Professor of Rock

Get ready for a good one. Today, we’re telling the wildest stories behind the television tunes that ruled the 80s. The ones that played in between your favorite shows. They’re those quick bite-sized hits that were permanently burned into your brain, and you’ll know them when you hear them. It’s nostalgia overload. You may know them even more than the biggest hit songs of the time. So one was a throwaway song, intentionally written to fail… but it sold so much candy, the company had to build an extra factory just to keep up with the demand. Then there were those coffee commercials with a wholesome morning tune… but later that same song was used in an infamous ad about a brother and sister with way too much chemistry. Or how about the song from a cola shoot where a megastar’s hair caught on fire. And then there was the catchy song that came from a guy accidentally stuttering the product name cuz he was drunk, and it became legendary… If you lived through the 80s, you’re gonna love this one. The best bite-sized hit of the neon decade, 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 they may have the most passionate and famous following in rock and roll history along with one of the greatest frontmen whose guitar playing is legendary. They band name is as recognizabe as Zeppelin or the Beatles and their merch consistelnl sales in the top of the echelon of rock and yet they only had one hit. That’s right they are a So called One hit Wonder In fact for decades during their peak they had exactly ZERO hits next to their band name. but in the mid 80s that finally changed but it was a tough road…in 1986 after jamming their way to the top of the concert circuit their legendary leader almost died and the band’s future was in serious jeopardy but he eventual recovers and the band made one of the greatest comebacks ever with their first record in 6 years which featured their only hit single. You’ll be shocked when you realize the band that has played to the most fans in history only had a single hit song coming up the story of that hit and the legacy if left behind. 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 latest edition of our Series, The Hit Song Redux. We haven’t done one of these in a while! It’s the show where we go behind the Top 10 songs from a great week in the rock era, which, for this week, we choose 42 years ago in 1983. But counting them down isn’t enough. After we reach #1, we re-rank them according to all-time streams and views… to see what the real #1 hit is. Today we’ve got a massive lineup in store, with some of the most iconic tracks the 80s have to offer. But who will claim the top spot? Could it be The Police, a Jim Steinman special, maybe Def Leppard or ZZ Top or Bonnie Tyler, or even maybe a one-hit wonder, or the big movie soundtrack hit of that moment, or the 95-year-old senior citizen who had a #1 hit in the middle of new wave and hard rock? Stick around to find out and make your guess in the comments. It’s all happening… 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, an interview with a legendary 5 octave range singer who blew up radio in the 80s with his band, with songs that have become rock classics, including today’s dark and haunting classic that gave me nightmares as a kid. The singer admits it’s given many nightmares… We get the story of how he made the song a classic and how he was discovered by a famous rock legend’s parents, who were attending a wedding where he was the wedding singer. They talked to him and recommended him for a band that was actively looking for a singer, and he fit the bill perfectly. Up next, a truly entertaining and funny interview with a guy who wanted to be a cross between David Lee Roth and Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and he more than got there 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're counting down the greatest albums of music’s greatest year, 1984... fueled by a barrage of powder kegs, including a full-on brawl between two rock icons after James Hetfield kicked Dave Mustaine's pet dog. Then there was Mutt Lange, the perfectionist producer whose drive and ambition took The Cars to the top of the charts, but drove them so hard it broke them up for good. Plus, the most haunting song of the decade by The Smiths that I guarantee will give you nightmares. Plus, the genius rocker Prince, who deleted the bass track from When Doves Cry, and it made it legendary. Plus Born in the USA, a song that may be the most misunderstood hit of all time, and another one, Summer of 69, that we all thought was completely innocent as kids, but once we got to a certain age, realized it was really dirty. And finally, the stellar rock band The Replacements, whose frontman was so worried about selling out, he ruined any chance they had at greatness. These stories, and more, on our countdown of the Top 10 Albums of 1984…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 really is our Final Yearly Songs Countdown…and we end with a bang. One of the best years ever. A year where Beck, the worst rapper in history, created the best rock song of the year: Loser. Plus the gorgeous pixie with the voice of an angel, Dolores O'Riordan, who went scorched earth on Zombie, a song with a vocal that blew up the radio but was never released as a single, even though it’s one of the most-streamed songs ever! Plus Collective Soul and Shine's classic rock chorus that came from Ed Roland singing through a roll of toilet paper. Plus Lisa Loeb, who gave her demo of Stay (I Missed You) to an actor who snuck it into his new movie. The film blew up, and the song went to #1 overnight, and Lisa didn’t even have a record deal! Plus, the indigenous chant that got sampled by an unlikely hit, Return to Innocence, that became the strangest hit of the year. Plus Stone Temple Pilots' classic hit Interstate Love Song, which was written on walkie-talkies while the band was separated on touring buses driving down the road... And the most iconic song phrase of the year, "Black Hole Sun," that came from Chris Cornell mishearing a word in a news report. It's a year of classics 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, Kiss, the hard rock band whose career was saved by a cheesy ballad written by a man who became a punchline due to a joke in the comedy film Office Space. After hitting it big in the 70s as one of the most iconic rock bands of the time, Kiss hit a wall and couldn’t buy a hit. So they made a bold move. They unveiled the mystery behind what had made them household names... their faces. The problem is it didn’t work and sent them into a tailspin. Some say it became a curse... Could they break it? Finally, after 12 years without a hit, Kiss released Forever, a power ballad that scorched the charts. But the song was released under a heavy dispute between a Glam Rock God and the King of early 90s Soft Rock. The Co-writing credits read that both wrote the power ballad, but what was the real story? Who really wrote it, and did they sell out for one more shot at the title? It's a story of platinum and cheese 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… Rock rivalries are the stuff of legend. Behind the spotlight, egos clash, tempers flare, and sometimes the stage just isn’t big enough to hold all the drama. On this episode, we’re turning up the intrigue with some of the most contentious battles of the rock era… both between bands and within bands. These weren’t trivial disputes; I’m talking about feuds that made headlines, split fanbases, and left a lasting mark on the music we love. Today, you’ll hear four unbelievable stories of bitter rivalries and wild confrontations. Only there’s a catch… Three of these stories are absolutely true… and one is a total fabrication. Your challenge? Spot the lie. Think you know your rock history? It’s time to put it to the test… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.Use ZipRecruiter, and save time hiring! 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Go to https://www.ziprecruiter.com/ROCK right now, you can try it FOR FREE. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this day in 1969, Freddie Bulsara—later Freddie Mercury—made his live debut with Ibex in the UK. To celebrate his legacy, we revisit the story of Queen’s greatest song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Part rock, part ballad, part opera, it was first rejected by the label until Freddie leaked it to radio, where fans made it a sensation. It topped charts in the ’70s, returned in the ’90s with Wayne’s World, and remains one of the greatest rock songs ever written. The story is 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… The story of a legendary band’s 22-year gap between #1 Hits…in the 60s, they had one of the greatest #1 hits in history. It was not only genius…It might be the most incredible piece of music to come from modern music. But then they would go 22 years before hitting #1 again. An all-time record. But it may have been better that they never had this 1988 #1 hit because it is a strong contender for the worst songs of all time. So they went from creating the greatest #1 hit ever to committing one of the worst sins ever to tape. The Good news is the band’s leader had everything to do with the first #1 hit and nothing to do with the second one. But was it intentional? Did his bandmates intentionally leave him out? And it was probably a good thing because I don’t think anyone could’ve made this song better, but then am I being too harsh? Well, I’m not the only one who thinks it’s bad… It’s topped many of the worst songs ever lists, but coming up next, I will try to open my mind to it. Is it so bad it’s good, or is it an unrealized classic? Let’s find out! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.