Professor of Rock

Coming up next is an interview with Kenny Rogers, a legend we lost a few years back… He was voted the greatest singer in the world several times by the people, and today’s song, The Gambler, his most famous one, is a major reason why… It’s a song that everyone knows and loves, even if they won’t admit it. It’s a song that changed the fortune of a computer programmer forever. A tech guy who was working a graveyard shift wrote the song, and in the process, he elevated a middle-aged singer whom the pundits said was done. They said at 40 Kenny was way past his prime, over the hill, they said his career was over, and left him for dead. But The Gambler launched him into superstardom. The song was so good that it became a hit TV movie and a metaphor that’s been used a million times. Up next, the making of a storybook song that grabbed an indelible piece of pop culture… in his own words. 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 honor the life, genius, and lasting legacy of Brian Wilson—co-founder of The Beach Boys, and one of the most visionary minds in rock history. In this special bonus episode of Professor of Rock, we commemorate Brian’s extraordinary contributions to music following the news of his passing.Through exclusive commentary and historical perspective, we remember Brian not only as a musical innovator but as a fragile genius whose art transcended generations.This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the man who gave the world God Only Knows, Don’t Worry Baby, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, and so many more.Rest in harmony, Brian Wilson. Your music lives on.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some songs were made to push boundaries — stirring up scandal, controversy, and uncomfortable conversations. On today’s episode, we’re featuring songs that did just that… We’re breaking down six songs that either got themselves banned from radio, blacklisted by MTV, or pulled from live shows. The list of taboo tracks includes Olivia Newton-John John who panicked after recording her biggest hit, Physical, and begged her manager to kill it — but it was already racing up the charts. Another musician, Laura Branigan, released a music video for Self Control that played out like Phantom of the Opera meets Eyes Wide Shut. So MTV banned it. But it still went Top 5 on the US charts. We’ve also got Sting, who retired one of his biggest hits to avoid modern-day backlash, and Meat Loaf, who got so sick of explaining what his song meant that he tried to delete it from his catalog. But the fans wouldn’t have it. So, what do you think, did any of these songs go too far? You be the judge, 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.

FROM THE VAULT: An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this Petty classic should’ve been #1 next on Professor of Rock.Brought to you by Gamut Podcast Network. 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, we are taking the time machines back to the Summer of Love, the birth of psychedelia, and the year when music truly became art. With 11 of the greatest songs of that magical time, including a scruffy 16-year-old kid Alex Chilton, who won a high school talent show and got to record a short 2-minute song, The Letter… It ended up hitting #1 and outdoing the Beatles. Then there was the revolutionary song For What It's Worth that came from the rookie band Buffalo Springfield that took us decades to realize was a supergroup who spawned many legendary bands. Then there was RESPECT, a song that was written by Otis Redding from his perspective as a man wanting some appreciation from his woman, but then Aretha Franklin covered it, changing the song’s gender and making it an all time female anthem and then there was the #1 band The Beatles who had 2 prolific writers, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, who each wrote a masterpiece, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever, and were in competition to see who would’s song would be the hit.. so they released them on the same single. It became the greatest double-sided hit ever. Legendary guests and stories next on the Top 11 Songs of 1967 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 fascinating story of the 80s mega-hit Never Gonna Give You Up that topped the charts in at least 25 countries. And it almost never happened. When Rick Astley was searching for his first hit, he got picked up by one of the world's premier production teams. Only instead of letting him record an album, they had him doing chores around the studio… assigning him to make tea for the crew. But when they finally gave Rick a chance, he made the most of it and created a catchy ditty that came from an argument with his girlfriend. But when he showed Never Gonna Give You Up to his famous production team, they absolutely HATED IT and refused to release it. It was only by chance that it started to get airplay. But when it did, it stormed the charts, and nobody even knew who this mystery man was. It led to 3 massive hits and then Rick up and vanished… But then, decades later, today's Never Gonna Give You Up was resurrected and became the mother of all pop culture tracks, it became the biggest prank song in history. The story next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re moving into the shadows of the '80s to uncover the most chilling, emotionally gripping performances of the decade. They were the songs that ruled the radio dial and haunted our souls with 10 iconic vocal performances from the decade’s best. As we count down the most haunting songs of the 80s, including post-punk icon Siouxie Sioux, who gave her voice to the fall of an entire civilization… Stevie Nicks, who had faced so much pain and drama in her band that a 15-minute, 16-verse epic still couldn’t contain it all… And then there was Aimee Mann who was abducted as a child and after a detective finally rescued her she struggled to speak off and on for years, but it fueled her songs including a haunting 1985 song Voices Carry that became here biggest hit and then one haunting vocal that was the final recording of a beloved legend Karen Carpenter who left us far too soon. It’s the Top 10 Most Haunting Female Vocals 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.

Some songs are just BLESSED…seriously, it just seems like certain songs are touched by the hand of God where the miraculous and unexplained happens… Well that’s exactly what today’s song was and still is. Life in a Northern Town.. It was a mind blowing song in 1986 that didn’t sound like anything on radio. And it was meant to be. Today’s singer Nick Laird Clowes tells us how he was mentored by both Paul Simon and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd… In fact, Gilmour produced today’s hit song: Life in a Northern Town. and the real magic happened when they were in the studio and turned down everything in the chorus except for the vocals and they both looked at each other and knew it would be a smash. It would become one of the most nostalgic and haunting songs of the 80s, and even more incredible, he wrote it on his dead hero’s guitar. This interview is mind-blowing and shows the true power of music and why we‘ve lost something in all of the technology and mathematical approach to music. One of the best rock storytellers I’ve ever witnessed.. This interview is a beautiful example of the magical muse that transpires when a song is born and raised in greatness... 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.. the story of Juke Box Hero, an all-time classic rock song from both its iconic singer, Lou Gramm, and guitarist Mick Jones, who both wrote it. It's one of the '80s greatest anthems. They each had a great song and pretty much combined it into one with dual experiences… Mick said it came from a fan who stood in the rain for 5 hours to get tickets to their sold-out show. Lou Gramm said it came from his own experience standing outside a sold-out concert hall, and being unable to see Hendrix perform. Many rock singers have called it the most challenging song to perform in history… Most can’t hit the notes, but boy, did Lou do it, even if he had to fight a legendary producer tooth and nail to get it just right. Juke Box Hero became a #1 rock song and sold a million copies twice, 25 years apart! 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.

Songwriters have stated many times that you never know where or when a clever lyric is going to strike. It’s also that way for a guitarist. A catchy riff can come at any time and from any place. You’ll hear what I mean when we talk about some of the best solos of the 70s. For instance, Ritchie Blackmoreimprovised a solo to impress a journalist who was doing an exposé while riding on a tour bus; he dared him to do it, and this Ritchie came up with it right there. But was it classical music or rock? Another giant solo busted out when two genius musicians were on the verge of a bitter breakup. And another that came from Lynyrd Skynyrd's bassist… And finally, David Gilmour's extended solo on Comfortably Numb that may not only be the best solo of the 70s, but possibly the greatest solo ever, where a genius was sculpting emotion out of thin air, topping off a historic song that has since become one of the greatest songs in rock history. It’s the countdown of the Top 10 Guitar Solos of the 70s, 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: When you listen to the modern day standard "Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, you may not immediately hear the sadness. You may not recognize that it is song about a failing relationship.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, we're firing up the time machine and heading to an iconic year in the 70s… Can you guess it? It was the year Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record and Muhammad Ali stunned George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. And in music, it was a pummeling, too. One song came when a future rock star Donal Fagen, hit on the wife of one of his college professors when she was pregnant. Then there’s the all-time classic Piano Man everyone sings along to, but Billy Joel was embarrassed by it; he only made a couple of grand from it. Then there’s Randy Bachman, who wrote Ain't Seen Nothing Yet as a joke to make fun of his brother's speech impediment, and it hit #1 in 22 countries. And then there’s Steve Miller, who ripped off a lyric from an oldies song, but misheard it and has been singing the wrong word for 50-plus years... one that doesn’t exist in the English language. It was a fabulous year in music, and we're counting 'em down 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: Hey Music Junkies, the Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time; If you love music, you’ll want to subscribe below and hit the bell so you always get our daily content. You’ll also want to check us out on Patreon as we’ve added a bunch of exclusives and benefits there. Today we're discussing 5 forgotten songs from the 90s that will take you back to the good old days. Including exclusive commentary from the the artist. including Emerson Hart from Tonic, the Popoff brothers from the band LIT and Vinnie Dombroski from Sponge. As well as songs by Garbage and Ephraim Lewis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I really screwed up a few weeks ago. I was counting down the greatest songs of 1976 and left out More Than a Feeling, one of the greatest songs in classic rock history. I’ve never messed up like this, but here’s the thing: in any other year, it would easily be the #1 song. But in 1976, it would be competing with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. So that got me thinking… What is the greatest song in classic rock history? So that set me on a quest for rock immortality. I dug into an elite group of songs that not only ruled radio and soundtracked our lives, but have become the definition of rock itself. For this episode, I’ve assembled the ultimate musical showdown. I’ve got a list of 11 of the most legendary classic rock standards to echo across the airwaves. But the question is, which one deserves to be #1? What song is the GOAT of classic rock? My 11 candidates are special. There’s More Than a Feeling, a song that saved rock from a complete disco takeover. There's Stairway to Heaven, a song that got so big it was banned from being played in guitar shops around the world… And the one that has the greatest note hit by a singer ever. Let’s get ready to rumble… 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, an interview with one of my favorite people, Huey Lewis, about one of the biggest #1 hits of the '80s, The Power of Love. It’s become legendary both because of the feel-good sing-along chorus and the iconic movies it supported. Huey was in the midst of a huge album THAT RULED the mid 80s with 4 big hits, when he was tapped to write the theme song for not 1 but 2 blockbuster films, so he had to choose. The one he said yes to (Back to the Future) was a challenge. He had no desire to write a dumb song with the movie title in it… Huey thought the title was too on the nose, so the director said, "Just send me the next thing you write…" Huey did just that, and Power of Love became a #1 smash… The only problem is that the filmmakers didn’t capitalize on it. And they missed a window to have a big soundtrack album… Up next is the story of how Huey Lewis gave 10% of the song’s royalties to an old friend for coming up with the title of the song. The only problem is the tile was the same as 2 other hits at the time. Very common, and there was the fact that this artist was banned from putting the song on his new album. 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, the legendary duo Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, or OMD for short, tells the story of their career in 5 key songs that helped invent the iconic sound of the 80s. So get this, they wrote their first big song “Electronic” when they were teenagers forming an underground synth duo, and it ended up selling 5 million copies of their single ENOLA GAY, which was written and recorded on a cheap synth they bought out of a mail order catalog… They got bigger with every release and but in the mid-80s, they were called in at a moment’s notice to write the theme for the 1986 film Pretty In Pink after a test screening went sideways. If You Leave was a last minute scramble that had them staying up all night to write and record the song and then when the song was too long at over 5 minutes they fudged the number on the tape saying it was 4 and half minutes so it would get played on the radio and it became a smash. The interview is next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, an interview with a true 80s icon, Colin Hay, who people forget was on a Beatles-like trajectory... if only for a couple of years. But those years, he and his band Men at Work were as big as anyone. They actually pulled off something that not even the Beatles did… when their debut record Business as Usual, spent 15 weeks at #1 and contained two #1 hits that we still play today: Down Under and Who Can It Be Now? And two other huge hits for a total of four top tens. They won a Grammy for best new artist and were on the cover of Rolling Stone… But just a short time later, Men at Work completely disappeared, and they NEVER had another hit. Up next, we get the story behind these hits in an exclusive interview with Colin Hay to find out what the hell happened. 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 gonna get into the dark underbelly of the 70s, where bad taste reigned supreme, controversy sold millions, and critical acclaim was strictly optional. We are going to take a ride through the songs that you hate to love or the songs that you love to hate, depending on your perspective. You’ll hear the tale of (You're) Having My Baby by Paul Anka, a song so far outside the norm, it managed to offend feminists and the religious right in one fell swoop… another hit that was written by a bona fide convict but crooned by one of rock’s most righteous voices…a song that even as a 3 year old made my ears bleed. And yes, even the song that dared to expose the carnal secrets of rodents: Muskrat Love… And finally, the worst song in the history of our planet by Rick Dees… One that single-handedly destroyed a disco in just 3 mins and 17 seconds… It’s going to be a lot of fun, packed with eyebrow-raising stories, guilty pleasures, tacky tunes, and head-shaking comedy as we count down the Top 5 Cheesiest Songs of the 70s…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: The Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar tells the story of Van Halen’s 1988 top 5 hit: “When it’s Love" from their magnificent album 0U812. The song was a #1 hit on the rock charts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So a few weeks ago, I told you we had our final top 10 songs of the 80s, but I was wrong… We have one more I overlooked, and arguably its best year: 1983. That’s right, we’ve got the top 10 songs of 1983, including Prince's Little Red Corvette which was written during a nap. It would become one of the dirtiest songs of the time, even though some people still think it’s about a car. Then there’s the song All Night Long, which Lionel Richie interrupted a doctor's appointment with his wife’s gynecologist to nail down. Then there was the catchy song that came to a failing duo, The Eurythmics, who knew it would be a smash until they showed it to their record label said the song lacked any hooks… The bewildered songwriter said the whole song is a hook, and he was right. Then there’s my A Flock of Seagulls pick, which I’ll tell you right now will be a source of controversy with all the great songs that dropped in 1983… It only went to #30 and the band is mistakenly called a 1 hit wonder, but it’s the most exhilarating song of the year, and if you really listen to it… I know you’ll agree. It’s the top 10 of 1983… You’re gonna love it… I just know it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the mid-80s, just when we thought we had seen everything, out came a large and possessed 6-foot-6 bald singer named Peter Garrett who scared the hell out of everyone. And strangely enough, his band Midnight Oil was one of the biggest draws at the box office. But as they were rising, they turned down lucrative concert offers and a huge tour to play the most remote places in their region. They wanted to be among the people. Midnight Oil witnessed the harsh conditions and poor health that ran amok within the communities they toured. For decades, the people there were mistreated and misrepresented... Outraged by what they saw, the band wrote a song called Beds Are Burning that conveyed their fury and beseeched the public to join them in a crusade to fight… It was a rock anthem that blared out of every radio in 1987, and we all sang along... not knowing that the anthem was actually a protest song. And one of the coolest parts of the music came when a band member put a metronome in their mouth! It made their album a masterpiece. Up next... the story behind Midnight Oil's biggest American hit, one that actually brought about real change, 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 today’s episode, the songs are coming at you from every channel on the dial—we’ve got songs about superheroes, secret agents, and stranded castaways. It’s time for another TV theme countdown. This time from the 60s. We’ve already hit the 70s and 80s. And you loved them both. But as good as they were, this decade is a goldmine. We’ve got themes that were sung, whistled, and snapped into pop culture history. Including the Batman theme locked us all in with just a single word. Then there was the Star Trek theme that was the subject of some behind-the-scenes controversy, when the show’s creator wrote secret lyrics to the instrumental theme… just so he could rake in the royalties. Then there’s the Andy Griffith Show theme that a songwriter tried to nail down using actors, musicians, different instruments, and nothing worked. He was so flustered, he walked up to the mic and whistled the song… it became 1 of the most magical themes ever. We’re counting ‘em all 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… I found an interview I did years ago with 80s icon, Howard Jones, that I thought was lost! This legend takes us through his songs that were the backbone of the 80s… Songs everybody knows and loves… including Things Can Only Get Better, a song that was measured by scientists to have one of the highest vibration readings in a special experiment. It might be the most positive song ever recorded and has a chorus we all sing at the top of our lungs… It’s impossible not to sing along to. Then there is the story of his biggest hit, No One is to Blame, that would’ve been a guaranteed #1 hit, but his label was in a dispute with some big radio stations. So in protest, the stations wouldn’t play the song, and it cost him #1. No One is to Blame came from a cheesy line a promoter said to him, and he turned it into a smash. The song was praised for it’s unique drum loop which everyone assumed was played by the famous drummer/singer who produced the tracks but it was actually today’s singer who didn’t even play drums.. and it really confused fans when he put out 2 versions of the song that were on radio at the same 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.

Up next, we have the whole band sitting down to share the story of an absolute Zombies classic. Today’s classic Time of the Season was so ahead of its time in its lyrics, music, and feel... it capsized. This famous song was released in 1969, going into the 1970s, it was the perfect invasion of psychedelic 60s blessing into the excessive 70s, and it has so many back stories. First of all, Time of the Season didn’t become a hit until a year after Zombies had actually broken up. Its unique handclaps and audible breathing made it one of the most unique million-selling hits ever, and it contained a cool phrase that would become part but the label was ready to cut their losses with he classic album this song came from. But it was saved at the last minute, but even then the record’s title was misspelled, and it still hasn’t been corrected all of these years later. Then, to add insult to injury, when the song hit the top of the charts, with the band broken up a promoter put out a fake version of the band and began to tell people the lead singer had died… in fact, The lead singer found out about his own death when reading the paper. 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.

It was the decade full of blistering shredders, but the greatest solos weren’t just about melting faces—they were about moving hearts. Some of the most unforgettable licks came from guitarists you’ve never heard of… players who sounded like they were channeling something divine. One guitar icon, Eddie Van Halen, delivered an all-time classic solo as a personal favor to Michael Jackson… It’s probably the most famous solo of its time & he didn’t get paid a thing for it. And it contributed to keeping his own band out of #1, see what I mean next... and then there’s the legendary guitarist who’s solo was too complicated for the band so the producer told him to play something really simple so this legend played the cheesiest most simple solo he could and it became the best part of the song! So many great stories and special guests as we’re opening up the case, plugging into the amp, and counting down the Top 10 Guitar Solos 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, we jump inside the time machine and travel back to a year of radio magic… as we count down the top song of the bicentennial. Including the story of Bohemian Rhapsody, an epic track that a major label tried to bury because it was too epic... too spectacular… Freddie Mercury got even by leaking it to the radio on purpose. It became the biggest song of the 70s! There was Aerosmith's breakout smash Dream On, which was written when he was barely 14 years old… Then there was the throwaway song 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover that a Paul Simon wrote as a joke with his toddler to teach him how to rhyme… and then there was Take It to the Limit that was written and sung by the backup singer of the Eagles, but his lead vocal was so powerful, it because the show stopper of all their live shows thereafter. Many people buy a ticket just to hear that one note. It’s our countdown of the Top 10 Songs of ’76..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.

Robert Plant, rock's greatest frontman, was given an ultimatum by his girlfriend. Choose me or your music. Sure, Robert was deeply in love and was dirt poor with questionable prospects... at least at that moment. He was scraping by searching for his big break. And as heart-wrenching as the decision was, he chose music. But the love standoff was one he’d never forget. 10 years later, after a gaggle of legendary albums and songs under his belt... and sitting on top of the world, he seized upon that moment and wrote Ten Years Gone. Reflecting on his torment and heartbreak, and what might have been... it became one of the greatest album cuts in history. And the song influenced a genre that would be Rock’s last stand. Up next, the compelling story of Ten Years Gone, a song with one of the most epic guitar solos of the 70s. In fact, the 14 guitars on the track made the song impossible to play live, even though it came from one of the biggest records ever.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some music careers collapse slowly, others implode in an instant. In the world of rock, where egos are amplified and every move is under the microscope, even legends can sabotage their own careers. With this in mind, we’re counting down the Top 5 worst decisions in rock. Blunders so bad, they’ve gone down in history as cautionary tales. These missteps derailed albums and turned icons into punchlines. One of these stories is about an obsessed Axl Rose who sunk 13 million dollars and a decade into the album Chinese Democracy, which in the end was kinda lame. Another one is about Kevin Dubrow, who had the #1 band in the world: Quiet Riot. But one Bad interview and his career ended almost overnight… U2 thought they were clever when they gave away an album for free to many Millions of people, only to have them lead a worldwide revolt. And Billy Squier flushed his career down the toilet after putting out 1 of the worst music videos ever. 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 a classic rock standard that came to legendary guitarist Joe Walsh while he was mowing his lawn. He saw the beautiful scenery around him, the mountains, the greenery, and nature, and the lyrics to the 70s classic Rocky Mountain Way came to him in an instant. He was so excited and so worried he’d forget them, he ran into his house to write them down… The only problem is he forgot to turn off his lawnmower, and it created havoc on his neighbor's yard. Find out what happened next in the story of the guitar classic, and we also have Kenny Passarelli, the co-writer and bassist of the song, to tell us his side of 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.

Coming up next, After the Fire, a band that became a one-hit wonder… After they broke up. Today’s song, Der Kommisar, is a true classic from the 80s, but it had 2 very different lives… First, it was first released by Falco and it was in German… it was a massive hit in 10 different countries, but it flopped in AMERICA. Then American Prog Rock band After the Fire was dabbling in new wave and got hold of it… They translated it from German to English, except for a few mysterious lines, and released it. And it FLOPPED AGAIN! So at this point, this band was in massive debt, they were burned out, and in a war with their label. So they broke up. And then out of nowhere, Der Kommisar climbed to the top of the charts and became a classic. Up next, we find out where After the Fire went and after 40-plus years of wondering what the hell Der Kommisar means… We finally find out coming up next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 10 intriguing and in some cases most bizarre stories behind the greatest album covers of the 70s… We’ve got a lot packed into this one… controversial covers, urban legends, and death-defying photo shoots. For Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy, two kids were coated with vehicle-grade spray paint to get just the right look. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers cover featured a pair of jeans with a working zipper. But it had to be unzipped because it was scratching other records when it was shipped. The Cars' Candy-O featured a provocative illustration of a woman. But she later backed out and didn’t want her face on the cover. So they kept her body and drew in another woman’s face. Oh, and then there’s Wish You Were Here where a man was lit on fire to get the perfect shot, but the wind blew the fire and it burnt his face... and then there’s the famous photographer who took the worst shot of her life, and it ended up being her most famous photo! WE have the songs, the stories, and special 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, it's a countdown of some of the greatest songs of the Rock Era from a year that is always in the conversation for the best year in music history. Including the #1 hit 96 Tears by a mysterious singer whose identity wasn’t known for decades. As well as Wild Thing, the song that was so bad the singer couldn’t stop laughing when he recorded it... and it became such a classic the writer Chip Taylor blew all the money in casinos and his habit got so bad he was kicked out of every major casino in Las Vegas. Then there was the song The Sound of Silence that flopped so badly that Simon & Garfunkel broke up. But then a producer remixed it, adding more instruments to it, and released it. The duo was livid till it hit #1. And then there’s the song California Dreamin' that a famous singer recorded. But he went scorched earth when he heard it on the radio, and his entire voice had been erased. We have legendary guests and stories on a special countdown 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 next, a crash course on the top 5 of the greatest tracks from one of Rock’s Heaviest bands, Van Halen. They had 3 different singers over the course of their tenure and in the process created some of the best hard rock of the last 50 years. Fans fight about what era was their best, but no one can deny the one powerful presence that linked all of the eras together… their Incredible guitarist Eddie Van Halen. And today we're featuring their 5 greatest songs that all should’ve been hits, but were never released as singles. It’s Van Halen's best hidden gems, including a song that Eddie was so excited about writing, he called up and woke up Sammy Hagar at 4 in the morning. Then, he coaxed him to write it half asleep over the phone… Plus another song where the guitar was so epic and all encompassing, the singer had no clue where to sing because there was no break. Plus another that made Rock and Roll dangerous again after DISCO had taken over. We have the classics and a special guest next on Professor of RockSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we 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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