Professor of Rock

With the state of the world right now, today I’m going to take you back to the good old days. Nostalgia overload. We're going to celebrate a group of songs that freeze a specific moment in time, preserving it for the future, much like the expression time in a bottle. One of the songs, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), began as a nod to the golden movie era of Humphrey Bogart, before the singer Rupert Holmes changed the lyrics by blurting out a random phrase in the middle of the recording, and it worked. The song became a smash. We also have the most misunderstood song of the decade: Benny Mardones's “Into the Night." Everyone thinks it’s deeply disturbing, but it’s actually heart-warming when you hear the true meaning of it. Plus, the famous actress Faye Dunaway who walked out on her rockstar husband and inspired the ultimate rock revenge song Love Stinks. Plus, the biggest ripoff of the year Steal Away by Robbie Dupree that made several prominent musicians livid because it was so blatant in its theft. Some thought it was the exact same song with different lyrics. Find out what 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…Its' Another Volume of Songs that have become PUNCHLINES! Today we’re back with more pop culture jabs, left hooks, and knockout blows… That’s right, it’s another edition of the fan favorite “Punchlines.” And for this one, we’ve got memes, parodies, and some late-night show mockery all combining to poke fun at musicians who may or may not have had it coming. For this one, we’ve got the grammar police on patrol, ready to take down a musician who sang about a figure of speech that she got completely wrong: the hit song Ironic by Alanis Morissette And the world has never let her live it down. Then there’s a conspiracy theory about an artist who supposedly died and was replaced with a body double. But it’s not Paul McCartney, it's Avril Lavigne. Plus, the story of the instrumentalist who has sold 75 million albums worldwide. But will anyone admit to owning his music? Not on your life..Hint: It's Kenny G. And finally, there’s the singer who has had more diss tracks written about her than any other singer in music history Can you guess it?. Let's go!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So I recently went through an inventory of all of the interviews I’ve done over the years… There’s never 800s at this point, and from memory, I realized that I’ve talked to dozens of legends, producers, and songwriters who have worked directly with Michael Jackson. Now Michael Jackson has taken over the world. The new Movie Micheal set a record for the biggest opening for a biopic ever, and many believe it will break a billion in box office receipts by the time its run is over, and MJ is now #1 on the Global charts by a long shot. His songs are taking over all the charts, so I went through the dozens of Michael Jackson stories of people who have co-written with him, produced him, and played on his biggest hits to give you the top 5 Michael Jackson stories from the story behind my favorite MJ song that is both in the movie and blowing up social media. Human nature I’ve got the story from the man who wrote the song and it came from a bully on a school playground and was a happy accident since it was on a demo tape that Quincy Jones Happed to hear when he was listening to another artists songs and it stopped him dead in his tracks plus the story of his #1 hit Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough from his frequent collaborator and his musical director on his Bad and Dangerous tours. As a young rookie, he helped MJ write Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough when MJ was stumped, and MJ agreed to give him a cut and writing credit, but then his name was wiped from future releases, and he never got paid. Plus, how Weird Al got MJ, who was the biggest star on the planet, to let him spoof his song when AL was a nobody, and a very special story about one of the greatest composers of the century, who wrote the score for several musicals, including one that set a record that not even Thriller could match. His album spent 54 weeks at #1, but he was so mesmerized by MJ. His only wish was to meet him. Find out how that happened, and the first question MJ asked him. Let’s get into the top 5.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you all remember Unsolved Mysteries? Well, today is a rock and roll unsolved mysteries episode. Today we're diving into five legendary stories of musicians who left us under circumstances that just don't add up. I’m talking about bizarre and suspicious circumstances… And we’ve got more questions than answers here. But all of them are great stories. From deathbed murder confessions to stolen bodies to disputed burial sites, these are stories that will leave you wondering what really happened. We've got the tale of Brian Jones one of the Rolling Stones, who was discovered drowned in his pool… But all these years later new details suggest it was something more eerie! Then there's the enigma of an indie singer-songwriter Elliott Smith whose death was officially ruled "undetermined" after a serrated blade was pulled straight out of his chest. Fans and investigators have been split over whether he took his own life or it was foul play. And don’t forget the bassist turned rocket scientist, Phillip Kramer, who claimed to unlock the secrets of the universe before making a chilling 911 call and vanishing off the face of the earth. Let’s get get into it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The fact is Dire Straits interrupted disco in the late 70s with the classic song Sultans of Swing that would take radio hostage! with their unique sound and singer Mark Knopfler’s gruff iconic vocals. but they were victims of the sophomore slump when their 2nd record faltered and flailed on the charts. Determined to bounce back with a statement album, Knopfler heard a song on the radio that flipped him out, Because the Night by Patti Smith and it triggered a series of events that led to arguably his best work. Making Movies An album that was so meticulous and exact that the title track of the record was cut from the album at the last second. It was a rough process to touch greatness, it even caused a bitter falling out with his brother and band mate… The 2 haven’t spoken in over 40 years. The story of two of the greatest songs from the album Tunnel of Love and Skateaway 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.

So in the music business, the climb to the top can take years and years of grueling hard work. But a fall from grace? That can happen in the blink of an eye. Today, we are back with another episode of "Career Killers.” We haven’t done one of these in a while, so it’s time! We’ve got the story of Winger, who had to cancel their upcoming tour and call it quits after their credibility was destroyed by an MTV cartoon and 3 seconds of a rival band’s music video. Then, there’s the legendary prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who literally spent themselves into bankruptcy by bringing a 70-piece orchestra on the road, only to be forced into a "disco" makeover that finished them off for good. And you won't believe the tale of the British new-wavers After the Fire who broke up their band just weeks before their song exploded into the top 5 in America… turning them into a "ghost band" with no one to take the stage. They lost all the momentum they’d worked years to gain. It’s a wild ride through hubris, heartbreak, and bad timing. Let’s get into it!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 focus & rank a group of songs that depict a specific year in popular music so remarkably well, they sound exactly like the moment they came out. It’s our latest edition of DATED. Including singer Aimee Mann, who was kidnapped as a child, and after she was rescued, had to learn to speak again from the trauma. Her voice became a beacon to many on one of the most haunting songs of the year, Voices Carry. Plus, Axl F, a track created by highly sought-after composer Giorgio Moroder, that was dangerously close to getting axed by two of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, because he had failed to come up with a theme song for a future movie phenomenon... but a slip of his elbow on the keyboard jump-started a classic. Plus, the Madonna video shoot that almost went haywire as she was nearly attacked by a male lion because it was ‘her time of the month.’ And the 80s band Animotion that was a one-hit wonder twice. Once in 85 and then 3 years later with a whole new band with the same name! let’s do it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not long ago, after the channel reached 1.5 million subs, I shared a video on the Professor of Rock Greatest Hits: my top 9 picks for the greatest song stories in the history of this channel. In the comments section, I was flooded with requests for a Greatest Hits Volume 2. So here it is…. 9 more hits with new stories and insights... including the #1 rock band Def Leppard, who followed up their 1983 blockbuster album Pyromania, with what looked like the costliest flop in music history.: Hysteria. They were so in debt when the album came out. Their first 3 songs didn’t live up to expectations, and their 4th single Pour Some Sugar on Me was their Hail Mary, but it was sucking… that is, until it started getting heavy rotation in strip clubs across Florida. It became an overnight smash and saved the album from obscurity, helping it sell 25 million copies. Then there’s Iron Maiden, whose recording sessions for a satanic panic album were plagued by a poltergeist. And afterwards, the producer was so freaked out that he crashed into a bus full of nuns…When he got the final bill for repair, it was 666 bucks. Find out if the curse ended. Plus the story of Rod Stewart, whose most celebrated song was born from the single most embarrassing, and premature, encounter of his life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we put one of rock’s greatest years, 1970, under the microscope and explore songs that we all know and love but failed as hits. There’s a story about Gregg Allman, who was so excited to lay down a song that came into his head, he got high and broke into a closed recording studio in the middle of the night. But he was struggling to find that one lyric to finish it, and it was his roadie who gave him the perfect lyric. But did he do right by him and give him any royalties for it? We’ll find out. Plus John Lennon, who was annoyed by his wife and made that annoyance into the classic song Across the Universe, except for the fact that when he recorded it, he couldn’t hit the high notes, so in a bizarre idea, he went outside the recording studio and selected 2 fans to record those high notes. He regretted it for the rest of his life, calling the song crap, but it has become an all-time classic, and finally, the classic rock song that came from an angry wife’s pissed-off rant. It’s a special episode of 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.

Rock and roll has always been a family business. And family… well, family is complicated. Growing up together, fighting together, making history together — and sometimes, destroying each other's dreams in the process. Today, we're counting down the most explosive sibling rivalries in rock history. And trust me, these stories are gonna entertain! Like the legendary Everly Brothers, whose decades of resentment finally detonated onstage — in front of a live amusement park crowd. The show prematurely ended with a smashed guitar and a stunning confession. Or how about the two brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose lifelong war with cricket bats and potato insults started back in their tiny shared bedroom… fighting over who had the best shoes. And then there’s the Carpenters brother-sister duo, where the brother called all the shots, literally telling his sister what notes to sing on every record. And when she finally broke free to make an album of her own… he destroyed it. Yeah, we all might need some therapy after this one. It’s brotherly and sisterly love gone so very wrong… 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.

We started this series a month ago, and I was overwhelmed with feedback for another episode. So, for this one, I’ve got 7 more stories of rock and roll sabotage and treachery. You know, sometimes the music industry is a band’s worst enemy, but then again, sometimes a band can be their own worst enemy, too. And today’s episode is the proof. We’ll tell you about a Saturday Night Live performance where Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist John Frusciante was pissed at the band’s frontman, Anthony Keidis, so he made up his own version of their hit song Under the Bridge on the spot. And Anthony had no clue how to sing along… It was a train wreck, and he was embarrassed on live TV. Then there was the band Information Society, who was excited to release their new CD with high-tech tracks that were supposed to be interactive in the coming computer age. But instead, the CD caused many systems to crash, which led to massive album returns and radio stations blacklisting the band for having a virus on their album. And then there’s Pixies frontman, Black Francis, who systematically tried to erase his female bandmate Kim Deal on their albums and onstage because she was more popular with their fans. Talk about an ego. Let’s do it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So last year I was on David Letterman’s Show… Or Barbara Gaines Show. But I found out that David Letterman watches our show, and I was blown away. Well, I had the chance to interview his famous sidekick, Paul Shaffer, and was able to geek out with him on music... including some of my favorite moments on the Letterman show. So here is that interview session with Paul, including commentary about the great performances on the show, like an unknown band that came on the show and absolutely killed it. In fact, I’ve watched that performance hundreds of times, according to my own stats. It’s a band that came out of nowhere, and their performance was so awe-inspiring that even Letterman was freaking out... plus, the accidental F bomb that was said on LIVE TV that caused a major ruckus. Let’s get into it! 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 celebrating the birthday of legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley with this classic episode from 2024.In this one, we dig deep into the catalog of one of rock’s greatest party bands—KISS—highlighting 5 essential tracks that help tell their wild story. From outrageous moments like concert car crashes to the band’s unexpected clash with disco, these songs capture the chaos, creativity, and larger-than-life spirit that defined KISS.But this time, the stories aren’t just coming from me… we’re handing the mic to the Spaceman himself. Ace Frehley shares rare insights into these iconic songs—revealing which ones he loves, which ones he doesn’t, and what was really happening behind the scenes.It’s a fun, revealing look at the band that taught the world how to rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's throw it back! Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were lovers who had been trying to make it in music for years. After some fiery arguments, years of failures and poverty, Stevie decided to quit music for good. One night she put all that pain into a song she called Landslide. Almost over night after writing that classic she and Lindsey met Fleetwood Mac and they were asked to join up. They recorded the white album with song of their own to add and the rest is history. How Landslide changed all of that.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes the most memorable songs aren't the ones that scale the charts, but the ones that defy all logic. I’m talking about tracks that stop you cold …Dead in your tracks and make you ask, "What the hell did I just listen to?" Like Angine de Poitrine. Today, we're celebrating 8 of Rock's Strangest Songs that broke every rule in the book. Including the Peter Gabriel who ruled 1986 with an iconic record, only to wait 6 years to put out a follow-up because his new song Digging in the Dirt sent him into utter madness as he delved into the minds of the truly demented to write a song that seems harmless, but lyrically isthe strangest, creepiest song of its time. We've also got the story of Frank Zappa who woke up his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit at 3 AM to record a monologue of 80s Southern California slang over a heavy guitar riff. Then there's the tale of a 60s artist Napoleon XIV who wrote a song about going insane that was so controversial it was banned nationwide,. And we’ll dive into a family band, The Shaggs, foretold by prophecy, attempting to play rock and roll without ever having actually heard what rock and roll was supposed to sound like!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 turn the spotlight on 10 songs that embody the period of the Rock Era when disco was on its last leg, and rock was making a comeback!. It’s our latest Dated countdown. Songs that are distinctly of their time….including one song, Pop Musik, that got its pre-chorus from a perfume bottle, another one, When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman, that may never have been recorded if the writer hadn’t stalked a famous band’s manager into the restroom, pitching it at the urinal. Plus a #1 hit that rocketed to the top of the chart after being synced in one of the most controversial scenes in tv history, plus Ring My Bell, a song that has been banned from casinos because every time it’s played it’s musical vibrations make slot machines and black jack tables pay out by 10X plus the naughty Rod Stewart song that got me kicked out of church as a toddler when I sang it during a prayer and the song Babe that Dennis DeYoung wrote as a private song for his wife’s b day present that was never supposed to be heard by the public but hit #1…These stories and more as we get into details about 11 DATED songs from 1979, next on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The story of the biggest tv soundtrack of the 1980s: Miami Vice from the Theme by Jan Hammer to the two Glenn Frey tracks You Belong to the City and Smuggler’s Blues… cowritten by frequent Eagles collaborator Jack Tempchin who tells the story of writing them. Get ready for a showstopper we’re going back to 1985.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So when I started doing this, I made a list of 15 artists I wanted to do an in-depth interview with before I leave this planet, and so far I’ve checked off about half my list with Sting, Brian Wilson, and a few others. Well, I just checked off another one... Coming up it’s the evolution of one of my favorite artists ever… Ya know, as a Gen-Xer coming of age in the 80s, there were only a dozen artists or bands that I got genuinely excited for when news of a new song or record would come out. Back in the day, before social media, when such news came from MTV, the radio, or a rock magazine... back when a new album was truly an event. Many of you watching remember that indescribable feeling of waking up on Christmas morning. It felt like you were on top of the world. Well, today’s guest was one of those magical artists for me. When he first hit the mainstream in 1986 with his unique piano playing, especially on his song the Way It Is… The song became the most unlikely #1 hit of the 80s. It didn’t sound like anything on 80s radio, I mean, it had no distinct chorus and was truly serious social commentary alongside the typical pop fare of 1986 and 1987, where Everybody was Wang Chunging and Walking like an Egyptian. But that’s why I fell in love with Bruce Hornsby’s music… he was always naturally zigging when the mainstream was zagging. And from there, he became one of my favorite artists because he has always been a true musical explorer. Well, I had a chance to talk to Bruce about his greatest songs and his new album, and it was amazing. From The Way It Is and Mandolin Rain to his collaborations with fellow artists that have pierced our souls like The End of the Innocence with Don Henley and I Can’t Make You Love Me with Bonnie Raitt. Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, I’ve gotten more requests for this band than any of the last couples years… and they are definitely one of the most under-appreciated bands in rock history. —a group that sold 10 million albums and became superstars in Europe. But back here in America, they are a well-kept secret. Their debut album accidentally became a massive import hit in Germany, selling 50,000 copies before anyone even knew what was happening. And the country has loved them ever since. For this one, we’re gonna count down my Top 3 picks from their catalog, which includes one song where the lead singer wasn’t hitting the vocals with enough intensity. So his producer set up the mic stand on a crossbeam 35 feet in the in air in an old barn. And he made this singer climb up there and record the track. Would this circus stunt bring out the best in this vocalist, or would it completely backfire? We’ve got the story and even more good stuff coming up next on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode from the vault, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this same week from the year 1984. But we’re not stopping there. After we count them down, we’re re-ranking them according to all-time streams and views, to find out which one has left the biggest mark on history. This time around we’ve got some of the greatest hits from the 80s all duking it out for that coveted #1 spot. But who will be the champion? Will it be Van Halen, Prince? Genesis, or maybe a rookie new wave band, a glam metal favorite, or even a one-hit wonder? It’s a nostalgic trip back in time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today is a special countdown that proves that rock and roll never dies. As the 80s were ending, there were songs that didn’t ever become official hit songs, like AC/DC's Thunderstruck. It didn’t even make the Hot 100 charts, but it's now over 6 billion plays and has outperformed every number one hit of the year it came from.In fact it’s has 4 times as many streams as any hit from the year and it started out as a throwaway guitar exercise. Plus, the song World in My Eyes that Depeche Mode's frontman Dave Gahan had been recording with his band was a fast song, but he had to leave the studio for a few days, and while he was gone, the band took that fast song and slowed the temp down to a crawl… When he got back, he was livid, but once he started singing… the song became a classic. Then there was the La's who had a big hit, There She Goes, and a future that looked bright, but he threw it all away when he took their recorded album and 35 songs and destroyed the only master tape…Plus, the famous indie band The Sundays, which was climbing the charts and making a name for themselves, just up and disappeared for 30 years, and they’re still missing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's take it back with this 2021.Up next the Godfather of Alternative rock Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction tells us the very personal story of one of the true standards of 1988, Jane Says. We solve the mystery of this very eerie and brilliant song and the woman who inspired the song and the band’s name. Plus he goes in depth on how he created the band’s seminal album cover. A bonafide Must see story behind the song 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’re back at it again. It’s the third edition of one of this channel’s new favorite shows: Punchlines! And for this one, we’re counting down 6 more entries of songs that have become punchlines, and we’re telling some stories that will make you do a double-take. Including how everyone thinks the #1 hit You're Beautiful is a romantic ballad, but it’s actually about a drug-fueled subway stalker who can’t stop staring at his ex-girlfriend. The song got so overexposed that even the singer James Blunt started mocking it, along with everyone else. Then there’s the girl group the Spice Girls, with a vocalist whose voice was not up to snuff. So producers repeatedly switched off her mic in concert so no one would know or hear her. Was she just lip-syncing the whole time? And finally, there’s the legend Tom Jones, who had a massive problem. Women wouldn’t stop throwing their underwear at him while he was on stage. It started with women passing him napkins to wipe the sweat from his brow. But then one night… one woman decided to pass him something more intimate… it launched one of the funniest running gags in concert history. Let’s get into it.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 8 great female hidden gems… songs by some of the industry’s best that too often get overlooked. And on this episode, we’ve got the story of upstart singer Marcella Detroit, who stole the mic and the spotlight on Shakespears Sister's biggest single Stay. And the principal singer Siobhan Fahey got so jealous, she fired her through an award ceremony acceptance speech… and she wasn’t even there to give it! She had her publicist do it! Then there’s the badass track that one of music’s greatest rockers Joan Jett covered back in the 80s, but decades later, the song’s original writer was convicted for some truly awful crimes so bad it’s made this song disgusting in hindsight.… Would she still sing it? Plus, there’s the 18-year-old guest vocalist Michelle Branch who sang on the Game of Love, a track by one of the most iconic guitarists of the rock era, a Woodstock legend. But she was hired only after the “Queen of Rock n Roll” after she bowed out. Could she even do the song justice? Find out next as we dive into our latest Female Hidden Gems countdown. Let’s get started!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 back to a glorious year in music, to remember some hit songs that were so indicative of that period of popular music, you will cry tears of nostalgia…Were going back to 1987….We’ll tell the story about Chris de Burgh seeing his wife across the room at a party, and he was so enchanted by her presence after taking her for granted that he wrote the classic 80s hit Lady in Red about it. Yet the legacy of the song would be tarnished by a scandal when the singer had an affair with their nanny. There’s also the song Right on Track that came from the Breakfast Club, a band whose lead singer once told Madonna that she had ‘no talent,’ so she quit the group to prove him wrong, and did he ever pay for that dumb comment. And there’s the Genesis song Tonight Tonight Tonight about being trapped in the prison of cocaine addiction, yet the song was used by a beer brand to illustrate having a fun evening with friends. And lastly, a song by Yes, one of the most musically complex rock bands ever, with one of the stupidest lyrics in rock history. These tales and more on our feature about Dated Hit Songs from 1987….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 #1 1985 smash Sussudio by Phil Collins. Based on a made-up word…. One that just fell out of Phil’s mouth while he was singing. Even Phil had no idea what it meant. Unable to think of anything better, Collins decided to just make up a meaning. But as weird as it is, this song completely captivated listeners. However, as Sussudio started gaining traction as part of Phil Collins ’ 1985 blockbuster album No Jacket Required, it also stirred up controversy. Critics noticed that its central riff was nearly a carbon copy of another huge hit from a few years earlier. 1999 by Prince. And not long after, Phil Collins confessed it was a rip-off job. But the question was “to what degree?” The parallels were unmistakable. But were they enough to nail Phil Collins for plagiarism? Find out… 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.

So this one’s gonna turn a few heads. Today’s show is all about misinterpreted songs… that may or may not be about “getting it on…Today We’re counting down 6 tracks you've been singing along to for decades… That may be the ultimate double entendre…Or maybe not… But today we’re having it both ways… We’re also debunking some tracks that people are certain are double entendres. But either way, I guarantee these stories will keep you entertained. One of these songs, Brick House, was innocently put in a musical Hallmark greeting card… for Mother’s Day! But the last thing you would want to do is dedicate this song to your mother. Then there’s the track Tutti Frutti whose name doubles as a frozen yogurt chain. But when it was originally written, its lyrics were far too explicit to be aired on radio. You’ll never look at frozen yogurt the same way again. And finally, there’s the Jamaican dance floor anthem, Electric Boogie, that sparked a viral internet rumor that put a whole new spin on the words “good vibrations.” But was it true? Get ready, we’re diving into Volume 1 of my Most Misinterpreted Songs series… Bedroom Edition. Let’s do this.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's run it back! How Led Zeppelin followed one of the biggest selling albums of all time, the 70s classic, Led Zeppelin IV with a bold venture that utterly confused their core faithful. It would’ve been a ’no-brainer’ to simply stay the course, and give the fans what they were used to. But Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham went the other way, and purposely abandoned the heavy blues rock sound they were famous for. The 2nd single from this long play deviation was a reggae song named after the punchline of an old vaudeville comedy routine. Dyer Maker as in did you make her said in a cockney accent…It became one of the most mispronounced song titles in history. From Houses of the Holy, the story of an all time 70s classic rock standard next on P.O.R.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we’re taking a field trip to the movies to study cult classic films that owe their success to their incredible soundtracks. Some of these films would have never survived without the music that backed their most iconic moments. There’s the iconic 70s stoner flick Dazed and Confused, named after a song by the Lords of Rock. But when the director wanted to use one of their songs in the movie, they gave him a FLAT NO!. So he swore he’d boycott their music for the rest of his life. Also, there is the movie Napoleon Dynamite that spent half of its minuscule budget on 1 song. Only the problem was that they ran out of money by the time they got to the epic scene and only had a few minutes of film left to nail the climactic moment of the film. So it would have to be perfect… Find out what happened. Plus, there’s the 80s teen flick Pretty in Pink, whose ending was booed by test audiences. After a desperate rewrite, the New Wave band OMD only had a few hours to compose a song for the new ending. And finally, we’ve got the story of the most cursed cult classic ever: The Crow. It was plagued by hurricane-force winds, unexplained accidents, and the tragic death of the film’s lead actor, Brandon Lee, on set. Let’s do it.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: On March 31, 1967, Jimi Hendrix shocked the world by setting his guitar on fire, cementing his legend as rock’s most unpredictable genius. But behind the flames was a far more complex artist. In this episode, we dive into the myths, mysteries, and misunderstood truths surrounding Hendrix… a left-handed virtuoso who loved science fiction, kept parakeets, and constantly pushed the boundaries of sound and consciousness.We explore the many competing origin stories behind one of rock’s most iconic songs, “Purple Haze”...from wild tales of kidnappings and stalkers to vivid dreams and altered states that blurred the line between reality and imagination. And we uncover the surprising vulnerability of a guitar god who was so insecure about his voice that he struggled just to record it.This is the story of Jimi Hendrix like you’ve never heard it—separating fact from fiction and getting closer to the truth behind the legend… NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up…. a passionate spotlight on 10 non-hits that are far better than the number one hits from the epic year they come from. including a song that’s bass line is epic it make you wonder of if the band made a deal with the devil to get it which is what the song is about plus there’s the song born from the ashes of a house fire—everything burned except a wallet, and the spared contents led to such a heartwrenching track that even people who hate this strange band love this song. The Cure Pictures of You,.Then there’s Trent Reznor a pioneer of electronic rock who dismissed Head Like a Hole track as a throwaway, only to have it jumpstart his career and later embarrass him when a DJ sang an obnoxious version of it to his on LIVE tv to win a bet. There also the song Advice for the Young at Heart that one part of Tears For Fears wrote as a diss against his counterpart and it was brutal but the worst part is that the dissed band mate had no idea it was about him and actually sang the song! Plus Fine Young Cannibals who had several monster hits and a #1 album and at the peak of their fame walked away and never released another record ever again. Let’s do it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, it’s go time. Today, we’re going all in on band roster chaos! You know, some rock line-ups are built for the long-haul… But more often, bandmates come and go whether we like it or not. Infighting, personality clashes, creative differences, sheer fatigue, and even tragedies all take a toll on bands… On today’s countdown I’m giving you 6 band line-ups that have changed so drastically over the years you can hardly keep up … some of them are almost unrecognizable. I’m calling this one Downshift. And as usual I’ve got some stories! We’ll recount how one of the best and of the 60s and 70s, the Guess Who, had their identity stolen. And how these imposters got away with it for decades, until they were sued into oblivion! There’s also a couple of lead singers who stepped in to replace two of the most legendary frontmen ever: Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry. And after one gave a subpar performance, he told fans that if he got a million negative comments on social media he’d quit the band. Did he get voted out? Let’s get into it!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So I was deleting some old files on my laptop and hard drives the other day, and I came upon an interview I did a long time ago…It must have gotten buried because I didn’t even remember doing it. But it’s from a multi-platinum hitmaking singer who’s written a few modern classics, including a dozen hits and several that went to #1. So even though I’m going to be cutting back on interviews, I thought, what the hell…Let’s get this one out there because He’s a great guy and he talks about all the hits here, including the song he says his mother sent to him from the after life…It hit #1… and the song where he referenced an old 80s band that had one big year in music, and I find out why he referenced that band. All the hits are here. Let's do it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honor of the great Steven Tyler's 78th birthday, we bring you back to this classic from 2021.In the early 70s 'the bad boys of Boston” know as Aerosmith were a maelstrom of chaos, and chemically induced tension. The leaders Steven Tyler and Joe Perry battled through their toxic relationship between themselves, and an interloper to produce a rockin’ rampage that started with bassist Tom Hamilton’s vibe, Sweet Emotion would be the band’s breakout hit. We relive the 'bitter sweetness' of a classic rock standard NEXT on Professor of Rock.HBD Steven Tyler!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 temporarily trading in the studio album cuts for the “in concert” experience. On this episode, we’re counting down 7 classic live tracks that have surpassed their original recordings. Classic songs that are even better in concert. We’ve got the story of Peter Frampton, who woke up with a wine glass in hand after a heavy night of drinking. He took one look at himself and wrote the iconic hangover track Do You Feel Like We Doin minutes… But it didn’t become a hit till it was done in concert, and then it became the biggest-selling ever. There’s also the legendary song written by Stevie Nicks for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. But the rest of the line-up voted to make it a B-side instead. Two decades later, she got her revenge on stage as she sang this song while staring down her bandmate and ex-boyfriend, and it made history. Plus my favorite song of all time that only gets better when it’s done in concert, as well as Bob Seger's Turn the Page which wasn’t a hit. In fact, the album hit #188, but a powerful solo on a live version years later made it the most chilling song of its time. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, today’s band Foreigner took a frigid walk through New York City in minus 20-degree weather to nail down their classic 70s song Cold as Ice… a top 10 single about a gold-digging ice queen. A lot of people have wondered through the years if it was based on a real girl, and we’ll get to the bottom of that. Apparently, after finishing Cold as Ice, one of the song’s co-writers, Mick Jones, thought it was just a little too pop and wasn’t sure if it belonged on the album. But when his bandmates said they loved it, he came around. It was a good choice because Cold as Ice is an undeniable classic rock standard… Tag-teaming with me for today’s tale, we’ve not one, but two founding musicians from this legendary band, Lou Gramm and Mick Jones. And they’re both ready to give you a behind-the-scenes look at this frosty track… 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 on Professor of Rock, we’re diving back to 70s to rediscover 10 hits that were brilliantly crafted for their era—so of course they never quite faded away. But they are stuck in that wonderful decade. We’ll spotlight a duet that rewired the wholesome image of Olivia Newton-John, who dared to take bold risks on screen and on vinyl. There’s the track Miss You from one of the Rolling Stones, whose devoted fans flipped out and accused them of selling out when they jumped on the disco bandwagon to get a #1 hit. Plus, we’ll revisit the record-setting song You Light Up My Life that also tops my list as the worst song I’ve ever heard, written by the biggest creep in the music business, who refused to pay out millions in royalties and even cooked up a scheme that drew aspiring actors into danger. And we also have the colossal smash Shadow Dancing from a Haley’s Comet of the era Andy Gibb, who sadly burned out as one of the most tragic—stars in music history. His famous brothers gave him a song that was bigger than any of their hits, even though they were one of the most successful groups ever, but decades later its all but forgotten. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use the code ROCK for $20 off your first purchase. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alright, we’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s… But we’ve still got another decade to cover. On this latest episode of Professor of Rock, we’re counting down the most iconic cartoon theme songs from the 90s. And you’re not going to believe some of these stories. In the 90s, it seemed like the biggest rock stars were lining up to get in on the cartoon action… From Aerosmith to Devo to Michael Jackson to Danny Elfman, and maybe even Nirvana… so many of your favorite cartoon tracks featured top-of-the-chart hit-makers, and you may not even be aware of it! There’s the story of how Kurt Cobain pitched a demo for The Ren and Stimpy Show, one of the most unhinged cartoons of all time. But the show’s creator kicked him out and tossed it in the trash. Weeks later, he would regret it when the band became the biggest in the world. Also, another famous musician, Joe Perry, shredded a radioactive guitar track to replace one of the most iconic cartoon themes ever… And it may be even better than the original. And what about X-Men: The Animated Series, that ripped off Whitney Houston and a Hungarian kung-fu cop show? Or how Danny Elfman made tens of millions for singing three syllables on The Simpsons. Let’s do it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this exclusive, full-length interview, Adam sits down with Gavin Rossdale, the voice and driving force behind the legendary band Bush.Gavin opens up like never before, taking us on a candid journey through the highs, the struggles, and the defining moments that led to the formation of one of the most iconic rock bands of the ’90s. From the uncertainty of his early days to the breakthrough success that changed everything, this is the story behind the music… told by the man who lived it.It’s raw, reflective, and packed with insights you won’t hear anywhere else; an inside look at the mindset, resilience, and passion that fueled Bush’s rise to global fame.If you’re a fan of Bush, ’90s rock, or the real stories behind legendary artists, this is an interview you don’t want to miss. Only on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up, we tell the story of songs that had deep meaning to the writer, and to us, the listeners, who locked into their emotional power. And they are songs that are some of the most celebrated ever, but were surprisingly never HITS! We’ll tell the tale about Oingo Boingo's Dead Man's Party, a song that was inspired while staying at a haunted hotel where multiple deaths took place. And what came from that overnight stay is one of the catchiest and creepiest songs ever. There’s also the story of Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, which was intended to unite soldiers fighting on different sides of a war. And it means as much today as it did then. Plus a deeply personal song that the singer wanted to emote perfectly. He felt the best way to get in a vulnerable state of mind was to record the song without any clothes! Plus Depeche Mode's Blasphemous Rumours that sent small communities into a tailspin and the greatest B SIDE in history. It's our countdown of the Top 10 Non-Hits of ’85. NEXT on Professor of Rock! The stories of The Smiths How Soon is Now, Inxs Listen Like Thieves, Tear for Fears the Working Hour, The Cult and many more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're serving up another Vault classic in honor of POR's Sammy Hagar giveaway. In this classic episode, the Red Rocker himself, Sammy Hagar tells us how he joined Van Halen and the resulting Music. He also tells the story behind creating the game changing song Dreams, the second single from their 1986 album 5150 which was the first Van Halen album to go to #1. The album 5150 is named after Eddie Van Halen’s studio. 5150, sold a million copies in its first week. Think about that for a second. The last few years, there have only been a couple of artists or albums that have sold 1 million copies over an entire year! Enjoy our Exclusive Interview with Sammy Hagar. 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 just hit 1.5 million subscribers! And to celebrate I’m giving some love to a “lost art” in the music biz, the Greatest Hits Record… but with a twist! Back in the day, these compilations were a vital part of our collections: Beatles Red and Blue, Eagles (1971-1975), Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Journey,… we all loved having all the hits in one place. Today I’ve got my picks for the 9 greatest song stories in rock history. I went with 9 cuz it’s my favorite number. You could call it a Professor of Rock Greatest Hits episode. Some of these stories have been told but today I’ve dug up some completely new details. And I gotta tell ya, it was so hard to narrow down thousands of stories to just 9. So maybe we’ll have to do a POR Greatest Hits volume 2. But for this one, I’ve got the story of the most cursed song in the history of music Gloomy Sunday, written by Rezso Seress, a former trapeze artist who survived a death-defying fall. Plus, there’s the story of Strawberry Alarm Clock trying to record their hit song, but Nobody in the band could nail down the tough vocal…Finally, a random kid watching the session jumped in and tried it and blew everyone away! It became a #1 hit and he wasn’t even in the band. Then there’s the story of a teenager who was told by his dad to write the stupidest song ever… and it led to one of the most iconic themes of all time, M*A*S*H! Let’s get into it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next, a true story of resilience and redemption as we tell the story of STEVE MILLER BAND and their classic song Jet Airliner… a song that was trapped on an unreleased album by a guy named Paul Pena, who was stopped by legal battles and a ruthless manager, who was hell-bent on destroying his career. But hope emerged from an unexpected source when legendary rock star and "gangster of love" Steve Miller stepped in to breathe new life into the imprisoned track. With expert rearrangement and by changing the lyrics from an angry song to a happy-go-lucky one, Jet Airliner was transformed into a chart-topping sensation across multiple formats. The aerodynamics for one of classic rock’s greatest hits and a classic of the 70s is revealed 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, the name of the game is “Sabotage!” And it's sabotage in every sense of the word. And on this episode, we've got stories of self-destruction, tales of bands mutilating their songs in concert, and even undercutting rival bands onstage. We’ll tell the story of Liam Gallagher, who refused to perform Oasis's MTV Unplugged gig. And instead, he actually heckled his bandmates from the balcony throughout the show. Then there’s the off-beat pop star Cyndi Lauper, who loathed her headline hit The Goonies R Good Enough. She hated it so much that she badmouthed it in the press and refused to perform it live for over a decade. Could her fans ever change her mind? And finally, there’s the Replacements, who were determined to flush their career down the toilet. When they were given the opportunity of a lifetime to open for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the guys took the stage dressed in the other band’s wives' clothing. They gave such an awful performance that it went down in history. But why? Find out next as we count down my Top 6 Sabotage Stories in rock. Let’s go.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 one of the greatest voices of the 80s…Tony Hadley who fronted new romantic band Spandau Ballet. He tells the story of their greatest songs including the classic TRUE and in the middle of the interview I shock him with the news that a boy band totally ripped off his classic song plus their other classics like Gold and his story of meeting Frank Sinatra. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rock has always had a rebellious streak… that’s why we love it, right? Well, coming up, I’m counting down 6 songs that stirred up controversy and pissed off all the wrong people. These are tracks that got banned, blacklisted, and canceled by gatekeepers and tastemakers. We’re back at it again with another edition of Taboo Songs! And one of these tracks by George Michael was one of the most talked-about S-E-X—related singles of the 80s… especially after MTV refused to play its video without a disclaimer. But for all the uproar, the song was actually promoting monogamy and committed relationships! Then there’s the comeback hit from the squeaky clean, former teen heartthrob Donny Osmond… and it was banned for having a title that might hurt the feelings of armed forces families. Trust me, there’s no way it could, and it makes no sense. And there’s also the Foreigner album that people were throwing into bonfires because its cover showed a girl in a men’s restroom. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up. Let’s get into it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1986 Van Halen released their first album with new lead singer Sammy Hagar. 5150 became the band’s first number one album in the US and included three top 25 hits. It also contained a mind blowing rocker, Best of Both Worlds was a perfect pairing of Eddie’s guitar and Sammy’s voice that should’ve been a massive hit. Next up the story of this Van Halen classic with commentary by Sammy Hagar.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 celebrate songs from one of the greatest years in music. These songs were HUGE back in the day, but decades later, sound really DATED. Just because they haven’t held up well doesn’t diminish our love for the songs, but it makes for an interesting study in music. One of the songs, Turn Up the Radio, came from a bunch of drinking buddies who were all in other bands but jammed for fun on the weekends. But it just so happened that the drummer was jogging buddies with frontman David Lee Roth of Van Halen, and he heard one of their drunken jams and loved it so much he invited them to open for his band on one of the biggest tours ever. Another one, She Bop by Cyndi Lauper, was written about self-love and faced the wrath of a bunch of politicians’ wives who named it one of the dirtiest songs ever and got it banned. Another was written by an unknown singer named Rockwell who tried to hide his true identity due to his famous father and even used a fake British accent to throw off reporters, and one song became a hit because a famous actress was on a radio show and she was trying to play her boyfriend’s band but played the wrong side of the tape where the German singer Nena blew up the phones lines and made the song that was never supposed to be released in america a smash. Let’s do it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We lost another great one, and for me, this one really hurt. I was honored to spend several hours with the legendary singer-songwriter and comeback kid Neil Sedaka several years ago, and we really hit it off. In fact, he sent me Christmas cards and kept in touch in the years after that. I was honored to call him a friend. Neil was definitely one of the good guys in music. He wrote so many classics: Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Calendar Girl, Bad Blood, Laughter in the Rain, and the classic Carpenters song Solitaire which may be Karen Carpenter’s greatest vocal, and even though she hated singing it, she killed it. She and Neil had a little drama when they toured together, apparently, which Karen later said she regretted. Maybe they’ve worked it out on the other side, but I digress. 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 never over until it’s over. On this episode, we’re featuring 6 bands and artists whose careers were buried 6 feet deep. All of them had already made it big. Fame and fortune, chart-topping hits, best-selling albums, legions of adoring fans… they had it all… well, until they didn’t. The music industry is very fickle, and even the best can fall on hard times. But today, we’re all about the survivors, the comeback kids. I’m talking about acts that came back from the dead to enjoy a second life of musical dominance. On this countdown, you’ll hear the story of Def Leppard, who were one of the biggest bands in the 80s, who just a decade later were playing in Walmart parking lots and on the State Fair circuit. Plus how Frank Sinatra, the greatest singer in history, reached the low point of his career singing with a dog on a novelty track. How could he ever come back from that? And there’s also Nickelback, the band that got so much hate after blowing up, they lost a social media popularity contest to a pickle, which beat them out with over 1.5 million fans. Get ready for some really entertaining stories. Let's get started.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.