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A podcast celebrating the power of music - featuring stories of the greatest songs and artists of the Rock Era, as told by the artists themselves. Find the Professor of Rock on YouTube, ProfessorofRock.com or wherever you get podcasts.
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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.
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