Professor of Rock

It’s time to jump in the Time Machine and change Music History with the songs that deserved to be #1 in an amazing year from the 80s. Today we have some great songs, including the shy, unknown singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, who was asked to sub in for a legend who was having technical difficulties… The only problem was it was at a sold-out Wembley Stadium with tens of millions watching via satellite. She only had a guitar and a mic, but one song from her called Fast Car blew the audience away and took her record to #1 overnight. Plus the classic GNR track Welcome to the Jungle that was a failure because neither MTV nor radio would touch it. Not until a desperate plea to play it 1 time at 4 in the morning turned it into the biggest rock album of the 80s. Plus the fast song that was hell to record until the band kept slowing it down. And then it became a revelation. Plus the band Information Society that ruled the charts with 3 straight hits but then vanished without a trace. But today we track them down 38 years after they disappeared. Let’s rewrite history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let’s travel back to 1975 and rewrite history. In 75, 36 Songs hit #1, but as we look at the songs that missed #1 but hit the top 10, I would bet my life on the fact that most of these songs were better than the #1 hits. So let’s give them their due with Lady by Styx, the song that invented the power ballad. It was a song that was a total bust on the charts a few years earlier but a Top 40 DJ heard the song on a jukebox at a pizza joint, and played it on his show, and saved the career of one of classic rock’s most successful bands… plus the musical genius Jeff Lynne who was severely criticized by his own father, who told him his music was rubbish. He retaliated by composing his first top 10 hit in America… plus the sexualized rock song Feel Like Making Love that the singer joked may have caused the birth rate to skyrocket in the 70s. Plus the classic hit Low Rider that came from a drummer playing the wrong beat it could’ve been a disaster… Instead, it inspired the lead singer to throw out a joke lyric that became a pop culture phenomenon, and that story is where our countdown starts. 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 new show where I give you 3 unbelievable rock and roll stories straight from the legends themselves in 10 minutes or less that will make you laugh, cry, or both. It’s our premier episode of Zingers including the young icon Young MC who wasn’t old enough to buy alcohol but he wrote 3 massive hits in about the time it takes to watch a movie and those 3 songs have generated many millions of dollars for him and set him him up for life generating 85% of the his total income as a musician for the rest of his life, he’s here to tell the story. Plus the 80s icon Patty Smyth, who had one of the most popular music videos in MTV history, but she detested every second of it... Having to wear heavy makeup and costumes that made her unrecognizable. It gives her anxiety just speaking about it, and she’s here to tell the story. And finally the odd new wave icon Gary Numan, who had one big hit that didn’t sound like anything on the radio, but he began to loathe it with every fiber of his being. He hates it so much he refused to play it, but one day he got his comeuppance when a legend called him out on his behavior, and he realized he was being a huge baby. 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.

A few weeks ago, I introduced a new show where I did a pop culture crossover of Rock and Roll Meets Star Wars, including a story of how Terri Nunn, the Lead singer of New Wave band Berlin, was a frontrunner for the role of Princess Leia…She even had a final screen test with Harrison Ford, who did not like her. So, getting rejected by Star Wars, she became a new wave icon with the #1 hit, Take Me Breath Away well I got so many requests for more Star Wars and rock, but this time around we’re doing Star Wars as well as expanding our coverage to other science fiction franchises. From Star Trek to ET to Alien including how The Who Saved the RIdley Scott movie Alien and How Micheal Jackson’s Label sued ET and Then ET turned around and Sued Neil Diamondas well as the crazy story about Sting’s Space underwear from the movie dune…and One of the funniest Williams Shatner stories you’ll ever hear and it has to do with he band KISS it’s my top 5 Sci-Fi rock and roll crossovers… So let’s get it started: at #5, I have a special guest to tell the story about the time that a famous voice actor fooled William Shatner into believing he was Gene Simmons of KISS and all hell broke loose… It’s a Gag that is still going. Ok, so Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry, and it debuted on NBC in 1966. And although it was canceled after just three seasons, the show found sustained success in syndication during the 70s and built a passionate fanbase. 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 behind Ac/DC’s classic rock hit Big Balls, a song with a dual meaning that made parents angry and the goody-two-shoes blush, but it made every Gen-X kid fall down 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 his body part 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! Hey also came up with a song later about his wife that could be taken as good or bad, and she divorced him for it. We’re gonna loosen up the shackles of self-righteousness and have some fun telling the story of this track. 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.

This is the full uncut interview with Rick Beato… a Classic Rock Masterclass. Actually, it’s more of a 90-minute geek-out on music. We just kick back and discuss all our favorites in music from Boston to Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to everything in between. I’ve received a lot of requests for the uncut interview, so here it is. 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 continue our treasure hunt, tracking down the greatest #3 hits in music history, and this time we got to arguably the best era in music history 1965-1969. Including songs by the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and the Stones, including California Girls, a song that popped into the mind of Brian Wilson after he swallowed his first tab of LSD… You could honestly say that the song that came from that trip started a musical revolution that inspired everything that came after. Plus a track that saved the career of future legend Stevie Wonder during a time when his label wanted to drop him because he was going through puberty. In fact, they had labeled him a novelty act; he would go on to prove them wrong as one of the last living musical geniuses... Plus one of the most prolific lyricists of all time, Jimmy Webb, captured the image of a man working on a telephone pole and turned it into a hypnotic classic… And lastly, the angry song Fortunate Song that stood up for the common man that became one of over a dozen huge hits for John Fogerty whose historic run in music was thrown off course by one of the biggest scumbags in music history. It’s a special countdown of the Top 10 Greatest #3 Hits released between ’65 & ’69, 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.

Let's take it back! As a father of 3 daughters this was the most difficult song that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, one of America’s great rock bands ever had to write… It actually took him 9 months to finish, then a record exec made him censor his own song fearing it wouldn’t get played on pop radio because of 1 word that wasn’t even a swear word… Would he change it? It would be the biggest hit on an 80s hard rock masterpiece. Pump an album that had a pretty good chance of being the first hard rock record to have 3 #1 hits from one album… would it happen … THE ROAD WOULD BE TOUGH… Janie’s Got A Gun got banned and had to compete with a smash hit starring a cartoon cat... find out if this …provocative and haunting song pulled it off 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 catchiest song of the 80s...Some songs are earworms that crawl into your brain and are so annoying you beg for mercy. Some are great, but they get so overplayed you tire of them and hope you never hear them again. But every once in a while, a song is so catchy and satisfying you're on cloud 9 when they get stuck in your head because even if you hear them 100 times, you never get sick of them… Today we celebrate those treasures as we travel back to the 80s to capture those perfect songs and the stories behind them, including the Cheers theme song that puts a lump in our throats every time because it sounds like home or a bygone era. Plus the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song Relax, that was so catchy and dangerous a DJ banned it in the middle of the first time it was played on the radio. Plus the cover song Cum On Feel the Noize that took Quiet Riot and metal to the top of the charts... but the singer behind it ruined his career in one dumb interview.…. And an otherworldly scream that saved a rock band’s career. 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 greatest TV THEMES of the 60s. Last year we covered some of the greatest TV themes of the 70s, 80s and 90s. But today we're counting down the best TV themes from what many consider the golden age of television… the 60s and 50s. And there’s some wild stories here. First, one of the most recognizable pieces of music in TV history was stitched together from two obscure stock tracks, and the composer had no idea his work was being heard by millions of people in the TV show The Twilight Zone. It would be years before he ever found out, and he only ever took home $700 for one of the most iconic intros of all time. Then… one of the most beloved TV Western themes in history: Bonanza was so perfectly constructed that when a music legend added lyrics and released his own version, it completely bombed. And finally… an Academy Award-winning composer recorded a terrible, throwaway vocal demo about a talking horse… just to show producers what he had in mind for the theme. He was horrified when they loved it and used it as the finished product. Let’s get started. Plus the TV theme that a talented songwriter tried dozens of times. It was sung, it was done with guitar… Nothing was working, so he got so frustrated he just whistled it in 1 take, and it became a classic. Let’s do it. 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 a band that, no joke, had 16 hits in the 80s but, for some strange reason, they are always passed over, and many under the age of 50 don’t remember them. Why have they been forgotten? Well, all you have to do is play someone Hold On Loosely or Caught Up in You, and all of a sudden the light bulb goes off. I’m talking about Southern Rock Royalty 38 Special. Today, I have the uncut Don Barnes interview. Don sang and helped write those hits and made the band a classic rock staple. Coming up, we have the stories of many of their biggest hits straight from Don, including the story of how the band got their name when they had to break into their own rehearsal space and the police surrounded them thinking they were criminals. Plus much more. Here’s Don with the stories of some classics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

About a month ago, I started a new show where I talked about the catchiest songs of all time. But they are the good catchy, where you love it when they get stuck in your head. Well, I chose 7 from the 70s, and most of you agreed with them, but many said, Well, you have to include this one and this one. Well. We’re gonna do it again. We’re counting down the 7 catchiest songs of the 70s. It’s Round 2, and these songs and the stories behind them are even better than our last list. First, there’s Van Halen, who covered a 60s Kinks classic and so thoroughly reinvented it that fans of the band thought that they had written it. This mix-up led to fans approaching the original band after shows and at airports to compliment them on their cover version of their own song. It made them livid. Then there’s the thoroughly misunderstood rock anthem Sweet Home Alabama that was calling out a corrupt politician, but everyone thought they were cheering him on... leading this corrupt leader to hijack the song and make it his personal campaign track. And finally, there’s the burned-out rock frontman Bon Scott who snapped at his producer and dared him to get in the booth and sing this future hit song better than he could. He had to eat crow as he watched in stunned silence as this producer hit every screaming note perfectly. 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.

Coming up, it’s time for a POR throwback. Back in the early days of the channel, we had our regular series #1 in Our Hearts where we honored songs that were so unbelievably great, they should've been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. But for whatever reason, whether it was lack of radio play or marketing, or maybe the label just wasn’t behind the track… these songs came up short. Well, now we are going to zero in on a specific year and look at the top 10 songs that didn’t quite make it to #1, and we’re going to give. Today we're heading back to the late 70s. Let’s see if you can guess the year. It was the year that rock made a huge comeback and decimated Disco on the strength of several big hits, including Sultans of Swing that was inspired by the most self-delusional band in town. This band played in an empty pub, and it inspired a Dire Straits’ breakout hit. Then there’s the two-hit wonder Nicolette Larson, who found her biggest hit in a dusty cassette tape that was being stepped on as it sat on the floor of a rock legend's truck. And finally, there’s the Toto keyboardist who wrote an iconic hit on his piano in his apartment… he couldn’t stop messing with the catchy tune until he figured it out. It took him three days, and his neighbors were banging on the door for him to stop. He even got evicted due to the noise.” But in the end, it paid off, going top 5 and making his band a household name. 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.

Let's run it back! 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the worlds of rock and roll and history’s most beloved sci-fi franchise collided in ways nobody ever expected. That’s right, on this episode of Professor of Rock, we’re counting down the greatest rock meets Star Wars stories around. And from the casting room to the recording booth, popular musicians and Star Wars have a surprisingly in-depth history. Including members of NSYNC who got their greatest wish... to be cast as Lightsaber-wielding JEDIs. They went out and filmed and were excited to see themselves in Star Wars but were crestfallen when George Lucas cut them out of the film after fan backlash. Plus, the iconic future front-woman Terri Nunn was almost cast as Princess Leia. She made it to the final round of auditions, impressed the director, but was turned away because Harrison Ford didn’t like her. So she had to settle for music stardom instead. Then there is Joseph Williams, the son of one of the greatest composers in Hollywood history and the replacement singer for one of the biggest rock bands of the 80s. He penned the lyrics to two of The Return of the Jedi’s original songs… only to have them later replaced in the 1997 Special Editions. And finally, the King of Pop personally lobbied George Lucas for a role in the most anticipated film of a generation… But he got nixed too. But he dodged a bullet… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's take it back with this POR Classic! Celebrating the power of Summer, Donna Summer, one of the most influential artists of any era and my Top 5 Donna Summer Songs. Many know her as the Queen of Disco, but she was so much more than that, inspiring artists from every genre including New Wave, R&B, and Dance pop. Featuring appearences from Peter Hook formerly of New Order, Narada Michael Walden producer/songwriter behind some of Whitney Houston's biggest hits, and Limahl former lead singer of Kajagoogoo. 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, Kenny Loggins, the Co-Captain of Yacht Rock and the King of the Movie Soundtrack, tells the story of his first big movie hit from Caddyshack, I’m Alright! First, this legendary singer-songwriter was told by a big-time movie producer his movie song would be used for a dancing puppet, which he thought would be lame… Secondly, during the recording of the song, this singer invited another famous rocker to do background vocals, but he forgot to give him credit when the song became famous, which started a decades-long rivalry. Lastly, to make matters worse, they had a mediocre drummer who could only play a basic beat… It actually made this song the classic it is. An entertaining story of the song everyone knows next in 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.

If you’re a rockstar. There’s nothing quite as brutal as watching the song you despise become the one the world won't let you forget. Today we're counting down the musicians who built their legacies on songs they absolutely could not stand. Including a teenage rock prodigy whose debut smash turned him into an overnight rockstar. But he spent the next two decades refusing to perform it and stating that no amount of money would ever make him play it again. Then there’s one of rock's hardest-hitting bands that buried a soft, sentimental love ballad so deep in their back catalog that even the man who recorded it can’t remember the words. Also, there’s a singer-songwriter whose biggest hit made him a global superstar who walked onto American television specifically to tell millions of viewers he was not coming to America to perform it… and that he wanted nothing to do with it! And finally, there’s the band that accidentally created the best-selling 12-inch single ever, but lost money on every copy sold, racking up 70,000 pounds of dollars in debt from their signature song. Go to https://buyraycon.com/professorofrock... to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rock history is full of legendary songs that almost never existed. Today we're counting down the most jaw-dropping near-miss disasters in rock history… songs that were almost derailed by decisions and incidents that should have designated them to garbage heap. And the world would have never heard them! First… The Clash's roadie was handed the demo recordings for one of the greatest double albums ever made: London Calling. But after stopping at a pub, he got drunk and fell asleep on the subway. When he jolted awake at his stop, he sprinted off the train, but left the tapes sitting on the seat behind him, and they were lost forever! Then there’s the story of a last-minute mixing session for a Led Zeppelin hard rock masterpiece. While working on it, two engineers discovered a phantom voice haunting that was bled into the tape. With no time to fix it, their split-second decision created one of the most iconic moments in rock. And finally, a Heartbreaker Mike Campbell's dream song was rejected by Tom Petty before getting picked up by another rock legend, Don Henley… But while working on it in the studio, the master tape began physically disintegrating. And he knew that if he lost it he would never be able to reproduce the magical session. Plus, the song that was a disaster and thrown away by Kenny Rogers till a bubbly blonde named Dolly Parton, who was recording next door, walked in and made the song a duet... becoming 1 of the biggest hits of the year. These are the stories of songs saved from oblivion… 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.

To me the definition of great hit song is one that is so catchy and undeniable that whenever it comes on you feel like your 50 Feet tall and invincible. Some decades just hit different — and the 90s produced a run of songs so irresistible that the world still hasn't gotten over them. It’s time ro count down the catchiest sings of the decade! The greatest earworms of the 90s that you’re grateful to have stuck in your head and the stories behind them that nobody ever told you… including how one production assistant placed the master tapes for the Smashing Pumpkins' 1979 music video on top of his car and drove off… scattering them across the Los Angeles freeway. The band was forced to fly back across the country on a red-eye and reshoot the entire thing from scratch. Then there’s the Verve's Richard Ashcroft, who spent years pouring his grief into Bittersweet Symphony, a song that became a global anthem, but was strong-armed into signing away every dollar it ever earned. And there's one of the decade's most celebrated music videos, Waterfalls, that was delivered by a singer who was under house arrest, hiding an ankle monitoring bracelet underneath her costume the whole time. Plus the Cranberries' Linger that was originally about underwear. But a shy girl who was mocked by her bandmates turned into the most enduring song of the decade. Let’s do it. See 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 #1 hit Eye of the Tiger from Rocky 3. In the early 80s this Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik came home for Lunch and checked his answering machine. He couldn’t believe what he heard, Sylvester Stallone asked him to call him back. He thought it was a prank call. but when he called back it was really him… Sly Stallone wanted an 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 rock 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! The song was nominated for an Oscar and the band had to be humiliated when the Temptation did a Cringe version of the song. How they created the perfect 80s classic rock anthem that still rules. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… Van Halen, Ratt, and more as we skip the one hit wonders to talk about the topic of top 2-Hit Wonders. ...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! Including Ratt, Icehouse, White Lion and how Tone Loce ruled 1988 by stealing his two biggest hits from several legendary bands including Van Halen.  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 back in time to a perfect year in music and setting it right. Taking some top 10 hits and giving them their due at #1. Including some great stories, including a tragic internal conflict between long-time collaborators Daryl Hall and John Oates, one that led to the issuance of a restraining order, splitting the most successful two-some in rock history. Hey, how are ya gonna write songs together if there's a restraining order?! Then there’s a story of the highest-charting song by Bruce Springsteen that came from a place of real anger because his manager told him he needed to write a hit, even though he had written 70 songs for his forthcoming album. Then, on another classic song, during the making of the video of the mysterious ballad Eyes Without a Face, the singer had a medical emergency when his contacts fused to his eyeballs…and it led to a policeman holding a gun to his head. Plus, Billy Joel apushed the boundaries of his voice to an all-time high in a song that became a classic, only he was never able to hit those notes again and had to have a backup singer do it live when it became a hit. Plus, Prince's Purple Rain, the song ripped offits title and solo from 2 other hits, but the two bands didn’t care because the genius behind it was so respected. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's run it back with this classic! Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon...Imagine if you will an album so legendary.. So in Demand that there were factories working around the clock to manufacture it and still couldn’t keep up.. or so the legend goes or urban legend that is. . And it'’s still selling like hotcakes. It spent almost 20 years on the charts but never went to #1 in its native land..It has spawned more folk tales than any album ever.. Led by a provocative and talented lyricist/ singer Roger Waters as well as a true guitar legend in David Gilmour. Today we un peel the endless sonic layers of the song Time and the Great Gig in the Sky… Songs so stunningly true to life and space they have the power to stop time. With incredible contributions from Rick Wright and Nick Mason and with Commentary from the great Alan Parsons… The Dark Side of the Moon is a true 70s classic rock manifesto and the breakdown 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 take the time machine back to a year that changed everything with songs that were all over the map. We’ll tell the tale of Time of the Season that became a massive hit after the Zombies, the band that recorded it, broke up, and they had no idea that the song was soaring around the world. As well as Sugar Sugar, a song that was one of the catchiest of all time, but it was recorded by a fictional kids' band, and it became the biggest hit of the year even though the man who sang it was a mystery for a decade. And... the drama behind Tommy James, who battled a mobster who threatened to take him out rather than pay him the 10million he’d stolen from him. So the Singer had to produce his new song Crimson and Clover himself and when he took it to a local DJ to show him a rough demo, the DJ played it on his radio show and it became a #1 hit overnight. It’s all 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.

I'm counting down the top 5 most 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… including Geddy Lee of Rush's biggest hit. A novelty song! 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 on today’s episode, we're back at it again. We’re counting down the most dangerously alluring song about females in rock history … These songs were written about real women who did a real number on some of the most famous rockstars ever. We’re gonna tell the story about a notorious woman known only as “Wildcat” who made a surprise late-night call to Chris Isaak. He knew she was trouble but told her to come over anyway. But before she arrived at his door, he picked up his guitar and wrote one of the most seductive songs of its time. But when she got there, he was more enamored with the song than her, and he was grateful she’d inspired him to write what would become his biggest hit. Then there’s the volatile couple Ian Astubry of The Cult and Renee Beach. They kept a pet goldfish on their tour bus and were so obsessive about it that they pissed off the other band they were touring with… To get revenge, they pulled off the most epic goldfish prank in history. And finally, there’s the iconic 70s femme fatale song Killer Queen that may or may not have actually been written about a man. Will get both sides of 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.

What is it about Mondays that gets us all 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 breathtaking classic. Monday Monday was written in 20 minutes, and nobody in the band liked it. Especially singer Denny Doherty... Some even hated it with a passion, so imagine their surprise when 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, Denny and John fractured. 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.

In the music business, there’s a thin line between iconic and ironic. Some artists spend decades building a legacy, only to watch the internet reduce it to a dumpster fire. While others were the first to strike the match. Coming up, we're counting down the musicians and their songs who became everybody's favorite joke — whether they meant to or not. It’s our latest edition of Punchlines, and this episode has a few musicians who weren’t afraid to throw the first punch… including the genre-bending rocker Kid Rock, who was at the center of a Waffle House beat-down. The incident ended with him being arrested after he tried to flee the scene in his tour bus and flashed a “Jr. Police Badge” when the cop pulled him over. There’s also the female pop star Paula Abdul who conquered the charts, survived tabloid chaos, and racked up 6 consecutive #1s with a little help from a cheesy animated cat. Plus, a famous Radio Personality who tried to make a mockery of the famous comedy band Steel Panther, but this band of jokesters turned the tables on him and made him the punchline. These stories and more are stealing the headlines next on POR. 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.

All eyes were on this legendary band after they released their megalithic fourth album Led Zeppelin IV. Championed by many as the greatest rock record ever written… Everyone was clamoring for a sequel. But they wouldn’t get it. Instead, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham took a sharp left turn into unexplored territory… kicking out a bold collection of songs that tapped into a diverse selection of genres: House of the Holy. The rock press eviscerated them for it. But time would prove that they knew what they were doing. An essential entry into the compendium of rock, House of the Holy also boasts today’s featured song, No Quarter. And I’m telling you, we’re zeroing in on a haunting masterpiece. Written by the band’s most underrated member. This foreboding track is a work of sheer genius and will engulf your soul. It was also part of a cut-throat moment when two of the members reunited, leaving him out while naming their project after his song! Find out 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 nostalgia overload in a trip back to a perfect year in music. Including the provocative hit Whip It by Devo that sparked controversy so intense, actress Lily Tomlin refused to host a major late-night show unless the band was CUT. Plus, legendary guitarist Neal Schon was told his guitar solo for Who's Cryin' Now was too complex… he was told to simplify it. So he played the dumbest lead he could think of... it made the song a classic. Then there’s the famous TV theme song Beleive It or Not from a beloved comedy-drama whose lead character’s name was changed to dodge a link to the infamous man who tried to take out our leader.… Plus the #1 hit Rapture by Blondie that has gotten away with the mother of all profanities for 45 years and the rock icon Pat Benatar who erased her biggest hit from existence over one lyric line. And a Dan Fogelberg's deeply moving tribute to his father written just before he passed away. … See 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 10 tracks that were going for the gold but came up just short… bringing home the bronze instead. That’s right, it’s another edition of our #3 Hits Countdown, but this time we are counting down the greatest #3s of the 1970s songs that peaked at just two spots from the top on the Hot 100. On this episode you’ll hear the story of Navy veteran Bill Withers, who spent years installing toilet facilities inside commercial airplanes for $3.50 an hour. And when he scored a record deal he refused to quit his day job. It wasn’t until his debut single Ain't No Sunshine sold a million copies, and his label gave him a gold-plated toilet seat, that he changed his mind. Then there’s Fleetwood Mac's John McVie, who spent nearly 4 decades performing the song Don't Stop live — night after night — without ever realizing his ex-wife had written it about their divorce. And finally… The tale of a hotshot rookie band Foreigner who got a slot at a highly coveted rock festival, but they ran out of songs. 50K fans were screaming for an encore, so they took a brand new idea they’d been tinkering with that was totally unfinished…They weren’t even sure it was a song yet, but they ad-libbed it, and the crowd went insane, so they knew what their next single was gonna be… Let’s do it. 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 song that was so offensive, the Doors were fired on the spot for performing it. Here’s what happened: 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, madness and a bunch of other words I can’t say on here plus, 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.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 80s gave us some of the most irresistible, inescapable songs ever put to tape. And today we're going all in on the neon decade, counting down my picks for the Top 8 catchiest 80s songs. These are the songs that you’re grateful when they get stuck in your head. On this episode, we have the story of Jonathan Cain, the broke and broken musician who lost his record deal, his girlfriend, and nearly his dog when it was hit by a speeding car. Desperate and ready to pack it in, he called home to his father to ask if he should give up on his music dreams. But his father’s 3 word response gave him the courage to keep going and became the title for the biggest rock song in history: Don't Stop Believin'. Plus, one of the most beloved music videos of all time almost never happened… Take On Me by a-ha. Two earlier versions of the song had already flopped, and almost no one on earth had heard them. But it turns out the third time is the charm… because the next release gave us one of the defining songs of the 80s and one of the greatest videos, but then decades later the band’s own video got blocked from YOUTUBE in the US by their old label. Plus, a song title that Tears For Fears stole from The Clash, and then when it became a hit, that singer from the ripped-off band only asked for 5 bucks for it. The stories are 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.

Let's run it back! Coming up, an interview with one of the 80s great hitmakers. The most successful duo of the rock era, Daryl Hall and John Oates Everything they touched turned to Gold and Platinum. Here, John Oates tells the story of a number-one hit from the mid-80s that came at the crossroads of Analog and digital… Out of Touch, it was their final #1 hit after ruling the neon decade with 11 hits, and this one was one of their biggest and they almost gave it away. To put it all in perspective this song was actually a huge accident. Also on this same 1984 record, they had another hit where they spelled the chorus and if you were anything like me you were a little thrown by 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… We took a little break from this show but due to popular demand, we’re back. We take the time machine back to the 70s in a year full of classics, where Neil Young, one of rock's most cantankerous icons, had serious back issues but altered his style to create his lone #1 single, Heart of Gold. Instead of celebrating the song’s success, Neil decided to defy commercialism and purposefully write music that wouldn’t chart. Then America was accused of intentionally imitating this same notorious curmudgeon’s song by critics and the artist alike. It got worse when their song, A Horse with No Name, replaced said song at #1. Then there’s Harry Nilsson, the former bank worker who argued with his producer about transforming Without You into one of the first power ballads. He tried to sabotage the song at every end but it still hit #1; Without You would end up being a curse when he lost his voice after singing it so many times. Plus, a story of Gilbert O’Sullivan, a 21-year-old kid who wrote one of the most introspective masterpieces ever that no one thought was a hit, after it became one of the best-selling singles of all time. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To me the definition of great hit song is one that is so catchy and undeniable that whenever it comes on you feel like your 20 feet tall and invincible. It’s a song that you are grateful when it get stuck in your head because it never gets old. Today we’re gonna celebrate the 7 catchiest songs of the 70s that are sonic masterworks… including the tale of a struggling songwriter who was surviving on food stamps. But when her phone rang out of nowhere and Earth, Wind and Fire's Maurice White asked her to co-write his next album… she was saved from the brink. And the hit song September they wrote together is a guaranteed bad mood killer. Then there’s The Hollies, who released their biggest US hit after their frontman had already quit. Sitting at home, he had to watch their song climb the charts while another singer performed his parts on tour. Would he get back with the band? And finally… right in the middle of tracking the all-time feel-good classic Come and Get Your Love, the studio door swung open, and the drummer’s wife walked in and served divorce papers while he was behind the kit. But he didn’t slow down or even miss a beat. Find out what happened next on Professor of Rock. Let’s get started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The music industry has never had a shortage of shady handshake deals. What many have learned is to have a lawyer look over it and get it in writing. So many musicians were pushed out, had their royalties stolen, & screwed over every which way but loose... Today we have some of the biggest backstabbing stories in rock history. Including Supertramp co-founder Roger Hodgson, who walked away from his band with a gentleman's agreement. He had written a lot of hits, and his co-singer promised not to play his hit songs in exchange for the band name.… But then, when ticket sales plummeted, he reneged on the deal and toured under the name, played the hits, and then wouldn’t let the fans see a final reunion. Then there’s the Iron Maiden heavy guitarist who was fired from the band after his manager caught him listening to the Eagles on their tour bus. Plus the tragic story of Badfinger, a band of gifted songwriters who trusted the wrong guy. Too little too late they discovered their business manager had stolen all their money and bankrupted the band, and the damage was enough to end their lives… Victims of the biggest fraud in history. 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.

How Led Zeppelin threw this song away is beyond me. Next we break down a classic rock hidden gem Hey Hey What Can I Do which was the B side to the 45 of Immigrant song Written by the world’s biggest rock band Sadly, it never made it onto its intended album, Led Zeppelin 3 or any of the six that followed. And yet it has been hailed as a top-notch tune, living for decades as a holy grail rarity. A status reinforced by the fact that Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham never played it live. It’s a 70s hidden gem for the ages. One that was forgotten to almost everyone aside from avid record collectors and classic rock DJs. Would fans ever get their hands on this incredible track? Find 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.

I am heartbroken to hear the news about Bonnie Tyler’s passing. Bonnie died in a hospital in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness, according to a statement, which was posted on her official social media channel. Bonnie was a force to be reckoned with, one of the distinct and emotional voices of the last 50 years. She will continue to blow the minds of listeners for the next 500 years with songs that are not only powerhouses of the last half century but standards of their times like Holding Out for a Hero, It’s a Heartache, and of course, the 80s classic Total Eclipse of the Heart. Today I wanted to share a show we did about 5 years ago, but we put in this one an uncut video of our story behind that perfect song. Rest In Peace, Bonnie. Thank you for the music. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I was thinking the other day, it’s hard to believe that the year 1986 was 40 Years ago. Talk about a Phenomenal year for music. There were so many classic Hits that a lot of them missed out on hitting #1, but they deserved to be. Today we are going to fix that, as we take the time machine back and put it right, with 10 songs that are #1 in our hearts. Including the making of the Dream Academy classic Life in a Northern Town, mentored by one of rock’s greatest lyricists, and produced by a guitar legend, yet passed over by dozens of record labels who wanted NO part of it. Plus the futuristic 1986 song Silent Running that describes our day to a tee but got banned years later because it was deemed too dangerous for us to hear. What were they hiding? Plus the perfect song that was, unsurprisingly, a 1 hit wonder because no band in history could’ve followed it up. It was just too perfect. And Danger Zone that was turned down by half a dozen legends, so the producer, in a panic, called a singer in who was working in a studio close by and he laid it down and it became his biggest hit. And to think it was co-written by a guy who fixed the producer's brakes on his car. And finally the greatest song of all time, Level 42's Something About You, at least in my humble opinion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we cover a decade that produced some of the catchiest, most enduring songs ever recorded — tracks so deeply embedded in our psyches that you can hum them just by hearing their song titles… without even trying. We have a brand new show today about the most addictive songs ever. But these are the Songs we love having stuck in our head… and they have some incredible stories, including one legendary athlete who was so furious about being immortalized in Simon and Garfunkel's Mrs. Robinson, one of the biggest songs of the decade, that he wanted to sue the songwriters for dragging his name through the mud. Then there’s the struggling songwriter who wrote a song in just a few minutes asjoke to himself a chuckle… in fact when he finished recording the demo he felt on the floor laughing because it was so dumb… the song, Wild Thing, was a code word for Sex and he was certain it would never get played... instead it became one of the biggest songs ever and it made him 10 grand a day for years but he blew it all gambling in vegas. Plus, we have the forgotten The Association, a band that 6 hits in 2 years and were competing with the Beatles during this peak, but they vanished forever. Decades later, three of those 6 hits were amongst the most played songs in history and still are, but nobody under 50 really knows this band’s name or knows they sang these massive hits. Let’s do it. 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 epic 70s rock track with so many dramatic subplots, it should’ve been made into a full feature bio-pic- like Bohemian Rhapsody or Walk the Line. Derek and the Dominos classic Layla The roots of Layla go back to the the writings of a romantic tragedy by a 12th century poet that was a foreshadowing to Romeo & Juliet. Hundreds of years later, an adaptation of his work found its way to an all-time legend…Eric Clapton... a man who stole his best friend George Harrison’s wife! and that’s just the start... of a song shrouded in murder, drug abuse, tragedy, and despair. The tangled web of one of the all-time greatest songs of the Rock Era is NEXT on Professor of Rock... and it’s a doozy. 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 back to the 70s for another helping of great TV theme songs. This time we’ve got some perfect themes that will take you back, including a gritty, action-packed cop show Starsky & Hutch, that was named as an “accessory to the crime” in a highly publicized court case… And because of public outcry, the show had to completely rework its theme song. In fact, the hit show changed its theme song every single season! Then on the other end of the spectrum, there’s a wholesome family sitcom, The Brady Bunch, with one of the most recognizable theme songs ever. But they had the cast sing it, and one of the main kids was so tone deaf they had to secretly MUTE his mic during the recording. He didn’t find out for decades. Plus, one of the actors on the show who was 15 at the time asked his 36-year-old TV mom out on a date. And she actually said yes… but you gotta hear the story. And then there’s the Saturday morning show Land of the Lost where they had to rewrite the theme song because the lead actor quit after a disagreement over a lunchbox. Let’s get started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone talks about the Runner ups… The #2 hits the one that almost got to #1, but what about the #3s? Today we are doing something nobody does… Counting down the greatest #3 Hits in history. Including the legend of a cabin that sparked the iconic smash Love Shack, but was left in ashes by an arsonist. Then there's the haunting song Luka that many believed was about a made-up little boy, but decades after the song hit the top of the charts, the singer behind it revealed the devastating secret it was actually about her own years of abuse by her stepfather. Plus Dirty Laundry a song well before its time, giving the middle finger to the media…but was it inspired by a famous anchorwoman in the LA news media?…. And finally, the piercing journey of Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, a song born from poverty and sleepless nights—an out-of-work, down-and-out songwriter turning despair into a melody that refuses to fade. He had no money, no interest, and no place to live and he wrote it about his Wife’s Best friend who didn’t know of his feelings, but 5 years later he recorded the song in the middle of that marriage, and then a few years later the song finally came true… 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.

We All Love This Legend But He Wrote THE MOST IRRITATING Song of the 70s & Even He Admits It! For many artists and bands the song that makes you famous is the one that you wish you had never written. Some artists spend decades dodging their biggest hits, cringing every time they hear them on the radio and refusing to play them in concert. Today, I’ve got another Fiver for you. For this episode, we’re counting down the Top 5 artists who hated their own songs and the strange stories behind them. First… Pete Townsend dashed off Pinball Wizard in a blind panic… as a straight-up bribe to win over a single newspaper critic. He later called it an embarrassment, even as it climbed to the top of the charts in his home country. There’s also the cryptic frontman, Michael Stipe, who was mortified by his band's bubbliest hit: Shiny Happy People. He turned down a deal to make it one of the biggest TV theme songs of all time… His hatred for the song cost him a fortune. And finally, we’ve got the story of a guitarist who passed on a songwriting credit for The Turtles' Happy Together... which would have set him up for life and his kids and their kids. But he refused the writing credit, all because he thought it sounded too simple. 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.

I’ve got a special treat for you today. It’s an interview I released years ago but got taken down within a few hours over copyright claims… Well I worked it out and Now I can put it back up. Clive Davis helped bring it to life. It’s a happy singalong classic that everyone adores. Brandy (you're a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass from a singer songwriter who look and sounds like Dustin Hoffman. the song is about Girl that many have wondered if was based on a real person… Well it was such a popular song it made the girl’s name blast toward the top of the rankings of baby names for the next 5 years and as you’ll find out from the singer… it has great story first of all the song was too long for radio to play so he fudged the actual running time on the record he send to radio stations saying it was 2:55 when it was longer than that. Then it was merely an album track as part of a muti song acetate that sent to stations and the DJ played the A side but it floundered but the DJ was talked into hearing the other songs and he turned the record around and play the b side or album track and the phones lines lit up and practically overnight the song was a #1 smash. then he was called decades later by Filmmaker James Gunn who wanted to use the track in his big superhero movie Guardians of the Galaxy 2…today’s artist thought it would be cool to have a few seconds of his song in the film but was shocked when most of the song was used, multiple times and even became a plot point and made the song a smash all over again. 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.

Alright, it’s been a long while since we covered one of these. Today, we’re coming back to a channel favorite: Female Hidden Gems! For this countdown, we’re highlighting some incredible songs sung by amazing female artists that have just gotten lost in the shuffle, and it’s time to dig ‘em up and add them to our playlists. Coming up, we’ve got the story of the Cowboy Junkies, a band so desperate to record their album in a historic church building that they invented a fake but wholesome band name and lied to church officials to get approval. They had to do a top-secret recording. Find out if it was worth it. Then there’s Brandi Carlile, who was stricken with laryngitis while recording her signature song. As she belted out the track’s climactic finish, her voice cracked under the strain… giving us one of the most “technically wrong but emotionally right” vocals ever. And finally, there’s the artist Anne Preven, who wrote a global chart-topper called Torn, but nobody knows who she is… because when she released her original version of the song, it flopped. But when another singer gave it a pop makeover, it became 1 of the biggest hits of its time, but I’m telling you… Nobody knows this song is a cover. Let’s do it.  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 our final TIME IN BOTTLE COUNTDOWN for now. I’ve really enjoyed doing this series of songs that take us right back to the moment these song were on radio Today we are traveling back to a big year in the 70s with so many classic songs that will take you back including a song that was written after a member of a legendary band lost his beloved dog it was a sad song but it would end up causing a ruckus on the air when the most famous DJ in America flipped out in the middle of his famous show in a profanity laced rant when it was played during his most listened to segment. There is also the famous 17-minute overtly sensual song that came from its iconic singer having multiple AHEM peaks while recording it. It was banned pretty much everywhere, but still hit #1. We also have a rock band that had 15 hits and influenced every band that came after, but they’ve been erased from history for no good reason, plus the song that one of the greatest songwriters of all time got from his 3 year old song. He wrote it as a joke, and it became his biggest hit… Let's do it.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's run it back! The 80s classic hit In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins has arguably the most famous urban legend behind it in rock history. Told and retold thousands of times. Did Phil Collins of Genesis really witness a potential murder and then write about it to haunt the killer? Or is it a total farce? The story of a song that has become one of the biggest of its time only to stall outside of the top 10 back in the early 80s. we give it it’s due as a #1 in our hearts and find out the real story next. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I love the Mamas and the Papas. They had such a unique style with hits like California Dreamin' and Monday Monday, but today I have a really strange tale. It’s one that most people haven’t heard. 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? Well, one of the biggest creeps in music history originally cut her from the band for being overweight. Buy Cass would have the last laugh with a dozen hit. We’re delving into another fascinating case of fact vs. fiction, through the songs of the Mamas and the Papas, including California Dreamin', and CREEQUE ALLEY 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 guys, you better watch your step… We are about to count down the greatest “femme fatale” songs of the rock era. And every one of these songs is based on a real woman… and they are all a little bit dangerous. Including one foul-mouthed model-turned-actress named Kelly LeBrock who changed me from a boy to a man after watching 1 particular 80s film. This 80s fox cussed like a sailor and told jokes I can’t repeat on here or even in public. When John Oates met her, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It inspired him to write one of the most dangerous hits of the 80s: Maneater. Then, there’s the story of one of rock's biggest bands, Bon Jovi, that might not have cracked the mainstream if not forvolatile, party girl actress Diane Lane who tore through the band. She inspired two of their biggest hits after dating the singer and the guitarist back to back or at the same time. Plus there’s the hitmaker Phil Collins whose biggest muse was his ex-wife, whom he loathed. Yet every time he thought of her, he spun her memory into hit after hit after hit. … turning his bankrupt marriage into a very profitable venture. The knives are coming out for this one. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 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.

Peter Beckett, lead singer of the band Player, tells the story of the group's huge number one hit, Baby Come Back, the smooth 70s classic that has now become a yacht rock standard. It was just covered by Keith Urban for his new album. Peter’s wife left him. He got off tour, and she had abandoned their home together, taking everything with her. He never saw her again. He poured his pain into the one-hit wonder. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind the platinum records and the sold-out arenas, the music world hides a shadowy world of surveillance, syndicate deals, and criminal acts that most fans don’t know about. Today we're pulling back the curtain on some dark true crime stories on our latest edition of Rock and Roll True Crime. Including Mariah Carey, one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, who was imprisoned inside a $22 million fortress rigged with hidden cameras, armed guards, and recording devices held by 1 of the most powerful men in the business. He would punish her more by sabotaging her career. Then there’s the group of obsessive Lynyrd Skynyrd fans who broke into a cemetery under cover of darkness, smashed open a marble mausoleum, and tried to pry open a rock star’s casket to settle an urban legend about a t-shirt. Plus the Allman Brothers Band, the Southern rock icons who got so tangled up with a ruthless criminal syndicate their lead singer had to take the witness stand to testify against their road manager. It tore the band apart. And finally, Dave Navarro, the rock star who came face to face with his mother's killer after a decade of trying to capture him. It’s all 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.

Coming up next on of the most important interviews I’ve ever done with one of the greatest legends in rock history. He was the leader of a band that was competing with the Beatles and the Stones and the Beach Boys and Bob Dylan back in the 60s in the quest to take music to higher ground. We’ve shown pieces of this interview before but today show the full uncut, never-before-seen sit-down with Roger Mcguinn of the Byrds including the story of their #1 hit Mr. Tambourine Man that Bob Dylan gave them, Dylan never had a number one hit himself, he gave his away and the Byrds did justice with it. Also the story of Turn! Turn! Turn! the nearly 3000 year old song that he and the Byrds took to #1. Plus the story of the song he wrote for the classic film Easy Rider and the song He wrote as a scathing diss track against manufactured bands… Many think it was a direct shot at the Monkees, who were outselling many of the biggest bands of the time, including the Beatles. See what he says about it. Let’s get into the stories of some of the greatest songs ever from a SUPERGROUP that not only included Roger McGuinn but David Crosby, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, and Gram Parsons. A band that helped birth Entire new musical genres, including folk rock, psychedelia, and Country rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind the platinum records and the sold-out arenas, the music world hides a shadowy world of surveillance, syndicate deals, and criminal acts that most fans don’t know about. Today we're pulling back the curtain on some dark true crime stories on our latest edition of Rock and Roll True Crime. Including Mariah Carey, one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, who was imprisoned inside a $22 million fortress rigged with hidden cameras, armed guards, and recording devices held by 1 of the most powerful men in the business. He would punish her more by sabotaging her career. Then there’s the group of obsessive Lynyrd Skynyrd fans who broke into a cemetery under cover of darkness, smashed open a marble mausoleum, and tried to pry open a rock star’s casket to settle an urban legend about a t-shirt. Plus the Allman Brothers Band, the Southern rock icons who got so tangled up with a ruthless criminal syndicate their lead singer had to take the witness stand to testify against their road manager. It tore the band apart. And finally, Dave Navarro, the rock star who came face to face with his mother's killer after a decade of trying to capture him. It’s all 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.

For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com. Coming up next, it’s time to go back and time to a special year in music that will put a smile on your face in this crazy world. Take a break from the world to hear the stories of the songs. Including a husband & wife who were teachers in a rural city in Oregon, but decided to follow their rock n’ roll dreams and hit it big with a song called Harden My Heart, plus how Stevie Nicks was inspired by something she read on a dining menu on a plane…that she turned into an all-time classic. Also, Alan Parsons bet against one of his songs that became his biggest hit, but his guitarist who won the bet never cashed the check… Find out why… Also today’s countdown includes a Beatles Reunion in the early 80s, well, sorta…and finally the story of a beautiful, alluring woman who mysteriously entered the recording studio to inspire one of the best vocals of the rock era, but then disappeared without a trace. It’s time to time travel 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.

Fame is a fickle beast. One minute you're on top of the world, and the next you're the butt of the joke. It’s a fine line between icon and punchline. That said, it’s time for another Punchline countdown, and this time we’ve got some scorchers. Including four men from Color Me Badd in oversized suits who many felt looked like generic brand knock-offs of pre-existing pop icons… They’d top the charts with some seriously smooth pop hits… but within a couple of years no one could take them seriously. Then there’s David Hasselhoff, the leather-clad heartthrob who could do it all… He rocked out on the hood of the 80s most famous talking car. Then suspended in a bucket crane, he performed high above the Berlin Wall. He even rode a flying motorcycle. Plus there's Richard Marx, the singer who wasn’t afraid to punch back if you talked smack about him. He routinely took it to Twitter trolls. And even hunted down a small-time blogger who made a negative comment about him in a blog post. You won’t believe what 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, 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Man, we’ve really got the good, the bad, and the ugly on today’s episode. Today we're queuing up another rock sibling rivalry countdown…last time we had Donnie Vs Marie and Eddie Van Halen vs Alex, but this time we’re going even harder with The Kinks and Heart, plus 4 other bands that had explosive family dynamics. Including the all-time war of words over the 60s sound that changed rock forever… Decades later, these legendary brothers are still bickering over who should get credit for inventing it. But even with their intense fighting, they’ve also had each other’s backs, like when they were banned from touring in America for 10 years and when a contemporary artist called one of the biggest rock hits Gross and Offensive . You gotta hear their reaction; it’s hilarious… There's also the Scottish siblings whose creative sessions got so intense growing up, their own mother had to hide the kitchen knives to keep them from stabbing each other. Plus we’ve got stories of sour siblings quitting mid-concert, a band takeover by a devious cousin, and two rock goddess sisters who always got along… except for this one time. Let’s get started. 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 interview with the President of Parody, music’s greatest jester... legend Weird Al Yankovic in an uncut interview that covers his greatest spoofs. From Michael Jackson to Nirvana and everything in between, this is Al on the creation and stories of his most hilarious parodies with never-before-seen footage. It's our latest edition of revelations where artists take us on a deep dive into their creative process. From the parody that he tried to get permission from Dire Straits to do (Money For Nothing) Beverly Hillbillies to Micheal Jackson Eat it. They're all here.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're bringing back this absolute CLASSIC! Up next an exclusive interview with 70s Legend Peter Frampton the singer write guitarist who had failed as a solo artists for years. He procrastinated and only had a few days to write an album that's songs would eventually become part of Frampton Comes Alive which for many years was the biggest selling album ever until the 80s. At the time He felt his songs were good but for some reason they just weren’t going anywhere. He partied and frittered away his time to record and was left with only a few days to create an entire album. He did and it would pay off big time. Up next, the story of Show Me The Way and he talks about his time working with George Harrison’s. Peter also tells us the story of how he learned to use a very cool effect on his guitar to take one of these songs to classic rock legend and how he went from zero to hero virtually overnight 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 popping the lid off another Time Bottle to let the music do the talking, with songs that transport us back to the end of a decade of great music. There's the song that defined the moment they came on our radio…coming up, we’ll tell the tale of an unknown band named Roxette that defied the odds to hit #1 because an American foreign exchange student came back from Europe with their song and talked his local DJ into playing their song and hit #1 virtually overnight. There’s also the story of a pop song written by a child actor, Martika, expressing the pain of losing a friend to a deadly drug addiction that even made the metalheads raise their fist…. Plus a crazy night where two rock icons, Ozzy and Lita, got so obliterated, they didn’t remember recording a song that would become a Top 10 smash….and an inspiring account of a resurrected hit by the band Sherrif that reunited a band that had broken up after the song was a big fat stiff 5 years earlier… And an Aerosmith song about a real-life X-rated incident that happened in a hotel elevator that fueled the return of one of rock’s most famous bands. Let’s do it. Go to https://buyraycon.com/PROFESSOROFROCK... to get 15% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring! 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 hard rock singer Mark Slaughter on his band, Slaughter's biggest hit: Fly to the Angels. It’s one of the most gut-wrenching songs of its time that came from very tragic circumstances. Mark had come off tour and called up his friend to get his old girlfriend’s number. He was looking forward to seeing here after being out on the road. His friend called the next day, but instead of giving him her this girl's number, he conveyed the sad news that she had just passed away. Fly to the Angels came to Mark when he attended her funeral. Up next, it's a powerful story from Mark Slaughter on a song that became a 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.

Some of rock’s greatest songs never make the album. Instead, they get buried in a vault and forgotten for decades. Today I’m going to unearth some of the greatest songs that should’ve been massive hits, but they were never released. It’s a goldmine, my friends. Including a song written by rock icon Freddie Mercury, who was secretly dying. Carrying this heavy burden alone, he channeled his grief into a haunting meditation on mortality. But it never got picked for an album. Then, after he died, the tapes became so badly damaged the song couldn’t be saved… then a miracle happened. Then there's Michael Jackson, one of the greatest pop stars who ever lived, who recorded a song so brilliant, it could have anchored the biggest-selling album of all time… if it had been recorded just a few weeks earlier. But today, it still hasn't been officially released, even though it’s one of MJ's best songs. And finally, there the singer-songwriter John Mayer, who was so devastated by a breakup that he couldn’t bear to set foot in the city where his ex lived… Instead, he wrote a song about it. And for decades, he has refused to make a studio recording of it. As a live song, it’s become the stuff of legend. Let's do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I have a new show for ya all. Ya know, sometimes the music industry can seem more like a blood sport than an art form. For every legendary band forged in brotherhood, there's a back-alley betrayal that left someone burning in the wreckage. On today’s episode, we’re counting down the stories they don't put in the liner notes… tales of betrayal and backstabbing. We’re calling this one double-cross!, and we’re featuring one of rock's most iconic guitarists, Dave Mustaine, who couldn’t hold his liquor. So as he lay passed out drunk, his Metallica bandmates packed his bags and bought him a one-way bus ticket out of the band. By the time he sobered up, he’d been replaced. Plus, The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, who made his bandmates sit and watch him in the studio as he re-recorded all of their parts for their sophomore album. Also, one of rock's greatest icons, David Bowie, fired his band mid-concert, but made them play the rest of the show before sending them on their way. And finally, the female singer Martha Wash, who laid down a perfect vocal on a song, but later the song became a hit, and when she saw the music video, a fashion model was lip-syncing her voice and got all the credit for it! 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.

Tommy James was the leader of one of the most successful acts of the 60s, Tommy James and the Shondells. Together they had 14 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 from 1965 to 1970. But it all came crashing down for Tommy when, at what ended up as the band’s last performance, he collapsed backstage and was even pronounced dead! Tommy didn’t die, but when he regained consciousness he was a wreck. To recuperate, James moved to the country and convalesced for months, vowing to never record again…. After convalescing for a year, Tommy James got his mojo back, went back to the studio, and recorded his first solo album... Christian of the World, featuring Draggin' the Line, a song that was a surprise top 5 smash with one of the catchiest bass riffs of the Rock Era. It would later be ripped off by a major restaurant chain on a popular ad campaign. The story along with an interview with Tommy James 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.

Let's run it back! It was Pearl Jam against the world when they were working on their follow up album to Ten that sold more copies that even Nirvana Nevermind in the early 90s. But as Eddie Vedder and co prepared for VS. their sophomore offering, they were tired of fame. They had planned on ten doing so well and they refused to do promotion of the album in terms of music videos etc… The album still hit #1. The signature song from the record called Daughter would actually start out with a different name and lyrics but Eddie Vedder really sunk his teeth into its message about child abuse and learning disabilities.. which had never been covered in a massive single before. Up next the story fo a 90s masterpiece. 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 of classics and all-time songs. The songs that will take you back because they sound exactly like the year they were ruling the charts in the 70s... including the song Just a Song Before I Go by CSN, that was motivated by a bet that a legendary singer couldn’t write a song in 10 minutes. Not only did he win the bet, but it became his legendary group’s biggest hit. Plus, Rich Girl, a song that horrifically inspired the behavior of a serial killer, or so he says. Plus a song that the producer called utter crap… It ended up being a massive hit and spawned a billion-dollar business. Also, a track featuring a signature performance by a singer who later dropped dead on stage in the middle of his concert. And Blinded by the Light, a tune that was rescued from obscurity and had listeners singing a chorus about a feminine hygiene product. The problem is, it was the wrong lyric, and it infuriated Bruce Springsteen, who wrote it... until he started getting huge royalty checks when the new version BLEW UP. 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.

You gotta see this! Back by popular demand, it’s time for another sabotage countdown. In the past, we’ve told stories of bands that undercut rivals on stage, acts that have tried to tank their most popular song, and even bands who have accidentally sabotaged their careers. We’ve got all that and more this time around. Including the story of singer Shirley Manson who cussed a fan out in the middle of a concert over bouncing a beachball… at the next show, 100s of fans came to the jilted fan’s rescue. Find out what happened. Plus, the famous songwriter who wrote a hit song for Kelly Clarkson… problem is he wrote the exact same song with different lyrics for Beyonce too. Both came out at the same time, so this Kelly Clarkson did everything she could to sabotage her own song, but it was still a hit. And then there was Blind Melon's frontman who stripped off all his clothes onstage and took a wiz on concertgoers. Not exactly the best way to win over a crowd. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’ve never done this before. Coming up I show a fellow YouTuber and rapper my favorite Journey song "it's a classic" and get his immediate take as we discuss the song in depth and listen to the entire song. The Greatest Singer of All Time Steve Perry I play a full song for the first time ever on my channel. Make sure to subscribe below and check out Black Pegasus channel and subscribe to him. Until next time, 3 chords and the truth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know, a great TV theme song is more than just an earworm. The best of the best rewire your brain so that, decades later, hearing it, you’re teleported straight back to the year you first heard it. We’ve had a lot of fun with this TV theme song series, covering tracks from all across the rock era. Today, we’re at it again, counting down the Top 10 picks for the best modern themes… We’ve got the Duffer brothers who stole an indie song off Bandcamp to use as the music for their series Stranger Things that they pitched to the biggest streamer in Hollywood… It not only got their show greenlit, but it became the biggest show of its time. But what happened to the band that wrote the song? Find out. Plus, the band Alabama 3, who sold their song for 500 bucks to The Sopranos, a TV show that became one of HBO’s biggest ever. They regretted it when the Theme song made Millions. And finally, a singer forgot that he had a meeting with a TV producer about writing the Big Bang Theory theme song. He only had 15 mins before the meeting was going to start, so he wrote a song in 5 minutes and recorded it in less time than that. It became so big it made more money than the #1 band's entire catalog combined! Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's take it back with this POR Classic! We lost one of the most influential and innovative guitarist of the Rock Era, when Eddie Van Halen succumbed to his long battle with throat cancer. He was only 65 years old. the word Legend is thrown around too much in the world we live in now. The over use of the term waters down the meaning for true legends and make no mistake the word legend was coined for EVH. Here at Professor of Rock, we want to honor to the Legend Eddie Van Halen through the music. Not only was Eddie one of the all-time greatest guitarists, he was also a master composer, lyricist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a lightning fast player, a relentless originator, and a veritable trailblazer. Here we break down Eddie’s top 5 song from both David Lee Roth era and the Sammy Hagar era including Runnin’ with the Devil, Dreams, 5150, Panama, Best of Both Worlds, Mean Streets, I’m the One, Jump, When It’s Love, Poundcake and more with commentary by Sammy Hagar. 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 stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that will take you back to the good old days, including the massive hit by a band that nobody could pronounce. Plus 6 former criminals who formed the band Madness and had one of the most famous one-hit wonders ever, Our House, yet in the UK they had 30 huge hits. Plus, the controversial music video for a bizarre remake of Puttin On the Ritz from the Great American Songbook that is now banned for its use of blackface, plus the song that was rejected by record execs for not having any hooks…the bewildered songwriter screamed back at them, the whole song is the hook; he was right, and the song hit #1…So many great songs today… 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.

Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that will take you back to the good old days, including the massive hit by a band that nobody could pronounce. Plus 6 former criminals who formed the band Madness and had one of the most famous one-hit wonders ever, Our House, yet in the UK they had 30 huge hits. Plus, the controversial music video for a bizarre remake of Puttin On the Ritz from the Great American Songbook that is now banned for its use of blackface, plus the song that was rejected by record execs for not having any hooks…the bewildered songwriter screamed back at them, the whole song is the hook; he was right, and the song hit #1…So many great songs today… 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.

Today we’re firing up the hot take machine and taking on the worst opinions from those who I’ve never really seen eye to eye with … “ the so-called music Critic.” On this episode, we’re going to break down the most insufferable takes from institutional gatekeepers, and all around pretentious, smug, and out-of-touch pundits… whom sometimes I wonder if they really even enjoy music. I’ve got a few things to say in response to this critical garbage. Stay tuned for the story of Led Zeppelin, a band that dominated the 70s, but had critics from one particular magazine trying to undercut them every step of the way. Plus, you won’t believe it. There is a prominent British music personality who has dismissed an entire decade of music for being too jingly jangly and ripped The Beatles, a band that changed the entire face of music overnight. Also, there is Pearl Jam, the ultimate anti-corporate rockers, who some reviewers accused of manufacturing a derivative record just to pick the pockets of teenagers. And Eric Clapton, the guitarist who went from being ranked the 2nd greatest guitarist ever to the 35th best, just because his views weren’t PC enough for the magazine making the list. You’re not gonna believe some of this crap. 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.

A few weeks ago, we had our first episode of Unsolved Mysteries of Rock and Roll, and I got hundreds of requests for another episode. So today, we're pulling back the curtain on some of the most jaw-dropping true crime tales from the archives of popular music. Including one guitar legend who rolled up on the front lawn of a Beverly Hills mansion in a fully armed military assault vehicle… He had left his gear there during an audition, and the lead singer wouldn’t return his calls. When you find out what happened next, you’ll be blown away… this other musician nearly was. Then there’s the 80s music video that ignited a citywide crime epidemic. Thousands of emblems from a famous car brand were being stolen from car hoods every day because of this band. These three New Yorker musicians had no idea they’d started a crime wave. And finally… a female rocker was on her way to superstardom when she was found strangled in an alley with her own Merch. After years of painstaking investigations, the culprit was finally found. Find out what happened. 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.

Let's run it back! It’s a song with a storied history and a bittersweet legacy. But you’d never know just listening to it. That’s because this is one of those happy-go-lucky pop tunes we were all singing along with back in the 80s. However, in the studio and behind the scenes… it was a different story. Walk Like An Egyptian by the Bangles. This song was actually the catalyst for this band’s breakup. It all fell apart when their producer forced each member to audition to sing on the song… their own song! With four musicians and just three verses… I’m sure you can do the math. Someone was getting the shaft. And then there was the music video, which has this iconic moment, that all of us remember. Susanna Hoffs and the iconic eye roll that made every boy a man... A moment that turned one of the singers into America’s sweetheart and left the others out in the cold. With the press and fans calling her the band’s lead singer, things got ugly fast. Stick around to find out if there is any way this divisive track could have a happy ending. The story’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.

Coming up, we’re going back to a year that was all over the place with some wonderful variety and unconventional songs that became beloved, hits that defined the year they came out. It’s our latest time in a bottle countdown! There’s a party classic KC and the Sunshine Band's Get Down Tonight that made a writing collaboration a ton of money, but they blew it all on blow, an instrumental by the Average White Band whose founding member died from a weird accident after ingesting a lethal cocktail at a party in Hollywood, yet, his bandmate, who had the same concoction, was miraculously saved, because of the quick action by Cher, yes, that Cher! One of the best-selling singles came out in ’75, and the track was “a little bit frightening.” The song Angie Baby about a mentally unstable girl who was mysteriously disposed of by a predator that’s one of the creepiest songs to hit the top of the charts, and the song Lady that saved one of the most enduring classic rock bands, Styx that became, what many call, the first power ballad, plus the biggest-selling one-hit wonder ever, Carl Douglas's Kung Fu Fighting… It was a throwaway B-side, and now it has sold 11 million, even though many claim it’s racist. Let’s do it. 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 an in-depth look at one of rock's most entertaining topics… The “crazy ex” song… as in crazy ex-girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, whatever….we’ve all been there… or at least know someone who has. If you’ve ever had someone take a baseball bat to a windshield or go completely scorched earth on you for reasons you’re still trying to understand, this countdown is for you. We’ve got the story of Axl Rose, who showed up at his girlfriend’s door at 4 AM, threatening to take his own life right there if she didn’t marry him. What a proposal! Then there’s Justin Timberlake, who made a music video about him breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and doing some pretty messed-up stuff. An MTV host called him an "American Psycho,” you know, like the movie. And he pretty much fessed up to it. Also, there’s the popstar Lisa Lopes, who burned down her boyfriend’s million-dollar mansion because he didn’t shoes… For real? You can’t even make this stuff up. Let’s get started. 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 duo from Lincoln, Nebraska - Zager & Evans - who transfixed 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… The story of “In the Year 2525” is a truly strange song that foretold the future of mankind, more than 500 years from now. The band recorded in the middle of a cow pasture and sold it out of the trunk of their cars… It ended up going to #1 for 6 weeks, and it sold 5 million copies. The craziest part is that after the massive success, it’s as if aliens abducted them, because the band just vanished… after foretelling the future they were never heard from again. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In rock, the voice is just as important as any other instrument in the band. But what happens when those vocals begin to fade or even fail? It’s a singer’s worst nightmare. Well, on today’s episode, we’re calling attention to three singers who have had an incredible run, but it may be time to ride off into the sunset. In the words of The Clash… It’s time to ask Should I Stay or Should I Go? On the flip side, we’ve also got three singers who we wish would come back out of retirement… because they called it quits too soon. On this countdown, we’ve got a legendary frontman, David Lee Roth, who fronted Van Halen, who actually retired a few years ago, but then came back… and it hasn’t gone so well. Then there’s Motley Crue, who signed a formal agreement back in 2014 to never tour again… So why are they back on the road? And can anyone even understand what their lead singer, Vince Neil, is singing? You need a translator because the lyrics we all know so well sound like…well, you’ll see! Plus, there’s the iconic frontwoman Kate Bush, who refused to come out of retirement even after her 37-year-old song topped the charts a few years ago. Is there anything we can do to get her back on stage? 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 stories of songs that shaped one of the best years in popular music, songs that define today's year more than any other... including Icehouse's Electric Blue that was inspired while an artist was nervously walking along a topless beach. Plus, the breakout song Wishing Well by Terrance Trent D'Arby, who thought the industry was conspiring against him so that he wouldn’t become bigger than Michael Jackson… Then one bad interview was the last straw and killed his career virtually overnight. Also, a wishful smash by Richard Marx, an artist who broke the record for consecutive top 5 hits, even though every record label had initially passed on him… Plus, Gloria Estefan, the legendary artist everyone forgets about, even though this icon had sold 100 million records and had 2 dozen hits. And finally, the Foreigner song that Lou Gramm despised so much, he tried to sabotage it by delivering a lukewarm, uninspired performance. But everyone praised it, and it was a major hit… Let's do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're bringing it back! Standing at the crossroads of her career, Stevie Nicks traded in the surefire success of Fleetwood Mac after Rumors and Tusk for a shot to prove she could do it on her own. But solo success wouldn’t come easy. Especially when two tragedies affected the progress of her album. The first of these would shake us all. The death of Beatle John Lennon The other was more personal, but still just as devastating. Stevie wrote and recorded Bella Donna with two duets… Stop Draggin My Heart Around with Tom Petty and Leather and Lace with the Eagles Don Henley but the breakout was Edge of Seventeen that came from a misheard phrase and a an inflight menu…The story 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.

Sometimes the most powerful voices in music stay silent for years and decades… never getting their due until after they’ve left this planet. You could call them post-mortem hitmakers. Today, we’re covering 5 artists who poured their hearts into their craft only to face rejection and obscurity while they were alive… but then their music went viral after their deaths. We’ve got a singer Chris Rainbow who was dubbed the "one-man Beach Boys” when he put out several records in the 70s, but his songs went nowhere. He passed away in 2015 from Parkinson’s with zero hits to his name, but now, a decade later, his obscure 1979 song has taken over the charts because of its popularity on TikTok. Plus, there is the California frontman Bradley Nowell,who passed just before his band’s self-titled masterpiece conquered the airwaves. There’s also the tragic tale of a vocal virtuoso, Jeff Buckley, who had an otherworldly range, who, in a freak accident, drowned in a treacherous river after a tugboat sailed past him. His 1994 cover song Hallelujah later went to #1, 14 years after its original release, and 11 years after his death. Add to that a folk poet Nick Drake who lived in silence and died believing he was a failure, only to be rediscovered when a car commercial featured one of his songs decades later. You gotta see this one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How about this for an amazing rock story? So The Rascals coming off a big #1, in Good Lovin’ the band wrote Groovin', they truly believed it would be another hit for them. But one of the most famous record men in history, Jerry Wexler, didn’t like it at all. 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the state of the world right now, today I’m going to take you back to the good old days. Nostalgia overload. We're going to celebrate a group of songs that freeze a specific moment in time, preserving it for the future, much like the expression time in a bottle. One of the songs, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), began as a nod to the golden movie era of Humphrey Bogart, before the singer Rupert Holmes changed the lyrics by blurting out a random phrase in the middle of the recording, and it worked. The song became a smash. We also have the most misunderstood song of the decade: Benny Mardones's “Into the Night." Everyone thinks it’s deeply disturbing, but it’s actually heart-warming when you hear the true meaning of it. Plus, the famous actress Faye Dunaway who walked out on her rockstar husband and inspired the ultimate rock revenge song Love Stinks. Plus, the biggest ripoff of the year Steal Away by Robbie Dupree that made several prominent musicians livid because it was so blatant in its theft. Some thought it was the exact same song with different lyrics. Find out what 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…Its' Another Volume of Songs that have become PUNCHLINES! Today we’re back with more pop culture jabs, left hooks, and knockout blows… That’s right, it’s another edition of the fan favorite “Punchlines.” And for this one, we’ve got memes, parodies, and some late-night show mockery all combining to poke fun at musicians who may or may not have had it coming. For this one, we’ve got the grammar police on patrol, ready to take down a musician who sang about a figure of speech that she got completely wrong: the hit song Ironic by Alanis Morissette And the world has never let her live it down. Then there’s a conspiracy theory about an artist who supposedly died and was replaced with a body double. But it’s not Paul McCartney, it's Avril Lavigne. Plus, the story of the instrumentalist who has sold 75 million albums worldwide. But will anyone admit to owning his music? Not on your life..Hint: It's Kenny G. And finally, there’s the singer who has had more diss tracks written about her than any other singer in music history Can you guess it?. Let's go! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So I recently went through an inventory of all of the interviews I’ve done over the years… There’s never 800s at this point, and from memory, I realized that I’ve talked to dozens of legends, producers, and songwriters who have worked directly with Michael Jackson. Now Michael Jackson has taken over the world. The new Movie Micheal set a record for the biggest opening for a biopic ever, and many believe it will break a billion in box office receipts by the time its run is over, and MJ is now #1 on the Global charts by a long shot. His songs are taking over all the charts, so I went through the dozens of Michael Jackson stories of people who have co-written with him, produced him, and played on his biggest hits to give you the top 5 Michael Jackson stories from the story behind my favorite MJ song that is both in the movie and blowing up social media. Human nature I’ve got the story from the man who wrote the song and it came from a bully on a school playground and was a happy accident since it was on a demo tape that Quincy Jones Happed to hear when he was listening to another artists songs and it stopped him dead in his tracks plus the story of his #1 hit Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough from his frequent collaborator and his musical director on his Bad and Dangerous tours. As a young rookie, he helped MJ write Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough when MJ was stumped, and MJ agreed to give him a cut and writing credit, but then his name was wiped from future releases, and he never got paid. Plus, how Weird Al got MJ, who was the biggest star on the planet, to let him spoof his song when AL was a nobody, and a very special story about one of the greatest composers of the century, who wrote the score for several musicals, including one that set a record that not even Thriller could match. His album spent 54 weeks at #1, but he was so mesmerized by MJ. His only wish was to meet him. Find out how that happened, and the first question MJ asked him. Let’s get into the top 5. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you all remember Unsolved Mysteries? Well, today is a rock and roll unsolved mysteries episode. Today we're diving into five legendary stories of musicians who left us under circumstances that just don't add up. I’m talking about bizarre and suspicious circumstances… And we’ve got more questions than answers here. But all of them are great stories. From deathbed murder confessions to stolen bodies to disputed burial sites, these are stories that will leave you wondering what really happened. We've got the tale of Brian Jones one of the Rolling Stones, who was discovered drowned in his pool… But all these years later new details suggest it was something more eerie! Then there's the enigma of an indie singer-songwriter Elliott Smith whose death was officially ruled "undetermined" after a serrated blade was pulled straight out of his chest. Fans and investigators have been split over whether he took his own life or it was foul play. And don’t forget the bassist turned rocket scientist, Phillip Kramer, who claimed to unlock the secrets of the universe before making a chilling 911 call and vanishing off the face of the earth. Let’s get 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.

The fact is Dire Straits interrupted disco in the late 70s with the classic song Sultans of Swing that would take radio hostage! with their unique sound and singer Mark Knopfler’s gruff iconic vocals. but they were victims of the sophomore slump when their 2nd record faltered and flailed on the charts. Determined to bounce back with a statement album, Knopfler heard a song on the radio that flipped him out, Because the Night by Patti Smith and it triggered a series of events that led to arguably his best work. Making Movies An album that was so meticulous and exact that the title track of the record was cut from the album at the last second. It was a rough process to touch greatness, it even caused a bitter falling out with his brother and band mate… The 2 haven’t spoken in over 40 years. The story of two of the greatest songs from the album Tunnel of Love and Skateaway 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.

So in the music business, the climb to the top can take years and years of grueling hard work. But a fall from grace? That can happen in the blink of an eye. Today, we are back with another episode of "Career Killers.” We haven’t done one of these in a while, so it’s time! We’ve got the story of Winger, who had to cancel their upcoming tour and call it quits after their credibility was destroyed by an MTV cartoon and 3 seconds of a rival band’s music video. Then, there’s the legendary prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who literally spent themselves into bankruptcy by bringing a 70-piece orchestra on the road, only to be forced into a "disco" makeover that finished them off for good. And you won't believe the tale of the British new-wavers After the Fire who broke up their band just weeks before their song exploded into the top 5 in America… turning them into a "ghost band" with no one to take the stage. They lost all the momentum they’d worked years to gain. It’s a wild ride through hubris, heartbreak, and bad timing. 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.

Coming up, we focus & rank a group of songs that depict a specific year in popular music so remarkably well, they sound exactly like the moment they came out. It’s our latest edition of DATED. Including singer Aimee Mann, who was kidnapped as a child, and after she was rescued, had to learn to speak again from the trauma. Her voice became a beacon to many on one of the most haunting songs of the year, Voices Carry. Plus, Axl F, a track created by highly sought-after composer Giorgio Moroder, that was dangerously close to getting axed by two of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, because he had failed to come up with a theme song for a future movie phenomenon... but a slip of his elbow on the keyboard jump-started a classic. Plus, the Madonna video shoot that almost went haywire as she was nearly attacked by a male lion because it was ‘her time of the month.’ And the 80s band Animotion that was a one-hit wonder twice. Once in 85 and then 3 years later with a whole new band with the same name! let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not long ago, after the channel reached 1.5 million subs, I shared a video on the Professor of Rock Greatest Hits: my top 9 picks for the greatest song stories in the history of this channel. In the comments section, I was flooded with requests for a Greatest Hits Volume 2. So here it is…. 9 more hits with new stories and insights... including the #1 rock band Def Leppard, who followed up their 1983 blockbuster album Pyromania, with what looked like the costliest flop in music history.: Hysteria. They were so in debt when the album came out. Their first 3 songs didn’t live up to expectations, and their 4th single Pour Some Sugar on Me was their Hail Mary, but it was sucking… that is, until it started getting heavy rotation in strip clubs across Florida. It became an overnight smash and saved the album from obscurity, helping it sell 25 million copies. Then there’s Iron Maiden, whose recording sessions for a satanic panic album were plagued by a poltergeist. And afterwards, the producer was so freaked out that he crashed into a bus full of nuns…When he got the final bill for repair, it was 666 bucks. Find out if the curse ended. Plus the story of Rod Stewart, whose most celebrated song was born from the single most embarrassing, and premature, encounter of his life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we put one of rock’s greatest years, 1970, under the microscope and explore songs that we all know and love but failed as hits. There’s a story about Gregg Allman, who was so excited to lay down a song that came into his head, he got high and broke into a closed recording studio in the middle of the night. But he was struggling to find that one lyric to finish it, and it was his roadie who gave him the perfect lyric. But did he do right by him and give him any royalties for it? We’ll find out. Plus John Lennon, who was annoyed by his wife and made that annoyance into the classic song Across the Universe, except for the fact that when he recorded it, he couldn’t hit the high notes, so in a bizarre idea, he went outside the recording studio and selected 2 fans to record those high notes. He regretted it for the rest of his life, calling the song crap, but it has become an all-time classic, and finally, the classic rock song that came from an angry wife’s pissed-off rant. It’s a special episode of 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.

Rock and roll has always been a family business. And family… well, family is complicated. Growing up together, fighting together, making history together — and sometimes, destroying each other's dreams in the process. Today, we're counting down the most explosive sibling rivalries in rock history. And trust me, these stories are gonna entertain! Like the legendary Everly Brothers, whose decades of resentment finally detonated onstage — in front of a live amusement park crowd. The show prematurely ended with a smashed guitar and a stunning confession. Or how about the two brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose lifelong war with cricket bats and potato insults started back in their tiny shared bedroom… fighting over who had the best shoes. And then there’s the Carpenters brother-sister duo, where the brother called all the shots, literally telling his sister what notes to sing on every record. And when she finally broke free to make an album of her own… he destroyed it. Yeah, we all might need some therapy after this one. It’s brotherly and sisterly love gone so very wrong… 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.

We started this series a month ago, and I was overwhelmed with feedback for another episode. So, for this one, I’ve got 7 more stories of rock and roll sabotage and treachery. You know, sometimes the music industry is a band’s worst enemy, but then again, sometimes a band can be their own worst enemy, too. And today’s episode is the proof. We’ll tell you about a Saturday Night Live performance where Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist John Frusciante was pissed at the band’s frontman, Anthony Keidis, so he made up his own version of their hit song Under the Bridge on the spot. And Anthony had no clue how to sing along… It was a train wreck, and he was embarrassed on live TV. Then there was the band Information Society, who was excited to release their new CD with high-tech tracks that were supposed to be interactive in the coming computer age. But instead, the CD caused many systems to crash, which led to massive album returns and radio stations blacklisting the band for having a virus on their album. And then there’s Pixies frontman, Black Francis, who systematically tried to erase his female bandmate Kim Deal on their albums and onstage because she was more popular with their fans. Talk about an ego. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So last year I was on David Letterman’s Show… Or Barbara Gaines Show. But I found out that David Letterman watches our show, and I was blown away. Well, I had the chance to interview his famous sidekick, Paul Shaffer, and was able to geek out with him on music... including some of my favorite moments on the Letterman show. So here is that interview session with Paul, including commentary about the great performances on the show, like an unknown band that came on the show and absolutely killed it. In fact,  I’ve watched that performance hundreds of times, according to my own stats. It’s a band that came out of nowhere, and their performance was so awe-inspiring that even Letterman was freaking out... plus, the accidental F bomb that was said on LIVE TV that caused a major ruckus. 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.

Coming up, we’re celebrating the birthday of legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley with this classic episode from 2024. In this one, we dig deep into the catalog of one of rock’s greatest party bands—KISS—highlighting 5 essential tracks that help tell their wild story. From outrageous moments like concert car crashes to the band’s unexpected clash with disco, these songs capture the chaos, creativity, and larger-than-life spirit that defined KISS. But this time, the stories aren’t just coming from me… we’re handing the mic to the Spaceman himself. Ace Frehley shares rare insights into these iconic songs—revealing which ones he loves, which ones he doesn’t, and what was really happening behind the scenes. It’s a fun, revealing look at the band that taught the world how to rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's throw it back! Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were lovers who had been trying to make it in music for years. After some fiery arguments, years of failures and poverty, Stevie decided to quit music for good. One night she put all that pain into a song she called Landslide. Almost over night after writing that classic she and Lindsey met Fleetwood Mac and they were asked to join up. They recorded the white album with song of their own to add and the rest is history. How Landslide changed all of that. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes the most memorable songs aren't the ones that scale the charts, but the ones that defy all logic. I’m talking about tracks that stop you cold …Dead in your tracks and make you ask, "What the hell did I just listen to?" Like Angine de Poitrine. Today, we're celebrating 8 of Rock's Strangest Songs that broke every rule in the book. Including the Peter Gabriel who ruled 1986 with an iconic record, only to wait 6 years to put out a follow-up because his new song Digging in the Dirt sent him into utter madness as he delved into the minds of the truly demented to write a song that seems harmless, but lyrically isthe strangest, creepiest song of its time. We've also got the story of Frank Zappa who woke up his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit at 3 AM to record a monologue of 80s Southern California slang over a heavy guitar riff. Then there's the tale of a 60s artist Napoleon XIV who wrote a song about going insane that was so controversial it was banned nationwide,. And we’ll dive into a family band, The Shaggs, foretold by prophecy, attempting to play rock and roll without ever having actually heard what rock and roll was supposed to sound like! 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 turn the spotlight on 10 songs that embody the period of the Rock Era when disco was on its last leg, and rock was making a comeback!. It’s our latest Dated countdown. Songs that are distinctly of their time….including one song, Pop Musik, that got its pre-chorus from a perfume bottle, another one, When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman, that may never have been recorded if the writer hadn’t stalked a famous band’s manager into the restroom, pitching it at the urinal. Plus a #1 hit that rocketed to the top of the chart after being synced in one of the most controversial scenes in tv history, plus Ring My Bell, a song that has been banned from casinos because every time it’s played it’s musical vibrations make slot machines and black jack tables pay out by 10X plus the naughty Rod Stewart song that got me kicked out of church as a toddler when I sang it during a prayer and the song Babe that Dennis DeYoung wrote as a private song for his wife’s b day present that was never supposed to be heard by the public but hit #1… These stories and more as we get into details about 11 DATED songs from 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.

The story of the biggest tv soundtrack of the 1980s: Miami Vice from the Theme by Jan Hammer to the two Glenn Frey tracks You Belong to the City and Smuggler’s Blues… cowritten by frequent Eagles collaborator Jack Tempchin who tells the story of writing them. Get ready for a showstopper we’re going back to 1985. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So when I started doing this, I made a list of 15 artists I wanted to do an in-depth interview with before I leave this planet, and so far I’ve checked off about half my list with Sting, Brian Wilson, and a few others. Well, I just checked off another one... Coming up it’s the evolution of one of my favorite artists ever… Ya know, as a Gen-Xer coming of age in the 80s, there were only a dozen artists or bands that I got genuinely excited for when news of a new song or record would come out. Back in the day, before social media, when such news came from MTV, the radio, or a rock magazine... back when a new album was truly an event. Many of you watching remember that indescribable feeling of waking up on Christmas morning. It felt like you were on top of the world. Well, today’s guest was one of those magical artists for me. When he first hit the mainstream in 1986 with his unique piano playing, especially on his song the Way It Is… The song became the most unlikely #1 hit of the 80s. It didn’t sound like anything on 80s radio, I mean, it had no distinct chorus and was truly serious social commentary alongside the typical pop fare of 1986 and 1987, where Everybody was Wang Chunging and Walking like an Egyptian. But that’s why I fell in love with Bruce Hornsby’s music… he was always naturally zigging when the mainstream was zagging. And from there, he became one of my favorite artists because he has always been a true musical explorer. Well, I had a chance to talk to Bruce about his greatest songs and his new album, and it was amazing. From The Way It Is and Mandolin Rain to his collaborations with fellow artists that have pierced our souls like The End of the Innocence with Don Henley and I Can’t Make You Love Me with Bonnie Raitt. 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.

Alright, I’ve gotten more requests for this band than any of the last couples years… and they are definitely one of the most under-appreciated bands in rock history. —a group that sold 10 million albums and became superstars in Europe. But back here in America, they are a well-kept secret. Their debut album accidentally became a massive import hit in Germany, selling 50,000 copies before anyone even knew what was happening. And the country has loved them ever since. For this one, we’re gonna count down my Top 3 picks from their catalog, which includes one song where the lead singer wasn’t hitting the vocals with enough intensity. So his producer set up the mic stand on a crossbeam 35 feet in the in air in an old barn. And he made this singer climb up there and record the track. Would this circus stunt bring out the best in this vocalist, or would it completely backfire? We’ve got the story and even more good stuff 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.

In this episode from the vault, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this same week from the year 1984. But we’re not stopping there. After we count them down, we’re re-ranking them according to all-time streams and views, to find out which one has left the biggest mark on history. This time around we’ve got some of the greatest hits from the 80s all duking it out for that coveted #1 spot. But who will be the champion? Will it be Van Halen, Prince? Genesis, or maybe a rookie new wave band, a glam metal favorite, or even a one-hit wonder? It’s a nostalgic trip back in time. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today is a special countdown that proves that rock and roll never dies. As the 80s were ending, there were songs that didn’t ever become official hit songs, like AC/DC's Thunderstruck. It didn’t even make the Hot 100 charts, but it's now over 6 billion plays and has outperformed every number one hit of the year it came from.In fact it’s has 4 times as many streams as any hit from the year and it started out as a throwaway guitar exercise. Plus, the song World in My Eyes that Depeche Mode's frontman Dave Gahan had been recording with his band was a fast song, but he had to leave the studio for a few days, and while he was gone, the band took that fast song and slowed the temp down to a crawl… When he got back, he was livid, but once he started singing… the song became a classic. Then there was the La's who had a big hit, There She Goes, and a future that looked bright, but he threw it all away when he took their recorded album and 35 songs and destroyed the only master tape…Plus, the famous indie band The Sundays, which was climbing the charts and making a name for themselves, just up and disappeared for 30 years, and they’re still missing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's take it back with this 2021. Up next the Godfather of Alternative rock Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction tells us the very personal story of one of the true standards of 1988, Jane Says. We solve the mystery of this very eerie and brilliant song and the woman who inspired the song and the band’s name. Plus he goes in depth on how he created the band’s seminal album cover. A bonafide Must see story behind the song 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 back at it again. It’s the third edition of one of this channel’s new favorite shows: Punchlines! And for this one, we’re counting down 6 more entries of songs that have become punchlines, and we’re telling some stories that will make you do a double-take. Including how everyone thinks the #1 hit You're Beautiful is a romantic ballad, but it’s actually about a drug-fueled subway stalker who can’t stop staring at his ex-girlfriend. The song got so overexposed that even the singer James Blunt started mocking it, along with everyone else. Then there’s the girl group the Spice Girls, with a vocalist whose voice was not up to snuff. So producers repeatedly switched off her mic in concert so no one would know or hear her. Was she just lip-syncing the whole time? And finally, there’s the legend Tom Jones, who had a massive problem. Women wouldn’t stop throwing their underwear at him while he was on stage. It started with women passing him napkins to wipe the sweat from his brow. But then one night… one woman decided to pass him something more intimate… it launched one of the funniest running gags in concert history. 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.

Coming up, we're counting down 8 great female hidden gems… songs by some of the industry’s best that too often get overlooked. And on this episode, we’ve got the story of upstart singer Marcella Detroit, who stole the mic and the spotlight on Shakespears Sister's biggest single Stay. And the principal singer Siobhan Fahey got so jealous, she fired her through an award ceremony acceptance speech… and she wasn’t even there to give it! She had her publicist do it! Then there’s the badass track that one of music’s greatest rockers Joan Jett covered back in the 80s, but decades later, the song’s original writer was convicted for some truly awful crimes so bad it’s made this song disgusting in hindsight.… Would she still sing it? Plus, there’s the 18-year-old guest vocalist Michelle Branch who sang on the Game of Love, a track by one of the most iconic guitarists of the rock era, a Woodstock legend. But she was hired only after the “Queen of Rock n Roll” after she bowed out. Could she even do the song justice? Find out next as we dive into our latest Female Hidden Gems countdown. Let’s get started! 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 back to a glorious year in music, to remember some hit songs that were so indicative of that period of popular music, you will cry tears of nostalgia…Were going back to 1987….We’ll tell the story about Chris de Burgh seeing his wife across the room at a party, and he was so enchanted by her presence after taking her for granted that he wrote the classic 80s hit Lady in Red about it. Yet the legacy of the song would be tarnished by a scandal when the singer had an affair with their nanny. There’s also the song Right on Track that came from the Breakfast Club, a band whose lead singer once told Madonna that she had ‘no talent,’ so she quit the group to prove him wrong, and did he ever pay for that dumb comment. And there’s the Genesis song Tonight Tonight Tonight about being trapped in the prison of cocaine addiction, yet the song was used by a beer brand to illustrate having a fun evening with friends. And lastly, a song by Yes, one of the most musically complex rock bands ever, with one of the stupidest lyrics in rock history. These tales and more on our feature about Dated Hit Songs from 1987….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 #1 1985 smash Sussudio by Phil Collins. Based on a made-up word…. One that just fell out of Phil’s mouth while he was singing. Even Phil had no idea what it meant. Unable to think of anything better, Collins decided to just make up a meaning. But as weird as it is, this song completely captivated listeners. However, as Sussudio started gaining traction as part of Phil Collins ’ 1985 blockbuster album No Jacket Required, it also stirred up controversy. Critics noticed that its central riff was nearly a carbon copy of another huge hit from a few years earlier. 1999 by Prince. And not long after, Phil Collins confessed it was a rip-off job. But the question was “to what degree?” The parallels were unmistakable. But were they enough to nail Phil Collins for plagiarism? Find 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.

So this one’s gonna turn a few heads. Today’s show is all about misinterpreted songs… that may or may not be about “getting it on…Today We’re counting down 6 tracks you've been singing along to for decades… That may be the ultimate double entendre…Or maybe not… But today we’re having it both ways… We’re also debunking some tracks that people are certain are double entendres. But either way, I guarantee these stories will keep you entertained. One of these songs, Brick House, was innocently put in a musical Hallmark greeting card… for Mother’s Day! But the last thing you would want to do is dedicate this song to your mother. Then there’s the track Tutti Frutti whose name doubles as a frozen yogurt chain. But when it was originally written, its lyrics were far too explicit to be aired on radio. You’ll never look at frozen yogurt the same way again. And finally, there’s the Jamaican dance floor anthem, Electric Boogie, that sparked a viral internet rumor that put a whole new spin on the words “good vibrations.” But was it true? Get ready, we’re diving into Volume 1 of my Most Misinterpreted Songs series… Bedroom Edition. 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.

Let's run it back! How Led Zeppelin followed one of the biggest selling albums of all time, the 70s classic, Led Zeppelin IV with a bold venture that utterly confused their core faithful. It would’ve been a ’no-brainer’ to simply stay the course, and give the fans what they were used to. But Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham went the other way, and purposely abandoned the heavy blues rock sound they were famous for. The 2nd single from this long play deviation was a reggae song named after the punchline of an old vaudeville comedy routine. Dyer Maker as in did you make her said in a cockney accent…It became one of the most mispronounced song titles in history. From Houses of the Holy, the story of an all time 70s classic rock standard next on P.O.R. 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 field trip to the movies to study cult classic films that owe their success to their incredible soundtracks. Some of these films would have never survived without the music that backed their most iconic moments. There’s the iconic 70s stoner flick Dazed and Confused, named after a song by the Lords of Rock. But when the director wanted to use one of their songs in the movie, they gave him a FLAT NO!. So he swore he’d boycott their music for the rest of his life. Also, there is the movie Napoleon Dynamite that spent half of its minuscule budget on 1 song. Only the problem was that they ran out of money by the time they got to the epic scene and only had a few minutes of film left to nail the climactic moment of the film. So it would have to be perfect… Find out what happened. Plus, there’s the 80s teen flick Pretty in Pink, whose ending was booed by test audiences. After a desperate rewrite, the New Wave band OMD only had a few hours to compose a song for the new ending. And finally, we’ve got the story of the most cursed cult classic ever: The Crow. It was plagued by hurricane-force winds, unexplained accidents, and the tragic death of the film’s lead actor, Brandon Lee, on set. Let’s do it. 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 March 31, 1967, Jimi Hendrix shocked the world by setting his guitar on fire, cementing his legend as rock’s most unpredictable genius. But behind the flames was a far more complex artist. In this episode, we dive into the myths, mysteries, and misunderstood truths surrounding Hendrix… a left-handed virtuoso who loved science fiction, kept parakeets, and constantly pushed the boundaries of sound and consciousness. We explore the many competing origin stories behind one of rock’s most iconic songs, “Purple Haze”...from wild tales of kidnappings and stalkers to vivid dreams and altered states that blurred the line between reality and imagination. And we uncover the surprising vulnerability of a guitar god who was so insecure about his voice that he struggled just to record it. This is the story of Jimi Hendrix like you’ve never heard it—separating fact from fiction and getting closer to the truth behind the 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…. a passionate spotlight on 10 non-hits that are far better than the number one hits from the epic year they come from. including a song that’s bass line is epic it make you wonder of if the band made a deal with the devil to get it which is what the song is about plus there’s the song born from the ashes of a house fire—everything burned except a wallet, and the spared contents led to such a heartwrenching track that even people who hate this strange band love this song. The Cure Pictures of You,.Then there’s Trent Reznor a pioneer of electronic rock who dismissed Head Like a Hole track as a throwaway, only to have it jumpstart his career and later embarrass him when a DJ sang an obnoxious version of it to his on LIVE tv to win a bet. There also the song Advice for the Young at Heart that one part of Tears For Fears wrote as a diss against his counterpart and it was brutal but the worst part is that the dissed band mate had no idea it was about him and actually sang the song! Plus Fine Young Cannibals who had several monster hits and a #1 album and at the peak of their fame walked away and never released another record ever again. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, it’s go time. Today, we’re going all in on band roster chaos! You know, some rock line-ups are built for the long-haul… But more often, bandmates come and go whether we like it or not. Infighting, personality clashes, creative differences, sheer fatigue, and even tragedies all take a toll on bands… On today’s countdown I’m giving you 6 band line-ups that have changed so drastically over the years you can hardly keep up … some of them are almost unrecognizable. I’m calling this one Downshift. And as usual I’ve got some stories! We’ll recount how one of the best and of the 60s and 70s, the Guess Who, had their identity stolen. And how these imposters got away with it for decades, until they were sued into oblivion! There’s also a couple of lead singers who stepped in to replace two of the most legendary frontmen ever: Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry. And after one gave a subpar performance, he told fans that if he got a million negative comments on social media he’d quit the band. Did he get voted out? 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.

So I was deleting some old files on my laptop and hard drives the other day, and I came upon an interview I did a long time ago…It must have gotten buried because I didn’t even remember doing it. But it’s from a multi-platinum hitmaking singer who’s written a few modern classics, including a dozen hits and several that went to #1. So even though I’m going to be cutting back on interviews, I thought, what the hell…Let’s get this one out there because He’s a great guy and he talks about all the hits here, including the song he says his mother sent to him from the after life…It hit #1… and the song where he referenced an old 80s band that had one big year in music, and I find out why he referenced that band. All the hits are here. Let's do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honor of the great Steven Tyler's 78th birthday, we bring you back to this classic from 2021. In the early 70s 'the bad boys of Boston” know as Aerosmith were a maelstrom of chaos, and chemically induced tension. The leaders Steven Tyler and Joe Perry battled through their toxic relationship between themselves, and an interloper to produce a rockin’ rampage that started with bassist Tom Hamilton’s vibe, Sweet Emotion would be the band’s breakout hit. We relive the 'bitter sweetness' of a classic rock standard NEXT on Professor of Rock. HBD Steven Tyler! 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 temporarily trading in the studio album cuts for the “in concert” experience. On this episode, we’re counting down 7 classic live tracks that have surpassed their original recordings. Classic songs that are even better in concert. We’ve got the story of Peter Frampton, who woke up with a wine glass in hand after a heavy night of drinking. He took one look at himself and wrote the iconic hangover track Do You Feel Like We Doin minutes… But it didn’t become a hit till it was done in concert, and then it became the biggest-selling ever. There’s also the legendary song written by Stevie Nicks for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. But the rest of the line-up voted to make it a B-side instead. Two decades later, she got her revenge on stage as she sang this song while staring down her bandmate and ex-boyfriend, and it made history. Plus my favorite song of all time that only gets better when it’s done in concert, as well as Bob Seger's Turn the Page which wasn’t a hit. In fact, the album hit #188, but a powerful solo on a live version years later made it the most chilling song of its time. Let’s do it. See 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 band Foreigner took a frigid walk through New York City in minus 20-degree weather to nail down their classic 70s song Cold as Ice… a top 10 single about a gold-digging ice queen. A lot of people have wondered through the years if it was based on a real girl, and we’ll get to the bottom of that. Apparently, after finishing Cold as Ice, one of the song’s co-writers, Mick Jones, thought it was just a little too pop and wasn’t sure if it belonged on the album. But when his bandmates said they loved it, he came around. It was a good choice because Cold as Ice is an undeniable classic rock standard… Tag-teaming with me for today’s tale, we’ve not one, but two founding musicians from this legendary band, Lou Gramm and Mick Jones. And they’re both ready to give you a behind-the-scenes look at this frosty track… 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 on Professor of Rock, we’re diving back to 70s to rediscover 10 hits that were brilliantly crafted for their era—so of course they never quite faded away. But they are stuck in that wonderful decade. We’ll spotlight a duet that rewired the wholesome image of Olivia Newton-John, who dared to take bold risks on screen and on vinyl. There’s the track Miss You from one of the Rolling Stones, whose devoted fans flipped out and accused them of selling out when they jumped on the disco bandwagon to get a #1 hit. Plus, we’ll revisit the record-setting song You Light Up My Life that also tops my list as the worst song I’ve ever heard, written by the biggest creep in the music business, who refused to pay out millions in royalties and even cooked up a scheme that drew aspiring actors into danger. And we also have the colossal smash Shadow Dancing from a Haley’s Comet of the era Andy Gibb, who sadly burned out as one of the most tragic—stars in music history. His famous brothers gave him a song that was bigger than any of their hits, even though they were one of the most successful groups ever, but decades later its all but forgotten. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use the code ROCK for $20 off your first purchase. 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 the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s… But we’ve still got another decade to cover. On this latest episode of Professor of Rock, we’re counting down the most iconic cartoon theme songs from the 90s. And you’re not going to believe some of these stories. In the 90s, it seemed like the biggest rock stars were lining up to get in on the cartoon action… From Aerosmith to Devo to Michael Jackson to Danny Elfman, and maybe even Nirvana… so many of your favorite cartoon tracks featured top-of-the-chart hit-makers, and you may not even be aware of it! There’s the story of how Kurt Cobain pitched a demo for The Ren and Stimpy Show, one of the most unhinged cartoons of all time. But the show’s creator kicked him out and tossed it in the trash. Weeks later, he would regret it when the band became the biggest in the world. Also, another famous musician, Joe Perry, shredded a radioactive guitar track to replace one of the most iconic cartoon themes ever… And it may be even better than the original. And what about X-Men: The Animated Series, that ripped off Whitney Houston and a Hungarian kung-fu cop show? Or how Danny Elfman made tens of millions for singing three syllables on The Simpsons. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this exclusive, full-length interview, Adam sits down with Gavin Rossdale, the voice and driving force behind the legendary band Bush. Gavin opens up like never before, taking us on a candid journey through the highs, the struggles, and the defining moments that led to the formation of one of the most iconic rock bands of the ’90s. From the uncertainty of his early days to the breakthrough success that changed everything, this is the story behind the music… told by the man who lived it. It’s raw, reflective, and packed with insights you won’t hear anywhere else; an inside look at the mindset, resilience, and passion that fueled Bush’s rise to global fame. If you’re a fan of Bush, ’90s rock, or the real stories behind legendary artists, this is an interview you don’t want to miss. 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.

Coming up, we tell the story of songs that had deep meaning to the writer, and to us, the listeners, who locked into their emotional power. And they are songs that are some of the most celebrated ever, but were surprisingly never HITS! We’ll tell the tale about Oingo Boingo's Dead Man's Party, a song that was inspired while staying at a haunted hotel where multiple deaths took place. And what came from that overnight stay is one of the catchiest and creepiest songs ever. There’s also the story of Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, which was intended to unite soldiers fighting on different sides of a war. And it means as much today as it did then. Plus a deeply personal song that the singer wanted to emote perfectly. He felt the best way to get in a vulnerable state of mind was to record the song without any clothes! Plus Depeche Mode's Blasphemous Rumours that sent small communities into a tailspin and the greatest B SIDE in history. It's our countdown of the Top 10 Non-Hits of ’85. NEXT on Professor of Rock! The stories of The Smiths How Soon is Now, Inxs Listen Like Thieves, Tear for Fears the Working Hour, The Cult and many more.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're serving up another Vault classic in honor of POR's Sammy Hagar giveaway. In this classic episode, the Red Rocker himself, Sammy Hagar tells us how he joined Van Halen and the resulting Music. He also tells the story behind creating the game changing song Dreams, the second single from their 1986 album 5150 which was the first Van Halen album to go to #1. The album 5150 is named after Eddie Van Halen’s studio. 5150, sold a million copies in its first week. Think about that for a second. The last few years, there have only been a couple of artists or albums that have sold 1 million copies over an entire year! Enjoy our Exclusive Interview with Sammy Hagar. 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 just hit 1.5 million subscribers! And to celebrate I’m giving some love to a “lost art” in the music biz, the Greatest Hits Record… but with a twist! Back in the day, these compilations were a vital part of our collections: Beatles Red and Blue, Eagles (1971-1975), Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Journey,… we all loved having all the hits in one place. Today I’ve got my picks for the 9 greatest song stories in rock history. I went with 9 cuz it’s my favorite number. You could call it a Professor of Rock Greatest Hits episode. Some of these stories have been told but today I’ve dug up some completely new details. And I gotta tell ya, it was so hard to narrow down thousands of stories to just 9. So maybe we’ll have to do a POR Greatest Hits volume 2. But for this one, I’ve got the story of the most cursed song in the history of music Gloomy Sunday, written by Rezso Seress, a former trapeze artist who survived a death-defying fall. Plus, there’s the story of Strawberry Alarm Clock trying to record their hit song, but Nobody in the band could nail down the tough vocal…Finally, a random kid watching the session jumped in and tried it and blew everyone away! It became a #1 hit and he wasn’t even in the band. Then there’s the story of a teenager who was told by his dad to write the stupidest song ever… and it led to one of the most iconic themes of all time, M*A*S*H! 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.

Up next, a true story of resilience and redemption as we tell the story of STEVE MILLER BAND and their classic song Jet Airliner… a song that was trapped on an unreleased album by a guy named Paul Pena, who was stopped by legal battles and a ruthless manager, who was hell-bent on destroying his career. But hope emerged from an unexpected source when legendary rock star and "gangster of love" Steve Miller stepped in to breathe new life into the imprisoned track. With expert rearrangement and by changing the lyrics from an angry song to a happy-go-lucky one, Jet Airliner was transformed into a chart-topping sensation across multiple formats. The aerodynamics for one of classic rock’s greatest hits and a classic of the 70s is revealed 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, the name of the game is “Sabotage!” And it's sabotage in every sense of the word. And on this episode, we've got stories of self-destruction, tales of bands mutilating their songs in concert, and even undercutting rival bands onstage. We’ll tell the story of Liam Gallagher, who refused to perform Oasis's MTV Unplugged gig. And instead, he actually heckled his bandmates from the balcony throughout the show. Then there’s the off-beat pop star Cyndi Lauper, who loathed her headline hit The Goonies R Good Enough. She hated it so much that she badmouthed it in the press and refused to perform it live for over a decade. Could her fans ever change her mind? And finally, there’s the Replacements, who were determined to flush their career down the toilet. When they were given the opportunity of a lifetime to open for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the guys took the stage dressed in the other band’s wives' clothing. They gave such an awful performance that it went down in history. But why? Find out next as we count down my Top 6 Sabotage Stories in rock. Let’s go. 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 one of the greatest voices of the 80s…Tony Hadley who fronted new romantic band Spandau Ballet. He tells the story of their greatest songs including the classic TRUE and in the middle of the interview I shock him with the news that a boy band totally ripped off his classic song plus their other classics like Gold and his story of meeting Frank Sinatra. Let’s do it.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rock has always had a rebellious streak… that’s why we love it, right? Well, coming up, I’m counting down 6 songs that stirred up controversy and pissed off all the wrong people. These are tracks that got banned, blacklisted, and canceled by gatekeepers and tastemakers. We’re back at it again with another edition of Taboo Songs! And one of these tracks by George Michael was one of the most talked-about S-E-X—related singles of the 80s… especially after MTV refused to play its video without a disclaimer. But for all the uproar, the song was actually promoting monogamy and committed relationships! Then there’s the comeback hit from the squeaky clean, former teen heartthrob Donny Osmond… and it was banned for having a title that might hurt the feelings of armed forces families. Trust me, there’s no way it could, and it makes no sense. And there’s also the Foreigner album that people were throwing into bonfires because its cover showed a girl in a men’s restroom. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up. 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.

In 1986 Van Halen released their first album with new lead singer Sammy Hagar. 5150 became the band’s first number one album in the US and included three top 25 hits. It also contained a mind blowing rocker, Best of Both Worlds was a perfect pairing of Eddie’s guitar and Sammy’s voice that should’ve been a massive hit. Next up the story of this Van Halen classic with commentary by Sammy Hagar. 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 celebrate songs from one of the greatest years in music. These songs were HUGE back in the day, but decades later, sound really DATED. Just because they haven’t held up well doesn’t diminish our love for the songs, but it makes for an interesting study in music. One of the songs, Turn Up the Radio, came from a bunch of drinking buddies who were all in other bands but jammed for fun on the weekends. But it just so happened that the drummer was jogging buddies with frontman David Lee Roth of Van Halen, and he heard one of their drunken jams and loved it so much he invited them to open for his band on one of the biggest tours ever. Another one, She Bop by Cyndi Lauper, was written about self-love and faced the wrath of a bunch of politicians’ wives who named it one of the dirtiest songs ever and got it banned. Another was written by an unknown singer named Rockwell who tried to hide his true identity due to his famous father and even used a fake British accent to throw off reporters, and one song became a hit because a famous actress was on a radio show and she was trying to play her boyfriend’s band but played the wrong side of the tape where the German singer Nena blew up the phones lines and made the song that was never supposed to be released in america a smash. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We lost another great one, and for me, this one really hurt. I was honored to spend several hours with the legendary singer-songwriter and comeback kid Neil Sedaka several years ago, and we really hit it off. In fact, he sent me Christmas cards and kept in touch in the years after that. I was honored to call him a friend. Neil was definitely one of the good guys in music. He wrote so many classics: Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Calendar Girl, Bad Blood, Laughter in the Rain, and the classic Carpenters song Solitaire which may be Karen Carpenter’s greatest vocal, and even though she hated singing it, she killed it. She and Neil had a little drama when they toured together, apparently, which Karen later said she regretted. Maybe they’ve worked it out on the other side, but I digress. 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 never over until it’s over. On this episode, we’re featuring 6 bands and artists whose careers were buried 6 feet deep. All of them had already made it big. Fame and fortune, chart-topping hits, best-selling albums, legions of adoring fans… they had it all… well, until they didn’t. The music industry is very fickle, and even the best can fall on hard times. But today, we’re all about the survivors, the comeback kids. I’m talking about acts that came back from the dead to enjoy a second life of musical dominance. On this countdown, you’ll hear the story of Def Leppard, who were one of the biggest bands in the 80s, who just a decade later were playing in Walmart parking lots and on the State Fair circuit. Plus how Frank Sinatra, the greatest singer in history, reached the low point of his career singing with a dog on a novelty track. How could he ever come back from that? And there’s also Nickelback, the band that got so much hate after blowing up, they lost a social media popularity contest to a pickle, which beat them out with over 1.5 million fans. Get ready for some really entertaining stories. Let's get started. 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 star-studded event with a diverse group of legends telling the story behind one of the Biggest movie soundtracks of the 80s. Footloose. It was one of only 5 albums to hit #1 the year it came out. A record that still stands and as a soundtrack it had 6 top 40 hits Footloose by Kenny Loggins, Let’s Hear it For the Boy by Deniece Williams, Almost Paradise by Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart who we have interviews with to tell the story. The other hits were Dancing in the Sheets by Shalamar, Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler and Heaven Helps the Man by Kenny Loggins, 3 of these songs hit the top 10 and 2 went all the way to #1. And the screenwriter, Dean Pitchford had a hand in all of them! There are so many great stories hear. There’s the top 10 duet that almost didn’t happen because one singer broke her hand. She had to sing without pain pills and first met her duet partner when they sang the first take which became the record! And then 2 of the #1 hit were pitted against each other for an Oscar. Find out who, plus an appearance by Kevin Bacon! See 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. 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 diving into one of the most turbulent, passionate, and creatively explosive sagas in rock history. This British-American supergroup, Fleetwood Mac, turned their personal disasters into platinum records. But somehow, through all the substance abuse and betrayal, they channeled their misery into one of the most epic rock careers ever. For this episode, we’ve got the story of two songs that were written by ex-lovers to be sonic weapons: Go Your Own Way and Dreams, each calling out the other in front of millions until the end of time. And the crazy thing is, they had to perform these songs together night after night, smiling for the cameras while secretly seething. Then there’s the story of the deeply personal song Sara that clocked in at 15 minutes with 16 verses. It told the entire story of the band, but there was no way it was ever getting onto the album or the radio. So the songwriter Stevie Nicks kept chopping down until it barely resembled what it was supposed to be. And yet, it is still an all-time classic. It’s the Evolution of Fleetwood Mac told through their greatest songs and stories that have never been told till today… Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this edition of 70s Hidden Gems, we dangerously hover over some gory pulp fiction with Bloodrock’s freaky D.O.A, We drift down the sea of heartbreak with Ian Gomm’s Hold On….and come together for a union of humanity with Livingston Taylor “I Will Be In Love With You" (James Taylor’s brother) and Lindisfarne with Run For Home and Robert Palmer’s Every Kind of People. This is A showcase of 5 diverse 70s Hidden Gems that you’re going to love to re discover , including commentary from artists 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, some of the greatest songs of the 70s have one thing in common. Even though they are classics and you hear all the time on classic rock radio, they were never hits. Some struggled and did not make the Top 40 on the Billboard chart, and some were not even released as singles. We'll share the story of legendary singer Carole King who had 24 hits before the age of 20, but when she went solo, naysayers said her voice was too weak to make an impact… she answered with the best-selling solo album of the decade. Then there was the song Rock and Roll that Led Zeppelin was struggling to record, so they just started jamming on the spot, and by accident, that jam became the greatest encore song in rock history. Plus, the song Can’t You Hear Me Knocking that the Rolling Stones played as a warm-up, but the warm-up was so great that, unbeknownst to them, the tape was rolling, and it became one of the greatest songs of the time. Plus, John Lennon's How Do You Sleep, a track that energized a feud between the most prolific writing duo of all time, and a teenage fiddle player who snuck into one of the most famous sessions in rock history and played a part randomly that would go down in history. 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.

On March 1st, 1973, Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon — an album that redefined what rock music could be. In this episode, we revisit the making of this landmark record with legendary engineer Alan Parsons, who shares firsthand stories from inside Abbey Road Studios. From the heartbeat that opens the album to classics like “Time,” “Money,” and “The Great Gig in the Sky,” discover how bold experimentation and visionary production helped create one of the most influential albums of all time. On its anniversary, we celebrate the masterpiece that changed music forever. 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.

Oh man, this one is going to be something else. Today we're counting down 6 songs that became pop culture punchlines… These tracks that got mocked, misunderstood, and in some cases, flat-out destroyed. I’m talking about one musical legend, Isaac Hayes, whose biggest song, the Theme from Shaft, was parodied in pop culture more times than you can count, including by the Cookie Monster. But if that wasn’t enough, he also completely rewrote that song so he could collaborate with Mr. Potato Head to sell French Fries. Then there’s was the hard rock frontman Jani Lane, who was excited to release his band Warrant's sophomore album that would show his more serious side and poetic lyrics, but the head of the label wanted a hit song so this Jani wrote Cherry Pie, the dumbest song he could think of, on a pizza box in 15 minutes as a big joke. The only problem is the CEO loved it, and it became a massive hit. It got so bad that Jani went on record saying he’d rather be dead than be known for that song. On top of that, we’ve got Rod Stewart disco disasters, some seriously cringeworthy musical performances by Corey Feldman, and the 13-year-old Rebecca Black, who wrote the viral song Friday that was universally cited as the worst thing to ever happen to music. Let's go. Go to this exclusive web address to try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/rock See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've had a tough couple of weeks in the music world, with the recent passing of an incredible 80s songwriter, Billy Steinberg. He penned five number one 80s songs for some of the era's biggest female artists, making him a true legend in songwriting. Dive into this episode of the music podcast to remember his famous songs and the impact of 80s music. Songwriters Hall of Famer Billy Steinberg, wrote 5 Number one hits in the 80s for some of the greatest female singers of the era, including Alone By Heart, True Colors for Cyndi Lauper, So Emotional for Whitney Houston, Eternal Flame for The Bangles, and like a Virgin for Madonna…Plus other big Hits for Divinyls, the Pretenders, and Linda Ronstadt. He was hit making machine and one of the good guys of music. I was so grateful I got a chance to interview him and get to know him and we’ve exchanged messages over and remained in touch over the years since that interview. Up next, an interview with Billy about his big hits, including a great story of meeting and writing a song for his hero Roy Orbison, and his interactions with other great singers who interpreted his songs, including his infamous exchange with Madonna. God Bless him, may he rest in peace…His songs will live forever… here’s the interview.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was one of the biggest breakups in rock history. After creating a catalog of desert island albums, Pink Floyd was torn apart by bitter feuding, behind-the-scenes schemes, and as one band member described it, “borderline megalomania.” Sadly, the inability of its two principal members Roger Waters and David Gilmour to put their differences aside made it impossible to continue. Roger Waters said that Pink Floyd was all him and tried to dissolve the band to go solo… David Gilmour and Nick Mason kept the outfit going while Waters scoffed that they couldn’t survive without him.. they answered with the 1987 record a Momentary Lapse of Reason that returned them to #1 on the rock charts with Learning to Fly and On the Turning Away. The story of the battle of Pink Floyd. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We did the 80s, but after thousands of requests for the 60s and 70s… we are counting down the top cartoon themes of those decades… And there are some spectacular stories to tell here. Like how The Flintstones started out as a prime time show with the main animated characters selling cigarettes during the commercials and even smoking them!. Then there is the famous voice actor who fell into a coma after a head-on collision… But then his doctors began talking to him as if he were a cartoon character. And he came back to life! Find out which character brought him back from death’s door. Then there’s Super Friends, the cartoon that was not allowed to animate any violence. They weren’t even allowed to throw a punch. So they had to find very creative ways to bring the villains to justice. Then there’s the Archies song Sugar Sugar that was the biggest Hit song of the year. Topping the Beatles and the stones but the singer Ron Dante behind it had to keep his identity a secret for decades…. Let’s Count ‘em down! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Here we are… more than twenty-six years into the 21st century, and you can really feel how much has changed since the start of the 2000s. Pop culture has evolved in big ways. When you rewatch a movie or TV show from one of your favorite decades, the outfits and the way people spoke have that distinctive sound & look that perfectly reflect that era. Songs can be like that. Songs from that favorite period can sound dated, like the year they were released, not timeless in a production sense, yet they take us right back to those precious moments in our lives that are memories we treasure. It used to be a slight when one would say that a song sounds dated but now it’s a compliment because they captured a snapshot in time including Wang Chung's Everybody Have Fun Tonight that had a chorus that was improvised as a joke but that joke became a major catchphrase of the 80s, plus the happy go lucky Novelty song by Timbuk 3 that had a more sinister meaning… this one hit wonder band was offered millions by advertisers to license it, but they wanted to stay true to its message so they turned it down, plus Rock Me Amadeus that was the first All German sung song to hit #1 on the charts. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So today we’re coming back to a show that we did a little while back that you all absolutely loved. It was one of our most popular episodes of 2025… the funniest “non-parody” songs of the Rock Era. Well, we’re back for round two, and these tracks don’t pull any punches. And some of these are really ridiculous. Included in the ranks is one rock’s most famous “teen crush" anthems, Stacy's Mom, a Mrs. Robinson for the 90s, but while everyone thought it was inspired by a crush on his friend's mom, it was actually a crush on his friends Grandma! There’s also the country-fried tune by Primus that’s title is a double entendre about a beaver, and it really pissed off a Hollywood actress, Winona Ryder, who thought it was about her. Find out how it ended. Plus, we’ve got the rock track Popular by Nada Surf with a hard-hitting chorus whose lyrics plagiarized a 1964 etiquette manual about how to become a popular teenage girl, as well as Chuck Berry's My Ding-a-Ling, the dirty joke that was hidden inside of a Nursery rhyme that offended every parent in America when it hit #1… This episode’s got laughs, it’s got weirdness, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun. Let’s get started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. Let’s dive into the bizarre and sensational era of the Satanic Panic, a time when songs were accused of harboring "evil" hidden messages, and bands faced relentless scrutiny as alleged corruptors of society. While heavy metal bands were the primary targets, even the likes of today’s squeaky clean band ELO, the Electric Light Orchestra, found themselves entangled in the fanatical crusade. Today we break down the hidden messages in ELO’s music including the doubled sided hit Sweet Talkin’ Woman and Fire On High.. We unravel the stories behind these cryptic songs, their secret messages, and the mysterious woman who cast her spell on an unsuspecting rock star named Jeff Lynne and how Fire On High might must be the most bizarre and creepy B side of the entire 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.

Let's reach into the vault for this classic from 2021. The brothers Hawkins from the Darkness tell the story behind their evolution in music including getting inspired by Queen as well as the story behind their Rock smash I Believe in a Thing Called Love one of the last great hard rock classic. A truly hilarious take from Justin and Dan Hawkins. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It Only HIT #105...But 40 Years Later It's CLEARLY the BEST SONG of 1987! | Professor of Rock Coming up, we are covering one of the years that’s consistently called one of the 4 or 5 best years in rock history. In fact, it was so good there were dozens of incredible songs that missed the charts that were far better than any of the biggest hits of the last 15 years! It was a year full of major label gambles, such as one ballsy decision that nearly ruined one of the most anticipated albums of the Rock Era, Def Leppard's Hysteria. When the label released a disastrous lead off single Women that tanked the record and took a miracle to course correct. But decades later, that song is better than you remember. Then there’s one of the catchiest songs of the decade Lips Like Sugar that the lead singer Ian McCulloch felt was below average at best, but it took the underground band to American radio. And an infamous rock song Rocket Queen by Guns N Roses that included the real, unedited sounds of a sexual act that took place right in the middle of the recording session, and it was nearly banned from being put in stores… and last but not least, the biggest waste of a hit song in history, The Replacements CAn't Hardly Wait. It’s a song that was so catchy and cool, it’s actually a tragedy it wasn’t a hit… Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Love songs we love to hate and hate to love... Music at it's best...Including Billy Joel, Peter Gabriel, Journey, and some guilty pleasures like Nickelback, Bryan Adams and Color Me Bad. it’s an episode that may raise a few eyebrows. In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m counting down the Top 10 love songs you shouldn’t be ashamed to love, or maybe we should say it’s a countdown of the songs we hate to love… I’m not going to be too cool for school for this one. You can call them guilty pleasures or whatever you want, but the stories behind these songs are great, including the story behind one of the most iconic music scenes in 80s cinema. It almost never happened because lead actor John Cusack was furious that he might come off looking like a wuss. And he was so annoyed doing the scene, the director thought they wouldn’t be able to use any of the takes. But the pissed-off look in his eyes actually made the scene pop culture gold. Then there’s the group Color Me Badd that released a massive bilingual hit I Adore Mi Amore, despite the fact that not a single member actually spoke Spanish. So they were coached phonetically, word by word in the studio on how to sing the song. Then they had to frantically learn the language on tour so they wouldn't be exposed as frauds. And we’ve got the power ballad Far away from the most hated band in the world, Nickelback, that's actually... a lot better than you remember … Forget the internet mob, these songs are worth it... Let’s go. 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 special tribute to a rockstar we lost recently in an interview I did with him that I’ve never shared on here. Brad Arnold of Three Doors Down passed away on February 7th 2026, after battling stage 4 cancer that had spread to his lungs for nearly a year. He was 47. He battled this horrible disease with Optimism to the very end. His last message to fans was on Christmas when he shared a photo with his wife and dog kneeling down in front of a small tree. He said, “Merry Christmas, everybody. “I can’t tell you how thankful I am to be here!” I was grateful to get to know him when I interviewed him several years ago… I’ve shared a part of that interview about their Number one rock hit kryptonite but I’ve never shared the rest of the interview. and I gotta warn you… This one will hit you in the heart. What he says throughout the interview is deeply poignant and life-affirming. He was a man of faith, and he was one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met in this industry. And I was devastated when I heard he’d passed. Cancer sucks. It also just took James Vanderbeek… Today, Brad tells the story of 3 Doors Down’s other big hits Here Without You and Love Me When I’m Gone and Loser and the songs take on a different meaning now. I have to admit, I really didn’t like 3 door down when they came out. I misjudged them, feeling their music was just ok, but then again, I didn’t really give it much attention until I met the band and Brad. After that, I was a fan. Because the band is just a bunch of good guys, and for the haters out there who went into the comments this week and said nasty things about Brad because of who he voted for, can you please show some compassion? A man has passed away…Somebody's husband, somebody’s brother, somebody's son… Let’s pay our respects. So here is the interview… Rest in peace, Brad.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a music marathon. We’re shining a light on some of the most underrated songs from female artists… It’s the latest edition of Female Hidden Gems. But behind these beautiful melodies lie some of the wildest and most twisted stories in rock. Seriously. We've got the haunting duet where the female vocalist Hope Sandoval sang a love song with one brother while secretly dating the other. Then there's the soulful singer Duffy whose breakout hit Mercy became eerily prophetic after she was kidnapped and held captive years later. The tragic incident turned the song on its head, but ultimately it became an anthem of empowerment. And we'll also reveal how one of the biggest girl groups of the 80s The Go-Gos recorded their final hit Head Over Heels in a studio combat zone. That story involves physical altercations, thrown bottles, substance abuse and sabotaged instruments. All while the song's lyrics literally documented the band's collapse in real time. Plus Stevie Nicks who canceled her wedding night and honeymoon to record her song Stand Back where she basically ripped off Prince’s new song by basically putting new lyrics over his music… It became a smash… We’ll see what his reaction was on it. Let’s get started. 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 biggest selling bands of the 70s, America, led by Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek. Here, the 2 principals, Dewey and Gerry, give us the story of a song that became their third consecutive top 10 hit and a radio staple of the early decade, Ventura Highway. The song conjured up imagery of a wondrous and mystical destination, although the group has taken flak for decades for some of the lyrics… including one about flying alligators? or maybe listeners just heard them wrong? One strange lyric was used by Prince a decade later in a song and a record that would blow up… Purple Rain. But America was the first to use it in a pop song… Maybe Prince was listening! Featuring one of the most creative guitar lines of the time, Ventura Highway is a sonic time machine and will take you back to the carefree 70s in an instant. 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.

Tribute to 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold. who passed away from Cancer. Brad was one of the good guys. In this interview, Brad open up about 3 Doors Down and their Biggest hit Kryptonite which Brad wrote when he was only 15 years old in math class when he was bored... He did it in 5 minutes. Rest in peace Brad See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1987 was one of the most iconic years in music history, with classic releases from Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, George Michael, Michael Jackson, and more—but Whitney Houston ruled the year. Her euphoric anthem “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” hit #1 in 13 countries and became one of the defining songs of the 1980s. In this special From the Vault episode honoring Whitney Houston on the anniversary of her passing, legendary producer and drummer Narada Michael Walden tells the inside story of how this global smash was created. It’s a powerful tribute to Whitney’s legacy, a landmark moment in pop history, and one of the greatest feel-good songs ever recorded—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 diving into one of the most underrated careers in rock history—Phil Collins, a guy who turned his own devastating heartbreak into a commercial empire, while simultaneously fronting one of the world’s biggest bands, Genesis, from the back of the stage. Haters call him vanilla… but digging into his catalog, Phil Collins is anything but ordinary. And we’ve got some insane stories to back it up. Including the future #1 hit classic Against All Odds Phil Collins refused to put on.. not one, but two of his own albums… because he thought it sucked—but after it soundtracked a box office bomb, it somehow became his first chart-topper. Then there's the deeply personal track If Leaving Me is Easy that he banned himself from performing live after audiences refused to give it any respect…. It’s one that caused his ex-wife to flip out on him when he was settling his divorce across radio… And we’ve got a couple urban legends to address… like how one upbeat pop anthem Something Happened on the Way to Heaven secretly tells the story of a ghost who skips the afterlife so he can stay behind and haunt his lover. And also the In the Air Tonight legend about how Phil saw a man who murdered a man and later called him out in concert. Let’s go. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sadly this legendary band went down in flames. Lynyrd Skynyrd's famous album cover even predicted it. And so did one of their songs… Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote That Smell in 1977…It was an eerily prophetic rocker that warned them there would be hell to pay. They created their album cover with Fire and Flames around them! Truly, no one worked harder than Frontman Ronnie Van Zant and the wild boys of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but then again no one partied harder either… and it was nearly to the point of self-destruction. Their trail of carnage included knock-down drag-out brawls, punched-out teeth, furniture flying out of fifth-story windows, cutting and maiming their guitarist hands the night before a big show and one time when the lead singer tried to throw a roadie out of a plane… mid-flight. I mean come on… that’s insane. Blacklisted from hotels and airlines alike, it all came to a tragic conclusion on October 20, 1977. After that day, this band would never be the same again. The story of two classic hits from their 70s classic album Street Survivors: the 70s hits, What’s Your Name and That Smell….Brace yourself, this one’s as crazy. as rock and roll gets… 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.

Okay, it’s that time of year again. We’re gearing up for the Rock and Roll Hame of Fame’s class of 2026. And AS PER usual The Rock Hall is going to snub some of the best rock bands and musicians of all time. Hey, it’s what they do. So today, I want to make the case for some extremely talented artists who deserve to get in and see if we can create a groundswell for some of the most deserving musicians of all-time. That’s right, I’m counting down my Top 8 acts who the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has consistently ignored and neglected for decades. I want to give them some love and at the end of the video, I’ve got an important Call to Action that I need your help with, so we can get the #1 band into the Hall of Fame. So let’s get right to it. Sign the Professor of Rock's petition to get Boston inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. https://c.org/TTyvqVjTzJ 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 an icon of 60s rock and roll, Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. Peter was only 15 years old when he became the singer behind Herman’s Hermits, who would go on to garner 18 hits, including an amazing 11 songs that hit the top 10 and several that went to #1. In fact, before Peter got to his 18th birthday he and Herman’s Hermits finished ahead of the Beatles on the Billboard year-end survey for top groups. It was on the strength of two big hits that kept his band in the top ten for 6 months! Including today’s song “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am” that was actually from the year 1910… It caught on because it was so easy to sing and so easy to remember…It’s because the band repeated the same verse three times because they only knew the one verse, even though the song had numerous verses…it made “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am” one of the most famous novelty songs ever… and the story of Mr’s Brown, You’ve got a lovely Daughter...The story is coming straight from the icon 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 interview with a man who is on a shortlist of the greatest singers in music history but he never gets his due. Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship and Starship... He’s had numerous hits, and his voice is so gritty, and his range is so high that he can go toe to toe with anybody. And up next, we cover his greatest hits, including the song that put him on the map. But it was a total accident. He was invited to sing backup for a famous guitarist on a song he’d written, but during the session, the famous producer said let’s have this rookie background singer try a take… The take was so amazing that it blew everyone away, and luckily, the engineer was recording. Even the famous gutiarst was like it’s your son,g brother. Soon after it flew up the charts but barely missed #1… and then decades later after it was used in a big movie, it finally hit #1. The song was Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop. 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 shining a light on eight 80s classics that deserve way more recognition, but I'm not talking about hidden gems here. A lot of these were huge songs, but they were quietly great four decades later; these songs don't get the headlines. like the overplayed ones. So what happened? In most cases, they've been overshadowed by bigger hits from their band. But make no mistake, these are top-tier tracks. All timers. Including an awe-inspiring song On the Turning Away that emerged from one of rock's nastiest legal battles... probably one of the most notorious conflicts of the 80s. Then there's the perfectionist Lindsey Buckingham, who brought in one of rock's legendary drummers to record on his track... only to reject every single take and "roboticize" him by looping just 4 seconds of his drumming through the entire song. And I've also got the story of the Duran Duran music video that nearly got the band lynched by four thousand Buddhist monks... and then almost killed the guitarist when he contracted a tropical virus in a lagoon filled with elephants. From synth-pop gems to guitar-driven anthems, these are the quietly great songs that shaped the 80s. We give ‘em their due today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The amazing story of the first all indigenous band Redbone and their ultra catchy 70s smash Come and Get Your Love. The band was compelled by a burning desire to put the spirituality and history of their ancestry in the forefront of their music... the band featured in this episode risked commercial acceptance...disregarded music industry conventionalism, and scored the first major pop hit by a group entirely made up of Indigenous Americans. The inspiring 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.

It was the year that lit the flame of Rock and Roll. The charts were full of remakes of hit songs by black artists that were re-recorded by white singers that became a trick of the trade in the record business. It's FASCINATING music history. At one point 4 different versions of one famous song competed for #1. One of those led to the first crossover hit by blues legend Fats Domino, and helped him afford to buy a gold ring he bragged about on stage. Another was orchestrated by Alan Freed, the man who coined the phrase ‘rock n’ roll,’ but was later indicted for payola. The landmark track Only You by the iconic vocal group The Platters came out during this year and the hook to that song was created because of a hiccup that made the singer’s voice jolt, and that jolt made the song a classic. But, the most impactful quake that shook the landscape was caused by Rock Around the Clock, a song that was rescued from obscurity by the 9-year-old son of a famous actor who accidentally played the wrong side of a record, and that mistake became THEE anthem that established the Rock Era. Honestly, there’s a fascinating story around every track that came out during this pivotal year. Every song is a history lesson! Next on professor of rock. with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Ricard to lead the way! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Todays song is a music revelation. it's a song story that will kick you in the teeth. This killer 90s song is epic. Coming up a song breakdown of The Beastie Boys at their best with their big fat classic.. Sabotage. It’s so ferocious you have to blast it whenever it comes on and then crank it up some more. It’s the most badass song of the decade it came from.. this high-octane assault on the ears almost didn’t make it. It sat on the shelf for a year. The band couldn’t think of any lyrics. Turns out, The Beastie-Boys were a little distracted. Their studio had a skate ramp and a basketball court and they were always messing around. Finally, two weeks before their deadline, their producer got so frustrated he YELLED AT them to finish one song. So in a moment of smart-ass inspiration, Ad Rock spit out a verse about how this producer was stifling their creativity by making them work. Turns out, that was all the Beastie Boys needed to turn what was supposed to be an instrumental track into the iconic hit Sabotage from their classic album Ill Communication. Plus there’s the hilarious music video to talk about as well. That’s a whole other story. We’re gonna break it all down for you with Ad Rock, MCA and Mike D… 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, today, we’ve got a line-up of songs that were complete failures when they first came out… but fortune was with them. Because even though some of these tracks couldn't crack the charts to save their lives, they all became massive multi-million dollar money makers.  We've got a fascinating lineup of 'love failure songs' that initially stumbled but ultimately made massive comebacks, becoming multi-million dollar hits. This video also explores a heated band rivalry, showcasing the dramatic stories behind these musical 'comeback' triumphs. Including the story of Nick Drake who decades after his death scored a huge payday when his song was used in a Car Ad and he sold more records in a moth than he sold in 30 years combined. You'll hear about a psychedelic rivalry so intense it involved shotgun shells and restraining orders. Plus the cult classic Where is My Mind by Pixies that wasn’t released as a single, but thanks to an explosive movie spot in Fight Club it’s now getting licensing offers once a week… making the songwriter enough to retire. Then you’ve got the band Alabama 3, whose song became the theme song for one of HBO’s all-time biggest shows the Sopranos. And their manager completely screwed them… selling it for just $500. It raked in millions. But would they ever see any of it? Plus, there’s the B-side Tainted Love that nobody wanted that came out of nowhere to make 25 million. From family-friendly drug anthems like Lust For Life by Iggy Pop to obscure punk covers from the Cramps that went viral 40 years later, these are the songs that prove timing is everything. Let’s go. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone loves a great underdog story, and up next, we have one of the best from the 80s. Today’s Rookie artist Cyndi Lauper went through hell and back to get to the top. First of all, she lost her voice because of a collapsed vocal cord, and doctors said she’d never sing again. Then she got sued for $80K, which today would be like a quarter million. This forced her to declare bankruptcy and left her destitute. But Lauper kept going, she finally got a break with a label, but they didn’t believe in her songs, they pushed her to do cover songs from other artists, even though she was a great songwriter herself. After recording a bunch of covers, she rebelled and wrote a song with another up-and-coming artist from the band the Hooters that came from her TV GUIDE and an annoying alarm clock that kept malfunctioning and going off in her apartment. She even smashed it against a wall and threw it in the shower, but it kept ticking away. That ticking sound inspired one of the greatest #1 hits in history. Time After Time from her 80s classic album She's So Unusual. It became the most covered song of the decade and hundreds of artist have claimed it's the one song they wish they'd written. It was so good her producer would let anyone near the studio when she was working on it for fear someone would steal it. Up next, I have the co-writer to tell the story. 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 lead singer from an underrated band that in their peak years from the late 60s to the mid 70s had More Gold records Than The Stones! Bigger Crowds Than Credence! And Fatter Purses Than Elvis! Chuck Negron's band, Three Dog Night had had a then record, 21 consecutive hit songs and up next he shares the story of several classics including a song...Pieces of April he recorded because the band needed one more song, only the rest of his band mates were out of town so he had to go in and record it himself but because he didn’t have his regular group and none his of session guys were available so he found out that the janitor played Cello and the studio’s secretary played guitar and so he Jerry rigged the song and it became a smash. Then there was the album cover that was so controversial he had to put a bandage over the cover and then there was the hit song called the show must go on that he covered and decided to change the lyrics but he was in such a hurry to get it recorded, he forgot to call the original singer for permission to change them and when the song came out he was livid… plus the song that was created for a failed children's tv show and because one of the biggest rock songs ever, Joy to the World. So many classics 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.

Coming up, we shine a focus on the neurological condition known as stuttering…. Some spend a lifetime trying to get rid of it, others have learned to control it and become legendary performers. And then some have turned the condition into some of the biggest hits in rock history. In this episode, we explore how a stutter was turned into a clever art form, uniting a universal chorus of stammers that was beautiful. Including the song Lola that Kinks singer Ray Davies was writing when his toddler started singing along with him… the simple lyrics were like a nursery rhyme and they stuttered it together and that stutter by his toddler made it a classic. Then there’s the stutter that came from frustration when The Who's legendary singer Roger Daltrey, couldn’t get the timing of the vocal and lyrics right, so he had to stutter to make it fit. It became an all-time anthem. And then Randy Bachman, who wrote Ain't Seen Nothing Yet to mock his little brother’s speech impediment and it hit #1 in 12 countries and he even got a special award from the non-profit stuttering foundation. Let’s do it. Go to this exclusive web address right now to try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/rock See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ladies and gentleman, rock and roll. From its inaugural blast off and moon landing on August 1, 1981 until the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve 1989, MTV and the 80s were a match made it heaven. The decade was no doubt the most important in the network’s history and was stacked with landmark moments. Famously opening with the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” MTV quickly became part of the fabric of our lives. It’s humble origins began with a very limited library of music videos, but it wasn’t long before the channel caught fire… and became the juggernaut that powered the lives of music lovers everywhere. As the “I Want My MTV” ad campaign hammered the brand into public consciousness, rock and pop stars came out of the woodwork to throw in their support. And as the decade unfolded, we were hit with music videos that revolutionized the medium and kept our eyes glued to the screen. Duran Duran’s Hungry Like the Wolf, Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer, Dire Strait’s Money For Nothing, Genesis with Land of Confusion, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The list goes on and on. And surrounding the never-ending line-up of videos were moments that put MTV down in pop cultural history: Madonna’s“Like a Virgin” performance at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, Live Aid coverage, the Run-DMC Aerosmith collab on Walk This Way, Motley Crue’s Home Sweet Home breaking Dial MTV, the debut of MTV Unplugged in 1989… But now over 44 years later. MTV has been unplugged once and for all. On December 31, 2025, the last of MTV’s dedicated 24-hour music television channels ceased global broadcasting, ending over four decades of continuous music programming. The shutdown affected 5 major channels (MTV Live, MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, and MTV Hits). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes you ask a question, and there’s some mustard behind the answer. Today I talk with a legend who was riding as high as a band can in one moment, but then music got turned on its head, and this band, along with dozen’s of other,s were suddenly at a crossroads. Coming off one of the biggest albums ever, this band was in crisis going into a new decade… They lost two of their members. Their legendary guitarist and their so called 6th member, one of the greatest producers ever, as they gathered to put together their new record, all bets were that it was gonna be dark and brooding. That was certainly the mood, but instead this band put out a relentlessly upbeat album full of hard rock that was a pure adrenaline rush with a huge first single; the only problem was their timing was a bit off. Had this record come out even a year before, it would’ve been twice as big, but it dropped when GRUNGE had taken over the landscape and was threatening to take this band out. I pose the question decades later to their legendary frontman. What were you thinking when this musical movement that took out so many bands and threatened yours happened, and he spits a little fire my way… But his answer is priceless. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some songs start as hits but end up as punchlines. Over-saturation, endless mocking, and viral internet culture can transform a former chart-topper into a pop culture punching bag. Today, we're counting down 6 tracks and artists that went from beloved… to the butt of the joke. We’ve got stories like the time Conan O'Brien teased Michael Bolton. So Bolton threatened to end Conan's life by sending a softball through his head at their next charity softball game. Or how about when the star of Titanic, the highest-grossing film of the 20th century, said that movie’s theme song My Heart Will Go On makes her throw up in her mouth every time she hears it… because fans won’t stop playing it for her! And then there’s the music journalist who was locked inside a listening booth at a Best Buy, and was forced to listen to We Built This City his magazine called “the worst ever”… for 24 hours straight. Plus, there’s What's Up, the song that is so annoying I'd rather be water boarded then list to it. We’re covering the rock era’s best musical punchlines. Let’s go! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So last week I showed this strange one-hit wonder Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies, to my autistic son, and he was absolutely mesmerized. He has listened to it about 90 times since then, so it got me curious about a deep dive on it. It’s undeniably creepy but strangely comforting…Written about 3 different kids connected by the common thread of loneliness and suffering. It was inspired by true stories and events, and the singer delivers it in an unconventional style with a voice that many tried to imitate at the time it came out, but no one could do it. It made us all bristle with astonishment and wonder lead with the strangest meandering one-word chorus in history. It’s time to get to the bottom of this one. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1980 was a wild year for rock. It’s hard to believe it was 45 years ago… The charts were dominated by soft rock holdovers and the last gasps of disco… Meanwhile, some of history’s most groundbreaking tracks were flying under the radar. Songs that became legit anthems for generations to come. But they couldn't even crack the Top 40. Today, we're counting down 10 badass tracks from 1980 that were ignored by Radio but are now Classics. Including Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart, a song that an iconic frontman wrote that fans and his own band didn’t realize was a suicide note till it was too late. Plus U2's I Will Follow that was written during a screaming rehearsal argument. Bono, who couldn’t play any instruments, got so angry he ripped the guitar off his guitarist's neck and started making a sound like a dentist’s drill. It became one of their most iconic tracks. Or what about the lovestruck guitarist Mark Knopfler, who got his punk rock girlfriend a record deal, only to be brutally dissed by her in a public interview… He turned that diss into a 6-minute sonic masterpiece. Let’s do it! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up you asked for it. and so her it is Round 2 with the UNFILTERED Dr Love. Gene Simmons of Kiss. This first iteration got backlash and I even got called out for not pushing back in the last interview My job is to ask questions and get out of the way. Well, haters are gonna hate because This one may piss them off even more. We talk about the classics from Kiss’ biggest song ever I Was Made for Loving You to the one that put ‘em on the map I Wanna Rock n Roll All Nite (And Party Every Day) plus some deep cuts, his notorious tongue, he shares his feelings on his roots which is very touching, how he made it in America, and then his phone dies mid-interview. He says what he wants, and along the way we get some great stories. Here’s Gene Simmons of Kiss on the biggest hits and misses.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Here’s Part 2 of the greatest Female Rock Singer Ever and most of save for a few minutes here and there most of this has not ever been show. Ann Wilson of Heart takes us from the late 80s thought the 90s and up to now with the stories of the song and album that made heart one of the greatest bands in history including the song that save their career, plus the song that became their biggest hit of the last 35 years but Ann Hates it so much she refused to play it for decades plus the song she took a step back and let her sister Nancy who was the guitarist and backing vocals sing and it became a smash…as well as tackling the most revered song in rock history that she sang in front of here heroes and made one cry and another smile plus their impact on grunge and the new millennium here’s Ann Wilson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I've Made 1600 Episodes On This Channel-This Was The TOUGHEST One I've EVER Done!--Professor of Rock So the other day I was doing some organizing and I found a buried treasure. A Paper I wrote back in Jr High about My Late Father. The Assignment back then was do a report on something your father is passionate about. My Dad passed away almost 7 years ago so it was a really precious memory to read this paper. My dad and I always connected on music, he’s the reason I do what I do. I did the Paper on his favorite songs of all time. So coming next I’m going to count down my dad’s top 10 and tell you the stories..from both the history of the song and his own stories behind them. It’s a very personal episode and so I’m going to get right into it.  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 putting music's greatest legends on trial. counting down the most insane musical courtroom dramas in history and giving you the verdicts… Now I guarantee you know about these famous lawsuits, but you’ve never heard the true stories of them, and they will blow your mind like the rappers Vanilla Ice who clearly ripped off his #1 hit Ice Ice Baby from 2 legendary artists Queen and David Bowie, but did you know that by ripping them off, he actually made their song 10 times bigger? And then he actually turned around and bought the full copyright of the song because it was cheaper than the legal fees. So he makes money off his rip-off and the original. Plus, there's the late legendary rocker Ozzie Osbourne who was sued because parents claimed his song caused the death of their son. But the song was actually completely misunderstood. But they tried to get him brought up on charges of manslaughter…and then there’s the legend who was sued for ripping off his own song! John Fogerty who's solo hit allegedly ripped off an earlier Creedence Clearwater Revival Song... Plus did Led Zeppelin steal Stairway to Heaven from Mary Poppins or the band Spirit? 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.

Today, we're all about the Bee Gees, one of the most iconic groups, not just of the '70s, but of the entire rock era. These masters of pop reinvention went from cabaret obscurity to global domination, only to become scapegoats for a cultural revolution that came crashing down all around them. It’s a story of evolution, survival, and resilience. In it, we’ll cover the song Nights on Broadway that led to the most recognizable helium-powered voice of the rock era…and it was a total accident. There’s also the story of how the Bee Gees gave away one of their biggest potential hits More Than a Woman to a lesser-known band as a gift. But over time, their original version, which was only released as a B-Side, went on to dominate the airwaves and surpass that group anyway. You'll also hear how the guys cranked out three #1 hits in an hour and a half like it was nothing. And how when they turned their album to record execs they were told they didn’t hear any hits…Turns out the album would have 7 #1 hits and their main singer would replace himself at #1 a record four straight times. But just a year later, the Bee Gees would be musical pariahs…as radio wouldn’t touch their music. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was 40 years ago that today’s song Separate Lives hit #1. And it’s definitely one of the most heart-wrenching duets ever recorded, and to this day, even though it was a #1 hit sung by Phil Collins, one of the biggest artists ever... it doesn’t get the credit or the plays it should. And it has an amazing story behind it. 40 years ago Phil Collins was arguably the biggest artist on the planet. He was right there with Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince and he didn’t have a lot in common with them... He looked more like your dad’s accountant, but he had one of the greatest voices ever, and from 1984 to about 1991 he had a hit every single week on the charts and in 1986 he could’ve whispered on a record and it would be a hit. Well he wrote most of his hits, but he sang a duet with an up and comer named Marilyn Martin that cut to the bone… Separate lives was a big hit from the movie white nights and the reason it was so heart wrenching is because it really happened. It was written by Stephen Bishop who had quite a few hits and actually the biggest hit he wrote, he didn’t sing and the biggest hit that he sang he didn’t write! find out what those songs were in our interview coming up… Plus find out the famous actress who ripped his heart out that that inspired Separate lives and find out why Phil Colins’s duet partner Marilyn Martin quit music to be a real estate agent! 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 story of scorned passion…revenge, and arson. It sounds like a film noir thriller, but it was actually an innocent 2-minute song called Norwegian Wood by a little band called the Beatles! The song was based on a cheating husband (John Lennon) whose finished masterpiece managed to offend one of the most influential artists of the Rock Era and change the landscape of popular music for generations to come. It was from the greatest band ever that some critics then and now called the first boy band bashing them over their first few hits like She Loves You Ya Ya Ya… Well, this was the song that turned them into popular music’s Michaelangelos! They set the course for music and decades later everyone is still trying to match them. There’s only one band that could create such a storm of melodrama. Including Paul McCartney taking some credit and George Harrison’s latter feud with Lennon over a writing credit. Find out all the details 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.

Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of a all time. Make sure to subscribe to the channels Well we are truly getting to the end of our yearly countdowns If Can find 10 great top 40 songs in a year end countdown, I will cover it but it’s getting harder and harder. So let’s get into the final year of the 90s…1999! Let’s get into it. … According to the Billboard Magazine’s Year End Survey, the 10th biggest song of the year for 1999 was “Living la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin….But, we’re kicking off our countdown of the Top 10 Songs of ’99 with, “What It’s Like” by Everlast at #10: This was Everlast's first solo single after leaving the group, House Of Pain. Being in that band became an arduous task that Everlast hated. He compared it to the feeling you have when you wake up early on Monday morning and have to go to school.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

History tells us that Nirvana saved rock and roll in 1991 with Smells Like Teen Spirit, but that’s the history that was written by the media… what if I told you that there were a couple of moments that happened before Nevermind and Teen Spirit that moved the needle but didn’t get the hype? We’re going to cover one of those moments today that happened a couple of years before Nirvana, and it’s a crazy story. It involves code words and mystery lyrics, a decades-long feud with a rival band that came from stealing this band’s dance moves, and a controversial music video that gave every animal rights activist a coronary. All of this is connected to Epic, one of the most influential songs you’ve heard. And it is part of an alternative history that has been buried. Today’s song Epic came right after today’s band Faith No More fired their singer… a new singer came right in and wrote the lyrics to this band’s killer riff. and this band knew it was a hit but the record label didn’t care… they chose the band’s first single and when it flopped they let this group pick the next single…it not only ignited this band’s fortunes, some argue it invented a new genre but so many styles we’re represented here they had everything in this song… even the kitchen sink…the story 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.

So In the past we’ve counting down the greatest television theme songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. We’ve covered movie scores and the best jingles. And through it all, I’ve had thousands of requests for Saturday Morning Cartoons or cartoon themes. Well On this episode, we’re counting down the greatest cartoon theme songs of the 80s. And we've got some crazy stories to tell. Like, did the J Geils Band secretly lift their risqué chart-topper Centerfold from a kids cartoon… about tiny blue creatures? We’ll also solve the bizarre internet rumor that’s persisted for decades, claiming the dignified host of Inside the Actors Studio was the secret mastermind behind the ThunderCats themes ever. How did that even start? And wait until you hear how Arnold Schwarzenegger indirectly launched one of the biggest action figure lines of the decade and one of the most iconic cartoon themes in history. Plus, a hit songwriter wrote one of the catchiest songs of all time… Everyone knew it would be a #1 smash, but it became a kids' TV song and never got released as a single. He missed a #1 hit, but decades later it’s more famous than any of the #1 hits from the year it came out.. Can you guess it from its first second? From bouncing bears to pizza-loving reptiles, we're covering it all. Let’s do it. 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 massive hit from a band that was absolutely clobbered by the rock press… At the center of a smear campaign, they called ‘em knock-offs, copy-cats, clones… And they were accused of being derivative of other popular bands at the time including Pearl Jam. Yes Scott Weiland and Stone Temple Pilots took a lot of flack... But it was completely unwarranted… and untrue. In fact, in one Rolling Stone poll STP were voted the worst new band by critics, and the best new band by readers….but It was the fans that got it right. This band was hugely popular. And their breakthrough song… PLUSH was a commercial monster, ruling the rock airwaves and MTV. Written in a hot tub, this mysterious track was inspired by a tragic kidnapping and death, but its meaning is still something of a mystery. For decades, fans have tried to unravel its imagery… A classic by Scott Weiland….Smelling dogs, stolen masks, storms in your bedroom. See if you can figure out what it means. The story 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.

Coming up next, the Police, a rookie band that would start a 5-year trek that would take them from nobodies to the biggest band in the world. But their first couple of singles would be B.O.D. banned on delivery because they were about a hooker and suicide: Roxane and Can't Stand Losing You. And to discuss these two classics, I have 2 of the principals from the band, Sting and Stewart Copeland. Their first 2 songs were catchy and had the makings of big-time hits, but radio refused to play them due to their subject matter. But there’s more to it than that … it may be that the band stretched the truth about radio blacklisting them to stir up controversy and publicity. Well, let’s find out… coming up, the most famous song about a sex worker in history 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 interviewed one of the most ICONIC rock stars in the history of planet earth.. Love him or hate him, he’s always got something to say and when he says it, you know it’s how he really feels, he doesn’t mince words and it was no different when I spoke to him It’s always interesting because the man has no filter and he doesn’t care about Political correctness or kowtowing to anyone or anything. . He says what he thinks, and in this interview, he gives us his truth behind some long-held myths about his band’s songs, and it rewrites some famous stories that have been told forever, including his band’s biggest hit, which was a B-side that sounded nothing like their typical rock songs, and who really wrote it. Everyone has said he hates it, but he tells us his real opinion on it and how it got the hard rock band to play on AM Radio next to Jonn Denver. He goes off on censorship and how certain songs get canceled, but others skate by, including certain rap songs. It’s Gene Simmons unfiltered. He says what he wants because he just doesn’t care anymore. Here it is. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes the deepest cuts leave the most lasting marks. I’m talking about songs that never dominated the airwaves, but are worthy of regular rotation in our lives. Today we're celebrating 7 female hidden gems that deserve way more love than they ever received. We've got the story of Sandy Denny, the only female vocalist ever to appear on a Led Zeppelin studio album. She went toe-to-toe with Robert Plant to create a bona fide Zeppelin classic. Then there's the heartbreaking tale of an under-the-radar vocalist named Eve Cassidy who gave her final public performance while battling terminal cancer. Her haunting rendition of an iconic track became her devastating farewell to the world. Then there was the prolific male songwriter from ABBA who wrote a song about his brutal divorce… just so happens that the woman he was divorcing was the singer in his band and she had to sing this song next to him for years... and hear it for the next 45 years when it became a classic. Add to that stalker survivor Sarah McLachlan, and Kate Schellenbach, the only woman to ever be called a Beastie Boy, and you know this is going to be a must-watch episode. Let’s get started.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite its eventual historic significance, there was a moment when the band’s iconic lead singer contemplated scrapping one of the greatest albums ever recorded, because he had second thoughts about the quality of the record. The story of what led to the creation of U2’s astonishing achievement The Joshua Tree 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 perfect songs that came out during the great downturn in mainstream music when rock was becoming extinct including Everlong, the greatest rock song of the last 30 years by Dave Grohl, a man who was in the shadow of one of the most revered frontmen in history, but he stepped out of the background and shocked the world with a one man band that I believe has superceded his original band. Then there’s the band Chumbawumba that had whose massive hit Tubthumping was flying off the shelves at record stores. But then a band member told fans she didn’t care if they shoplifted their new album…There were so many stolen copies that their label had to force stores to stop carrying the record! Then there’s the sappiest song of its time, Butterfly Kisses, that actually cost me my marriage. Plus, the haunting classic Silver Springs that was unfairly pulled from one of the biggest albums ever Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, only to end up as a hard-to-find B-side. But it made the ultimate comeback when it was recorded as part of a live album 20 years later. Sweet revenge came when it not only charted but became one of the legendary band’s most-streamed songs. Plus Mark Morrison who wrote Return of the Mack a song about a comeback while he was in prison, and the song hit #1. 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 classic song from one of our most precious singer-songwriters who has a debilitating disease and won’t be with us much longer… the great Neil Diamond. We hope for a miracle, but for the time being, we can celebrate his genius as one of the most beloved icons of the 60s 70s and 80s. Today we honor his classic song "I am... I Said," that was inspired by the experience of a failed screen test for a film about one of the most controversial comedians of the 20th century. It was the most personally challenging song of his illustrious career. And it took him 4 long months to write. It was a daily battle to put the song on paper, and it truly drained him emotionally. But when it was finished, it turned out to be one of the most fulfilling songs he had ever written. In fact, it came from therapy sessions he was having at the time. However, one lyric about a chair inspired a famous journalist to write a scathing book about Bad Songs, wherein he ripped this 70s classic to Shreds… However, the fans struck back with bags and bags of hate mail, and it was so insurmountable the journalist had to write a public apology, and he very nearly retired! The story of the most ridiculed song of it’s time and a tribute to a beloved icon next on Professor of Rock. Look for the new movie about Neil Diamond's music "Song Sung Blue" with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. 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 returning to our Taboo Songs countdown, where we cover the most controversial tracks that either sparked outrage back in their day or that some modern audiences have tried to cancel…We’ve done many episodes on this and it’s become one of our most popular series. So today we’re at it again. And this time around, we’re turning up the heat… with a truly strange story. The legendary guitarist Link Wray whose distorted guitar tune Rumle became the only song in American history to be all-out banned from radio despite having zero lyrics. It was just too sinister for listeners! Then there’s the story of Cher, who was banned by the US Navy after recording a near-nude music video on a naval ship. Not only did she receive a Naval ban, but she got everyone else banned as well. Then there’s the story of a controversial track Dear God by XTC, that inspired a radio station B-O-M-B threat and a high schooler to take his principal hostage and forcibly play the song over the school’s PA system. They’re the songs that provoked outrage and were deemed too dangerous for the public. Find out which one tops the list... NEXT on the Professor of Rock. 34 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s a fact today’s band Dire Straits was a revelation when they first came out in the 70s…They interrupted disco and took radio hostage with a throwback rock sound that was completely their own, thanks to their versatile singer-guitarist. But after a spectacular debut, their sophomore album was a failure; it faltered on the charts, and they were back to square one. Determined to get back on top, today’s legendary singer heard a song on the radio that blew his mind, and that song set into motion his best work. His new album was close to perfect, but he was so meticulous about it he actually erased the title track from the tracklist and then he erased his own brothers’ contributions from the final mix, causing a bitter fallout between the brothers and bandmates in facts, they hadn't spoken in almost 45 years. The record had some incredible artistic risks, including dead air that made DJs panic. Next, the story of one of the most cinematic records ever. 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 final part of my deep dive conversation with Rick Beato. This time we talk about the most underrated band of all-time, as well as the catchiest song of the last 40 years, and the band from yesteryear that is having the most impact on our kids, and discuss the oft-sighted term musical genius, and who are the last musical geniuses on this planet. Plus, what is the greatest Riff in music history, and I try not to incur the wrath of the Swifties when we discuss Taylor Swift’s legacy in comparison to other female icons from the last 40 years. Hell, we even discuss aliens and UFOs… You’ll see what I mean next. Let’s geek out on music. 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 collaboration with another one of my favorite YouTubers. A famous rockstar and one of the funniest guys in music, it's Justin Hawkins. We connected when he toured through Salt Lake City with The Darkness, and we had a great hang, discussing everything from our personal interactions with Corey Feldman to bonding over getting copyright claims. We’ve both gotten plenty, but Justin shares a revelation… He got one for using his own music! I pick his brain about his picks for his favorite songs of all time, and his classic stadium anthem I Believe in a Thing Called Love and jamming with his heroes. It’s great fun. Let’s do it.  Make sure to subscribe to Justin's YouTube Channel: @JustinHawkinsRidesAgain 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 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. 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 relaunching and rebranding a series that we used to feature as a regular entry on the channel… The Hit Song Redux. WE USED TO TRAVEL BACK to the golden era of rock to count down the top 10 hits from THIS SAME WEEK, AND THEN AFTER THE SHOW, WE’D TELL YOU what the real top 10 was based on how much the world has listened to them since. But now there’s a twist… we’re expanding our coverage to the entire Top 40 from that week to find out once and for all what song is the real all-time #1… we’re calling it Test of Time. On this inaugural episode, you’ll hear the story of a heartbreaking confession from James Taylor, who didn't find out he lost his closest friend until 6 months after she was gone. And so he wrote a classic Fire and Rain, inside a psych ward. Plus, the throwaway song The Tears of a Clown that Smokey Robinson recorded just because he needed an extra song, 3 years later, after he’d already put out several new albums. Someone at his fan club put the 3-year-old reject out for the fan club, and the radio started playing it, and it soared to #1. Plus, Immigrant Song, the track that unintentionally crowned Led Zeppelin the greatest rockers of all time. It was meant to be a joke, but fans took it seriously. And they got it right. the story Your Song By Elton John, No Matter What by Badfinger, Black Magic Woman by Santana, I Think I Love You the Partridge Family, I'll Be there by the Jackson 5, and My Sweet Lord by George Harrison.  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 video that we tried to release 2 years ago. It was up for a bit but got claims. Then we tried to put it up again last year, and the same thing happened before we could even release it. So we made some adjustments, but due to its subject and its history of trouble, we will only have it up for a short time. But let’s see if it stays up first. It’s the story of an artist we lost on Christmas Day in 2016. Back in the 80s, he was obsessed with dominating the charts. His goal in 1984 was to score four #1 singles. And, by November of that year, he and his musical partner had three… With time running out, he pulled out a surefire hit he wrote in the middle of watching a football game on TV. He was certain it would hit #1… and it was a holiday song that couldn’t miss, but it ran into the biggest song ever and had to settle for #2. But here’s the thing…He actually sang a small part on that song, too! So he sang on the top 2 songs on the countdown, but his own song was kept out of #1, but it would become one of the biggest songs ever with 4 billion streams, and to think it was only a promotional single in America, but the big Surprise is that it actually ended up hitting #1... 37 years later… Merry Christmas from 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 are about to discuss one of the catchiest songs of the 80s. It's My Life by Talk Talk. One that makes the hair on your neck stand on end. But it came from a genius reclusive artist, Marc Hollis, who didn’t want the limelight. He played the game as best he could, but was miserable doing it. He should’ve had dozens of hits, but It's My Life was his only hit in America. But there’s a lot to this story. After this big smash hit he walked away from music to be a father, and he never returned, but he had good reason to. When he was away, a greedy label put a lame remix album without his permission. He sued them, and they had to destroy eversingle copy they had made and this was sweet revenge, especially after his label had sued him before for not being commercial enough. The story of a classic is next. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.