Professor of Rock

Coming up, the terrifying story of a songwriter named John D. Loudermilk who was kidnapped by three men while sleeping in the backseat of his car during a late-night blizzard. Allegedly, his captors abused him for three days, until they found out that he was a professional songwriter in the Nashville music scene…and then.. they made him a deal…. agree to write a song about the injustices put upon the Cherokee people… or die. Loudermilk who had written songs for Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, and Roy Orbison agreed to their demands to save himself and honored the deal by writing a song that eventually became a massive global smash, the 70s hit Indian Reservation (the lament of the Cherokee). It would later be picked for Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders and became the biggest-selling song until Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean. The incredible story the writer told about writing the song was hard to believe… That’s because… he made the whole thing up. The truth surrounding one of the biggest pop smashes of the Rock Era is revealed. 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, we’re giving you a rare inside look at one of the most power-packed partnerships of the rock era. Two mighty musicians at the top of their game went on a massive decade-long run… Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar… Van Halen kicked out four straight chart-topping records and 17 Top 10 rock singles. in just 9 years. For this episode we’re zeroing in on one of those tracks: the 1988 classic hit Finish What Ya Started. We’re telling the hilarious story behind its after-hours writing session. I actually got this one straight from this band’s legendary frontman the Red Rocker himself Sammy Hagar. And it’s really one of the funniest songwriting stories you’re ever going to hear. This famous guitarist interrupted his singer in the middle of an intimate night with his wife to write this song… and that’s what he wrote the song about.. 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.

The Beatles...They are easily the biggest band ever. But after they broke up officially in 1970, the world hoped for a day they would reunite. but It seemed impossible. And yet following a decade of solo careers, for all four, Paul McCartney both solo and with Wings, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison there were behind-the-scenes talks of a reunion. it was actually going to HAPPEN! However, these plans were tragically cut short when John Lennon was taken from this earth. It was one of the darkest days in rock history. But then years later thanks to a near-forgotten demo tape, a reunion became a reality, as much as it could be… The surviving band members used this demo to record two new songs. Free as a Bird and Real Love. They also meant to do a third track called Now and Then, but the quality of the cassette was so poor they couldn’t finish it. Today we relive the history of all three songs including their new song, Now and Then… the poignant song has taken a band that has been broken up for over 50 years back to the top of the charts 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.

This catchy/happy singalong hit was actually written after Men Without Hats singer Ivan Doroschuk was kicked out of a club for moshing. He went home in defiance and wrote the Safety Dance... Little did he know it would became an 80s catchphrase and a #1 hit on the dance club chart and the Cashbox chart. It became the dance of the 80s and most don't realize it's actually a middle finger against conformity and authority. A protest song of the highest level. In this interview with Ivan Doroschuk the singer and creator of new wave band Men Without Hats tells the story and how the song has become a pop culture phenomenon. 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.

A Latin-flavored riff developed into an allegorical masterpiece and the signature song for America’s band. Hotel California by Eagles became their signature song. It’s the psychological tale of a man- precariously caught in a disturbing asylum- from which... he may never escape. The iconic writers Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Don Felder wanted the song to open like an episode of The Twilight Zone.. They wrote it about the dark underbelly of the American dream and they used the song to call out another popular band of the time. The song was so epic the two guitar players Joe Walsh and Don Felder wrote a solo side-by-side that took 3 days to finish. It’s a song that every band dreams of writing… a Song that is still as popular and perplexing as it was the day it came out… A song that has inspired a dozen theories of what it really means. A '70s classic. We find out the true meaning 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, we’ve got the story of three mischievous New Yorkers who disavowed one of the biggest songs… Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA otherwise known as the Beastie Boys hated (You Gotta Fight) for Your Right (to Party). This breakthrough track became a legendary music video on MTV but for all the wrong reasons. A rebellious party anthem they wrote to make fun of party anthems in general but in the end, it painted the trio as immature frat boys. But the thing is, it was all a big joke… a throwaway track. Their producer however loved it and pushed for its release. After that things got out of hand real quick with the song blowing up on radio and MTV. And yeah, these guys were no angels… but when fans demanded they live up to the song’s raucous lyrics, they turned their backs on the track… and License To Ill in general. It almost broke up the band. Still, fans couldn’t get enough of it. And even today it is one of their most popular songs. It’s an all-out brawl for this band’s identity and a fight you’re not gonna want to miss… 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.

Coming up… an interview with the mysterious disappearing rocker of the 80s. John Parr had a massive #1 hit in the mid-80s… a song he co-wrote and recorded in less than a day… St Elmos Fire (Man in Motion) was to be the theme to a big movie the Brat Pack 80s coming-of-age film St Elmos Fire. but he actually wrote the song about an inspirational journey that was being forged at the time by a disabled man. The song was going to be a frontrunner for the Oscar that year but it was pulled from contention over its connection to this everyday hero. It ended up helping to raise millions of dollars and awareness for spinal injuries… Then at the height of his career, this rocker was betrayed by someone in his inner circle and litigation stopped him from making music for almost 18 years…during this time he disappeared from the spotlight and worked a regular job to raise his kids. Up next, an interview with this 80s icon. 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.

It’s a track that slowly builds energy, perseverance, & resolve. It’s a Frankenstein song… with 3 completely different songs stitched together AND IT’S THE Only song in Fleetwood Mac’s legendary career where all 5 members created it The Chain from the 1977 masterpiece Rumours. By the time you hear its exhilarating crescendo, you feel as if you can conquer ANYTHING... Even a devastating, soul-crushing breakup. Which is what this song did. Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, and John McVie were about to self-destruct. The Chain actually stopped one of the world’s greatest bands from breaking up at their peak. If it weren’t for this song we would’ve missed out on six huge albums and 11 major hits. And to think it was never released as a single. Up next, the story of this 70s classic 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.

It’s the rise and fall of one of the most controversial bands of the 80s… Frankie Goes To Hollywood a band that many here in the US think of as a one-hit wonder. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. These guys killed it around the world, even notching three #1 hits in the UK in one year. Relax, Two Tribes and the Power of Love… Relax stirred up a firestorm of controversy. As DJs listened to the lyrics, they soon realized this track was far from family-friendly. And the song’s music video wasn’t exactly rated PG either. Soon it was banned on the airwaves and on TV. But it still skyrocketed up the charts anyway. Here in the US, we missed all that. But you know what we didn’t miss? The MERCH….Americans everywhere wore this group’s swag more than any other band. The Frankie Say Relax... Get the story of this blacklisted 80s band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood with Holly Johnson as lead singer. and their rise to the top, and their sudden disappearance… 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, the story behind one of the many genius tracks created by one of the most shy and reluctant stars of the Rock Era. Jeff Lynne ELO otherwise known as Electric Light Orchestra. The lyrics of this international hit have spawned very emotional interpretations. See if you can guess what the real answer is. Was their 70s classic Livin’ Thing written about the suicide of a former bandmate, was it written about Saving the Whales… Was it written about a bad bout of dysentery, some swear it's a crusade against abortion, and then others are convinced that the song is about a relationship…Try and guess once you hear the song and we will solve it. It’s a song that opened the door for the genius leader of this band to meet his heroes and work with them when they got back together. Let’s find out 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.