Professor of Rock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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