Professor of Rock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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