Professor of Rock

An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this petty classic should’ve been #1 next on Professor of Rock. Learn m...

Up next the story of I’ve Had the Time of My Life from one of the biggest selling movie soundtrack ever, Dirty Dancing partly sung by a rock hall of famer Bill Medley from the Righteous Brothers who had been out of the limelight for years and the elegant Jennifer Warnes. The two co-writers of the song, Franke Previte and John DeNicola tell the story behind writing this hit in our interview, along...

After dominating rock radio in the mid 70s and emerging with a big comeback in the 80s on MTV, Ann Wilson and the band Heart entered the 90s with the multiplatinum album Brigade which contained a song that became Hearts biggest hit in years. A song that Ann Wilson hated. Up next the story of Heart in the 90s including their other band the Love mongers and Ann’s experiences with the grunge movement...

Since the beginning of time, wearing glasses may have been due to seeing better but since the Rock Era began in ’55, eyewear has become a fashion statement, and in some cases as iconic as the artist themselves. In this feature we spotlight 5 more iconic eyewear of the rock era: starring Bono, Slash and Stevie Nicks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy P...

Dave Gahan and Martin Gore's Electronic supergroup Depeche Mode has built one of the most loyal fan bases in music history. The LP that truly solidified eternal veneration was Black Celebration. With some of the most satisfying songs of DM’s career including Stripped, Question of Lust, Here is the House, But Not Tonight, the dark title track and A Question of Time, Black Celebration is a new wave...

The story of a song by one of the most influential bands of the rock era, The Byrds who combined Folk Rock, Psychedelia, Country and Raga Rock in the 60s and 70s. The story of Eight Miles Hight a song that defined the Psychedelic movement. Roger McGuinn and David Crosby tell the story of this definitive classic next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy...

Presenting another edition of 80s Hidden Gems, this is Volume 8. Top 5 seemingly passed over songs from the 80s that should be in more regular rotation in our lives. To clarify, these are songs that while hits in their time they haven’t been as prevalent on radio, in playlists on streaming apps and in pop culture. It seems like we hear the same 50 songs from the 80s in these situations I like to s...

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. Lea...

Every once in a while a band can come out of nowhere and release a song that speaks to an entire generation. The deepest reaches of the soul. In 2006 a band from Texas put out a deeply personal song that went to #2 on the the charts. Hate Me by the rock band Blue October from their multiplatinum album Foiled. Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer of the band tells the story with a cameo appearance f...

Since the beginning of time, wearing glasses may have been due to seeing better but since the Rock Era began in ’55, eyewear has become a fashion statement, and in some cases as iconic as the artist themselves. 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-m...

The great Charley Pride passed away recently - leaving one of most incredible legacies for us to cherish. 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 the mid 80s, Guns n' Roses crawled out of the hotbed of decadence to release a landmark album while facing the constant threat of implosion, a ban at retail, a ban at MTV, and slow record sales. The transfixing evolution of the biggest selling debut album of all time.. Appetite for Destruction starring Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Tom Zutaut and a host of others....

The amazing story of the redemption of “Yusuf / Cat Stevens” who came back from near death to record two of the greatest albums of the 70s Mona Bone Jakon and Tea For The Tillerman and we unbox the 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe box sets featuring both of these amazing albums, which you can get here: https://catstevens.lnk.to/TFTT-MB-Boxsets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...

It was a glam-rock throwback with a piercing falsetto that captivated listeners around the world, and re-awakened the spirit of rock n’ roll for a new century. The story of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” From brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins, otherwise known as the Darkness NEXT on Professor of Rock.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at htt...

A colossal rock anthem that earned notoriety from an urban legend was actually inspired by a finger-picking exercise learned from the brother of one of rock’s greatest players. 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 .

The 1990s were full of experimentation and global domination for U2. From Achtung Baby to Zooropa to Pop, U2 ran the gauntlet. Enclosed are their top 5 songs from the era including Stay Faraway (So Close) and Mysterious Ways. The stories behind the songs and the evolution of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See P...

Bruce Springsteen has created countless standards of the great American songbook, next we go in depth on a song you may have forgotten about that is not only a modern day standard but a defining song about relationships in general . We break down the song and it’s impact in our lives and our culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https:/...

Was House of the Rising Sun the first Folk Rock Hit? Eric Burdon the lead singer of the Animals tells us the story of one of the greatest songs in history along with an appearance by Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. 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-m...

The Bee Gees or the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have sold more than 220 million records over their storied career. In this Bee Gees documentary we celebrate their astonishing run as the most prolific group of the 70s and list their top 5 songs from Lonely Days to Stayin’ Alive, from Jive Talking to How Deep Is Your Love. These are the stories behind their incredible music. Learn m...

The Cure is one of the greatest bands in the history of music. They are exquisitely unique and frankly unrepeatable. Though Robert Smith and company have influenced scores of bands that have followed they have created music that is so intensely magical and so deliciously soul invigorating it’s almost impossible to try and define it I’m sure that my story with this band is no different than your ow...

Introducing a special interview with Ann Wilson of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart. If comic book movies are any indication of our culture, we are all curious about the origin story. Here we find out why Ann Wilson ended up singing and why her sister played the guitar. Because as You’ll find, Ann Wilson actually played the guitar before her sister. We find out the moments that shaped here. W...

Talent, Vision and Ambition. Madonna had them all. It’s nearly impossible for an artists to be the biggest thing since sliced bread this early in their career and then pull a serious artistic statement at the height of their fame while continuing their peak. Well Madonna did this in 1986. After blowing up as the material girl with her multiplatinum blockbuster Like A Virgin album, she was preparin...

In this episode we break down a top ten chart from may of 1983 starring Michael Jackson, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Thomas Dolby, Men at Work, After the Fire, Prince and the Revolution, Toto etc.. As we study the chart we focus in on a hidden gem from the band Toto. I Wont Hold You Back from their blockbuster album TOTO IV. Steve Lukather and David Paich tells the story about writing it and it’s imp...

We lost one of the greatest voices of the 80s and beyond and when Tony Lewis the esteemed voice and bassist of the multi-platinum power pop band the Outfield passed way at just 62 years old. 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 .

We go back to the year 1987 to get the story of the beautiful ballad Someday by multi-platinum Canadian band Glass Tiger. Interview with Alan Frew, the lead singer and co writer and Sam Reid, the keyboardist/songwriter tell the story of recording with famed Bryan Adams producer Jim Vallance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...