Professor of Rock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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