Professor of Rock

coming up … I actually have a tool that tells me what the most requested song story is from you...our viewers and today we're covering it with an exclusive interview with the songwriter who wrote this 80s classic. It’s Don’t Change by legendary band INXS. Written by the underrated team of lead singer and showstopping frontman Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss. It wasn’t a huge hit when it came...

I’m not going to lie, today’s song might hurt a little. That’s because this killer track is like a Kick in the teeth. It’s as hard as nails, and so ferocious you have to crank it up whenever you hear it… and then crank it up some more. SABOTAGE but the Beastie Boys...But this high-octane assault on the ears almost didn’t make it. It sat on the shelf for a year. The band couldn’t think of any lyric...

Coming up, it’s the unbelievable story of 5 artists who passed on collaborating with one of the most iconic musicians of the past four decades. Weird Al Yankovic….Working with this guy was a golden opportunity that only came by his request. With a steady stream of hit albums including Dare to Be Stupid and Even Worse and a catalog of legendary songs, like Eat It, Fat, and Amish Paradise and Smells...

Coming up a wonderful conversation with one of the 70s and 80s great rock frontmen… Dennis DeYoung formerly of Styx about his old band’s signature song. Styx was always the bridesmaids opening for some of the biggest rock acts of the day including Kiss, Aerosmith and Rush but the 70s rock anthem “Come Sail Away" made ‘em kings of the arena… and they sold out their share because of it. Dennis wrote...

Was he a soap star turned rocker? Or a rockstar who just happened to play a doctor on TV? Back in the early 80s, this was a ridiculous debate that the music press couldn’t seem to figure out. But the answer was simple. It didn’t matter. Rick Springfield was a multi-talented performer who was at home both in the studio and behind the camera. And you’ve got to give him credit while living the life o...

Coming up, the story of a song that epitomized the struggles, the triumphs, and the tragedy surrounding the artist that performed its signature interpretation. Piece of My Heart by the great Janis Joplin. In an instant, Janis became the Queen of Rock… Nobody had ever really heard anything quite like it. With her incredible performance, this Showstopping Female Rocker put everyone on notice. And Al...

This the craziest rock and roll story you’ll ever hear….“In 1979, Eagles Hall of Fame guitarist Joe Walsh, announced he was running for President of the United States, with a campaign promise of "free gas for everyone” if he won. His antics became world famous,,, He actually tried to circumcise Eagles singer Don Henley when he was drunk, He Drove a Lincoln town into a hotel swimming pool But, that...

Coming up an interview with a certified finalist for the heavyweight title of the greatest rock singer in history on a classic rock staple. Paul Rodgers has fronted several rock bands including Free, Bad Company, the Firm, and The Law. Today he tells us the story behind the 70s hard rock hit Feel Like Makin’ Love when he was with Bad Company. Which may be the greatest rock song ever written about...

Coming up, it’s a band who owes much of their massive success to a random foreign exchange student. The band Roxette comprised of singer Marie Fredriksson and songwriter Per Gessle were on the rise in their home country of Sweden, but their records had failed to break through in America. However, after this student caught Roxette in concert, he returned home with their latest album Look Sharp! and...

Coming up, the story of one of the most emotionally charged hits of the rock era- Raindy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters was written by a budding songwriter Paul Williams with music by Roger Nichols, and performed by the Sister and Brother duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter. This duo was constantly ridiculed by journalists for their squeaky-clean image. I admit that I absolutely Despised their...

Coming up. A crazy rock story…Code words and mystery lyrics, a decades-long feud with a rival band, sweet stolen dance moves, the parting of the Red Sea, and oh yeah, the most controversial fish in all of music video history. And somehow all of this is connected to this one Amazing song. EPIC by Faith No More. This song is so legendary in fact, that it’s even in the name., we’ll get into this song...

Coming up next the two key members of the rock and roll chapter of one the world’s greatest classic bands: the Doobie Brothers tell us a truly funny story. Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons were the principals of the Doobies' phenomenal 70s radio hits… Tom Johnston believed that if they could get all the politicians together, all the world’s leaders together on a grassy hill with the sun shining and le...

Coming up, we’re bringing you an entirely new show on Professor of Rock. I’m really excited about this one. And I think you’re going to Dig it too. It’s a new way for this channel to go in-depth into some of the most influential bands and exceptional tracks that have ever graced the pages of rock history. And in the process, we’re featuring five defining tracks that capture the essence of the most...

Coming up… a 70s classic that had 624 voices that originated from only 3 singers…. I’m Not In Love by 10CC. First of all the song came from an awkward conversation the songwriter had with his wife… she was upset that he didn’t say I love you often enough. He ended up turning that awkward conversation into arguably the greatest anti-love song ever. Then in the middle of the recording sessions, the...

Coming up. Let’s dive into the bizarre and sensational era of the Satanic Panic, a time when songs were accused of harboring "evil" hidden messages, and bands faced relentless scrutiny as alleged corruptors of society. While heavy metal bands were the primary targets, even the likes of today’s squeaky clean band ELO, the Electric Light Orchestra, found themselves entangled in the fanatical crusade...

Today we’re literally giving you three chords and the truth with a song that has left an indelible mark on rock history… Wild Thing by the TROGGS... Written and recorded under the gun, The songwriter Chip Taylor had to write the song and record a demo in just a few hours to hit a deadline. Otherwise, he might miss his date with destiny. After he finished recording it. it was so corny he fell on th...

Coming up, an interview with one of the greatest drummers in rock and roll history, Stewart Copeland of the Police on their first two #1 hits, Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon. These two songs put Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland on the map. Walking on the Moons is definitely a candidate for the most atmospheric hit of its time and it came to Sting when he was sloppy drunk. He...

Up next, the story of the most famous grammatically incorrect rock solvo in history. and The Legendary riff came to the guitarist in a dream… I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards dreamt the famous riff and then rolled out of bed and recorded it. Funny thing is he meant for the riff heard round the world to be a horn section and he was worried he may have inadvertently...

Coming up an interview with one of the 70s most prolific and successful bands… America! They blazed onto the scene as rookies with a #1 hit with A Horse With No Name and their debut album also hit #1 and then they won the cursed Grammy for Best New Artist. History has not been kind to many of the winners of that award but this America blew UP THAT CURSE with several hits IMMEdiately after includin...

Inspired by the experience of a failed screen test for a film about one of the most controversial comedians of the 20th century, Lenny Bruce…superstar singer-songwriter Neil Diamond composed the most personally challenging song of his illustrious career. I Am… I Said…. It took him 4 months to write. It was a daily battle to put that song on paper that drained him emotionally. But when it was compl...

Today’s Classic song was Written on a piano in an empty studio, Thing is, today’s Legend never expected it to see the light of day. If only because he had been in the most successful band in the world for years and written over 100 songs and they were all rejected… I’m talking about George Harrison writing the song Something for the Beatles. He had written over 100 songs that got rejected and neve...

How do you follow up the biggest album of your career, a legitimate 80s landmark album, when two of your bandmates have gone MIA? That’s the situation today’s band, Def Leppard was grappling with as they gathered to write their 5th studio album, Adrenalize. Tragically, one member, Guitarist Steve Clark was lost to the grips of alcoholism. And the other, the “so-called” 6th member, legendary produc...

Coming up, a great underdog story of a rookie artist who went through hell to get to the top. Cyndi Lauper beat the odds to hit #1 in 1984 with Time After Time… First of all, she lost her voice due to a collapsed vocal chord and didn’t know if she’d ever sing again. She also got sued for $80k and had to declare bankruptcy leaving her penniless. But Nothing could break Lauper’s spirit or grit. When...

Coming up…it’s the intriguing narrative behind one of the most surreal songs of the Rock Era. Crafted by a trailblazing musical performer known as "the Chrome Nun,” Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. The classic '60s composition White Rabbit draws inspiration from the whimsy of a bedtime story that this singer was told as a child every night…Alice In Wonderland….Grace found some hidden messages in...

Here’s a number for you 13… Only 13 Instrumentals have hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100… Of those 13 as you may have guessed most are from Movies or TV shows… but out of that small list of 13 that hit #1 there is only 1 ROCK instrumental that did it in all of music history and it started out as a jam session. the Edgar Winter Group led by the wild and crazy mad scientist of Rock n Roll. He...