Professor of Rock

On Saturday May 29th 2021 we lost one of the great singers of the rock and roll era. BJ Thomas, an Oklahoma native, passed away in his home in Arlington Texas of lung cancer. We wanted to share our condolences with his wife and family and recognize his incredible contribution to music as his songs continue to inspire with a pair of #1 hits including Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head which B.J. tel...

Sade's voice has a unique quality that is so hypnotic, it lures you into a web of romance, seduction, and rapture. With life changing song like " Smooth Operator" " No Ordinary Love", and "The Sweetest Taboo, her music just makes you flow so freely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

UP Next one of the great hidden gems of 1986. From a british band the can’t really be genre-fide. Digging Your Scene by the Blow Monkeys the band had elements of New Wave, Rock, Jazz, Pop and Soul. that some now call Sophisti-pop. With one of the most memorable first 10 seconds of a song released that year, the singer songwriter of this band, Dr. Robert gives us the story of this elegant 86 hit th...

Up next 5 under appreciated songs from the 1980s. Hidden gems we don’t hear as much but deserve a re listen. Including interviews with the artists including Kenny Loggins, Mr. Mister, Billy Idol (guitarist Steve Stevens) as well as picks from Prince and Lindsey Buckingham formerly of Fleetwood Mac: The five gems are Pop Life by Prince, Trouble by Lindsey Buckingham, I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)...

The voice of Annie Lennox is a precious instrument, that moves me to the core, whether with Eurythmics or solo, Her voice is so unique, it’s hard to express why it has such an effect on me, but in this video we lay it all out. Perhaps the reason Annie Lennox is such a riveting singer is because she uses her voice as a vehicle of bold expression. It is the sincerity & self-confidence of how she...

This the story of one of the greatest hidden gems of the entire 80s, the one hit wonder, Mary’s Prayer by Danny Wilson It’s a breathtaking song, one of my favorites ever, that will make your heart stop as told by its singer and songwriter Gary Clark. If you love the 80s then this one is a no brainer. the story of this 1987 pop classic next on professor of rock Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Up next the story of one of my most haunting songs of the mid 90s as told by one of the most iconic bands the last 25 years Goo Goo Dolls. With speculation having run rampant of the meaning of this number one alternative rock song we get the straight story from the bands front man and songwriter John Rzeznik in an exclusive and personal interview next on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad...

An attempt to take the life of the great Tom Petty, and destroy his family, ignited a defiant spirit that inspired an anthem for unshakable strength & resolve. The #1 rock hit I Won’t Back Down from his 1989 masterpiece Full Moon Fever. We tenaciously & proudly stand our ground with the incomparable Tom Petty.. NEXT.. on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...

Up next, is the story of how a band from Cincinnati name Ram Jam changed an African American labor chant, with a debated origin, into a rip-roaring guitar track that became an international smash and is now a standard of 70s classic rock, having been covered many times since. The stunning transformation & history of “Black Betty” NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

The thing about Jon Bon Jovi and his incredible band is the music they've created has always got your back. From "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" to "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "It's My Life", their music gives us redemption and faith against all odds. Mostly it's music of hope, which is a powerful thing, especially in the times we live in. As Jon Bon Jovi says "You live for the...

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 prof...

Up next a brand new interview with two musical giants: Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams from Toto on the story of an 80s gem that was their last big hit of the decade in the US, Pamela from their album the Seventh One. A great breakdown from the two, plus insight into their new projects including what’s next for TOTO, on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...

Up next identical twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson of the family band Nelson, who’s father Rick Nelson was a pioneer of early Rock and Roll and who’s grandfather Ozzie Nelson was a singer/actor. With their 1990 #1 hit made them the Third generation in the family to have a #1 single. The only family who ever accomplished that. The group tells the story of the #1 rock ballad Love and Affection that w...

It was time for a monumental breakout for another historic quartet from Britain that evoked Beatlemania excitement… Depeche Mode interrupted the mainstream in 1990 with a fresh perspective The back-story of why Violator- became a landmark album for Depeche Mode NEXT on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...

Up next a song that was a hit in the 70s and 80s by two different artists. First for a former member of Mott the Hoople, lead singer Ian Hunter and then for one of the breakout Glam Metal band of the late 80s Great White who took it all the way to the top 5 in the summer of 1989, The Idea to remake Once Bitten Twice Shy was given to them by Guns ’ N’ Roses. Mark Kendall the guitarist and cofounder...

This pseudo New Wave Rock power ballad seemed to come out of nowhere in 1987. Armed with an emotional lead vocal, the song is so haunting it’s almost supernatural, which drove it to #1 all over the world. The story is told by it’s singer and songwriter including an acoustic performance, this is a can’t miss next on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

Following the break-up of the greatest band ever assembled, the group's legendary co-leader faced his demons, and extricated them by creating songs that he claimed to be the best he had ever written We explore & celebrate the beginning of John Lennon's solo era, and Unbox the incredible John Lennon/ Plastic Ono Band - The Ultimate Collection (Super Deluxe Box Set) NEXT on Professor of Rock. Le...

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 c...

Today we break down side 2 of the hard rock masterpiece 1984 by Van Halen including the story behind the blazing scorcher Hot For Teacher and the Michael McDonald co penned I’ll Wait, including another cool story about Eddie Van Halen from a recent interview. How David Lee Roth Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen set the blue print for the blockbuster 1984 next on Professor of Rock...

With exclusive commentary from Foreigner’s Mick Jones. To paraphrase a lyric from Foreigner’s song “Urgent”, Lou Gramm has “fire in his veins”. The timbre of Lou’s voice is unmistakable. That beautiful flowing tenor with a perfect measure of gravel that when he was with Foreigner in the 70s, 80s and 90s set the band apart from every other. When Lou wailed it was like the roar of a lion. With songs...

Up next we recalibrate the top 5 songs from a week in the summer of 1984 based on how the songs have done in the decades since. Ranked by all time performance What is the new number one song? Is it Prince? Duran Duran? Huey Lewis? Michael Jackson? or someone else, with commentary from the artists Find out who’s #1 next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...

Professor of Rock unboxes The Who Sell Out Super Deluxe Edition and tells the history behind this incredible concept album with the stories behind key songs including their top 10 US hit “I Can See For Miles”. Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon were at their most creative. The compelling tale next on Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...

In this edition of 70s Hidden Gems, we dangerously hover over some gory pulp fiction with Bloodrock’s freaky D.O.A, We drift down the sea of heartbreak with Ian Gomm’s Hold On….and come together for a union of humanity with Livingston Taylor “I Will Be In Love With You" (James Taylor’s brother) and Lindisfarne with Run For Home and Robert Palmer’s Every Kind of People. This is A showcase of 5 dive...

It was a pivotal crossroads for America’s favorite party band to make the jump to becoming the world’s biggest rock band… Up next we break down Van Halen 1984 song by song including a great story about Eddie Van Halen from his friend and fellow Guitarist Steve Stevens: We go back to the exciting & turbulent year of 1984 song by song including the stories behind the songs including the title tr...

Up next we celebrate a true trailblazer of rock and pop music The king of the American top 40 Casey Kasem. This is a tribute to my hero, the man who gave life to all of the classic songs of the 70s and 80s. A legend that brought all of us together every week to honor the biggest songs of the times counting them down one by one from 40 all the way to #1. including an exclusive interview with his da...