that the song is about. And it was a total accident since Sunglasses at Night was first about a wet cigarette… and a last-minute studio session turned into a smash hit. And one that made Corey Hart famous, but many still think he’s a one-hit wonder even though he had 7 more after that including one that was even bigger! Find out the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Crosby Stills & Nash Tell the story of their first hit SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES the song that put them on the map as one of the world's first supergroups. In this interview the Late David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Captain Everyhands: Stephen Stills tell the story of this 60s classic and how they played Woodstock at 4 in the morning. The Groups would later add Neil Young and become one of America's greatest rock and folk bands setting the stage for the singer songwriter movement that would come with the Eagles and James Taylor and Jackson Browne into the 70s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next. When guitar legend Neal Schon of Journey was an unknown 14-year-old kid, he told his parents he was going to a sleepover at his friend’s hour… Instead, he went to a famous bar and had a guitar battle with his hero… BB King. A decade later, Schon would rule the beginning of the 80s with one of the greatest classic rock songs ever… Any Way You Want It. This song still shakes stadiums all these years later but there’s a secret to this track… Up next all-time legend Neal Schon tells us the story of jamming with his hero at 14 and reveals the mystery behind an 80s classic on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with with throwback icon Brian Hyland about a song that every generation living on this earth knows by heart... Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. It’s become one of the most played songs of its time and when Bryan recorded it he was only a sophomore in high school. It became a #1 hit even though it was considered very risqué for its time… One of the most interesting things about today's song is that a fraud claimed to have written it for 50 years. He told his wife, his friends, his community, and everyone that he was the guy who wrote it. It even appeared in his obituary across newspapers and news stations around the world including the New York Times.… but then the truth would finally come out. Find out the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I have a question for you all? How many perfect songs are there in the world. Where every second of it is exhilarating… That no many times you listen to it, it doesn’t lose it’s luster. In my opinion one such song was released in 1987, The Cure's Just Like Heaven. This song’s origins is really interesting as well. It’s just like a dream. If you can believe it, this happy song was inspired by one of the world’s most notorious suicide hot-spots. Only the Cure could get away with something like this. Their frontman Robert Smith was spending the night there, not to take his own life… but in a near-tragic twist of fate, he came dangerously close to dying. The whole incident was darkly surreal… but somehow it led to this perfect song that’s so ambiguous, that after listening to it we’re not sure what happened to the mysterious girl by the time it ends… Did she die? Let’s solve this mystery and bask in Just Like Heaven. The answer is NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stevie Nicks, one of rock’s most revered singers, was on her way to a secretive honeymoon after getting married. During the drive to the couple’s destination, Prince's Little Red Corvette came on the radio and she pulled over at the closest record store to buy the tape. The song was so compelling it inspired Stevie to forgo her wedding night and instead, she wrote her biggest hit, Stand Back. Nicks rushed down to the studio and in the process, she called Prince to get permission to write what was essentially her lyrics over his music. It just so happened he wasn’t home, instead she found out he was only 20 minutes away. Prince came to the studio, and in a flash of magic, he played a perfect synth melody for it. Stand Back became Stevie's biggest solo hit and Prince turned down a writing credit. Later when the music video was shot, Stevie Nicks almost died when a horse almost toppled her. The story of an 80s classic is next! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next we’re going to count down the top 10 songs of this very same timeframe from the year 1988. We have interviews and stories from the artists… as well as your stories and dedications. And then we’ll recalibrate them based on their all-time performance since then. It’s a great show with so many great songs a couple of artists who reached the coveted BILLION VIEWS CLUB and today’s Top 10 countdown may be the only one in music history to have the worst song of the 80s go up against arguably the best song of the 80s… See if you agree and who wins the battle. Coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the wild story behind Rock Me Amadeus by Falco, one of the most unexpected global hits of the ‘80s. It was written in German which happened to be Falco’s native tongue but when he tried to sing it in English, it didn’t work. So Falco sang it in German which was a massive risk for them in America. In fact, Rock Me Amadeus was released twice, and both times it was a total flop… each time they retooled it and finally they brought in another singer to bring some soulfulness to this new wave track. Rock Me Amadeus became an innovative blend of classical music and pop culture and it made Falco the biggest-selling artist ever in his homeland. But behind the catchy chorus and infectious beat lies a tale of artistic risk, personal demons, mysterious deaths, and a song that may have spelled the end of Falco… The drama unfolds NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview that really surprised me. Sometimes I do an interview and think I know what to expect and then the unexpected happens and it turns into something else entirely. Today’s multiplatinum artist Rita Coolidge hit the jackpot in 1977 and 1978 with 4 big hits including We’re All Alone and Your Love Is Lifting Me Higher. Then soon after had another big hit being chosen to sing the James Bond Theme “All Time High. All 5 of these big hits were written by other people, but according to Rita, she wrote a song that was stolen from her because she was heard playing it through the wall in a studio…the stolen song became one of the biggest songs ever. Layla By Derek and the Dominoes The story and interview are next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s hard to understand why a song that was hit all over the world wasn’t released in the US. Today’s song Zombie by the Cranberries was never released in America, yet it’s the most streamed song of the year it came from. And even crazier it may have stopped a centuries-old conflict. It was sung by a beautiful angel whose gorgeous voice went scorched earth on this hardcore rock song. She wrote a song with so much righteous anger that it’s one of the most pissed-off performances of the rock era. Responding to a tragic bombing that took the lives of two innocent children, this ethereal frontwoman powered up her dreamy folk sound, and unleashed a series of siren screams that no one knew she had in her…Historically, she was one of the greatest artists of her time and truly deserved better. Let’s honor this angel next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael McDonald has over 1,200 songwriting credits and has played on more than 700 recordings dating back to 1972, yet for years, no one knew his name outside of a recording studio. That all changed in ‘75 when he joined the Doobie Brothers, one of the biggest rock bands of the decade. After releasing four platinum albums, the Doobies disbanded, and one of the most recognizable voices of the Rock Era went solo. In this episode, we jump into the story of I Keep Forgetting (Every Time You’re Near), the song that kicked off Michael McDonald's solo career and later became a BIG crossover hit, thanks to a rapper named Warren G, who stumbled upon a stack of vinyl from a street peddler outside Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in Hollywood. When he sampled this song not only did it go to #1 but even people who hated RAP Loved this song… All this and more, coming up NEXT... on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rob Halford the metal God himself and the raging front man of Judas Priest tells the story of the band's metal masterpiece: British Steel and the song Living After Midnight from the early 80s that brought metal to the children in this exclusive interview on professor of rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did today’s featured artist Phil Collins make too much music? Between Genesis and his solo career, we’re talking 20 studio albums in about three decades. That’s a new album every year and a half. During the 80s alone Phil churned out eight #1s and 21 big hits overall… The numbers are staggering. But was it overkill? When is enough “enough” when it comes to your favorite musicians? Overexposed and getting a reputation for going a little too “vanilla pop,” Phil decided to shake things up. So he took a chance on a more serious subject.. writing Another Day in Paradise, a song that was self-indictment, and that made him question his own humanity. When Collins released it, it caught everyone’s attention. And he took some heat for it. You’ll see why coming up next… on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So apparently one of the greatest classic rock songs of the 80s, Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions, almost didn’t happen because when the song was first written nobody in the band could figure out how to play it. So they put it on the back burner… then when they finally nailed it, they wanted it to be a song that had more than a little edge. In fact, the lyrics were rewritten about 10 times and they were so focused on it being forbidden, that the song had the F word in the title. And the way they used it was so over the line there was no way they’d get it played on radio. The Executives made them tone it down …a lot. But even with the clean version of Rock You like a Hurricane it caused panic... when it came out and became a huge hit, a Karen in the Government tried to get the song BANNED. A story you won’t want to miss next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is it about Mondays that seems to bring everyone down? It’s as if that day casts a shadow over us all, shifting the mood of the universe for a full 24 hours. With that in mind, one of the most talented, yet volatile bands of the Rock Era, the Mamas and the Papas, created Monday Monday, a song that unintentionally summed up their brief but brilliant run and gifted us with a break-taking classic. Monday Monday was written in 20 minutes and nobody in the band liked it. Especial singer Denny Doherty... Some even hated it with a passion so imagine their surprise with it hit #1. Then everyone wanted to know what the song was really about. Well as it was not even the writer, John Phillips had a freaking clue what it was about…decades later it turns out the song was an eerie prediction for what would happen to the band. When Michelle Phillips and Mama Cass Elliot and Denny and John fractured.The story is NEXT… on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony was so mesmerizing, so ear-catching that it hypnotized an entire generation… It was on its way to becoming one of the greatest songs of its time, and yet the song's singer and writer Richard Ashcroft didn’t make a single solitary cent from it. In fact, Bittersweet Symphony basically ruined his young career and stunted The Verve's surge to the top of the charts. And it was all thanks to an obscure sample from a 1965 rock song by the Rolling Stones. Ashcroft had to give away 100% of his royalties and credit two songwriters who had nothing to do with the song’s composition… It was a brutal coup contrived by a true musical mob boss... And one of the most outrageous injustices in music history. Filled with cutthroat contracts and shady characters, today’s episode will have you rooting for the underdog to win back what was rightfully his. Find out if he does… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the story of the the most upbeat hit song ever Windy by The Association. IT’S ALMOST unfair how infectious and addicting this classic hit and yet at the same time it might be the most confusing song ever. It was written about a guy… and his name is the main hook of the song. But it’s not a name anyone would EVER associate with a guy so when today’s The Association recorded it, they changed the gender of the guy to a girl. But again the name repeated in the song would never be associated with a a girl or a guy or a human. But it became a smash #1 hit… This band would have a slew of hits over a couple of years, including 3 big #1 hits that are three of the most-played songs in history. Problem is nobody under the age of 40 remembers these guys and they may have had the best vocal harmonies of their time, right there with the Beatles and the Beach Boys. We have an interview with the band coming up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, Mazzy Star has walked the line between obscurity and popularity… between camouflage and captivating the masses. Originating in LA’s Paisley Underground scene in the 80s, within a decade they were all over the radio dial thanks to their iconic sleeper hit Fade Into You. This “accidental anthem” was never meant to be anything special. In fact, Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval and David Roback had no aspirations for commercial success. For them, it was all about the inner world of their music. They could care less if anyone else liked it. But the problem was that a lot of people did. So to shed the spotlight they intentionally vanished… calling it quits and fading into the background. But even without any promotion on their part, Fade Into You track refuses to die. And over the past few decades it has become a pop culture mainstay. To the point where it may be one of the most overused songs in film and television. Get the story… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The alleged feud between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young has long been a topic of fascination for Rock fans and pop culture enthusiasts. What began as a lyrical exchange in the early '70s soon spiraled into a highly publicized, and often misunderstood rivalry. When Neil Young critiqued Lynyrd Skynyrd's heritage, their home state, and their people, it sparked an immediate response from them in one of the most famous anthems of the 70s, Sweet Home Alabama. They were fighting their rivalry in the lyrics of their songs…This back-and-forth between the two iconic acts was perceived by many as a deep-seated feud, but was it really as contentious as it seemed?? Let’s get into the story behind this supposed conflict and uncover the truth behind the music and the myths that have surrounded it for decades…It’s coming up NEXT… on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Queen's Don't Stop Me Now is about the most fun-loving, let-it-all-go without-a-care in the world track in rock history. But it was not a hit when it first came out in the 70s… In fact, it didn’t even make the top 80 songs of the week that it peaked. But decades later Don't Stop Me Now is bigger than any hit that came out that year and has almost 4 billion streams, making it one of the biggest hits of the entire decade... and yet beneath this happy-go-lucky song is a very dark and sinister underbelly. Even key members of Queen were uncomfortable with it. And in hindsight, peeling back the layers on this one, you get some foreboding insight into the tragic death of Freddie Mercury, one of rock’s greatest frontmen. So, brace yourself, because today we’re are on a collision course between rock and roll fantasy and a cold dose of reality… with a song that was a total chart failure when it came out but is now one of the biggest songs ever. NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees is a song with a secret message. One that never would have gotten airplay if the music industry knew what this squeaky clean band was putting out. And though it seems pretty obvious in hindsight, not everyone got what Last Train was really about. The song’s controversial message was camouflaged by a jangly, upbeat sound and performed by a band that had been manufactured in a lab. The Monkees didn’t write any of their own music, at least not at first. Later though they would fight the power for a chance to write and record their own music. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on a protest song disguised as a happy-go-lucky singalong that came to be when its writer Bobby Hart heard a Beatles song and misheard the lyric. When he figured out he’d been singing it wrong he turned his misheard lyrics into a #1 smash. And coming up in an in-depth interview, Hart will tell you the whole story. You’re not going to want to miss this one. The story’s coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next… Toto is currently the biggest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub this side of Boston. Especially since between the guitarist Steve Lukather and some of his bandmates in a roundabout way, they’ve sold over 500 million records, they’ve swept the Grammys... and even gave the middle finger to Rolling Stone when the snobbish magazine wanted to put them on their cover because they were the most popular band in music... even though the rag had ripped on their music for years. Up next, an interview with 2 of the principals from the original lineup on their biggest record Toto IV including the morning Steve Lukather hung up on the #1 artist in the world, who was calling to have him play on his album. But Lukather thought he was being pranked by his buddies. Stay tuned for an interview from Toto, the band that has been called "technically" the greatest collection of musicians on the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with singer-songwriter Derek Holt who got axed from the Climax Blues Band for writing a huge hit. It’s pretty hard to believe but Derek wrote "I Love You", a song that became one of the biggest hits of 1980. And his band members hated it so much… they resented it so much that they basically forced him out of the band and, in one of the strangest stories I’ve heard in an interview, the Climax Blues Band NEVER performed the song live in America. But in one of the coolest redemption stories I’ve ever heard, decades later Derek Holt finally got to sing the song in concert… at a karaoke bar…but there’s a cool twist. Listen to this cool interview to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up... John Denver is the last musical icon you'd associate with a violent tirade, with his golly-gee looks and squeaky-clean persona. But even John had a temper that could flare up unexpectedly. His famous marriage went through a series of separations and unimaginable ups and devastating lows… It was such an enduring relationship that he wrote what many feel is the GOAT OF LOVE SONGS called Annie's Song. It's one of the most magical and poignant songs of the time. But in the end, Annie's Song couldn’t save the marriage… It ended in a brutal divorce that got so bad at one point this boy scout took a chainsaw to their king-size bed… It’s a sad story, an inspiring story, and one that’s about as real as real life can get…NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…We have our Bottle Lightning show where we talk about the greatest one-hit wonders ever. But today I wanted to shake it up. What about those artists who actually followed up their huge hit with another one of equal impact? A second legitimate hit but then never had another one? The Two Hit Wonders. It’s a special countdown of the Top 5 '2 Hit Wonders' of the 80s! We're talking about tales featuring comedy legend Milton Berle in drag, a groupie who took her obsession with a radio DJ to a deadly level, an artist nicknamed "the Ant,” a civil lawsuit with Van Halen in the plaintiff's seat, and one band had a 50-second cameo in an 80s movie that will shock many of you… Get ready for some serious fun AND nostalgia…Our Top 5 '2 Hit Wonders' of the 80s are coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, a sit down with one of my favorite artists ever Huey Lewis... about one of the best songs of the mid-80s: Hip to Be Square. I swear I've never met anyone who doesn’t love this guy…Turns out Huey was writing a fun little song about leaving rebellion behind to conform to a more traditional lifestyle… Not selling out but buying in. Then years later this happy-go-lucky 80s classic was stolen by a notorious serial killer! Then on another hit from Huey's record, I know What I like: everyone was in awe with the amazing backing vocals. Come to find out it was the offensive line and a quarterback from an NFL team…For about 5 years in the 80s, Huey Lewis and the News were as big as anybody in music. Right there with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince Duran Duran, and the Police, and they were just a bunch of regular guys. They had 11 top 10 hits in 4 years but then everything changed because of a horrible disease. He hasn’t been able to tour, but in the end, they are still the only news source I trust. Find out why next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, this one’s going to blow your mind. Today we’re featuring the iconic hit Jamie's Cryin' that never so much as placed on the Billboard Hot 100… even though there’s no doubt it should have. Jamie's Cryin' was released as a single by one of the most badass bands around, Van Halen, as part of their debut album in the late 70s. But it got no love. Fast forward a decade later, and to add insult to injury, Jamie's Cryin' was sampled without Van Halen’s permission for the #2 rap hit Wild Thing by Tone Loc. Later the two parties almost came to blows over it. So was this straight-up thievery? Or is there some possible explanation for using another band’s song without their consent? You be the judge. The story is coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… rock icon Pete Townsend of The Who delves into his feelings of angst in Behind Blue Eyes... grappling with the pressures of being a celebrity put on a pedestal and confronting the reality that he's not WHO he appears to be. It all began when Pete was tempted by a beautiful fan backstage after a live performance. And being a famous rock star we know how this story goes… but in actuality… Pete resisted her advances. Instead, he returned to his hotel room, where he channeled his emotions into writing a song about the struggles of being a public figure. In a moment of clarity, Pete Townsend realized he wasn't the person everyone thought he was. Behind Blue Eyes became one of the most beloved songs ever with one of the most poignant vocals of the 70s. And there's a reason it was so heartfelt. Singer Roger Daltrey's dog died hours before he put down the vocal. We go behind the artifice to uncover what it's really like to be… the bad man… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From KISS to Bon Jovi, Today's blues-rock outfit Cinderella caught the attention of some of the industry’s biggest icons before they were signed. And though their story sounds like something out of a fairytale, the reality is that these guys went triple-platinum with their debut record, all thanks to their hit single Nobody's Fool which climbed the charts to lucky #13 in the mid-80s... with lead singer Tom Keifer whose distinctive voice stood out in a sea of Glam Metal. And get this, the band formed because they were all taking a wizz at a urinal all at the same time. Then after 3 huge records, they disappeared for a very good reason. An outside force derailed them… Find out what happened next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega was a 1987 album track that wasn’t even released as a single in America. Then years later the song would make history several times… First, it was remixed by the underground duo DNA and released as a bootleg that got play all over. In fact, when Suzanne heard her song she wasn’t sure whether to congratulate them or sue them for using her song without permission. But she decided to help them promote Tom's Diner and it became one of the biggest hits of her career and her biggest worldwide. And then it was used as the track to develop the MP3 maker. Suzanne is the mother of the format…And to think it came from eating breakfast at a restaurant that was later the one you see in Seinfeld. This Suzanne Vega tells this crazy story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the prime of his life, Fee Waybill of the Tubes, one of rock’s wildest frontmen was lured into a seedy parlor in the underbelly of San Francisco’s notorious red light district. The rocker was captivated by a young exotic dancer who slinked around inside an enclosed booth with hardly any clothes on. … Falling into a scam, Fee kept shelving out dollar bills, trying to engage in a conversation with the dancer, but she ignored him until he finally wised up and realized he was being a sucker! Fee Waybill eventually paid enough money for the woman to converse with him, and he asked her if she would like to be a dancer with his band. She refused to answer his question, and his session abruptly ended. They say ‘Curiosity killed the cat,’ but in this story…curiosity birthed the smash hit She's a Beauty. You’ll never believe what happened next… Seriously, this is one of those rock and roll song stories that’s stranger than fiction… and I’m gonna tell you all about what happened…free of charge, of course…NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a killer show today. Celebrating Top Gun, one of the biggest soundtracks of the 80s with half a dozen of the artists who made this record one of the biggest ever... including the main song Danger Zone which was a major bitch to get down. The movie needed a major adrenaline rush anthem for the opening of the film to get audiences locked in and over 300 songs were tested and used for the scene but nothing worked. Then when they finally got Danger Zone, they had six major bands and artists turn down the chance to record it. So in an act of desperation, the producer called in a favor from Kenny Loggins, who was not necessarily known as a rocker, but he came in and slayed it. And not only did Danger Zone go to the top of the charts, it went back to the top 35 years later and became Kenny's most streamed song ever. The story of this blockbuster is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, they were the hottest group in music. The Bee Gees were coming off a decade where they had 14 top 10 hits and 9 #1 songs. And then pretty much overnight the band couldn’t buy a hit. The Bee Gees were poison and radio wouldn’t play them. They were totally uncool. So they hid…their lead singer Barry Gibb went undercover and wrote a song for somebody else called Islands in the Stream. It was recorded by one of the hottest singers of the time… Kenny Rogers. But a few days after Kenny cut it, he started having second thoughts. In fact, he started to despise it. But out of nowhere a solution came in the form of a beautiful blonde named Dolly Parton who turned the song into a duet that became one of the biggest hits of its time... Giving this legendary singer-turned-writer a comeback hit that most still don’t know he even wrote…It’s a tale of fantastic serendipity… and a master class in creative collaboration including an interview with Kenny Rogers, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Here’s one for ya. Golden Earring was a band that had 47 hits in their homeland but struggled to break through in America… They finally did in 1973 with Radar Love. But it was one and done. They would be known as a one-hit wonder until 9 years later when they shook off that label and had another massive hit with Twilight Zone. But today’s song Radar Love is about a tragic car accident where someone lost their life and a misheard lyric that made it a classic. It’s been covered over 500 times and may have caused more speeding tickets than any other song. Get ready for a great story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1967 a mere few months before the summer of love.. This top 10 has some of the greatest songs of all time that we still hear today from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones to The Mamas and the Papas to Buffalo Springfield and as usual we have the actual artists telling us the stories first hand.? What song is the ACTUAL #1 all of these years later ? Is it the The Beatles, The Stones, The Doors or A Rookie or one hit wonder? You’re going to be Shock next on the Hit Song Redux on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wow! Where Do I even start with this one? The Police's Blockbuster record Synchronicity DEFINED IT’S TIME AS MUCH AS any album could with 4 huge hits… including Every Breath You Take, a song that has become the most-played in the history of recorded music. But all in all Synchronicity is pretty dark. In fact, its main themes are obsession, surveillance, control, murder, jealousy, revenge, and ownership. I’ve got Rock Hall of Fame Stewart Copeland to help tell the story of this album that broke up a band and even brought them to full-on fistfights, but the producer of the album said that tension made it the masterpiece it is. The story of a classic with one of its creators is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story behind Ac/DC's Big Balls, a song with a dual meaning that makes the puritans blush, and even the most uptight fuddy daddy truly fall on the floor laughing! It was written by rock icon Bon Scott who was always the life of the party to his detriment. In a drunken daze, Bon turned his fascination with one of his body parts into a song meant as filler for an album, but Big Balls became a surprising classic rock standard. One that everyone who has come of age since the 70s has laughed about with their friends for days on end! We’re gonna loosen up the shackles of self-righteousness, and have some fun telling the story of this “ballsy” track. NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Download Opera for free: https://opr.as/Opera-browser-professorofrock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How many bands would give their right arm to hit the big time and have their song played everywhere? To tour the world and take their music to the masses? Well, Counting Crows did. Their singer Adam Duritz wrote a hit song called Mr. Jones about hitting the big time. And then when the very song he wrote pulverized radio and made them huge stars, Adam hated it. He detested Mr. Jones and at the peak of selling millions of records and playing sold-out shows… he cracked. Adam Duritz quit music and took a job as a bartender… hiding out. Could anything pull him back into music? Find out next with one of the craziest stories of a band on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 seconds. That’s all anyone had to go off of. Just a few years back an anonymous user uploaded a clip of a mystery track from the 80s to a song discovery site. The audio was low quality, and the lyrics were hard to decipher. Some people claimed to have heard it before. But no one knew who sang it. And when pressed for more information the uploader refused to talk about it. But people had to know. So social media users sprang to action looking for clues in improbable places. And for three years no one could figure this song out… But then someone found it in the most unlikely of places. And you’re not going to believe where. My mind was blown when I heard this. It’s the story where the truth is definitely stranger than fiction. It's Ulterior Motives by Who's Who and Christopher Saint Booth… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the controversial song about female self-love… was written by a dude? Ha ha. It's I Touch Myself by the Divinyls. This story is almost too good to be true, and yet it is. I have an interview with a Hall of Fame songwriter Billy Steinberg who wrote 5 #1 hits with his songwriting partner Tom Kelly. And all five #1s were for female artists. All 5 songs were huge in the 80s, but at the end of the decade, Billy met with a prolific Australian band and sheepishly gave them his private notebook of lyrics and asked what song they wanted to work on. And today’s iconic female rocker Chrissy Amphlett chose a song that was about self-love. I Touch Myself wasn’t quite finished so the band and the songwriting team tackled it. It’s pretty straightforward forward, and though it was controversial it became a global smash. Up next the story on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oh man… today’s song Sara by Fleetwood Mac is epic. Clocking in at over 15 minutes long, the original version of this breathtaking song once had a total of sixteen verses. And even that might not have been enough to contain the true story its author Stevie Nicks intended. After all was said and done Sara was edited down to a radio-friendly four-plus minutes. It still alludes to more misadventure and drama than the human mind can grasp. Best friend betrayals, covert love affairs, cocaine abuse, mystical muses, and band breakdowns… Sara is rock’s great soap opera… so lyrically complex, a famous band took their name from the song… but they misheard the lyric! The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of two of the most enigmatic artists of the rock era, linked by the classic track Everybody's Talkin that wasn't fully appreciated until it became the theme song for a groundbreaking, provocative film—an X-rated film... Midnight Cowboy was a smash hit and won a Grammy. The original creator of Everybody's Talkin' Fred Neil was a cult hero who retreated from the spotlight, while Harry Nilsson who turned it into a pop smash was a brilliant yet erratic singer-songwriter whose recklessness ultimately derailed his promising career. Both artists grappled with intense, personal demons, yet they captivated the rock era by sharing a song that brought us infinite joy and a sense of sweet freedom. Then this cerebral artist Harry Nilsson turned around and wrote a funny novelty song. The story of one of the most interesting singer-songwriters of the rock era is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No doubt about it. Heart is one of the defining acts of the rock era. And their catalog is filled with essential entries in the rock canon. Today, we’re telling the start-to-finish story of Heart who rose to prominence in the 70s, fell from grace in the early 80s, and then put together one of the greatest comebacks of the neon decade. And we’re doing it via five vital tracks that capture what they are all about. And there’s plenty of drama and epic moments along the way… from chasing their breakout hit to fighting sleazy promoters to hitting one of the most badass notes of all time. Plus you’re going to get an inside look into all five of these songs from singer Ann Wilson. It’s a story you’re not going to want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, we've got Devo and a song that is not at all what it seems: Whip It. For over 40 years everyone has thought this all-time hit was "Dirty." It was such a catchy ditty it became a slogan of the 80s and it was one of the first major hits where the main riff was from a synthesizer from one of the funniest bands ever.. Whip It was actually pieces of three different songs that were all in different time signatures and different tempos but Devo combined them into one composition…. the Whip It music video ruled MTV and it was made for a little over 10 grand... Today we have one of its co-writers and singers telling us the real story. Next of Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's featured song Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas will have you kicking some serious butt while moving to the groove. A smash hit from the 70s, Kung Fu Fighting was inspired by a dance fight at a pinball arcade. As Carl Douglas watched what was taking place, the lyrics and melody started flowing into his head. However, the song wouldn’t resurface until later on. In the studio, Carl was recording what was supposed to be his break-out hit. And he had three hours to do it. But when he was done, his producer told him they also needed a B-side. With just A COUPLE OF minutes left on the clock, Carl rushed a recording of Kung Fu Fighting... after all, it was just gonna be a throwaway track. But as it turns out Kung Fu Fighting was the one that got all the attention. It became a monster 70s hit, tapping into two cultural phenomenons with expert timing. It’s one of the biggest-selling singles of all time. 11 million sold. The story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So I gotta ask… Is this the most tortured track of the 80s? I mean we’re talking about With or Without You by U2, a song that is physically painful to listen to. And really, that’s a good thing… This song is so agonizing, you can’t “not” listen to it. It pulls you in every time… Written at a crucial time in Bono's career, he was being pulled in two opposite directions at once… between his music and the woman he loved. And it was tearing him apart. Was there any hope? With or Without You had the potential to change everything for Bono and U2. The only thing is, they couldn’t finish it. And after repeated attempts to arrange it, they just kept coming up empty. So they were about to abandon it. That is until an unexpected secret weapon saved the day. It was kind of a miracle. Find out what that secret weapon was and if this tormented artist ever made his peace… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next... Tipsy from some serious ‘day-drinking,’ two members of one of England’s premier bands, The Hollies, composed a song about the Prohibition Era when alcohol was illegal. Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress was a rock epic that evolved into a mystery about a beautiful woman in a sexy dress. The Hollies purposely mimicked Elvis’s sound on the song using a vocal effect to give it some pop. It became the band’s biggest hit in the States, as well as one of the most played songs in classic rock radio history. But then The Hollies got sued for plagiarizing the song. But they didn’t get sued by ELVIS who they were deliberately trying to sound like… They got sued by a rival band Creedence Clearwater Revival. Then they found out that the song was used by the FBI on their two-way wrist radio to solve crimes. Find out what happened to the band next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine a time when one man's voice was heard on about every other song on the radio. Dubbed "the man of a thousand voices," Tony Burrows holds the unique distinction of being the lead vocalist on FIVE hit songs from the 70s including Let's Go to San Francisco, My Baby Loves Lovin', and Beach Baby… In fact all five songs were one-hit wonders and four of them were on the singles chart at the same time! You’d think that a musician who sang on so many big hit singles during the same year would’ve been all over the television, yet Tony Burrows's pervading success on the airwaves got him banned from appearing on Top of the Pops for 4 years! Let’s jump into the fascinating story of this 'go-to' singer who made a significant mark in the annals of popular music history, all while remaining a mystery to the world outside of the recording studio. You’ll have to pay close attention, but you’re gonna have fun just singing along to the songs featured in our story that is coming up next on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, a Hall of Fame Songwriter Billy Steinberg who wrote five #1 hits for Madonna, Whitney Houston, the band Heart and the Bangles tells the story of working with one of the Founding Fathers of Rock and Roll.., the great Roy Orbison. Roy has electrified everyone from Elvis to Bob Dylan. He passed away in 1988 but Roy had always been Billy's hero and so he wrote a song for him called I Drove All Night. SO had and his songwriting partner Tom Kelly tracked Roy down. They found him playing old supper clubs. It seems he'd been forgotten. So Billy and Tom talked Roy Orbison into recording their.song. It was the first domino to fall in Roy's full blow comeback right before he.passed away. He went on to have several more solo hits and hits with the supergroup Traveling Wilbur's. Cyndi Lauper made their song a hit in 1989 but then after Roy Passed, , Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra used special technology to reconstruct Roy's vocal and music to release the recording after his passing. A great tribute to the great Roy Orbison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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I’m telling you won’t believe this story. Today’s rocker Jim Peterik used to give this beautiful girl a ride home from school… He was head over heels in love with her. But she had no idea. He wanted this girl to notice him but he was already stuck in the friend zone so he wrote a song about her called Vehicle and brought it to his band Ides of March. They put some relish on it, and it blew up… it became the fastest-selling song in Warner Brothers history. Unfortunately, Vehicle would be a one-hit wonder.. but Jim was a fighter… He not only won over the girl’s heart with this song, he married her and he rose from the ashes to form Survivor, a band that would become one of the biggest rock acts of the 80s and he even got to the top of the charts again. Up next, the interview and story on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Next up, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, a timeless anthem of liberation from a suffocating romantic entanglement. Fashioned by Paul Simon, one of music's master lyricists following the breakup of his Simon and Garfunkel along with the end of his first marriage. Paul Simon dismissed it as nonsense, a song that was just a joke… a game he was playing with his toddler to teach him how to rhyme simple words. It made his son giggle and somehow it turned into a song he recorded as an afterthought. It was even the last song released from his album…and it became a #1 SMASH… THE BIGGEST OF HIS SOLO CAREER. THE AMAZING STORY IS coming right up on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… an interview with iconic singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega who climbed up from the underground and had one of the biggest hits of 1987 with Luka. This hit song was one of the most unlikely hits of the decade because of its subject matter. When Suzanne played it for live audiences they never really liked it because it was sad and made them uncomfortable. So when her manager told her it should be her lead-off single she was shocked. She argued that it would never be hit, but he talked her into it. He was right… ASCAP awarded Luka the most performed song of the year and it went to the top of the charts…The thing is, Luka was written about another person, but many would find out decades later that the secret in the song was about Suzanne Vega herself. The story next on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with the band Animotion, which was somehow a one-hit wonder TWICE. In 1985 they released Obsession, a song that had a killer hook that will be in your head for days and that’s a GOOD thing. Obsession Blew up the top 10 and then a few years later principals Astrid Plane and Bill Wadhams were FIRED and replaced with another duo. And they had a top 10 hit in 1989 only to break up soon after. Find out what happened and how in the end the original group had the last laugh in a compelling interview with Astrid Plane and Bill Wadhams next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of Can't Take My Eyes Off You, a song that has had a huge impact on pop culture since its release over 50 years ago. Before it dominated the global pop charts, it had to overcome fierce resistance from a record label that feared a solo transition by frontman Frankie Valli would destroy their golden goose Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons—a four-piece pop group that had been America's biggest act for years. Frankie wanted to perform the song in a style that was completely different from what had made him a household name… Namely, he wanted to sing in a whole new way What to do, what to do? Let’s dive into the drama NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They’re brash, they’re cocky, and completely full of themselves… And today’s featured bandmate brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis were as likely to punch each other in the mouth as they were to kick out chart-topping hits. But for whatever reason the dynamic worked. And this sibling rivalry captured the imagination of a nation propelling Oasis to heights not seen in decades. For this episode we’re zeroing in on their most iconic track: Wonderwall. A song that was supposedly written about Noel’s girlfriend… only the thing is… He had to lie to the world and to her about it’s meaning. Later, after they split up, he told the real story. And in time, Wonderwall become so popular that Liam could NOT stand to sing it, saying it made him want to gag. And what’s ironic is that Noel always regretted giving it up to Liam to record… He wished he’d kept it for himself. It’s the story of an overnight sensation turned train wreck… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s Legendary band Aerosmith killed in the 70s, faltered in the early 80s, and then made one of the biggest comebacks in rock history in the late 80s and leveled up in the 90s… with 3 massive #1 hits, Cryin', Amazing, and Crazy, that... well… kind of sounded like the same song with different lyrics! Let’s go behind the scenes and investigate a rich time for Aerosmith…You’ll find everything from song-doctored singles and music video muses. We’ll listen to three huge hits that have different titles and we’ll find out if this band ripped themselves off several times NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the rock era, Carol King. Ironically, Carol despised her own voice and, when she started composing songs without her famous husband, she doubted anyone would care. It took the friendship of another emerging superstar of the singer/songwriter world, James Taylor, to encourage her to open for him at an iconic nightclub in West Hollywood. During Carol's set, literally shaking from nervousness, she sang You've Got a Friend, a song that mesmerized James, who was watching from the club balcony. Enchanted by her performance, Taylor felt compelled to record the song for his upcoming album. Little did he know that Carol King had written the song as a response to his first big hit. To her surprise, his cover of her song became a #1 smash… Let’s relive the magic of this heartwarming classic and the musical icons that brought it to life…NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, icon John Oates tells the surprising story of the classic Maneater. This all-time hit came to John after he sat next to a famous actress in a restaurant and she began to cuss like a sailor telling dirty joke after dirty joke… Oates was no prude, but he was SHOCKED. All of a sudden, one of the most familiar lyrics of the 80s came into his head, and within a few minutes, he was jotting down Maneater… His musical collaborator Daryl Hall made some tweaks the next day and they recorded it. It became a #1 smash. Who was the actress and what was the change that made this a hit? Find out next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story of Eagles, one of the biggest-selling rock bands ever... and their all-important third album On the Border, as told by 2 great interviewees J.D. Souther and Jack Tempchin who co-wrote the 2 hits that transformed Eagles into rock royalty: Already Gone and Best of My Love. Their first 2 albums established them as a force to be reckoned with but it also typecast them as soft rock…Glenn Frey wanted to harden up their sound so they fired their producer and shelved all the songs from the session but two. They got a third guitarist and were sent Already Gone, a song that would end up being their heaviest rocker yet. But they also had a ballad from their previous session, Best of My Love, that was written in a booth at a restaurant in the middle of dinner that had promise. But they were reticent to release it and went with the rocker first. It did pretty well. hitting #32, defiant against releasing the ballad they had another rocker as their second single… it wasn’t a hit. Finally, Eagles reluctantly released the ballad… To their shock the label edited the hell out of it without their permission…but it became their first #1 hit. Up next, Jack Tempchin and J.D. Souther, the co-writers of these hits, give us the inside scoop about how the band got even with the label for editing their song, next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a tale of one of the most misjudged, underrated, and overlooked tracks that evolved into a classic rock favorite, Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. This song was sent to Hall of Fame rocker Bob Seger by a legendary group of session musicians searching for the perfect performer to bring it to life. When Seger recorded Old Time Rock and Roll, he says he rewrote all the verses and only kept the chorus, but refused a writing credit because he thought it would be a deep track. Seger never thought it would be a hit or even be released as a single. The problem is Old Time Rock and Roll became a hit after his band played it to standing ovations in concert and the song skyrocketed in popularity thereafter due to an iconic movie scene. Bob Seger didn’t receive any royalties. In fact, he likely lost millions upon millions of dollars. We take those old records off the shelf and reminisce NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just a word of advice. Don’t rush this guy. Today we’re telling the story of Boston's perfectionist rock savant Tom Scholz whose attention to detail is the secret ingredient to some of the rock era’s most iconic tracks. After spending six years working on demos in his basement studio, Tom Scholz and Boston released one of the best-selling records of the 70s. Its lead single More Than a Feeling blew everyone away. Two years later, Boston kicked out another blockbuster album. Only Scholz didn’t think the record was ready. So he vowed to take his time with the next record. It would be 8 years before it was released… which led to a contentious legal battle. But when this LP was released it went to #1 even though the musical landscape had completely changed. Now with six studio albums to their name, Boston averages about a decade between records. Get the story behind this musical mastermind and this legendary band and their evolution told through five essential tracks… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult, a band that haunted radio in the 70s with the CHILLING ROCK CLASSIC Don't Fear the Reaper. It was written as a spiritual song, but its hypnotic guitars, thrilling percussion, and stirring harmonies led to so many urban legends and false narratives about its real meaning. Don't Fear the Reaper was unfairly painted as wicked and satanic. Then decades later it captured the zeitgeist again after its iconic use on a Saturday Night Live segment. The band had no idea, and they happened to catch it on TV in their hotel room while they were on tour. Don't Fear the Reaper became a hit all over again, but today we get the real story of this mesmerizing rock classic next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, get this. So in an effort to perfect today’s featured song All Night Long (All Night), Lionel Richie stalked his wife’s gynecologist. That’s right, you heard me. Lionel repeatedly called up his wife’s doctor because he wanted to learn how to emulate a Jamaican accent for All Night Long. Finally, this doctor had to tell Lionel to stop calling because it was interfering with his work. But that’s not the only crazy piece of trivia connected to this track. All Night Long (All Night) also includes a completely made-up language that sounds like it's real… but it's 100% gibberish. Later on, All Night Long would also headline on one of the world’s biggest stages, with over 2 and a half billion people tuning in to catch the performance. All these stories and more are coming up. So get ready to raise the roof and have some fun… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. Today’s guitarist Mike Campbell was elated. He thought he’d written the best song of his career, The Boys of Summer. He was over the moon to show it to his band The Heartbreakers and their legendary singer Tom Petty. When Mike brought it in to show Tom and their producer, Jimmy Iovine. They both passed on it. They didn’t hear. it. Mike Campbell was crushed. Jimmy Iovine felt bad so he set this guitarist up with another legendary singer who need songs for his new album... Don Henley. The next day when Mike played it for him, Don too seemed indifferent to the song. He walked out of his house without saying a word. Mike was again CRUSHED. But about an hour later he got a call from Henley who said I think I’ve just written the best song of my career! Up next an interview with Mike Campbell on The Boys of Summer... the song that became the biggest hit of his career, that was rejected by the band he’s known for, and etched in stone by a rival singer! On Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, interviews with Eric Burdon and Harold Brown of the 70s group Eric Burdon and War... on their hit debut single Spill the Wine. It was one of the biggest songs of 1970. It was also one of the strangest. So many urban legends behind this one. Spill the Wine is rumored to have been inspired by the band members knocking over a bottle of wine on the studio console. The song was hard to interpret. It had Spanish in it, spoken word, and singing only in the chorus, and the lyrics have been sung incorrectly by listeners for years. And it’s probably a good thing because the actual lyrics are pretty risqué. In fact, Spill the Wine was rumored to have been about drugs… but it might actually be the only hit song of the rock era about an orgy. This is a family channel so I’ll be careful here, but the interview with the lead singer and the drummer is coming up next on Professor or Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next one of rock’s most mesmerizing frontmen, Jim Morrison, was playing one of The Doors's new songs "The End" as the house band for one of California’s most happening clubs... when Jim suddenly went off on a creative tangent that hearkened back to a story from Greek mythology. But the audience had no idea what was going on… Jim Morrison took a song that was already about death, birth, freedom, sex, murder, madness, and whatever else you can think of and put some relish on it. He screamed out a profanity-laced desire that would shock every generation thereafter who would hear the story or the song. and that’s not all. There are some insane stories that go with this epic 12-minute song… including how Morrison was fired for performing it and how he got buck-naked and hosed down a recording studio with a fire extinguisher. And there’s plenty more where that came from… It’s all coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… an interview with the singer and songwriter Don McLean… an all-time legend on the story behind the most storied rock and roll song ever, American Pie. Its lyrics have fostered debate and conjecture for over 50 years, with a chorus that everyone knows by heart and never gets tired of. American Pie is probably the song that will live on the longest because of its message. It was the longest song ever to hit #1… So long it took up two sides of a single... with a last verse and chorus that make even the toughest men and women cry like babies… the story straight from this legend is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While gazing out from a hilltop in the English countryside, for the first time in forever, Peter Gabriel saw his life clearly. Seven years, six albums, mega-superstardom, and masses of fans with his band Genesis.. yet it had all run its course. Fame wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Peter left it all for a time to focus inward… In fact, this Genesis kept their break up a secret for a year… After some time off Gabriel wrote a classic song, Solsbury Hill, that kicked off one of the greatest solo careers ever. Up next, the story of Peter Gabriel's journey to solo stardom... Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Coming up next, one of the most powerful moments with an artist that I’ve ever had in an interview. You’ll see why. Kenny Loggins has had huge hits in every decade since the 70s. Up next Kenny tells the story of two of his classic songs including one about the first song he wrote as a teenager, House at Pooh Corner, and how Disney had their lawyers block it... until a twist of fate willed it to the masses… decades later he wrote a new verse and called the song Return to Pooh Corner and it gave him one of the best selling children’s albums ever... Then in another story, Kenny breaks down discussing the most emotionally difficult song he ever wrote, The Real Thing. This is a must-see next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When one of the biggest bands in history, The Beatles, broke up, all the members of the band released solo projects almost immediately. The first of the band to have a number-one hit was a bit of a surprise thought... George Harrison. He ended up having one hell of a solo run but his biggest hit My Sweet Lord would also become his greatest trial. Harrison got sued for sounding too much like another big hit from years before… It was a catastrophic lawsuit that nearly destroyed George and plagued his career for years because it put him in a never-ending bout with writer’s block. And it stopped him from recording for years. But in the end, Harrison would have the last laugh. Rock’s most honest songwriter dealing and allegations of plagiarism... This is a story you have to hear to believe next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, you’re never going to believe this one. Coming up on today’s episode, we’ve got a song that has no name, no artist, and no date as to when it was recorded. Most believe it was composed in the early to mid-80s. But really, everything about this song has been lost to history… Not even Google can figure this one out. And forget Shazam and ChatGPT. The only evidence we have that this song ever existed is an obscure cassette recording off the radio. First uploaded to the Internet in 2004, for the past 20 years, a grassroots community has been trying to identify this track. In more recent years this song has gone viral across the Internet… with users on Reddit, YouTube, and Discord piecing together clues about its origins… and debunking some imposter bands in the process. Today we’re pitching in and doing our part to get this crazy story out there… It’s the tale of the track that many are calling “The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet”… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Quiet Riot led the charge for the popularization of metal music in the 80s with a landmark album of rebellion called Metal Health. Yet the sharp-tongued comments to the public by their outspoken frontman Kevin DuBrow, the jealousy of their peers, and altercations with fans, made them the most vilified band in rock. DuBrow had a self-proclaimed alligator mouth, and his reckless audacity ultimately led to him being sacked from the group that he co-founded. The story of the iconic, metal anthem Bang Your Head (Metal Health) and Cum one Feel the noize that took Quiet Riot to #1 on the pop charts in one of the most competitive times chart history, and was once sung in front of more than 300,000 people is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story of the 1985 song Brothers in Arms by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits. Dire Straits ruled 1985 and 1986 with their blockbuster multi-platinum classic album Brothers in Arms, pushed forward by the big hit Money For Nothing with it's bombastic MTV video and the secondary hits So Far Away and Walk of Life. But the most moving song on the album is the incredible title track Brothers in Arms. Professor of Rock breaks down the song and its meaning and origin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the course of several years, Bruce Springsteen wrote around 100 songs… And somehow he whittled them down to just one epic record called Born in the U.S.A. It was a record that was more commercial than he had ever wanted to create. Exhausted and ready to move on, Springsteen was finally done with it. Only, his manager said it wasn’t enough. He told The Boss he needed a blockbuster hit. Pissed off, the boss said HELL NO… If you want another song you write it. But eventually, Bruce went back to his hotel wrote the most commercially accessible song of his career, Dancing in the Dark. Then he buried it near the end of his record. But when Dancing in the Dark was released as a lead-off single, it was the spark that started a fire… leading to the most hits from one album in history …and Born in the U.S.A. would sell 30 million copies…Get the story of this reluctant hit-master Bruce Springsteen… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up Rod Stewart was a gravedigger who wanted to be a rockstar. So in his spare time, he wrote music and played in a band hoping to make it. Rod wrote a song called Maggie May about the most embarrassing moment of his life. He thought the song rambled on, had no hook, and was crap. It was put onto the B-side of Reason to Believe, a song he didn’t even write. Well, it so happens that Reason to Believe sputtered on the radio and a DJ saved his career by playing the crappy B-side Maggie May… It made Rod Stewart a global sensation hitting #1 across the world. The story of how Rod's most embarrassing moment became his lifeline. Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with the singer Phil Wright of the 70s band Paper Lace, with one of the most fascinating song stories of the 70s. Paper Lace had two #1 hits in the 70s but was a one-hit-wonder hit in America with The Night Chicago Died. There were two hits that were written by the same songwriting team. First, Paper Lace recorded Billy Don't Be a Hero and it hit #1 in the UK but out of nowhere, before they could release it in America another band beat them to the punch and put out their version that went straight to #1. So Paper Lace band hurried and recorded The Night Chicago Died and it became their 2nd massive hit in the UK and only #1 hit in America. People have tried to figure out if the song was a true story or fiction. Find out next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of Genesis, a band that was so great at creating hits that they had multiple projects in between albums… In fact, between lead singer Phil Collins and bassist Mike Rutherford, they had over a dozen top 10 hits over just a couple of years. But today’s song Land of Confusion might be their best. It was so prophetic many now wonder if they were time travelers because this 1986 smash hit describes our day to a tee. And most don’t realize that it’s a protest song... It helped that the music video supporting the song was just as compelling as the song… led by some really deranged muppets…that cost 10K each. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So coming up, today’s featured song Ticket to Ride is pretty loaded. And by their own admission, so were the Beatles when they wrote it. There are some conflicting accounts of what inspired this one… Paul McCartney cited just an average-ordinary train ride as its source. While John Lennon credited German prostitutes. That’s right. Bet you weren’t expecting that one. Lennon would also call Ticket to Ride one of the founding tracks of the heavy metal genre. But are any of these claims true? Whether they are or not, one thing is for certain… Ticket to Ride marks a critical turning point for The Beatles in an artistic direction that would change rock and roll forever. Breaking the mold of the two-minute pop song, Ticket to Ride opened up a new world of possibilities. It’s a story you’re not going to want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Man, I may be going against my better judgment on this one. In the crosshairs today, I’ve got a selection of cringe-worthy 80s novelty tracks that are “so bad, they’re good.” We’re talking songs like Pac-Man Fever, Party All the Time, and the Super Bowl Shuffle. But on the other hand, some of these songs killed it on Billboard Hot 100. So someone must have thought they were good back in the day. Will you admit to liking them? I have to admit I’m a sucker for Bad B-Movies and Bad B-Songs… Is that a thing? Get ready for a trip into the quirky, the bizarre, and the truly awful. But be warned… after you go down this rabbit hole, you will never be the same again… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The gripping story of one of the most CHILLING songs of the rock era … Hey You by Rock’s most mysterious band Pink Floyd. The author of this song Roger Waters found out over the phone that his wife was leaving him for another man… And so did Hey You's protangonist Pink. This emotional revelation was just one part of a devastating list of psychological daggers that nearly killed him… Choosing to isolate his soul from the world, the madness swallowed him whole… Hey You was from his perspective in these last lucid moments. It’s the story of a disillusioned musician’s last contact with reality and his last hope for survival. Today’s song is the definition of madness. Get the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it's the story of Queen and their #1 rockabilly smash, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, one of the best-selling singles of 1980. Although the song was a tribute to the King of Rock n’ Roll Elvis Presley, its genesis had nothing to do with hound dog, or a pilgrimage to Graceland… It was actually conceived while Freddie Mercury was taking… a bubble bath. He ran it into the studio immediately and recorded it before he forgot it. Brian May added his parts and John Deacon and Roger Taylor were on fire during the session… It was so good that many people thought it was a new song by Elvis. The crazy details of this international smash that was rushed from a hotel bathtub to a recording studio are NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with Lou Gramm, one of the greatest rock voices in history about his biggest hit. He was in the Hall of Fame band Foreigner, and they ruled the 70s and 80s. But as they hit their peak the Lou wanted to Rock, but their guitarist and band leader Mick Jones was writing softer ballads. So Lou brought in a rock song he’d written called Midnight Blue to possibly put on their next album. But his writing partner didn’t want to do it. So in the end Lou Gramm recorded it for his solo album. And lo and behold it became the most-played song of 1987, and out-performed every single from Foreigner's new album in direct competition. Get ready for a very funny interview with the great Lou Gramm, next on Professor for Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, one of the most incredible bottled lightning stories ever. Today’s artist Billy Vera released what he felt was a huge hit, At The Moment. But it failed in 1981… Years went by and Billy’s prospects dwindled… he thought his career was over. But then in the mid-80s, he caught a lucky break. A popular TV show, Family Ties, played At This Moment on an episode and millions of viewers were blown away, what was this song? People were calling the TV station, they were writing letters… they wanted to buy the album, but the record was out of print… Billy Vera worked with an indie label to get it re-released and At This Moment became a #1 hit in 1987 in what might be the greatest song comeback of all time. Billy tells us the story of scoring a smash hit at 43! Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After Led Zeppelin dropped their fourth album, arguably the greatest rock album of all time, at the tail end of 1971... the world braced for what came next. Expectations for the next record were through the roof. with everyone assuming it would be a hard-hitting and heavy sequel. But everyone was wrong. Zeppelin’s 1973 follow-up Houses of Holy was a diverse and experimental collection of unconventional tracks. And the critics spit on it. So did some fans. But Houses of the Holy boasts some of this legendary group’s most iconic tracks, including today’s featured song Over the Hills and Far Away… which completely subverts your expectations… Lulling you in as a breathtaking acoustic ballad then it does an about-face and tricks you with a trap-door ending! You’ll see what I mean. Get ready for a deep dive into Over the Hills and Far Away, a song that got the shaft from the naysayers and on the US charts… but is now bigger than any of the songs that were ahead of it. … NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're free tonight, I'd love to invite you to an exclusive party. It's going to be packed with 'A-list' celebrities, and we'll be living it up like rock stars... Doesn't that sound like a blast? Maybe… But for Pete Townsend, a musician who could easily be carved into the Mt. Rushmore of guitar heroes, the glitzy lives of the rich and famous aren't all they're cracked up to be. In fact, for this icon, it's all just a ‘put on. This is a story of The Who, who were teetering on implosion, grappling with the loss of the legendary figure Keith Moon, and Eminence Front, a track that was initially panned but has since risen to become a modern rock classic. So come on… join the party…dressed to KILL… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply, a band that got into music because of the Beatles. And then in the 80s, they quietly equaled them with so many hits that they had a greatest hits album 3 years into their career. When Air Supply started out they were so poor they were couch diving to find change just to eat. Just a few years later their first 7 singles hit the top 5 on the charts including today’s hit Making Love Out of Nothing at All was written and produced by Jim Steinman who had the #1 and #2 songs in the charts at the same time by two different artists! The thing is... both these songs, Making Love Out of Nothing at All and Total Eclipse of the Heart sounded pretty similar. Was it the same song with different lyrics? Find out next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of the immensely talented yet unsettled vocalist Sinead O’Connor, who had a fleeting moment of fame in 1990 with a massive hit single Nothing Compares 2 U—a stunning remake of a song written by Prince, one of the true musical geniuses of our time. However, Sinead’s encounter with Prince turned into something straight out of the Twilight Zone. Despite the incredible success of the remake, which could have solidified her as one of the greatest vocalists, Sinead O’Connor chose to steer clear of commercial prosperity. She preferred to be a protest singer, not a pop star. Instead of concentrating solely on the merit of her music, the remainder of Sinead’s career was largely mired in controversy. It’s a tale of a remarkable Hailey’s Comet that spiraled into an emotional tempest for one of the most enigmatic artists of the Rock Era…NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… an interview with the most underappreciated band of the first half of the 90s, the Gin Blossoms. They created a newly flawless major label debut New Miserable Experience, but during the recording of it, their primary songwriter and guitarist Doug Hopkins had to be fired due to his out-of-control drinking. Then their debut album imploded when it was first released in the summer of 92. The Gin Blossoms thought they were DOA. But then a year later, their music video for Hey Jealousy caught fire on MTV and radio started playing this debut single which was over a year old and the band blew up. They would have four big hits including Hey Jealousy, Until I Fall Away, Allison Road, and Found About You and the album would sell 4 million copies, but with their rise, their former bandmate watched all of this from the sidelines and ended up taking his own life. The band would go on to have another three hits off their next album.. 7 hits in just over 3 years but then just a quickly as they blew up, they imploded… breaking up a short time later. I tracked down singer Robin Wilson and guitarist Jesse Velenzuala to get into it. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Next, Berlin’s Terri Nunn was an up-and-coming actress who had some great roles on TV and was a finalist to play the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars. She even auditioned with Harrison Ford. But as she’ll tell you in our interview next he didn’t like her. Terri also managed to piss off William Shatner in another appearance... So she didn’t get the role and turns out her acting career would be short lived… which was fine by her since she was a passionate singer in a band that was ready to rise from the underground… Terri became a new wave icon with several classics in the 80s including the #1 hit Take My Breath Away and today’s underground classic The Metro that shook up the mainstream with a deadpan vocal and a cosmopolitan sophisticated European vogue sound that was actually by way of orange county… From a video that been banned by YouTube twice… the interview’s coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a trans-Atlantic musical arms race… two titanic rock and roll bands — The Beach Boys and The Beatles — trading punches and landmark records. Each chasing perfection and forever changing how we listen to music. In the midst of this musical battle, genius whizkid Brian Wilson envisioned the perfect album, a record to end all records. An innovative masterpiece he called SMiLE. The symphony was already playing in his head, and he knew if he could get it down on vinyl, it would push the boundaries of music beyond what anyone thought was possible. But what Brian didn’t count on was losing his sanity in the process. In a state of drug-addled madness, he came to a crashing halt. And so did SMiLE… leaving us all wondering what could have been. It’s the story of the greatest unreleased album of all time and an interview with its genius is NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next… I used to Hate ABBA’s music. But you all convinced me to give them another chance. So I took your advice and today’s song The Winner Takes It All has become a favorite… and the story behind it is just as rich! It was written by the group’s main songwriter Bjorn Ulvaeus as he was going through a tough breakup with one of the singers of the band, Agnetha Faltskog… It was a heart-wrenching, vulnerable song about DIVORCE and Bjorn admits the subject was so challenging emotionally that he wrote it while drunk…then he brought it into record and decided he was going to sing it. But Bjorn knew in his heart that his ex had to be its interpreter… even though the other famous female in the band Anni-Frid Lyngstadt could handle it… In fact, Anni-Frid was jealous she didn’t get to do it. So in the middle of their separation, while her ex-husband already had a new girlfriend, this songbird sang the hell out of a song that would become a classic. and that was only the start…she had to sing it every night live with him right next to her until the band eventually broke up! The heart-aching story of The Winner Takes it All is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re headed back to 1984 for our latest episode of the Hit Song Redux. Except this time there’s a twist. See what I mean next. I gotta say I’m excited to get into this one because I believe 1984 was the greatest year in music history. But get this… only 5 records reached #1 that entire year… that’s how competitive it was. It was insane. Records by MJ, Prince, Springsteen, Huey Lewis, as well as Footloose were the only ones to achieve chart supremacy. So which ones made it onto today’s countdown? And who else got close? As always, we are going to re-rank these Top 10 contenders based on the impact they’ve had on the world since. Which one will be #1 40 years later? Well, there’s some real rock legends in this one… Will it be the Mighty Rush… Van Halen, or a one-hit wonder??? Get ready for an epic Top 10 Countdown… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sylvester Stallone called the Rookie Band Survivor up and hired them to write the lead song for Rocky 3. Survivor responded with Eye of the Tiger and is was a smash on rock radio in 1982 when it hit #1 for 6 weeks. Then lead singer Dave Bickler went down with throat issues and the band thought they might be finished. After a FAILED album, in stepped Jimi Jamison who nailed the audition and became the new singer for Survivor and is the rare case where the replacement singer was better than thejai original. They had several hits in 1985 with VITAL SIGNS including the hits High On You and the Search Is Over. Sly Stallone came calling again in 1985 when he need a lead song or his film Rocky IV. Survivor responded with Burning Heart that became another massive hit. Former songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jim Peterik tells the story of creating. Burning Heart with Frankie Sullivan and how Sly Stallone had them change the lyrics and how it might’ve stopped the Cold War. Jim also explains that he was worried that the burning heart would make people think of acid reflux. The interview is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of Mony Mony, a song that was a major hit twice for two different iconic artists: Tommy James and Billy Idol. It was a smash in the late 60s and the late 80s and the iconic title came when the band had the song finished but couldn’t figure out a singable chorus with a filler word. Then they looked out the window and saw the iconic words flashing on a building. Years later Mony Mony was banned from being played at High School dances across America because of an alleged obscene recitation of the lyrics by teenagers. Up next, an interview with Tommy James and Steve Stevens, the iconic guitarist who played the #1 remake on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Bowie was the foremost musical chameleon, changing his style and persona numerous times and was always ahead of the times. But in the 80s, did he finally succumb to the fad of the times? Many called his catchy 1983 #1 smash Let's Dance a sellout… but no matter, there’s no doubt this single marked a major turning point in Bowie’s career putting his face all over the new medium of music videos on MTV. But the biggest aspect of Let's Dance might be that he discovered a guitar legend in the process… even if this icon spent years distancing himself from his biggest hit. The story is next on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This would NEVER happen today. How about this for a cool rock story? So The Rascals coming off a big #1, wrote Groovin', what they thought was another hit. But one of the most famous record men in history, Jerry Wexler, didn’t like it. So he discouraged Atlantic Records from releasing it. Well, the famous DJ Murray the K was STUNNED because he knew Groovin' was a #1. So he cornered the iconic label head and said 'Are you crazy? This is a friggin' #1 record.' And he was right… Get the story from the singer Felix Cavaliere and co-writer Eddie Brigati next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… the story behind the signature song Locomotive Breath by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, a figure who was disenchanted by the rock n’ roll stars of the 50s. Even Elvis repelled him… In an effort to forge his own path, and be like no other performer, Ian learned to play an instrument not normally associated with rock music as his hallmark for distinction and played it on stage in a style that no one could emulate. But it later cost Ian dearly, when he had major health problems because of the stance he took playing this instrument… Truly One of the most interesting icons of the rock era… Anderson started out scrubbing urinals and toilets and later was drenched in urine when he played a live show and a commercial aircraft dumped waste from up in the sky. We also break down his prog rock classic Locomotive Breath spawned from a fear of the future world. It was the lead single from an album with a cover image that… scared the living hell out of me. It’s all coming up next on Professor of Rock.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re on a two-song collision course with two irresistible, big-time #1 hits by Chic that ruled radio for years. The first song Le Freak was inspired by a New Year’s Eve outing gone horribly wrong. Standing in the freezing cold outside an iconic nightclub, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were humiliated as they were barred from entering… while their music was blasting inside. So they got revenge by writing Le Freak, a fiery track that had the F-BOMB in the title and the chorus… This was in the 70s so of course it would never make it to radio… so they had to come up with a different word to replace the F-bomb. The second song, Good Times took its inspiration from a very unlikely source and is the most ripped-off bass line ever. In fact, after one band swiped a piece of their song, these guys were accused of being copy-cats even though it originated with them! Get ready, because we’ve got two crazy stories for you. NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Use my code PROFESSOROFROCK to get $5 off your delicious, high protein Magic Spoon cereal by clicking this link: https://sponsr.is/magicspoon_professorofrock_0524 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, we're covering Duran Duran, the band that epitomized the 80s. In fact, you couldn’t really call the 80s the 80s without these guys, the identity of the 80s is wrapped up in this band. Duran Duran made a revolutionary music video for Hungry Like the Wolf that was initially rejected by American audiences. But the timing was perfect because MTV was a fledgling channel and when the two came together it was a match made in heaven… Even now the question has to be asked, did Duran Duran make MTV or did MTV make Duran Duran? Hungry Like the Wolf was a modern-day take on Little Red Riding Hood, mixed with one of the band members’ girlfriend’s iconic laugh. This song really didn’t gel until it was remixed with a rock edge. Find out the story of a classic next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next … Over the last few years I’ve shared hundreds of interviews… And in celebration of hitting 1 million subs, today, I’m sharing my favorite interview of all time. One that I personally watch every month, you’ll find out why next… It’s my most personal episode of Professor of Rock and it's coming up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before REO Speedwagon became a household name, they had two big songs that changed everything for them: Roll With the Changes and Time for Me to Fly. As you‘ll see in the upcoming interview with lead singer Kevin Cronin, their breakthrough hit came while he was driving his Ford Pinto from his home in the Midwest to LA to make it in the music industry… As he was driving he had a paper bag full of snacks and this song came to him on the freeway so he hurried and wrote it down on this paper bag… It became a signature song for REO Speedwagon but then when he met one of his heroes years later, he made a comment that he may have ripped his previous hit off… Let’s see what Kevin says about it. Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From studio gopher to global superstar, Jon Bon Jovi spent years chasing his big break. Working the club circuit as an underage teenager, Jon was shocked one night when his musical idol Bruce Springsteen jumped on stage and started duetting with him! Actually, he was singing The Boss's song at the time. Pretty cool. Later when Bon Jovi finally got a demo for his song Runaway recorded, he was rejected by every record label in the biz. And he thought that maybe it was time to call it quits. But in a last-ditch effort, he decided to sneak into a New York radio station and pitch Runaway straight to the DJ… The DJ ended up playing it and virtually overnight the song was a hit and set this singer up for a record label and a major tour… the only problem was Jon didn’t even have a band! Up next, the story of Jon Bon Jovi’s tenacity, and how he formed a band after Runaway hit it big and transformed a would-be pop idol into a hard rock icon NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…. the story of Fox on the Run by 70s British supergroup Sweet. This band had relied heavily on a famous production team to write all of their big hits, but Sweet was sick of singing only the songs they wrote. So the band decided to show what they could do. They had written a good song but no one thought the song had potential to be a single, except for this one executive at the band’s record label. Only thing is this executive wasn’t getting ANY cooperation from management to retool the track, so when the management and production team was out of town, the guys secretly went into the studio and produced the new version themselves. Sweet proved everyone wrong as Fox on the Run became one of their biggest hits. We retrace the steps of this covert operation that led to a huge international hit, and the beginning of a new era for an immensely influential Glam Rock quartet…NEXT on Professor of Rock.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… We take the time machine back to the golden days of glam rock n’ roll... and the psychic artist who created the genre…. Marc Bolan of T Rex was one of a kind. When he was 8 years old, he foretold that he was going to be a rock star, He broke through in the US with the classic song Bang A Gong (Get it On). Between 1970 & 74, he became the biggest rock star in the UK. He also predicted he would die before he was 30, and died in a car accident 2 weeks before his 30th birthday. The story of his biggest international hit, and a lot more is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1981 at the forefront of the MTV Revolution, a straight-ahead rocking bar band called Tommy Tutone released a song that would become an all-time touchstone of pop culture... 867-5309/Jenny. And it came to the songwriter from a message scrawled on a bathroom stall. After being sung just one time, 867-5309/Jenny it became the most famous digits ever sung in a pop song. Up next 2 members from the one-hit wonder group the singer and the guitarist tell the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with Norman Greenbaum. He is a rockstar that I’ve been trying to track down for almost 8 years to get the story of what I believe is the greatest one-hit wonder in the history of music... Spirit in the Sky. But I couldn’t find him. I had heard rumors that he had just disappeared and couldn’t be found. Then fate stepped in and I met him at a concert. To celebrate a million subscribers this is one of a few special episodes we’re doing. Norman started as a goat Farmer and then he developed a guitar effect on today’s classic hit that no one in the world has ever been able to repeat, not even him. A special interview is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, Tony Hadley, the former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, one the 80s leading new romantic bands, tells the story of one of the best songs of 1983: "True". It's a song that has become a bonafide standard… Tony admits that he has sung True at weddings, but when does he has to get really drunk… haha. He admits it’s a very difficult song to sing and he was scared about hitting the notes night after night. Well, it’s been decades and Tony can still nail it. And though he’s sung it over a thousand times, he never gets tired of it. But Tony does get embarrassed when fans tell him the things they do to this song. It’s a fabulous interview coming up and one where Tony is taken aback when I tell him that a famous boy ripped off the melody… Tony had no idea until this interview. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with legend Otis Williams, who is the only one surviving the Temptations, one of the most successful groups ever. He tells us the story of their biggest hit, My Girl, a song that could be the most recognizable song of the 20th century. Let’s see if you agree. So the legend who wrote this classic, Smokey Robinson, knew it would be massive, but in the end, instead of keeping it for his own group, he gave it to his rivals the Temptations, and even produced it for them. With the signature opening bass line of its time, up next it’s the story of a song that was so classic, one time the Temptations were tired of it and decided not to play it in concert, and the audience came unglued…. Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Lou Gramm was riding high in the 70s as his band Black Sheep had just opened for one of the biggest bands in the world. And after years of hard work and ultra tenacity they were finally going to break out. But then his world came crashing down when a car wreck destroyed all of their instruments and equipment, and their label wouldn’t front them the money to get new stuff. So they had to cancel their remaining dates. Lou Gramm was horrified, he thought his career was over but then he got a phone call from Mick Jones that changed his life. Asking him to be the lead singer of his new band Foreigner… Up next, how their composition, Feels Like the First Time became the opening shot for Foreigner, on its way to becoming a classic rock standard…giving them the chance to become one of the biggest bands ever. And many think it’s a sex song but it actually means something totally different… Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After losing his bandmate in a tragic car crash, rookie Steve Perry was ready to throw it all away. His music career, as far as he was concerned… it was over. He had come so close to that big break too many times. And it always fell apart. It was a mic drop in the worst way possible. But then, if you can believe it, him mom talked him out of quitting. She promised him something good would happen. And she was right. Not long after, he was recruited by Journey’s manager Herbie Herbert to be their frontman. Only, there was a catch. They already had a lead singer. So going undercover as part of this band’s road crew, Steve Perry laid low until Herbert could fire the other singer. And when Steve finally his chance, he didn’t disappoint. Six, multi-platinum albums later, Steve Perry is recognized as one of the greatest rock voices of all time… And today we’re telling the story of his first song with Journey... Lights, including an interview with the great guitarist Neal Schon, who he wrote it with. NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Coming up, an interview with Paul Roberts of Sniff 'n' the Tears about one of my favorite songs of 1979, Driver’s Seat. Technically the band is a one-hit wonder and what a story behind this one… First of all, Driver’s Seat sat on the shelf for years… because the label was changing distributors.. and then a worker’s strike at the record plant might’ve kept it from being a #1 hit because the factory couldn’t print the record so fans couldn’t buy it. And then when it did become a hit the band immediately broke up… but then a decade later the song finally hit #1 when it was used in an insurance commercial. The long and winding story of the classic Driver’s Seat is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up….the story of an enchanted land, where joy fills the air, and troubles fade away in the rain… A place where everyone is happy and kind, and the light of the human spirit shines brightly for all to share. The song title, Shambala, is over 5000 years old and it was recorded at the same time by two different artists who released them at the same time, Three Dog Night and BW Stevenson… see who won the battle on the charts. With an exceptional vocal by Cory Wells with incredible backups by Chuck Negron and Danny Hutton...Let’s travel together on the road to this mythical paradise that inspired a timeless ‘feel good’ classic that is illegal not to sing along to! …NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A hopeless romantic named Bruce Blackman asked a beautiful young woman on a date several times and was rejected. Finally, on the third request, she said yes… The date went pretty well and Bruce turned the experience into one of the most famous one-hit wonders of the 70s, a song called Moonlight Feels Right by his band Starbuck. But the story behind it is just as good. Up next Bruce Blackman tells us how actor Gene Hackman, an epic Marimba solo, and an accidental laugh in the chorus came to epitomize this classic…. And how Bruce had to rush to get the song recorded as Lynyrd Skynyrd was kicking him out of the studio... And how the song led to a marriage proposal, and if she said yes… Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From 1989 to 1990 Rock on Mainstream radio was dying… Boy Bands and sugary pop was taking over… History says that Nirvana came in and saved it… But the truth is that Chris Robinson, who I am interviewing next, and his band The Black Crowes revitalized rock a full 2 years before Nirvana or Pearl Jam. They did it with a B-Side Cover song from the 60s… Hard to Handle was originally sung by Otis Redding. The Crowes hardened it up and the song and their album Shake Your Money Maker reignited rock and roll…AND BLEW AWAY THE WANNABEES setting the stage for grunge ... THE STORY IS NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re returning to a new show on this channel… One that has us diving deep into the catalogs of the greatest bands of all time, and telling their stories via five essential tracks. But this time around we’ve got a twist for you. Instead of just following the band, we’re following the careers of two iconic musicians, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, who epitomized the band The Guess Who… including how they came up with the smash hit American Woman on the spot while playing a show. And how Randy’s BTO throwaway track You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet was written just to tease his brother, but then became one of the greatest “singalongs” of all time. Most importantly we’ll get into how the Guess Who’s name was taken from the Cummings and Bachman… and tell you how Burton is taking the so-called nuclear option to snuff out them out… next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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One of rock’s definitive frontmen, Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, was the victim of a serial cheater. Jeff was smitten by this seductress but she made his life a living hell in her path of destruction. So naturally he got even by writing a song about it... He called it Evil Woman. Only he felt it was just filler… after all, he’d written in just a few minutes. In fact Jeff would say Evil Woman was the fastest song he ever wrote and part of the music was from a song he’d written earlier called Nightider that he played backwards. In the end Evil Woman became ELO’s first major hit and one of his favorites. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up….the story of one of the first power ballads: Love Hurts. This one originated during a stormy time for The Everly Brothers, one the most prolific sibling acts in recorded music history. GET THIS... Love Hurts was covered DOZENS OF times by some huge artists but It was NEVER a hit until the Scottish rookie band Nazareth recorded the definitive version. And even then, it struggled to find an audience before blowing up around the globe. We’re going to talk about how this Love Hurts finally got its due, and…and how Nazareth with the spectacular lead vocals of Dan McCafferty was erroneously pronounced DEAD after one of the most notorious plane crashes of the Rock Era. But in the end… it was fake news….the story of this 70s hard rock classic is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, Cutting Crew ruled 1987 with 3 big hits from their album Broadcast… (I Just) Died in You Arms, I’ve Been in Love Before, and One For the Mockingbird. And then by the next year, they were gone… Never to be heard from again. It’s quite perplexing because they had everything going for them to last a decade or more, the looks, the songs, the style... Up next lead singer Nick Van Eede tells the story of a wondrous period when Cutting Crew topped the charts with a platinum album, a #1 single, and 2 other big hits that put them in the running… Find out what happened to them next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… an interview with Howard and David Bellamy, aka the Bellamy Brothers… They’re a band that had 10 #1 hits and a top 10 hit in three straight decades on one chart and had one of the biggest #1 hits of the 70s on the pop charts with a song that Neil Diamond’s roadie wrote… “Let Your Love Flow.” Neil didn’t do the song and then it was passed over by others until the Bellamys stepped in and made it a standard. And then they followed it up with another huge hit: “If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me.” That one’s essentially a dad joke, but because of its title, everyone still remembers it. Coming up on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with one of the greatest guitarists of the rock era, Mike Campbell, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a band that ruled the landscape for over 4 decades. Mike tells the story of Full Moon Fever, an album that he helped write and produce with 2 other legends that they were sure would be a smash… Unfortunately, their label had no such belief. In fact, the album was flat-out rejected. But that didn’t stop another major record label from signing a secret contract with Tom Petty. And it turns out the label was dead wrong as Full Moon Fever became Petty’s biggest seller ever and churned out 3 #1 hits, including today’s feature Running Down a Dream. But this was during the time when Compact Discs were replacing records and tapes so the singer. Ever a traditionalist, Tom left a little message for the CD buyers. Also, the amazing solo fell out in one take... A great interview is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s a group that I swore I’d never feature on this channel. ABBA is one of the biggest bands of all time, with nearly 40 Top 10 hits across the world. After taking the 70s by storm, they broke up in the 80s. But by the 90s there was this pop culture campaign that put them right back in the spotlight. And today ABBA is stronger than ever. Honestly, I don’t know why but I’ve never liked their music. Call me crazy. But for today’s episode, I’m conducting an experiment… I’m doing a deep dive into ABBA’s career (along with one of their biggest hits Take A Chance On Me) to see if maybe I’ve been wrong all these years. But that’s a big “if.” ... Still, if any song has a chance to flip the script, Take A Chance On Me could be it. I gotta admit, this track is so catchy it just might be a gateway into the rest of their catalog. So, will I or won’t I change my mind? There’s only one way to find out. The experiment kicks off… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, the story of a song that was written 4 times! Al Stewart and his 70s chart classic Year of the Cat - that ranked from late 1976 into 1977… and was produced by legend Alan Parsons who engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon was a bit of a question mark for a while. With this 70s classic Al showed a very different side of his music. He wrote 4 different sets of lyrics for the song, that’s how badly he wanted to get it right! He put this 70s classic together like a 5000-piece puzzle. Up next We try to piece it together to figure out what Year of the Cat actually means, with interviews with singer/songwriter Al Stewart and iconic producer Alan Parsons. NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s a duo from Lincoln, Nebraska - Zager & Evans - who spellbound listeners everywhere with a prophecy that there will come a time when machines will completely take over…. humans won’t need teeth…legs…or eyes….that’s if man can even survive… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.