Professor of Rock

Today, it's the defining track of a big-budget, no holds barred rock opus. But writing this signature song would be a harrowing experience for this band’s frontman Dave Grohl. Just a couple years removed from the suicide of his friend and bandmate, Kurt Cobain when he was in NIRVANA, Dave Grohl was trying to move on. Now with a new band Foo Fighters and writing their second album the Colour and the Shape, he was facing all kinds of problems. The guys weren’t gelling and were exhausted from their perfectionist producer Gil Norton. And then he got served divorce papers at the studio. Crushed by the weight of his crumbling marriage… he put the sessions on pause and flew cross-country to his hometown. There he wrote his best song Everlong, pouring into it everything he was feeling. When it was finished, it would become the biggest song of his career. One that would have millions of fans singing along in unison. Get ready for a banger 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.

Alright, so today we’re going old school… taking you back to a shocking and iconic hit from the 70s. It was from a rockstar that defined the word and he put every teacher on notice when he wrote this defiant rocker. I”m talking about Alice Cooper and his anthem Schools Out. No two greatest words were ever spoken in a rock song… at least not to us when we were kids in school. All of us have been singing along to it ever since. It’s a teenage rebellion track that perfectly captures the restlessness of youth. Plus there are also some pretty crazy stories surrounding this one, from spooky urban legends like the band getting their name from making contact with a 16th-century witch to the over-the-top stage antics like the mostly accidental chicken sacrifice that blew this band’s legend up to the actual record coming with a switchblade, a slingshot and being wrapped in paper panties. Find out why they banned it. The story of everybody’s favorite rock and roll golfer who actually liked school, Alice Cooper. …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.

Up next an interview with a principal band member and cowriter of one of the most recognizable and popular songs of the 80s. except for the fact that it was actually written, recorded, released and peaked on the charts in the 70s! Video Killed The Radio Star by the Buggles was actually a 70s song But because it was part of one of the most revolutionary moments in music history when it was the first song played on MTV it’s known as one of quintessential songs of the 80s. and yet it was barely even a hit. registering at #40… The story of a barely one hit wonder that changed everything is up from the band Geoff Downes who was in the band with producer Trevor Horn. 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, one of the greatest living guitarists Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme tells us the story of his band’s hit that he believed in so much that he almost quit the band in protest. The label didn’t want to release More Than Words as a single because there was nothing on radio like it at the time. It was the time of big explosive power ballads and his song was more like a Beatles song… but he knew and singer Gary Cherone knew it was something special so he fought for it… He was right as it became one of the biggest songs ever. #1 hit. Plus he talks about the band’s new record and singles Rise which has the guitar solo of the century the interview is 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 Led Zeppelin touched down with their debut album, it shook the entire world. And a short while later, they were shaking American concert-goers as well, as they toured non-stop to support this groundbreaking LP. They were so hot their label demanded they make another record, Led Zeppelin II just months after their debut dropped and they made them keep touring unrelentlessly… So they had to write and record the record in chaos and recorded it in 13 different studios across the world… Out of this record came a masterful feel good classic that was inspired by a legendary fantasy novel. Lord of the Rings… the track called RAMBLE ON was a scorcher with Robert Plant’s fierce vocals, Jimmy Page raging the guitar John Bonham playing percussion on something… In fact we try to solve that mystery of what Bonzo is using to play the catchy percussion and find out why this band said no to Woodstock and how they toppled the Beatles as the 70s arrived. 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, an interview with the two principles from hard rock arena band Night Ranger. the band ruled 80s rock radio and here Professor of Rock interviews lead singer Jack Blades and drummer/singer Kelly Keagy as they shared the story behind one of the catchiest, raise your fist in the air, sing it to the top of your lungs rockers of 1984… the #1 classic Sister Christian. I don’t know if it’s illegal to turn the station when this song comes on the radio, but it should be. It all came from a misheard lyric. Drummer wrote it about his sister Christy and lead singer Jacke Blades misheard the lyric and begged him to change it to the lyric he misheard Sister Christian… Then the session was so rough the band had to play it over 100 times and drummer Kelly Keagy was so pissed he chucked the drumsticks at the producer. Well, this drummer actually ended up singing the song even though Jack Blades was the regular lead singer and it ended up being their biggest hit. The back story of what brought the character to life in this classic… it’s based on a real person. 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 80s power pop at its best. The Cars and their 5th studio album Heartbeat City it sold 5 million and churned out 5 big hits.. But it didn’t come easy for this lead song from the album. In fact, it was a lifetime in the making… Or at least that’s how it felt to it’s band. Used to kicking out albums on the fly, their first four albums were a breeze to record. However, their fifth? That was a different story. Teaming up with meticulous producer and master of sonic sorcery, Mutt Lange, Heartbeat City took over a year to complete. And it took a devastating toll on the Rik Ocasek and Benjamin Orr and the band. Maybe even breaking them up for good. Tempers flared. Plane tickets were bought… and this seminal 80s record was in danger of not getting done. So was it all worth it? Well, if you’ve heard the album and today’s song, You Might Think you know that it was. In fact, it’s cutting edge music video is one of the 80s best and it beat out the biggest selling music video of all time Michael Jackson Thriller ! Get 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.

The game of life is like…a game of poker. And who would’ve known that some of the best advice for life would be found inside a song about playing poker The Gambler by all-time legend Kenny Rogers! … A SONG everyone knows by heart and a song that changed the fortune of a computer operator working a graveyard shift in up-and-coming songwriter Don Schlitz, and elevated a middle-aged singer into superstardom. You see everyone said Kenny Rogers was over the hill and on his way down… Instead, The Gambler made him even more of a sensation. Up next the making of a storybook song that grabbed an indelible piece of pop culture … 70s classic The Gambler has transcended time, genre, and generation. This video also includes an interview with the legendary singer, the late Kenny Rogers. the story is 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.

Today’s rock band Survivor was on top of the world in 1982 with one of the biggest #1 hits ever in Eye of the Tiger... They were Poised to break out big time. But then their next album fizzled with no hits and then their singer Dave Bickler blew out his voice, in 1984 they would forge one of the biggest comebacks of the decade with a new singer Jimi Jamison who was tailor-made for their sound. They Hit #1 twice including today’s massive song The Search Is Over. they’d have another massive hit in 1986 in the Burning Heart from Rocky IV and then a top ten in 1987 but then they’d vanish from the charts never to be seen again…Next founding member and key songwriter Jim Peterik who used to be in the group tells the story of their 1985 #1 and we try to solve the mystery of why this band disappeared... 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 of the greatest supergroup ever assembled. And there’s not a close second. the thing is they only recorded one song and they are only together for one night. USA for Africa with the #1 charity single We Are the World. One night where legends of all time like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Steve Perry of Journey, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Huey Lewis, Kenny Loggins, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie and so many more came together. I have exclusive interviews with 4 legendary members and they share some of the coolest stories you’ll ever hear. Man oh man buckle up for some pure unadulterated joy and nostalgia 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.