Professor of Rock

The in depth story of the Rolling Stones 1966, #1 hit Paint it, Black and how the sitar started a new chapter in their glorious history including a power shift that took place marking the rise of the band’s chief composers Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and the inevitable exodus Brian Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...

The story of Canadian band Glass Tiger’s biggest hit, the 1986 #2 smash Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone, with lead singer Alan Frew and Sam Reid. It was one of those tubular radio songs that were the backbone of our coming of age years. It also had an 80s legend who sang background vocals on it, Bryan Adams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at h...

The compelling story of how Morrissey and Johnny Marr created one of the greatest epics in modern history: How Soon Is Now by The Smiths from 1984. Armed with One of the most arresting guitar riffs of the Rock Era inspired by an innocuous bubble gum pop song.. The story of how it became a touchstone for disaffected use is next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...

Stephen Bishop tells the hilarious story of his 1977 Hit On and On. He is a California singer-songwriter who had many hits in the 70s and 80s including Save it for a Rainy Day, and It Might Be You from Tootsie, etc tells us the story of his genre defining 1977 hit that captured the nation and is now a bona fide Yacht Rock classic. You’ll get a kick out of the guy. the story is next on professor of...

Lzzy Hale of hard rock band Halestorm tells the story of their #1 rock hit Love Bites (So Do I) and winning a Grammy in the same category as her Heroes. When Lzzy was growing up, she didn’t fit in with here classmates who were listening to boy bands while she was listening to Black Sabbath, Dio and Alice Cooper. How she took those influences and created a multiplatinum rock band on professor of ro...

Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music crafted his own distinctive singing style- developing a beautiful voice that matches his sophisticated flair- elegant, charming, and gallant. He has quietly become one of the most influential artists of the Rock Era- deeply affecting many notable performers, including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Morrissey and David Bowie- particularly his Serious Moonlight phase. If Davi...

A surviving member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group the Flamingos tells the magical story of creating I Only Have Eyes for You from 1959. Terry “Buzzy” Johnson arranged, sang and played guitar on this wondrous oldies hit of all time. He tells the rare and authentic story next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an...

Scorpions were one of the first rock bands to play behind the iron curtain, and the experience inspired the creation of Wind of Change the 1991 song that was the soundtrack to the fall of the berlin wall and the Soviet Union. Come take a boat ride down the Moskva River in 1989- whistling along to the melody of the “Wind of Change”... NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

How Sting and the Police created the 1978 hit that put them on the map “Roxanne” as song inspired by strolling through the seediest part of Paris France from their amazing debut album “Outlandos D’ Amour” and how it ignited worldwide domination for the multi-platinum band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif...

Up next the story of a classic 70s hit Swayin’ to the Music (Slow Dancing) hit by Johnny Rivers written by Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin, Johnny Rivers is one of the most under appreciated artists to the time. He had 17 top 40 hits in the 60s and 70s. We have the story from both artist and songwriter next on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

Story of 1970 Hit: Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

One night brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young were jamming in the studio after hours… when suddenly Angus had an idea for a riff that he immediately played. The Riff would change everything for AC/DC: Highway to Hell produced by Mutt Lange and sung by Bon Scott broke the band in America for good. the story is next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy...

311 lead singer , Nick Hexum tells the story behind their #1 Alternative hit DOWN from the blue album that rocked 1996 on professor of rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Up next, my Holy Grail interview. One of the last musical geniuses left on this earth Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys and the Father of 60s pop tells the story behind God Only Knows from their masterpiece 1966 album Pet Sounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art...

In an exclusive interview Cindy Wilson a founding member and singer from legendary New Wave Act the B52s who dominated the end of the 80s tells us the story behind their biggest hit Roam next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

As the Rock Era began to wrap up in the mid 90s Better Than Ezra that formed at LSU and rocketed to #1 on the modern rock charts with the #1 song GOOD a classic sing along song of it’s time. Singer Kevin Griffin and bassist Tim Drummond tell the story in this exclusive interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an...

The story of the 1979 classic Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler was inspired to write the song after witnessing a band playing Dixieland Jazz in a dive bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In celebration of Father’s Day, we celebrate through the great songs about the Father/Child relationship from some of the greats including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Luther Vandross, Madonna and many more. We live in a cynical world and some people don’t believe in heroes, if you’re one of those people-- that don’t believe in heroes then you've never met my Dad, I’m sure many of...

INXS Co-founder and Co writer Andrew Farriss tells the story of creating the 1987 Kick album with Micheal Hutchence including the classic hits Devil Inside, Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in...

Aaron Bruno of modern rock band Awolnation tells the story of crating the smash rock hit Sail from Megalithic Symphony, one of the biggest songs of the last 10 years. A 2011 song that exploded on to the scene and at the time broke chart records including spending 79 week on the Hot 100. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri...

In an exclusive interview Roger McGuinn and David Crosby who co-founded the Byrds share the story of one of the most influential songs in history Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man. A number one hit in the midst of the British Invasion that changed the course of music history, ramping up the Folk Rock movement and inspiriting Bob Dylan to go electric, the co-pilots of the Byrds tell us the legendary s...

Up next Stephan Jenkins from San Francisco band Third Eye Blind or 3EB that ignited radio in 1997 and 1998 tells the inspirational story of their hit Jumper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 count down the top 5 Journey Hidden gems. The deep tracks that in most cases are just as good as the hits. with commentary from the band members themselves including guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain, with stories of creating the songs with Steve Perry including Escape, Still They Ride, I’ll Be Alright Without You, and other of their great 80s songs. Learn more about yo...

1987 ruled! So many classic albums and songs were released from Def Leppard and Guns n’ Roses to Whitesnake, Depeche Mode and the Smiths from George Michael and Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston. Whitney ruled 87 with her smash hit I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) #1 in 13 different countries The story of the song is told by Narada Michael Walden legendary drummer and producer who has w...

Space Oddity by David Bowie was a track inspired by a milestone Science Fiction movie, but passed on by the most prolific producer in music history. How a song about a fictitious astronaut overcame the label of being a “novelty song” to becoming a transcendent masterpiece in the 70s and beyond by a genius of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Pol...