Professor of Rock

Here’s one for ya… Today’s song Venus by Shocking Blue was written in a different language… When it was translated to English, guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen wrote down the opening line incorrectly… However, the singer who recorded it, Mariska Veres spoke only Dutch so she sang the lyric wrong. The typo changed how the word was sung… which became very confusing since the word that was sung hadn’t been used since the 1500s. But nobody caught it until after it was released…It wouldn’t matter… Venus hit #1… In fact, it hit #1 twice… in two different decades…the 70s and the 80s by 2 different bands, Shocking Blue and Bananarama, and would become the only song title in history to hit #1 3 different times… Up next, the incredible back story of this irresistible smash Venus and the skinny behind both #1 hit versions that have dazzled multiple generations of music fans including the hilarious mispronounced lyric! Next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was only a matter of time, but today’s featured band was going down in flames. One of their album covers 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 posed on their album cover with flames around them! Honestly, no one worked harder than Ronnie Van Zant and the boys of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but the problem was 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's hands the night before a big show, and one time when the lead singer tried to throw someone out of a plane… mid-flight. I mean come on… that’s pretty 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: 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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 a blast from the past from the golden age of rock. Today, we’re going behind the Top 10 songs from this very same week in the year 1979 to find out which one is the biggest Hit all these years later. And as we count them down, we’re bringing you some crazy stories you won’t want to miss… Stories of stalkers, ill-advised f-bombs, ladies of the night, and yes, even spandex… But the question is, which of today’s countdown contenders will ultimately claim the crown? It’s Rock vs. Disco and We’ve got the Doobies, we’ve got Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart … we’ve got Neil Young’s backup singer, and we’ve got the legendary band who matched the Beatles with 6 straight #1 hits… And what are we doing talking about the Karate Kid in a '70s episode? Hey, there’s only one way to find out. I promise you, there’s no other show like this on YouTube. And it’s coming your way… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of a song that writers Gary Brooker and Keith Reid said was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum the song that would sell 10 million copies and the band name most people had no idea how to say! A Whiter Shade of Pale was Very complex and in the end, the song was over 10 minutes long…it had so many layers and lyrical twists and turns it was like a foreign film…. Problem is this was in a time when radio wouldn’t play songs over 4 minutes long so the band had to figure out how to trim it. This meant leaving two whole verses on the cutting room floor… The song became an instant classic and the de facto hit of one of 1967 the Summer of Love... In fact when Paul McCartney heard it he freaked out. It didn’t sound like anything on radio but would anyone ever hear the full song? Also, could anyone solve or decode this cryptic song… after it went to the top of the charts the world over...on its way to selling 10 million copies the band behind it fractured immediately. would they ever have another hit? It’s the story of a classic that many legends wished they had written... 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 a song about the trauma the artist endured during his childhood. Mad World by Tears for Fears came from a very dark place. Singer Roland Orzabal felt alienated by the world around him but found no shelter at home because of his abusive parents. Every ounce of emotion he felt went into this 80s classic, but the problem is when he went to record it, he discovered his voice didn’t effectively deliver what he was trying to express. It made him question whether he should even record or finish the song. So he turned to a friend, a fellow musician named Curt Smith who also had a painful childhood and he became the song’s interpreter, the result was something magical. The recording became an international smash from Tear of Fears' debut album The Hurting... It had such an impact, that it was reimagined for the Donnie Darko motion picture soundtrack that attracted a new generation of fans 20 years later When Gary Jules covered it. the story of this unforgettable hit is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with both members of one of the greatest groups or duos of the 70s… Loggins and Messina on a song that was charmed from the get-go…. Jim Messina’s dad HATED rock and Roll. He used to yell at his song for playing the loud music. So Messina wrote a song about it. He called it Your Mama Don’t Dance and then put the lyrics: your Daddy Don’t Don’t Rock and Roll. After he Showed it to Kenny Loggins who helped him finish it, the song became an all-time classic… and get this, the song was inspired by the king of rock and roll Elvis, and then the King Elvis Presley covered it. This group was elated when they heard his version that is until he forgot the lyrics! Then in the 80s it was covered again and hit the charts all over again when the hard rock glam metal band Poison did it. Up next an interview with both of these legends on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with one of the 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 flack 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 then 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next a story that will shock you. One of rock’s most legendary bands ever... the Doors had a helluva time before they broke out. First of all they almost didn’t get signed. They were highly touted to a label exec who went to see them live and he didn’t get them at all. He didn’t want to sign them. He thought Jim Morrison was just OK. Then they got fired from a standing gig at a prestigious venue for playing a controversial song… then their debut single which everyone knows by heart… Break on Through which has since become one of the most recognizable rock songs ever only went to #126 on the charts…. the band devised a plan… between the band members and their friends they called and flooded radio request lines to get their song to the top of the charts.. See how they finally hit #1 next on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… A song that has been hailed as one of the sexiest ever recorded, yet it's also landed on lists for being one of the worst songs of all time. Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band… Love it or hate it, its impact on pop culture is undeniable. Created by a classmate of a former President, Bill Danoff and his future wife Taffy Nivert... it was inspired by the lunch menu at a diner in Washington, D.C. Bill and Taffy are the same couple who wrote John Denver’s hit Take Me Home Country Roads. Afternoon Delight skyrocketed this new band to fame, even scoring them their own TV show featuring a then-unknown comedian named David Letterman. Although we all know Afternoon Delight as a fun and easy singalong, the revered producer Milt Okun and engineer Phil Ramone behind it considered it to be one of the most complex songs they ever worked on Join us as we uncover the fascinating tale behind this unforgettable one-hit wonder of the Rock Era…NEXT…on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re putting some of the most iconic musicians on trial. and giving you some of the craziest lawsuits in history along with their verdicts… From stolen songs like John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival being sued for sounding too much like himself. …to a tragedy where Ozzie Osbourne was sued due to his song allegedly killing someone. Then Beatle George Harrison was sued for ripping of a song from a decade earlier by an all-girl band named The Chiffons and then during the trial that same girl group would cover his alleged ripped-off song, My Sweet Lord… The one they say he ripped off ??? Then another one where Vanilla Ice, who ripped off the legendary rock group Queen and decided to buy the full copyright to their song because it would be cheaper than the legal fees. You won’t believe some of these… 5 great stories coming up next! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even though they were branded as the 2nd coming of the Beatles…today’s band wasn’t actually a band at all. The Monkees were the ultimate pretenders… actors assembled to play struggling musicians on TV. But you know what? The struggle was real. Unhappy with faking it, this manufactured band wanted to prove they could play. But their musical supervisor Don Kirshner wouldn’t let ‘em. Davey Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith could sing and they could dance… but they were forbidden to play their own instruments. The tension then got so bad, that Michael Nesmith called their Future #1 hit song crap. I’m A Believer, written by Neil Diamond was the song….Pissing off their producer, Nesmith was actually banned from the studio while it was being recorded. And the conflict wouldn’t end there. He then called their second album “the worst in the history of the world.” It’s the crazy story of how four pretenders went head to head with one of the industry’s biggest hitmakers… But was there any way they could win? Find out … NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… it started out as a disturbing French song about death... Then it was translated into English and recorded by one of the biggest bands in rock history. The Beach Boys...but then Brian Wilson and his group abandoned the sessions and the song’s producer who was really an unknown at the time decided to record the song… Terry Jacks and his hit Seasons in the Sun…It became one of the biggest hits of the 70s and the best-selling song in Canada’s history.. on its way to sales of 15 million. It was a feel-good song unless one listened to the lyrics very closely or heard the original French version… Up next, the story of a one-hit wonder that is one part happy-go-lucky and one part sad and devastating… 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… Legendary female rock star Lita Ford was visiting with her famous manager, Sharon Osborne who happened to be married to arguably the most famous male heavy metal singer in the world Ozzie… These two rockstars started playing pool and before they knew it they were alone as Ozzie’s wife left. So what happened that night? Well, the one thing we know for sure. is that they wrote and recorded a song that would blow up MTV and Set radio on fire. Close My Eyes Forever... in one crazy sleepless night, these two metal icons created a top ten hit that still moves the needle… It’s a song they say came out of a bottle. They were both drunk when they wrote it and admit it was an accident but What else happened that night and how did it translate in the lyrics of this 80s smash and what does it have to do with a life-size stuffed plush gorillas. Find out next on Professor of Rock in our exclusive interview with Lita Ford. As well as the story of her smash hit Kiss Me Deadly Close My Eyes Forever became Ozzie’s biggest hit ever and Lita’s album cover became a favorite of every boy who came of age at that time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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 the other day I tried counting down the all-time greatest rock riffs ever put to vinyl… by anyone… ever.… with a friend. And the crazy thing is, my top 5 picks all pretty much came from the same band! AC/DC! You know I tried to get some other bands in there. But these classic Riffs three were just too good… all of them pure rock and roll dynamite. So not only are we counting them down… we’re also giving their origin stories and some crazy insights what make these anthemic rockers tick. Including one riff that the band said stuck out like a dog’s balls… (Highway to Hell) But then after they recorded the guitar parts on a cassette, the engineer took it home and let his kid play with it, which unraveled the tape… Would the tape be salvaged? Find out next in an epic episode… It’s a hell-raising, triple-threat episode that will have you banging your head and shaking a leg… It’s the top 5 riffs from AC/DC from the dream teams of Bon Scott, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Brian Johnson! NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with a true pioneer of rock and roll, Dave Burgess of The Champs…. He and his band recorded a single that the label was sure would be a hit Called Train to Nowhere. After their recording session as they were getting ready to leave, they realized they needed a B-side… So they started an instrumental jam session on the spot. They called it Tequila. They recorded it in just 1 take and they added the throwaway word Tequila in a silly attempt to cover up some holes in the song according to to engineer Leo Kulka … after all, it was just going to be a B-side… That is until a DJ in Cleveland flipped the A-sided record over and played this Spontaneous B side… a few weeks later it rocketed to #1 for 5 weeks on the Billboard charts making it one of the biggest hits of the year and the first rookie band to have an instrumental debut single hit #1… They also won the first Grammy award! Up next the last remaining member of this the champs, Dave Burgess tells the story on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To the world, WEEZER appears to be one of the most happy-go-lucky bands around. Just four nerdy musicians led by Rivers Cuomo rocking out with crunchy guitars and a touch of sweet pop perfection With music that was more fun than a carnival ride. However, that’s not how this band’s lead singer River Cuomo saw himself at all. He thought he was dark and brooding and troubled. So when everybody started laughing and calling his music hilarious, it was a punch to the gut. Dark, funny, whatever you want to call it, this band’s multi-platinum debut the Blue Album is a modern-day standard. It was so good, 15 plus albums later they have never replicated its success. With songs as perfect as Undone-the Sweater Song, Buddy Holly, My Name is Jonas, and Say it Ain’t So, this album was gold! So did they peak right out of the gate? Well, One zealous anti-fan said yes. Sick of so-called subpar albums, this hater offered to pay the band $10 million to go away for good. But was it enough money to break them up? It's a crazy story. Find out what happened… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we go back to the making of a song that came from the basement sessions of an artist that originally wanted to work for the CIA. Songwriting couple Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert were traveling to a family reunion when they read a road sign… It said Westernport Maryland but they misread it as West Virginia and so they wrote a song about the road sign… Their error would become an all-time standard. They originally wrote the song with Johnny Cash in mind but they were playing with a rookie by the name of John Denver who wanted to hear some of their newly written songs as both Denver and the songwriting couple were looking for their first hit. They showed him their West Virginia song called Take Me Home Country Roads but it wasn’t quite finished. They finished the song together and then next day when they played it to a small audience, the crowd went nuts… they were even singing along by the end. Take Me Home Country Roads became a 70s classic and It’s been named by legislation as an official song for West Virginia, even though the co-writers and the music icon that made it a huge hit had never been there before!. Let’s travel through the backroads to reach our destination and honor a true American standard…NEXT on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the story of one of the greatest rock songs of the 80s. Pride in the Name of Love by U2. and it all started with a museum exhibit. U2 was on tour here in America and took in a museum and the song was basically written on the field trip…Then lead singer, Bono convinced a famous producer to put off retirement to work on the track and then it took months to record because the song wasn’t sounding right but U2 had to deliver their record The Unforgettable Fire by a strict deadline so in order to do it they worked 20 hours a day for 2 weeks to finish this masterpiece. Bono and the Edge were going out of their minds. Then they filmed 3 different music videos for the song and the band hated them all. Would this song ever get released? Find out how it did and why Bono changed the famous lyrics decades later! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of an unlucky artist that bootstrapped from coast to coast trying to get his big break. “Ironically, his breakthrough hit came from a spontaneous outburst that he shouted because he was so embarrassed by his voice so he DISSED on himself as a joke and the diss became a Mantra for a generation. The song transformed the artist from a struggling wanderer into a sensation with its self-deprecating lyrics and wild, erratic energy. We’re gonna kill the headlights and put it in neutral… NEXT on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you top the greatest band of all time? You can’t… The Beatles are the most popular group in history because of their flawless song craft…songs that have been covered more than any artist or band in history, more than a million times…but there was this one time that a gravelly-voiced madman named Joe Cocker did outdo the greatest band ever and he did it by spazzing out on the biggest stage in rock history… at Woodstock! playing a cover of the Beatles' 1967 hit “With a Little Help from My Friends" After his performance people couldn’t stop talking about his insane performance But clear back when the Beatles wrote this song, Ringo who Was chosen to sing the lead vocal was very concerned about one of the lyrics in the song and he refused to sing it unless the band changed it. It’s one of the most misunderstood songs ever from Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band...… the Vice President of the US hated it. Let’s get into the story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

coming up … I actually have a tool that tells me what the most requested song story is from you...our viewers and today we're covering it with an exclusive interview with the songwriter who wrote this 80s classic. It’s Don’t Change by legendary band INXS. Written by the underrated team of lead singer and showstopping frontman Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss. It wasn’t a huge hit when it came out but over time it’s become a powerful anthem that many have covered and it shows this legendary band at their very best. Released in 1983 it would pave the way for the band's huge breakout a few years later Kick where they were arguably the biggest band of the late 80s with a frontman for the ages in Michael Hutchence So here it is. The most requested song from our comments and our viewers 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’m not going to lie, today’s song might hurt a little. That’s because this killer track is like a Kick in the teeth. It’s as hard as nails, and so ferocious you have to crank it up whenever you hear it… and then crank it up some more. SABOTAGE but the Beastie Boys...But 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 B-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 just 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s the unbelievable story of 5 artists who passed on collaborating with one of the most iconic musicians of the past four decades. Weird Al Yankovic….Working with this guy was a golden opportunity that only came by his request. With a steady stream of hit albums including Dare to Be Stupid and Even Worse and a catalog of legendary songs, like Eat It, Fat, and Amish Paradise and Smells Like Nirvana and so many unforgettable music videos to go along with them… it was extremely rare for anyone to tell Weird Al Yankovic “no.” But these guys did! Passing up on an opportunity of a lifetime. I mean, the members of Nirvana even estimated they sold an additional million records after agreeing to allow Al to parody their song. So what made these 5 bold musicians so bold as to turn him down? We’ll find out plus we’ll get the story of one artist who agreed to collaborate when Weird Al did Amish Paradise. but flipped out about it after the Al released the parody of his song… Stick around for an intriguing 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.

Coming up a wonderful conversation with one of the 70s and 80s great rock frontmen… Dennis DeYoung formerly of Styx about his old band’s signature song. Styx was always the bridesmaids opening for some of the biggest rock acts of the day including Kiss, Aerosmith and Rush but the 70s rock anthem “Come Sail Away" made ‘em kings of the arena… and they sold out their share because of it. Dennis wrote Come Sail Away for the underdog but its tempo change confused listeners as it went from a deceptively slow ballad to an all out rocker! Is it about an alien abduction? Some say it is... Well this song may seem like a fantasy but it’s 100% true… Coming up next we find out what the band’s promo man and guitarist Tommy Shaw did to get radio to play for the song and how it’s haunted geeks across the world who tried to slow dance to this song only to find out it was a fast song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Was he a soap star turned rocker? Or a rockstar who just happened to play a doctor on TV? Back in the early 80s, this was a ridiculous debate that the music press couldn’t seem to figure out. But the answer was simple. It didn’t matter. Rick Springfield was a multi-talented performer who was at home both in the studio and behind the camera. And you’ve got to give him credit while living the life of a pop star on two fronts, somehow he managed to write some of the biggest hits of the day. From Jessie’s Girl to Love Is Alright Tonite from Affair of the Heart to today’s featured track Don’t Talk To Strangers, even though many think he's a one hit wonder because of Jessie's Girl, but the reality is he's had 17 hits. Don't Talk to Strangers Is a song he actually wrote in a state of frenzied paranoia. Worried that his girl was cheating on him while he was on the road… in reality he was the one who was being unfaithful. It’s a crazy story. And as an added bonus, we’re giving the story straight from Rick Springfield himself as I had the privilege of interviewing him. It’s all coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of a song that epitomized the struggles, the triumphs, and the tragedy surrounding the artist that performed its signature interpretation. Piece of My Heart by the great Janis Joplin. In an instant, Janis became the Queen of Rock… Nobody had ever really heard anything quite like it. With her incredible performance, this Showstopping Female Rocker put everyone on notice. And Although her aborted career was fast & furious, Janis is regarded as one of the all-time greatest vocalists. Piece of My Heart was actually a cover song. But Janis re-imagined it in an explosive performance that came after being bullied in school for her acne and told by some adults she would end up in jail or an institution… Instead, Janis set the bar for every rock singer who came after. the story is …next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This the craziest rock and roll story you’ll ever hear….“In 1979, Eagles Hall of Fame guitarist Joe Walsh, announced he was running for President of the United States, with a campaign promise of "free gas for everyone” if he won. His antics became world famous,,, He actually tried to circumcise Eagles singer Don Henley when he was drunk, He Drove a Lincoln town into a hotel swimming pool But, that’s nothing he caused 100s of thousands of dollars of damage when he took a chainsaw to another hotel room and we have the theme song for his failed campaign, "Life’s Been Good” a 70s rock classic which was the autobiography of his legendary hedonism. The crazy story is coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with a certified finalist for the heavyweight title of the greatest rock singer in history on a classic rock staple. Paul Rodgers has fronted several rock bands including Free, Bad Company, the Firm, and The Law. Today he tells us the story behind the 70s hard rock hit Feel Like Makin’ Love when he was with Bad Company. Which may be the greatest rock song ever written about about Coitus. He is the only rock singer to have a top ten hit with four different rock and roll bands and that’s not even counting the legendary band he fronted for half a decade, Queen. He fronted Queen many years after their own legendary singer Freddie Mercury passed away and the reason he stepped into his shoes was because this deceased singer may’ve spoken to him from the grave. The story and interview is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, it’s a band who owes much of their massive success to a random foreign exchange student. The band Roxette comprised of singer Marie Fredriksson and songwriter Per Gessle were on the rise in their home country of Sweden, but their records had failed to break through in America. However, after this student caught Roxette in concert, he returned home with their latest album Look Sharp! and almost single-handedly broke this band in the States. A DJ played their song The Look and it went straight to #1… for 2 years Roxette Reeled off four #1 hits and two #2’s, and actually you could say they 5 #1s because Dangerous hit #2 on the billboard hot 100 but hit #1 on the cashbox charts. Their other hits were It Must Have Been Love, Listen to Your Heart, Dressed for Success, Joyride, and Fading Like A Flower... they achieved in the space of two years, more than most bands achieve in a lifetime. Today, we’re covering those hits and giving you the inside track on their rise to global stardom. And then we try and figure out what happened after that. Because these guys completely disappeared from the airwaves a short while later. So how does such a successful band vanish into thin air? We’re going to get to the bottom of it… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, the story of one of the most emotionally charged hits of the rock era- Raindy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters was written by a budding songwriter Paul Williams with music by Roger Nichols, and performed by the Sister and Brother duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter. This duo was constantly ridiculed by journalists for their squeaky-clean image. I admit that I absolutely Despised their music for a quarter century. But then in a transcendent moment, today’s song converted me for good. It was Karen’s soothing voice that changed me. Today’s song, Rainy Days and Mondays is a "no doubt about it" masterpiece with one of the best lyrics of its day. But A decade after the song’s peak on the pop charts, the lives of the lyricist Paul Williams and lead singer Karen Carpenter were thrown into turmoil. It’s yet another interesting tale of what goes on behind the fame…NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up. A crazy rock story…Code words and mystery lyrics, a decades-long feud with a rival band, sweet stolen dance moves, the parting of the Red Sea, and oh yeah, the most controversial fish in all of music video history. And somehow all of this is connected to this one Amazing song. EPIC by Faith No More. This song is so legendary in fact, that it’s even in the name., we’ll get into this song’s riddle-like lyrics. They refer to the word “IT” throughout the song. SO WHAT, or WHO IS IT? Let’s find out. The song came right after they fired their singer… Chuck Mosely a new singer came right in and wrote the lyrics to this band’s killer riff. Mike Patton Killed it with EPIC’s lyrics. They knew it was a hit but the record label didn’t care… they chose the band’s first single and when it flopped they told this group they could pick the next single…it not only ignited this band’s fortunes, some argue it invented a new genre Rap Metal 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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 two key members of the rock and roll chapter of one the world’s greatest classic bands: the Doobie Brothers tell us a truly funny story. Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons were the principals of the Doobies' phenomenal 70s radio hits… Tom Johnston believed that if they could get all the politicians together, all the world’s leaders together on a grassy hill with the sun shining and let the music play, they would figure out they all had a lot more in common than they thought... And we could work toward a utopian world. Well as Tom will admit, it was foolish thinking and would never happen but it made for a great song. It became the fruit of “Listen to the Music” the Doobies' first massive hit. He wrote it as an afterthought and in his own words it wrote itself… All of a sudden he had this great song… coming up a masterclass in classic riffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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 bringing you an entirely new show on Professor of Rock. I’m really excited about this one. And I think you’re going to Dig it too. It’s a new way for this channel to go in-depth into some of the most influential bands and exceptional tracks that have ever graced the pages of rock history. And in the process, we’re featuring five defining tracks that capture the essence of the most iconic rock band in the history of iconic rock bands. Led Zeppelin. That’s right, we’re starting big. These 5 songs will rearrange anyone’s mind. The Evolution of the Lords of Rock through 5 songs that define them including one so powerful it made the singer weep after he sang the vocal From Stairway to Heaven to Kashmir the best of Led Zeppelin from the late 60s to the early 80s… 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… a 70s classic that had 624 voices that originated from only 3 singers…. I’m Not In Love by 10CC. First of all the song came from an awkward conversation the songwriter had with his wife… she was upset that he didn’t say I love you often enough. He ended up turning that awkward conversation into arguably the greatest anti-love song ever. Then in the middle of the recording sessions, the band had an idea. it involved having a receptionist reciting some of the strangest lyrics ever. and it made this song a bonafide classic. the story of the yacht rock/soft rock classic I’m Not in Love by 10CC. Written by Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart. Later the team of Godley and Creme became award-winning music video directors. 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. 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 Hight. 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 Hight might be the most bizarre and creepy B side of the entire 70s… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re literally giving you three chords and the truth with a song that has left an indelible mark on rock history… Wild Thing by the TROGGS... Written and recorded under the gun, The songwriter Chip Taylor had to write the song and record a demo in just a few hours to hit a deadline. Otherwise, he might miss his date with destiny. After he finished recording it. it was so corny he fell on the floor laughing! He had written the song as a joke as a code word for Sex. Turns out, the song completely flopped the first time around. And then feeling embarrassed by the track’s sexual undertones, this writer tried to hide it from his publisher. But someone found it and it was picked up by today’s famous group, The Troggs. Piggybacking on someone else’s recording session, the band laid it down in something like 20 minutes. But as fast as it took to record, this song was no flash in the pan. The song was all a big joke and it made its writer so rich he was gambling 10 grand a day in Vegas… The story is 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, an interview with one of the greatest drummers in rock and roll history, Stewart Copeland of the Police on their first two #1 hits, Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon. These two songs put Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland on the map. Walking on the Moons is definitely a candidate for the most atmospheric hit of its time and it came to Sting when he was sloppy drunk. He said he came up with the worst song title ever -- Walking Round the Room -- for it, so he changed it up when he was sober... and it somehow ended up with an even worse title he says! And Message in a Bottle is one of the most played in rock history and Stewart says he has one big regret about it decades later. Get the story of 2 classics in our exclusive interview, next on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, the story of the most famous grammatically incorrect rock solvo in history. and The Legendary riff came to the guitarist in a dream… I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards dreamt the famous riff and then rolled out of bed and recorded it. Funny thing is he meant for the riff heard round the world to be a horn section and he was worried he may have inadvertently ripped it off. Thank goodness the horns didn’t take. When he showed it to singer Mick Jagger. The frontman went nuts. He wrote the lyrics and they became the greatest middle finger to the man lyrics in the rock canon and then to top it all off The song got banned for being too suggestive! Pirate Radio stations started playing it and then it blew up! The story of a true 60s 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 an interview with one of the 70s most prolific and successful bands… America! They blazed onto the scene as rookies with a #1 hit with A Horse With No Name and their debut album also hit #1 and then they won the cursed Grammy for Best New Artist. History has not been kind to many of the winners of that award but this America blew UP THAT CURSE with several hits IMMEdiately after including today’s smash Sister Golden Hair that had a very depressing opening line. The song originally sat on the shelf for a year not getting a release on their previous album. But the timing was right when they went to work with the biggest producer in the world, George Martin and they rewarded him with his 1st #1 hit outside of producing the Beatles. They got some flack for a pretty tame swear word in the song and admits he borrowed from another #1 song of the time which is funny because that particular song would lose a lawsuit for ripping off another song. The interview is coming up next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inspired by the experience of a failed screen test for a film about one of the most controversial comedians of the 20th century, Lenny Bruce…superstar singer-songwriter Neil Diamond composed the most personally challenging song of his illustrious career. I Am… I Said…. It took him 4 months to write. It was a daily battle to put that song on paper that drained him emotionally. But when it was completed, it turned out to be one of the most fulfilling songs he had ever written. 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 Neil Diamond and This 70s classic to Shreds…However, the fans struck back and the hate mail was so insurmountable the journalist had to write a public apology. The story of this climatic song and the incredible journey to stardom by its legendary author is NEXT….on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s Classic song was Written on a piano in an empty studio, Thing is, today’s Legend never expected it to see the light of day. If only because he had been in the most successful band in the world for years and written over 100 songs and they were all rejected… I’m talking about George Harrison writing the song Something for the Beatles. He had written over 100 songs that got rejected and never got one of his songs released as a single until Something. It would become one of the most beloved songs in their catalog and their 2nd biggest song as a band. It would end up inspiring one of the greatest solo careers ever. Meanwhile, its flipside brother, the John Lennon penned Come Together is just as grand. With a large helping of non-sensical lyrics that have been dubbed gobbledygook, but have become a lasting part of the cultural lexicon. That’s right, today we are giving you two Hall of Fame song breakdowns for the price of one. And it’s all coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you follow up the biggest album of your career, a legitimate 80s landmark album, when two of your bandmates have gone MIA? That’s the situation today’s band, Def Leppard was grappling with as they gathered to write their 5th studio album, Adrenalize. Tragically, one member, Guitarist Steve Clark was lost to the grips of alcoholism. And the other, the “so-called” 6th member, legendary producer Mutt Lange to an entirely different artist (Bryan Adams). If you didn’t know better, you might guess this record would be their darkest offering. The thought had crossed their mind. Instead, Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Savage, and Rick Allen composed a relentlessly upbeat collection of life-affirming rock and roll… A pure adrenaline rush starting with their first hit Let’s Get Rocked…Problem is the timing was a little bit off…It came right when their brand of Feel Good Highly produced Rock was nearly extinct. What would happen to this band in the changed musical environment when grunge ruled? I actually ask lead singer Joe Elliot next and he get a little pissed. 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.

Coming up, a great underdog story of a rookie artist who went through hell to get to the top. Cyndi Lauper beat the odds to hit #1 in 1984 with Time After Time… First of all, she lost her voice due to a collapsed vocal chord and didn’t know if she’d ever sing again. She also got sued for $80k and had to declare bankruptcy leaving her penniless. But Nothing could break Lauper’s spirit or grit. When she finally got her break, her label, Portrait Records was trying to push her to only cover songs even though she was a prolific writer. She rebelled and wrote a song with another up-and-coming artist named Rob Hyman that was partly inspired by the TV Guide as well as an alarm clock that wouldn’t die. She even threw it into the shower and closed the door but the loud ticking kept her awake. Luckily, it did become a #1 smash called Time After Time that ruled the charts and went on to become the most covered song of the 80s. It was so good when they were recording it, the producer wouldn’t let anyone near the studio in fear that someone would steal the song. UP next, an interview with the cowriter and co-singer Rob Hyman of the Hooters on the story of an absolute 80s standards. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper from her best-selling album She’s So Unusual! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…it’s the intriguing narrative behind one of the most surreal songs of the Rock Era. Crafted by a trailblazing musical performer known as "the Chrome Nun,” Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. The classic '60s composition White Rabbit draws inspiration from the whimsy of a bedtime story that this singer was told as a child every night…Alice In Wonderland….Grace found some hidden messages in the story and longed to write them in this sinister and treacherous song. Whenever this songstress performed this composition live she would recite the words slowly and precisely so that the audience would understand her message but no one did! Join us as we delve into a mesmerizing journey through the rabbit hole of time, exploring a mind-altering dimension of music and bold rock artistry as we decode a song that has more mystery and enchantment than any song of its time. The story 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.

Here’s a number for you 13… Only 13 Instrumentals have hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100… Of those 13 as you may have guessed most are from Movies or TV shows… but out of that small list of 13 that hit #1 there is only 1 ROCK instrumental that did it in all of music history and it started out as a jam session. the Edgar Winter Group led by the wild and crazy mad scientist of Rock n Roll. He wanted to play his keyboard like a guitar so he put a handle on it and jammed. That instrument became the Keytar…that instrumental became Frankenstein. Once they recorded the song it was an epic 20 minutes long. If radio was going to play it, they would need to pair it down. But the song became the only #1 rock instrumental in history when a DJ played it by accident. Coming up we’ve got the goods. an interview with rocker Edgar Winter. who wrote the song tells us the story along with his massive follow-up hit Freeride… both of these songs are mainstays on classic rock radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, one of the greatest feel-good one-hit wonders of the rock era. A song that changed everything and brought peace to a nation that was hurting from an integral voice that made the oft-recoded song shine. I’m talking about Get Together by the Youngbloods with lead singer Jesse Collin Young. It was truly one of rock's most significant appeals for peace and brotherhood during a very turbulent time in the world, with a Chorus that has become a part of the identity of the 60s, and yet it still resonates. Original singer and interpreter Jesse Colin Young tells the story of taking Dino Valenti’s folk song to the next level However it would be a long journey to the top of the charts… When it was first released it stalled at #62 but a lucky break gave him a second chance when it got re-released 2 years after it failed. 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… an interview with a mystery singer who had 2 songs in the top 10 at the same time with 2 different bands but here’s the thing he never got any credit. Nobody knew who he was until much later. One of these songs was so massive it became the #1 song of the year beating out The Beatles, The Stones, and Elvis who all had big hits that year…. I’m taking about the #1 song of 1969… Sugar, Sugar by the Archies. This song is so catchy everyone was singing it then and is still singing it now. And to think the #1 smash was actually written for preschoolers for a cartoon. there was so much mystery surrounding the identity of this singer and his imaginary band that it was a trivia question that no one could solve for years… The Question was: What group never appeared together, never went on the road together, never interviewed together, and had a #1 hit... coming up we’ll get the answer from Ron Dante in this exclusive interview and the story of a song so catchy it hit #1 for 4 weeks in the Us and 8 weeks in the UK and inspired Def Leppard to write Pour Some Sugar on Me decades later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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 featuring a classic 1980 record from one of the most diverse bands of the era. The Tide is High By Blondie. Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri, Frank Infante, and Clem Burke were masters of their craft. True masters of hook-laden pop-ditties who had a knack for always hitting pay-dirt… and they did it with a fistful of rock and new wave… unfortunately, this time they had a hitless album on their hands. Or at least that’s what their label Chrysalis told them after listening to it. The record called Auto-American was just too different from anything they had ever done. This unusual collection got no love from the music industry. until it scored two chart-toppers including Rapture the first rap hit and The Tide is High. These 80s #1 hits helped the record reach Platinum status in the US. And really It was kicked off perfectly with today’s featured A track, a cover of an obscure song by the Paragons that became a personal favorite of one of the Fab Four in fact… it ended up replacing John Lennon at #1… Sadly, this record was the end of an era for Blondie. Worn down by a never-ending workload and label pressure to stay on top, these guys bottomed out and never had another hit after having 7 big ones in just 2 years. But was it really the end? We’ll 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.

In 1980, the quiet, reserved, bassist for one of the most popular rock bands, created a track that LIT up disco balls in the clubs and blasted over the airwaves around the world. John Deacon of Queen embraced disco with a funky bassline and the song THAT WOULD BECOME Another One Bites the Dust was enhanced even more once his flamboyant singer Freddie Mercury got a hold of it and bludgeoned the Disco semantics with a rock and roll swagger and Brian May’s shredding guitar took it even Higher. Queen turned Another Ones Bites the Dust into the best song of Disco. But there would be controversy when parents said that the song was evil. They claimed that if one played the song backward a subliminal message would corrupt teenagers' minds. The story of a sports anthem inspired by the band Chic, and crusaded by the King of Pop- that was a huge departure for one of the world’s greatest rock bands, and became the quartet's biggest-selling single in America. 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.

Apparently, it was the world’s worst demo. Ever. No one wanted this song. Tons of artists passed over it. The sound quality was nearly unlistenable. And the performance on the track was even worse. Amateurish, out of time, and highlighted by a bizarre falsetto, it was insanely bad… and about to be lost to oblivion because no one was going to record this mess. It was so bad one of the band members turned a chance to co-write the song down… a decision that would cost him millions of dollars. The song Happy Together was going nowhere fast…. That is, until finally a surf band turned folk band, turned psychedelic band heard a diamond in the rough. The band was called the Turtles with Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. They themselves were on their last legs… having released five straight singles that absolutely bombed. Needing a surefire hit, who knows why they took a chance on this horrible demo? But we’re glad they did. Because as they say, the rest is history. It’s a tale of two intrepid friends Howard and Mark or Flo and Eddies as they would later be known, they have stuck together for the long haul, and so has their signature classic that everybody loves Happy Together. And I mean everybody. It’s a song that you can’t not sing along to when it comes on. It’s pure magic. And you’re going to love the story behind it, 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.