Professor of Rock

Coming up, we turn the spotlight on those spontaneous bursts of brilliance when rock legends threw out the script and created something historic on the spot. These are the unplanned performances that turned into moments of legend... including a kid who was traveling with his parent and wanted to see a legendary studio. He happened to play guitar and asked if he could sit in on a session. He played a riff so cool it made the cut, and the song became a classic. Then there was Incense and Peppermints, a song that Strawberry Alarm Clock was struggling to nail down the vocals. Everyone in the band tried it, but it wasn’t working. Then a random kid who was watching the session stepped to the mic and nailed it. Next thing he knew, it was a #1 hit. Then there was Bon Scott, who jumped on stage and jammed with AC/DC on a whim and became one of the most legendary singers ever! It’s a countdown of the Top 5 Moments of Improv Magic… 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 going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1970. 52 years ago. This top 10 has one of the greatest, most revered tracks gracing its ranks. Will The Beatles be crowned #1? Not if the Jackson 5, The Guess Who, or solo John Lennon have anything to say about it. Plus, we have some surprise underdogs and one of the most successful one-hit wonders of all time looking to make their mark. Find out how it all shakes down, next on our latest edition of the Hit Song Redux!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with the famous singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, who’s renowned for her confessional writing and character-driven narratives... but technically only had one hit: Sunny Came Home but it was massive. It was #1 on several charts and won Grammys for record of the year and song of the year from one of the most iconic albums of the year it was released. And right in the middle of her Grammy speech, a rapper jumped on the stage and protested a rival artist winning over his group. Sunny Came Home is a classic of its time, and it actually came from this artist’s friend… Or her painting… Shawn Colvin loved her friend’s painting so much that she made it the album cover, and it sparked the idea for the classic song that was about a woman who started her own house on fire. The interview 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.

Today’s story has it all. A song by The Cult called She Sells Sanctuary that divides fans so much that one punched the singer Ian Astbury in the face. Then, a producer wanted to work with the band so badly that he stole their demo tape from his rival. And then The Cult's drummer stole a car on his way to the music video shoot and was arrested. And then the secret sauce of She Sells Sanctuary actually came from the ace guitarist playing his instrument with a violin bow. All of this happened with today’s hard rock classic. Today’s all-out rocker Ian Astbury launched this underground band into the international spotlight and made them one of the coolest bands of their time. Get the story of how The Cult fought back and established themselves as an iconic act for the ages. So Iconic that both New Wave kids and Metal-Heads loved them… It's the most mystical song of 1985, 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 ultimate countdown of classic crushes, heartbreaks, and unforgettable anthems. Some of these songs were written about real people, while others just needed the perfect name to make them timeless. It’s our Girl in the Song countdown, including Prince's Naughty Song Darling Nikki that Offended Every Politician’s Wife in Washington DC. And Angie, a song that Mick Jagger allegedly wrote to make peace when his buddy's wife found them in bed together. Plus Brandy (You're a Fine Girl), which made an obscure Girl’s name one of the most popular of the 70s. And another song, Beth, that Kiss hated so much, most of the key members didn’t even show up to record it, and then it became their biggest hit. Interviews and stories 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.

It was a year of rock and pop magic. Today, we do our final top 10 countdown of the neon decade. It was year that saw Peter Gabriel replace his old band Genesis at #1 with the happy-go-lucky song Sledgehammer that most people still don’t know is about making whoopee. And then another #1 hit Addicted to Love that was written while its suave singer, Robert Palmer, was asleep. Plus, you had a music critic quit his big-time magazine to go write music as one half of the Pet Shop Boys… His co-workers mocked him relentlessly until West End Girls became one of the biggest hits of the year. And this is the year that included what I believe is the coolest song of all time… Something About You by Level 42. Seriously, if I could only listen to 1 song for the rest of my life… it would be this one. Can you guess the year? We have special guests and epic stories 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 got one for ya. Today's song Soul to Squeeze was cut from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' ground-breaking album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It was turned into a B-side several times, and then put on the soundtrack of one of the worst movies of its time, The Coneheads, as an afterthought… And then out of nowhere, it flew up the charts and became a #1 smash? Well, Soul to Squeeze did exactly that. The Chili Peppers had it all ready to go as a part of their famous double album, but at the last second, their label demanded they cut the double record in half. And since they’d already written a similar song, they just dropped it. They thought it was just OK anyway, so it was no skin off their noses. But as it turns out, Soul to Squeeze resonated with a lot of people who felt like outcasts. I guess everybody loves an underdog. Up next, we have the unlikely story of a second-class b-side from the soundtrack of the worst movie of the year that became a bona fide rock 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, we’re uncovering the backstories behind the greatest movie themes of the 1980s. Songs that became pop culture history. And some of these backstories are just insane. The Batman theme was recorded in the cramped bathroom of an airplane at 30,000 feet. And the former 80s frontman turned composer, Danny Elfman, had to run back to the lavatory every time inspiration struck with the next part. Another classic adventure score, The Raiders March, actually started as two separate pieces of music—but they were both so good, the director made him stitch the two songs into a single, unforgettable track. Then there was the ET Theme that was so moving that it made Steven Spielberg cry the first time he heard it, and then he actually re-cut the film to match the flow of the music. We’re telling these stories and more… Stick around as we count them down, 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, a conversation with The Stylistics, a band that helped carve out an Incredible Musical Movement in the 70s. One that would influence everyone from Prince to Judas Priest to Daryl Hall and John Oates with some of the best baby-making music of all time. In fact, the members of this group told me that a couple told them that they have 3 kids and all were conceived to each of their 3 hits: Like You Are Everything, You Make Feel Brand New, and Betcha By Golly Wow. Up next, they tell the story of 2 of the biggest hits ever including one that came from an old Country Bumpkin Saying that they turned into a classic and another one that has one of the most striking falsettos of all time. 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, the story of the 80s classic that just gets bigger every year, and it almost didn’t get recorded. Today’s singer-songwriter Robbie Dupree moved to LA and began to pay his dues, and he did for years, but he got nowhere. He submitted demos, including his song that would become an all-time classic: Steal Away. But it was rejected by every single label outright. So Robbie decided to move back to his old town and took a job loading carpets into trucks just to make ends meet, feeling like his chance had passed and he was ready to move on with his life. Then something completely unexpected happened. And it made his song a classic that has had a major resurgence in pop culture and is now one of the most played songs in radio history. Robbie himself tells the story 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.

There’s no shortage of opinions when it comes to the greatest Male rock singer of all time—critics, fans, and forums have debated it endlessly. And while we don’t necessarily disagree with the usual names, there are some incredible voices that rarely get the recognition they deserve. So on this episode, we're shining a light on the unsung heroes—the vocalists who should absolutely be in the conversation of the greatest ever, and there are some real surprises in here. It’s our countdown of the Top 10 Most Under-Appreciated Vocalists… including the raspy rocker Bob Seger who was so poetic he made a seedy stripper seem like a Goddess, and Sammy Hagar who had such a talent at this peak that his 1986 hit with his new band was so grand it felt like he was just showing off. And then there’s David Gilmour, who is one of the greatest guitarists ever and the secondary singer in Pink Floyd, but his melancholy performance on 1975's Wish You Were Here was so sensational it’s become the greatest album cut in history. The stories are 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.

Today’s year was something else. Where it was the last hurrah for one Genre… Rock made a huge comeback with songs that have become like old friends. Including Who Are You by The Who that dropped the F-bomb clearly several times, but somehow got past the censors and is still played today…Then there was the Punk Icon that questioned Freddie Mercury's masculinity, and then Mercury turned around and wrote the Toughest Rock Anthem of the time: We Will Rock You. Then there was the rookie band Foreigner that ran out of songs at their first festival, so they ad-libbed Hot Blooded on the spot, and it became a classic. Plus, the Saxophone song Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty made sales of the instrument skyrocket across the world. But the guy who played the sax part only got paid 36 bucks for it, and the check bounced! We’ve got a great countdown coming up 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 unbelievable story of the quintessential 80s classic that made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest hike to #1... from the strange and entraining band Dead or Alive, led by larger than life frontman Pete Burns, whose botched plastic surgery became his downfall. He started out as a militant record store clerk berating customers whose musical tastes didn’t align with his! He even got nasty, throwing their purchases back in their face. But then, later, he threw down a record of his very own… a song that would flood any dance floor or club anywhere: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record). Later, it would become the most rehashed karaoke song of the time… The band would have 7 top 10 hits over just a couple of years, even though to this day, people all think of them as a one-hit wonder. The problem is that, the moment the 80s ended, the band vanished. But 21 years after the song hit #1 in 1985, it hit #1 again! 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.

Writing songs that felt like letters from a lonely highway or the deck of a sinking ship, Gordon Lightfoot turned heartbreak and history into chart-topping hits. And sometimes, the stories behind the songs were just as intense as the ones he told through lyrics. On this episode, we’re telling the story of one of Canada’s finest through five defining songs. Including the chart-topping hit Sundown, fueled by jealous obsession over a passionate relationship with a woman who would later be jailed in connection with the death of a major icon.. And there is also The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a song that stopped radio listeners cold—a six-minute ballad about a doomed freighter. It became one of the most haunting songs of the 70s. Plus, If You Could Read My Mind, a song that was so commercially successful, the artist’s label changed the name of the album to match it. We’re tracing the evolution of one of the premier troubadours of the rock era… 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, possibly the most likable person I’ve ever interviewed. Rupert Holmes…He’s Such a great storyteller… Well it’s a special one today as he tells the story of a beloved song that was the final #1 Hit of the 70s and would’ve been the first #1 of the 80s but Payola ruined that… Escape (the Pina Colada Song) Although he did hit #1 a week into the new decade but it’s ironic that this song was the last #1 of the 70s and one of the first of the 80s because the song itself has one foot in both decades and to think it’s singer and creator had a completely different lyric when he went into the recording booth but in a split second he changed the main lyric from one unique phrase to another that was completely off the wall and the split second decision changed everything. He was freaking out because he had to some crazy word play to make the syllables fit and the song had to have a second drummer to make it all fit but it became one of the most famous songs ever… 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, the story of the nearly forgotten rockstar Adam Ant… He should be remembered more than he is… He started out destined for the top of the charts… His mother was Paul McCartney’s housekeeper, so he ended up walking McCartney’s Dog and later got the guts to sneak into his music room. Later, he formed a band, and they actually had 7 songs in the top 40 charts at the same time… He got so big he was voted World’s Sexiest Man in an MTV poll, which may have been the strangest choice, as he beat out everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. But it was his odd style and persona that won over everyone and influenced the biggest stars of the time, including the King of Pop. Adam Ant's music dominated the new romantic new wave landscape of early MTV. He really was the face of early MTV with Goody Two Shoes that many confused as a critique of righteous living. But as you’ll find out today, it was actually about him in a way. And later, we’d find out that he made his bandmates sign an agreement they wouldn’t drink or smoke! It’s a story that has rarely been told. 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.

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Up next, we celebrate a magical year in our culture. See if you can guess the year. A wide-eyed alien named E.T. captured our hearts on the big screen, and the alien the Thing filled our hearts with fear—but over the airwaves, some of the most unforgettable songs of the Rock Era were blasting out of our speakers! Including New World Man, the only hit Rush ever had, and it was kind of a fluke. They had 3:57 of dead space on their finished album, so even though they never wrote short songs, they set a goal to write one in less than a day. Then there was Jackson Browne, who had his biggest hit ever: Somebody's Baby. But he thought it was fluff, so he refused to put it on his new album. And it may have cost him #1 and at least a million sales. Then there was Phil Oakey, who begged his label not to put out his catchy song Don't You Want Me. So, of course, it became the biggest song of the year! And finally, there was the duet Under Pressure that Freddie Mercury and David Bowie declined to sing in the same room. Crazy stories with Iconic guests…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, Earth, Wind & Fire's September, a 70s classic that contained a date that would become the most famous in song history! Many have wondered why the legendary group or songwriter chose the particular date… We’ll find out next. September is a stone-cold classic song that, whenever played, is a guaranteed floor flooder from a group that grooves like no other. It was a song written by a woman who was on food stamps, but this classic would immediately pull her out of poverty and make her one of the richest songwriters ever. But the legendary singer of the band, Maurice White, threw a nonsense word in the chorus that he was severely criticized for. Many wanted it changed… He stuck with it, believing it was a key to the song…But what did it mean? Find out why it was so important as we celebrate maybe the greatest crossover classic in music history!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before streaming, before binge-watching, and long before the skip-intro button… there was the TV theme song. And in the 1970s, they weren’t just an afterthought—theme songs were an art form. A great theme could sell you on a show before the first line of dialogue. On today’s countdown, we’re rewinding back to the golden age of polyester and primetime to bring you the Top 12 TV themes of the 70s. Along the way, we’ll feature the M*A*S*H Theme Song written by a producer’s teenage son. And it became an enduring classic—even though he was told to make it sound “stupid.” Another song, Come and Knock on Our Door, was supposed to be sung by the show’s cast, but they were so incredibly bad, they were replaced by professional singers. And the song Welcome Back Kotter was so good that the name of the TV show was changed to match it. 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.

Coming up next: one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the '80s and beyond, Neil Finn, tells the story of his first band, Split Enz. They were underground heroes who would later conquer the mainstream with some of the best songs of the decade, including their 1980 single I Got You that became the biggest-selling single in Australian history, even though Neil thought the chorus was Corny and was planning to replace it but ran out of time. Then, another single One Step Ahead that became one of the first videos played on MTV, where one of his bandmates did the Moonwalk years before Michael Jackson would. Then there’s the song that he wrote for a fan because they traveled all across the world to meet him. It’s an entertaining interview with one of the finest songwriters ever 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.

Fleetwood Mac was a true supergroup in the ultra-competitive 70s and became the most enduring soap opera in rock history where it seemed like every band member was sleeping with each other at one time or another, and it actually enhanced the music. But fast forward to the 80s, and it got progressively worse and came to a nasty conclusion in 1987 while recording Tango in the Night, a record that had more hits than any of their albums tied with Rumours with Little Lies, Everywhere, Seven Wonders and Big Love..Already known for having more than their fair share of secrets, intrigue, and infighting, one tragic day after recording their new record. The experience took the band’s brand of musical mayhem to a putrid level, leaving one band member, Stevie Nicks, fearing for her life. And another, Lindsey Buckingham, outright quit the band for good. Several of the band members were struggling with substance abuse, and another, Christine McVie was feeling left out of the creative process even though she may have had the best ideas. But through all this turmoil, the band manager recorded a hit song so magical, so joyful… even happy-go-lucky, that it puts you in a Great mood every time you hear it. So could that joy and the record's success overcome the drama?? Well, the story is coming up next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OK, everybody! It’s time to shift into high gear with the ultimate soundtrack to power your next road trip. On this episode, we’re cranking up the volume and celebrating the Top 5 Driving Songs that turn every journey into an epic adventure. Along the way, we have Radar Love, a song that caused the most speeding tickets in history. Another song called Driver's Seat that was held out of #1 because a factory went on strike and couldn’t make enough copies. Plus, GNR's Welcome to the Jungle, one of the most iconic hard rock songs ever. But at the time, nobody would play it because the band was too controversial. MTV made them a deal that they’d play the song 1 time at 4 AM… So many fans called in after to request it be played again it tied up the switchboard for days… It made Appetite for Destruction a hit, selling 30 million copies. And finally, Born to Be Wild, a song that was written as a slow ballad until Steppenwolf sped it up and made it the greatest driving song ever. The stories 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.

It was the end of a decade and the beginning of a brand-new era in music. It was the year the Beatles said goodbye, and a new wave of singer-songwriters took center stage... and rock, soul, and pop collided in revolutionary ways. So many classics with incredible stories and legendary guests, from No Sugar Tonight, a song inspired by Randy Bachman witnessing a wife cussing out her husband in public with a funny comeback. He turned into a #1 hit. And Bridge Over Troubled Water, a song that famous songwriter Paul Simon forced his less famous singing partner Art Garfunkel to do. But Paul was jealous and LIVID when it became their biggest hit. Another, Free's All Right Now was written on the fly before a gig, and it went over so well that the audience made the band play it again. And Eric Burdon & War's Spill the Wine, a song that most people don’t realize is about an O-R-G-Y, but we sing it all the time. The countdown 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.

Desperado was the first song the Eagles actually wrote together and it ended up being the last song they ever played tougher before they broke up. And to think that this complex classic was written by Don Henley when he was only 17 years old and it became a true classic for a band that had at least a dozen of them from Hotel California to Take it Easy but this became their crem de la crem. it became an all time standard, and one of the most covered songs ever. but it missed the charts entirely. but the song’s history is just as profound. From a starting a fire at the photo shoot for the record, where the fire department had to come save them to the band having zero budget to record it… In fact he band could only afford two takes on the song so the singer had to be perfect to nail a difficult vocal and with a renowned orchestra playing behind him. No pressure at all right? Even though the song wasn’t a hit, it was including on a greatest hits album and it is the major reason why that album has sold over 40 million copies… 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.

You know, some of rock’s best tracks just don’t get their due for a lot of different reasons. Maybe they were buried too deep on the album or overshadowed by a hit single. Or maybe they didn’t fit the mold for radio airplay. But these are the tracks that fans hold close to the vest—the ones you brag about knowing before anyone else caught on. They are true hidden gems. And these songs hit just as hard—and sometimes harder—than the familiar classics. So, on today’s episode, we’re digging up five of these deep cuts... songs that didn’t top the charts but still move the dial in the heart of every diehard fan. The entries include Rush's YYZ, which contains a message written in Morse Code. The Led Zeppelin track Celebration Day had its drum part accidentally erased, so it forced the band to get creative. And then there's The Jack by AC/DC, which most fans don’t realize is about an STD, with the lyrics hidden in plain sight. It’s time to shine a light on five underrated classics that deserve way more love. It’s all coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next…Do you ever need a short rest from some of the most overplayed songs of the 80s? Well, I got your remedy today with 5 classic hidden gems. Today, I have all five artists behind these songs here to tell the stories, including legendary singer-songwriter JD Souther, who wrote a load of classics for different artists, and we just lost him even though the media virtually ignored it. But fortunately I was able to talk to him about his massive solo hit You’re Only Lonely that sounded so much like another legend that DJ mistook him for that icon and wrongly announced the song and artist on air… leading many to go to the record store to buy the record, confusing the store clerks… Another is from Daryl Hall, who had the most hits of the decade with his partner John Oates, but found enough time to put out a solo song called Dreamtime that became a huge hit… And Paul Carrack, who is the only singer in history to have a top 10 hit with four different groups including today’s hit Don’t Shed a Tear which was supposed to be cut by another band. But the guy who wrote the music hated the lyrics…so it fell to Paul. They are all here to tell the tale next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, a legendary song by The Little River Band that had the same title as several big songs that came out at the same time: Lady. It managed to hit the top 10 due to this band’s incredible harmonies and infectious melodies. Graeham Goble, the man who wrote the song, is here to tell the tale. He wrote Lady about a beautiful girl he saw dancing at one of the band's live shows. And to this day that woman has no clue the song was written about her. And he doesn’t even know her, because he didn’t formally meet her. Today’s episode is bittersweet because our guest wrote or co-wrote some of the biggest hits of the 70s and the '80s as a founding member of today’s famous band, and now this group has ZERO original members and is controlled by a group of individuals who aren’t even from the band’s native country. And they tour and record with many fans not knowing this. The story is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up… I’m trying to keep my cool and not throw a chair through the window as I give you my top 6 picks for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 14 are nominated, and like many of you, I’m livid that Paul Rodgers has been eligible for induction for over 30 years and isn’t in. He only happens to be the blueprint that God created for the perfect Rock Singer and a favorite of Legends like Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury. There’s another band on here that is nominated as two bands in one nomination: Joy Division/New Order. And another who is one of the most distinct voices in history. Joe Cocker. And clear back in 2014, Billy Joel yelled out his support in concert for the Hall to recognize him… It would take 11 years, and now that artist has passed. We get through a tough countdown NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a year of BIG moments—Ronald Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down” the Berlin Wall, on Black Monday the stock Market Crashed, and scientists spotted a supernova exploding in the depths of space. But back on Earth, music was having a supernova of its own. Some of the biggest albums ever to hit the charts made 1987 a candidate for the greatest year in music history, from Def Leppard to Guns N' Roses to REM, to U2 to The Cure and many more, led by incredible songs that were so unforgettable they still resonate today. Including a rock anthem, Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi that has such a fist-pumping singalong lyric we all stop everything we’re doing to sing along to it, another… Billy Idol's " Sweet Sixteen " is so haunting it still sends shivers down our spines, plus one that came from Paul Simon from getting dissed at his own dinner party in the 70s so he put it in the song You Can Call Me Al as an inside joke, and it became a smash. And another by Genesis that has truly deranged music video with puppets that cost 10 grand each in Land of Confusion… It's all 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, Simple Man was a track on one of the greatest debut albums of the rock era, Lynyrd Skynyrd's (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd). And it’s been streamed over a billion times and is one of the most beloved songs of rock’s most storied genres. But despite its popularity, Simple Man never actually charted on the Hot 100. The only reason it wasn’t a hit is that the band failed to release it as a single. But that finally charted decades later. Funny story: Apparently, Skynyrd’s producer didn’t want them to record the song. He put his foot down and denied them. But the guys got together and hatched a plan; they coaxed him outside and then locked him out of the studio... and told him not to come back until they were done. At the time, Lynyrd Skynyrd and their producer were at each other’s throats all the time. But somehow, despite the constant fighting, they managed to put together a historic debut album. And Simple Man is some of the best advice for a happy life as it came from several of the band members' loved ones... to be precise their grandma and mother. It’s the story of a tear-jerker from one of rock’s toughest frontmen 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 was Human League, a new wave band that came out of nowhere to rule the charts in 1982 with the #1 hit Don't You Want Me, which kicked off the second British invasion. But 4 years later, the pressure was on to replicate the success in America after a failed album and a song that didn't make the top 50. So they came up with another left-field idea, trading in their robotic sound for a smooth and emotive track where the singer admits to his girlfriend he cheated on her and is shocked to find out that she is forgiving because she cheated on him too… That song is called Human. Up next, the legendary cowriter and producer of Human tells the story of working with the new romantic new wave band and how he transformed the robotic singer into one of the most moving performances of the 80s. And how Human hit #1, ruled 4 major charts, and has become one of the foundational tracks of the 80s, 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 Taboo Songs countdown. That’s right today we’re exploring the stories behind five controversial tracks that deeply offended certain segments of society. One was a hilarious double entendre song by Chuck Berry that sounded like a nursery rhyme, and it came under fire from a teacher-turned-crusader who tried to ban it from the airwaves. But it only made it his most popular song. One track by Matchbox Twenty was accused of glorifying domestic abuse, but it was the complete opposite of what it was accused of. Another song by Carl Douglas got a man arrested just for playing it. And then there is the kid's song by Peter, Paul; and Mary that supposedly contained hidden messages promoting drug use. They’re tracks that had the morality police hyperventilating, melting down, and losing their freaking minds… and their 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.

Coming up, a candidate for the most famous #2 hit of all-time and the song that was almost lost in the vaults: Start Me Up… It was written by the Rolling Stones in the 70s. In fact, the Stones did about 70 takes of Start Me Up and most of them were a very sad attempt at creating a reggae song. They crashed and burned, but on one of the takes, they did a straight-ahead rock version. Well, in the 80s, the Rolling Stones really needed a hit and songs for their new album. Luckily, their engineer remembered the one take they did that was a diamond in the rough and knew it could be a hit. But going back to the vaults, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. It’s the story of a song that sat on the shelf for years, and then the Stones had to be convinced to play it straight… Find out what happened 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 exploring one of the most polarizing yet powerful forces in rock history—the power ballad. Loved by fans, loathed by many artists, and even dismissed by record labels who feared it would drive listeners away. Yet, this so-called guilty pleasure became a defining sound of generations… one of these hit songs by the Scorpions was so powerful it started a baby boom in one part of the country and another one by Motley Crue was so beloved it forced a cable network to stop playing it to give other bands a change and yet another that had one of the most electrifying vocals ever because the band Nazareth transposed it in the wrong key forcing the singer to sing a full two steps above his vocal range. —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 year we are traveling back to today was a year of seismic pop culture shifts—Jimmy Carter was in the Oval Office, Star Wars took over theaters, and Saturday Night Fever lit up the dance floor. New York City went dark in a massive blackout, but the music scene was burning bright. One of the biggest rock songs of the year by Ram Jam came from the 1800s. Another by Heart came when a sleazy radio promoter’s dirty innuendo pissed off Ann Wilson, causing her to write one of the greatest rock songs in mere minutes… another song by Paul McCartney was released on an album 7 years earlier but a live version of the song hit the top of the charts and another one by Fleetwood Mac came from one of the greatest soap opera’s in music history. It made today’s year a revelation… see if you can guess the year in today’s top 10 countdown coming up next! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s legend Warren Zevon was told by one of the founding fathers of rock, that he should write a novelty song and not just any novelty song. He reasoned it could be about an old horror movie he had just watched on TV the night before. So Warren followed his advice and wrote Werewolves of London… a silly song he called a piece of crap. And even though Warren would become a legend, this novelty song became his only hit! Werewolves of London is about a mysterious, sophisticated gent who could be seen dining at Chinese restaurants and drinking Pina Coladas in posh areas of the city. He’s a dapper fellow, with tailored suits and perfectly coiffed hair. But don’t let appearances fool you….Despite his dashing looks, you best keep your distance... cause he’ll rip your lungs out. Up next. the story of a song that a tortured legend wrote on a dare and loathed his whole life, but we all adore it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s featured foursome The Monkees was cast as a fictional TV band, hired to sing and paid not to play. They were expected to follow the script, but their career would be anything but scripted. It’s the unlikely saga of four actors turned rock stars who then fought to control their musical destiny. Along the way, they scored some of the most iconic hits of the 1960s (outselling the Beatles on a few occasions)... including The Last Train to Clarksville, a secret protest song that snuck past the censors and came from their main rival’s misheard lyrics… another called (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone that was a forgotten B-side that became a garage-rock classic, and the #1 hit I'm a Believer that one of the singers called absolute Crap, begging the band not to do it… in fact he was so upset that he had to be kicked out of the studio, and yet another song where the wrong lyrics were sung due to bad penmanship. In this episode, we’re tracking the wild ride of The Monkees, a band that started out pretending—and ended up proving they were the real thing… 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.

Go to https://geolog.ie/PROFESSOROFROCK70 or scan QR Code on the screen and use code PROFESSOROFROCK70 to get 70% off your custom skincare starter set. Plus, you can grab any add-on of your choice absolutely free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back when the Grammys actually meant something in the 80s, no single artist had swept the big four awards… Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artists… Until Christopher Cross… The most unlikely star of that year, he was facing some fierce competition: Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. But his song Sailing was so heart-shaking and smooth that it would invent a genre that wouldn’t be named for 30 years in fact: Yacht Rock. In the end Christopher not only beat that fierce batch of artists, but he had such a career year that nobody in their right mind could ever dream of topping it with an Oscar and 5 Grammys. But in the end, he banished the awards to his garage and wondered if was worth it. To this day he remains one of the most distinct voices in history… Nobody has ever been able to mimic it and Christopher's debut album is in a category all by itself. The story is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 10 television theme songs from the 80s... Songs that were at the top of their game back in the day, and still hit you in the gut with a potent punch of nostalgia whenever you hear them. Some of these you’ll recognize from the radio like the theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) because they became major hit singles. Others like As Long As We've Got Each Other sparked some behind-the-scenes drama and were almost axed before they got the green light. And a story that will blow your Mind… one of the most beloved TV Themes Ever, The A-Team, used an intentionally ripped-off riff from Cream’s Epic Rock Classic Sunshine of Your Love, with the composer freely admitting it. Find out what song and if it landed him in hot water. What will be #1…Let’s take a time machine through the golden age of television when theme songs were still king. It’s the ultimate trip down memory lane… NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we go back to a strange year in music that was equal parts wild & unpredictable: 1989. A true transitional year that was stuck between the past and the future and it wasn’t really sure of its identity... where rock, pop, and R&B collided in the most unforgettable way. Where one metal band had such an epic drum sound that an elder statesman of 60s rock was a surprise fan…Wait till you hear this story. Also, Tears For Fears copped a Beatles record so blatantly that Paul McCartney joked he should be in line for Royalties. Plus teen sensation Markita, who released one of the darkest songs of the year and then disappeared. As well as legendary rocker Tom Petty who sang a bunch of hilarious one-liners as a joke to get his famous producer to laugh… It worked but the producer actually made him turn the running joke into a song and it became his biggest hit. We count down the top 10 songs of an eclectic year in music. See if you can guess it before we announce it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next, an interview with one of rock’s greatest storytellers… Randy Bachman. Randy has accomplished the rare feat of having a number-one hit with two different bands: the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive. In fact, he got very sick and needed to take some time off and his first band moved on without him. So he eventually formed another BTO and ended up outselling them... but today’s classic song Let It Ride actually came when he was on tour with the Doobie Brothers. BTO was on the way to a gig when they got pinned in a traffic jam. A truck driver with his rig had boxed their tour bus in and they couldn’t move. So after a frustrating wait, this rock legend confronted the trucker at a rest stop.. It was about to get ugly as a fight was about to break out… Just when all hell was about to break loose this trucker said something in anger that inspired a rock classic. Find out what it was next on Professor of Rock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we’re gonna turn up the heat and count down the Top 5 Carnal Songs of all time. These are tracks that pushed boundaries, raised eyebrows, made people blush, and sent the morality police into a frenzy. These songs weren’t just hits; they were bold, seductive, and unapologetically raw. A few were straight-up banned like the biggest hit ever from the golden gods of rock, Whole Lotta Love, whose lead singer mimicked the sounds of carnality so vividly it cost the band a #1 hit. And then there was the music video by Van Halen that was so bad Friday Night Videos had to put black bars over the screen to cover some naughty parts. And you’ll be shocked to find out that the most famous song about getting it on, called Let's Get It On, is actually about praying to overcome substance abuse? All 5 of these classic songs left their mark on rock history. The countdown of the Top 5 Carnal Songs of the rock era is NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up an interview with Steven Page a former member of Barenaked Ladies one of the most interesting bands of the last 35 years. He was a co-writer and co-vocalist on many of this iconic band's biggest this. Including a poignant song that he wrote about his hero, Brian Wilson a legendary figure of rock history… Then amazingly, years after he released the song Brian Wilson invited him to his concert and played the song with him in the front row. He also tells the story of his former band’s most iconic hit, If I Had a Million Dollars, it happened to be the very first song he ever wrote with his frequent collaborator in the band… They were camp counselors together and on a bus ride home from camp they wrote the song in a few minutes… It was a silly song but it ended up helping them sell millions of records and get pelted with Mac and cheese whenever they played it live. the interview is next on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, John Mellencamp, a man who had to change his stage name so many times... to this day some are confused about what to call him and it all started with his label. We’ve talked about some really boneheaded decisions that the execs, and the suits have made in the history of rock... but this may be the winner. Even though he was a midwestern rocker with a chip on his shoulder, his label wanted to groom him to be the next Neil Diamond. They said his 1982 album American Fool was garbage. They said it was unlistenable and would ruin his career. It got so bad he got into a shoving match with one of the suits. In the end, his record became a smash selling 5 million copies and hitting #1 and giving him enough success to use his real name instead of the cheesy one the label forced him to use. Up next, the story of Jack and Diane, a song that John hated because it had handclaps and he felt it was too easy to singalong to. But he put it out because his wife made him. It’s a funny story next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in the day if your song wasn’t under 4 minutes, it wouldn’t get played. In fact, if it was over 3 and half minutes it was a gamble. coming up next we are telling the stories of 5 songs that defied the odds and at over 7 minutes long made it to the Top 40. in fact a few of them became the biggest hits of the year they were released in. One by the Moody Blues may have invented prog rock and it was inspired by bed sheets. It failed when it was first released not even hitting the top 100 but then it went straight to the top of the charts 5 years later when a DJ played it so he could go take a long smoke break…and another by Iron Butterfly that came from the singer drunkenly slurring the words… They were written down incorrectly and people had no clue what he was saying so naturally it became a smash. And one from The Beatles where their singer dropped the F-bomb when he screwed up a line and it got left in and still went to #1 60 years ago! Stay tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we travel back to 1979, a year packed with iconic moments in music! From a Disco song that Blondie wrote as a joke that pissed off their fans when it went to #1, to a song by Journey that Steve Perry wrote right after he watched his girlfriend cheating right in front of him, to the Knack, a rookie rock band that Killed Disco Dead when the biggest hit of the year but fell flat on their face soon after... never heard from again, to a song by ELO that contains one of the greatest misheard lyrics ever and it came from the genius singer shouting nonsense as a filler word only to find out later that it was a real word and had deep meaning. Up next ground-breaking hits from punk & new wave pioneers, and tracks that are still classic rock radio staples today. It was an eclectic year in rock history and we're putting it under the microscope next with special guests on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next. An insane 80s rock story about everything but the kitchen sink. It is the story of Here I Go Again, a song that today’s sensational rock singer Devid Coverdale felt would be a hit when his band put it out in 1982. Instead, it became the spark that started a chain of events that nearly killed his career and that of his band. The song failed, but David went back to the drawing board and was on the cusp of a major breakthrough record when he lost his voice and had to have voice surgery. He was told he would NEVER sing again. He would beat the odds and get his voice in shape but at this point he was destitute… he had to sing ad jingles just to make rent. He was 3 million in debt and it got so bad his label wouldn’t give him the cash to make a music video to promote the song… yet somehow he overcame…he dug up his failed 1982 recording of Here I Go Again and did it again… In fact, he had to record it 3 times with 3 different bands because he fired his entire band before the album came out. But the song and its music video would dominate the late 80s with one of the hottest video vixens in history. You’ll love this story coming up next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some songs were always destined to make millions, usually through chart dominance and endless airplay. But sometimes, the biggest paydays come from the most unexpected places. Some songs have made their creators absolute fortunes in ways no one saw coming or could ever predict, including the artists themselves. Today we’re counting down five songs no one expected to win the lottery… including the story of one songwriter who unwittingly missed millions in royalties because he thought the song Happy Together was dumb and rejected a writing credit. And another that was a forgotten album cut by Devo until it hit pay dirt and now the author of it makes a million a year off it and it’s become the most played song in MTV history... even though the song has no actual music video! Their stories are coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.