Professor of Rock

This is such a cool 80s story. The band the Hooters formed in 1980. they released an album independently and then took some time off when two of their principal members were hand picked to work on the 1984 blockbuster album Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual including helping with Girls Just Wanna have Fun and co-write the 1984 #1 hit Time After Time. Then they were signed by Columbia Records and released the 1985 2 X platinum album Nervous Night that had 3 big hits including the classic 80s anthem And We Danced plus Day by Day. They opened live aid and were killing it in 85 and 86 and then they disappeared out of the limelight in the US only to hit it big in europe and come back in the 90s writing another monumental hit One of Us for Joan Osborne. In an exclusive interview, principle members Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian tell the story next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

IN 1983 in the midst of the 2nd British Invasion, a new wave band with a cool name almost no one could pronounce rocketed up the charts with a one-hit wonder for the ages. Kajagoogoo with the mind-blowing bass infused 1983 ditty Too Shy. They were led by a singer with one of the decade's most iconic hairstyles with one name, Limahl! The group seemed poised to be a lot more than a one-hit outfit but then the band fired this charismatic singer and they never had another hit… but he did. In an exclusive interview, the former lead singer tells the story of this singalong ditty next on Professor of Rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee 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 a landmark album that is all killer and no filler. Def Leppard Hysteria… This 80s hard rock masterwork was so epic that not even two car crashes, the brave drummer who lost his arm, and millions of dollars of debt could stop it from dominating the airwaves. Actually, when today’s band got started on it, they were intentionally trying to beat out the biggest selling album of all time. Michael Jackson Thriller, who actually kept their last album 1983’s Pyromania out of #1. But that’s not all. We’re also giving you the story behind its Top 10 title track, the Pink Floyd like power ballad Hysteria A song that perfectly sums up the magic that went into the making of this seminal record with A cameo interview part form lead singer Joe Elliot… it’s the story of Gen X’s greatest 80s rock blockbuster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Standing at the crossroads of her career, Stevie Nicks traded in the surefire success of Fleetwood Mac after Rumors and Tusk for a shot to prove she could do it on her own. But solo success wouldn’t come easy. Especially when two tragedies affected the progress of her album. The first of these would shake us all. The death of Beatle John Lennon The other was more personal, but still just as devastating. Stevie wrote and recorded Bella Donna with two duets… Stop Draggin My Heart Around with Tom Petty and Leather and Lace with the Eagles Don Henley but the breakout was Edge of Seventeen that came from a misheard phrase and a an inflight menu…The story is… NEXT on the Professor of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"One evening in the early 70s, a trio named the Bee Gees took the stage to play to a hometown crowd It was supposed to be a fun show but it turned out to be a demoralizing indicator of where their career stood at that moment. The attendees were more interested in getting drunk, then listening There was no question about it…the Bee Gees were at a crossroads… With 3 straight albums that were commercial failures. They were in a bad place but the adversity made the bond between the brothers Barry Gibb. Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb was stronger than ever. It’s the story of how one of the most successful acts of the Rock Era reinvented themselves when Barry found his falsetto and the #1 hit Jive talkin came from driving over a bridge and the sound the tires made on the road... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next an interview with one of the greatest rock vocalists ever Sammy Hagar on a song that changed everything. Right Now by Van Halen. After joining of the the mighty Van Halen and having back to back #1 albums with 5150 and 0U812, the band needed to evolve with the changing times. Sammy had the lyrics to this song in his head for months but his cowriter Eddie Van Halen wasn’t on board. one night Sammy was playing video games and heard Eddie playing something on the piano instead of the guitar … the Red Rocker walked in and started singing his lyrics over the piano figure and the game changing song was born. It had a legendary music video to go along with it, but the Sammy HATED it until he didn’t;. they put it in on an album he wanted to call the F word. Sammy tells the story in this exclusive interview coming up on Professor Of Rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up next an exclusive interview with one of the founding fathers of New Wave. Singer and snazzy dresser Martin Fry of ABC He helped the brits battle it out in the second british wave in the 80s. He tells us about his band’s signature hit, the elegant synth pop masterwork The Look of Love. It lit up both sides of the Atlantic. Most think it’s a happy song because of the music but it actually came from the lead singer getting his teeth kicked in by an ex lover.. Well The producer Trevor Horn Video Killed the Radio Star Fame, was such a perfectionist he actually had Martin’s ex lover come in and record a part in the song so it was true to life! The story if coming up next on professor of rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When hot shot rookie Terrence Trent Darby arrived on the scene, he was hailed a rival to the biggest names in music history. but there’s a catch, he was the one who started the rumor. With his eyes firmly fixed on rock immortality not only did he declare himself a musical genius, but he claimed his debut was better than the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper. However, the self-hype started to get so big that people started to wonder if he was his own biggest fan. But to his credit, his record the Hardline According to Terrence Trent Darby topped the album charts and two of his singles Wishing Well and Sign Your Name were massive on the Hot 100. Could he sustain the success or would he falter… the story of both songs and his career are next... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The story of the desolation of the Police and the birth of Sting’s first solo hit, If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, as song he wrote as a remedy to the disturbing stalker #1 hit of 1983, Every Breath You take. After 4 straight #1 albums in the UK, their first #1 Album in America, and first #1 Single… the Police were on top of the world. No one was bigger than they were at the time. Which made what happened next so perplexing to their fanbase. They simply quit. Or at least they quit playing together. Today, we try to figure out why and tell the story of how their iconic lead singer Sting gave up a guaranteed goldmine to go it alone while taking a huge gamble on his first solo album. How a nightmare about a blue monster actually broke up the band… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Visit https://iolo.com/professorofrock and use code PROFESSOROFROCK to get 60% off System Mechanic Ultimate Defense with 30 Days of FREE 24/7 Live Tech Support. Thanks for Sponsoring the video iolo! Today’s song contains one of the most iconic opening riffs of all time… from one of the most notorious and dangerous bands of the 80s: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.