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Professor of Rock

A channel celebrating the power of music - featuring stories of the greatest songs and artists of the Rock Era, as told by the artists themselves

Professor of Rock
To me the definition of great hit song is one that is so catchy and undeniable that whenever it comes on you feel like your 50 Feet tall and invincible. Some decades just hit different — and the 90s produced a run of songs so irresistible that the world still hasn't gotten over them. It’s time ro count down the catchiest sings of the decade! The greatest earworms of the 90s that you’re grateful to have stuck in your head and the stories behind them that nobody ever told you… including how one production assistant placed the master tapes for the Smashing Pumpkins' 1979 music video on top of his car and drove off… scattering them across the Los Angeles freeway. The band was forced to fly back across the country on a red-eye and reshoot the entire thing from scratch. Then there’s the Verve's Richard Ashcroft, who spent years pouring his grief into Bittersweet Symphony, a song that became a global anthem, but was strong-armed into signing away every dollar it ever earned. And there's one of the decade's most celebrated music videos, Waterfalls, that was delivered by a singer who was under house arrest, hiding an ankle monitoring bracelet underneath her costume the whole time. Plus the Cranberries' Linger that was originally about underwear. But a shy girl who was mocked by her bandmates turned into the most enduring song of the decade. Let’s do it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Kimberley Rumburg, Brent Gephart, Glenn Beardmore, Jennifer Selvidge, Carl Curcuruto, Thomas Williams ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock #classicrock #90srock #vinylstory #onehitwonder Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. You're gonna dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe and like, share, and comment to keep the music alive… So today we're wrapping up our series on the catchiest songs of all time. Today we get into the 90s, and there were so many catchy songs in the 90s, but we are focusing on the ones that are so great you’re Gleeful when they get stuck in your head… the most singable classics ever. We call this show EARWORM. Here are 9 from the 90s! Starting things off, we’ve got one of Pearl Jam and grunge’s most recognizable anthems, Even Flow. Released as the second single from Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten, the song helped break the band into the mainstream going to #3 on the US Rock Charts. The song is defined by Mike McCready's funk-infused guitar riffs and Eddie Vedder's booming vocals, but beneath its arena-rock energy lies a devastating, true story about homelessness, mental illness, and loss in Seattle. During the early 90s, when Pearl Jam was still rehearsing under the name Mookie Blaylock, Eddie Vedder befriended a homeless man who was also named Eddie. This other Eddie was a Vietnam War veteran living in the foyer of the band’s Pioneer Square office building while they were finishing up Ten. Veteran Eddie struggled with severe schizophrenia and trauma from his time in combat. The two quickly formed a bond. And whenever Vedder came to or left rehearsals, he would sit on the pavement with Eddie, talk with him, and buy him warm meals or coffee.
What HE Did Is UNFORGIVABLE-Which is WHY He's The Most HATED Man In Music History!-Professor of Rock
The story of the 80s rock classic Heart and Soul by Huey Lewis and the News. Huey tells the story that the Busboys were recording their song at the same time. Huey was pissed and worried till he perched outside the door and listened to their version and knew his version was better and he was right as it went to the Top 10 and made Sports one of the biggest albums for the mid 80s. -------------------------------------------------- #classicrock #80smusic #vinylstory #80srock
Icon Was PISSED That Band was Recording Their Song at SAME TIME--Till He HEARD IT!-Professor of Rock
The story of the #1 hit Eye of the Tiger from Rocky 3. In the early 80s this Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik came home for Lunch and checked his answering machine. He couldn’t believe what he heard, Sylvester Stallone asked him to call him back. He thought it was a prank call. but when he called back it was really him… Sly Stallone wanted an unknown band Survivor to write the Anthem to a sequel to one of the greatest franchises ever, Rocky 3-apparently Queen had turned down the use of their #1 hit Another Bites the Dust… In a very cool interview, Jim tells us how he and guitarist Frankie Sullivan wrote Eye of the Tiger for the opening montage of rock 3 when he went up against Clubber Lange (Mr. T) and went to #1 for 6 weeks because Stallone was willing to give his rookie band the chance even though they’d never had a hit. They couldn’t get the lyrics down so they ended up stealing a line from the movie and it became a classic! The song was nominated for an Oscar and the band had to be humiliated when the Temptation did a Cringe version of the song. How they created the perfect 80s classic rock anthem that still rules. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers SRoth, Eric Casella, Sherill Thatcher, Christina Root, K&K Bosemer, Chris Hedlger ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock #classicrock #80music #vinylstory #80srock It’s time for another edition of our series revelations. where artists and bands take us for a deep dive into their greatest songs and albums.. Today was have the story of one of the greatest anthem of the 80s… a song that every 80s kid know by heart. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. the co founder of the band and the cowriter of this hit Jim peterik tells the story of how Sylvester Stallone pitched his answering machine and offered this up and coming band who was scrapping for their first hit since nothing had happened for them yet.. And Stallone had actually been rejected by Queen as he wanted to use Another One Bites the Dust. So out of this came the anthem of the decade. but the struggle to get their is and how to write the perfect lyric and placement in the film is quite astonishing. For my money it’s gotta be one of the greatest stories of a song from any interview i’ve done maybe the best. . Let’s get right to it. As we go into this interview, I want thank our sponsor Zenni Eyewear, the glasses I always jam Make sure to download Zenni’s new app to get their latest deals and design your own pair of glasses, the color shape, size and style you’ll love it. Here’s Jim with the story. Leave us a comment about Eye of the tiger What are your memories of this song? From 1982-1988 they killed it. Why do you think they never had other hits after that? I’m curious to get your take. What do you think is Eye of the Tiger the greatest movie anthem ever. Let us know in the comments below. And if you dig our content, make sure to subscribe below so you never miss out on our videos. We’d love to have you as a part of our community. Until next time, three chords and the truth my friends.
This is so EMBARRASSING-Cover Song was So TERRIBLE Band was Humiliated on Live TV!-Professor of Rock
Coming up… Van Halen, Ratt, and more as we skip the one hit wonders to talk about the topic of top 2-Hit Wonders. ...But today I wanted to shake it up. What about those artists who actually followed up their huge hit with another one of equal impact? A second legitimate hit but then never had another one? The Two Hit Wonders. It’s a special countdown of the Top 5 '2 Hit Wonders' of the 80s! Including Ratt, Icehouse, White Lion and how Tone Loce ruled 1988 by stealing his two biggest hits from several legendary bands including Van Halen. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Steve Maddox, Thomas French, John Tanner, Robert Coen, Mark Austin, Andrea Drake ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock #classicrock #80smusic #onehitwonder So it’s time for another episode of our show Bottled Lightning where we celebrate a song that was king for a day, but today instead of celebrating a one-hit wonder we celebrate the greatest artists to score a deuce… in our Professor of Rock countdown of the Top 5 2 Hit Wonders of the 80s…. WE kick it off in style with a band that kicked some serious trash for a couple of years in the latter part of the decade. It’s the Danish/ American rock band White Lion at #3! White Lion was a four-piece fronted by Mike Tramp from Denmark, James LoMenzo on bass, Greg D’Angelo on drums, and an outstanding guitarist from Staten Island, New York, named Vito Bratta. Mike & Vito wrote most of the music of White Lion, including their breakthrough hit, “Wait” from the band’s 2nd studio album Pride. White Lion secured a deal with Atlantic after they managed to get record executive Jason Flom so drunk that he agreed to sign them. Once they were signed, Flom didn't use the excuse of being drunk to back out. Instead, his inebriated decision paid off as White Lion went on to deliver a platinum record. While recording the drums for the Pride sessions, Vito played the solo to the song "Wait" as a backing track. The producer, Michael Wagener, was so impressed that they decided to keep the recording. Michael disclosed that he got “goosebumps” hearing Vito play the solo. They also borrowed an older Fender Stratocaster that once belonged to Jimi Hendrix to record another solo on the album. In an interview, White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo shared that the initial demo songs had the same raw sound as their first record. However, they decided to take a chance on recording and releasing the album with a new, slightly more commercial sound that resulted in the band achieving platinum status- selling over a million copies. On the recorded version of “Wait,” Vito showcased his impressive fretwork on the solo, drawing comparisons from the music press to Eddie Van Halen. Like Eddie, Vito’s sound was pretty much impossible to replicate, but that didn't stop young guitarists from giving it a shot. His playing helped set White Lion apart from other hair metal bands of the time, such as Poison, Mötley Crüe, and Kix A little-known fact…In ’86, White Lion was hired by the great director Steven Spielberg to play a fictional band in the film The Money Pit starring Tom Hanks & Shelley Long. The band appears in the movie for about 50 seconds, mostly in the background while Tom Hanks’s character tries to get the band’s manager to sign a legal document entitling them to some money. The soundtrack includes the song "Web of Desire" (credited to "White Lion and Robey," portrayed by Louise Robey), which was demoed that year. Although the film's soundtrack was never officially released, the song is featured in both of the band's scenes in the movie. "Wait" climbed to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. White Lion then scored their 2nd Top 40 hit with another power ballad “When the Children Cry” the 3rd single released off the Pride album in ’88:
2 of the Biggest Hits of 1988 were TOTAL RIP OFFS Of Van Halen & Foreigner--Stolen by the Same Guy!
Coming up, We’re going back in time to a perfect year in music and setting it right. Taking some top 10 hits and giving them their due at #1. Including some great stories, including a tragic internal conflict between long-time collaborators Daryl Hall and John Oates, one that led to the issuance of a restraining order, splitting the most successful two-some in rock history. Hey, how are ya gonna write songs together if there's a restraining order?! Then there’s a story of the highest-charting song by Bruce Springsteen that came from a place of real anger because his manager told him he needed to write a hit, even though he had written 70 songs for his forthcoming album. Then, on another classic song, during the making of the video of the mysterious ballad Eyes Without a Face, the singer had a medical emergency when his contacts fused to his eyeballs…and it led to a policeman holding a gun to his head. Plus, Billy Joel apushed the boundaries of his voice to an all-time high in a song that became a classic, only he was never able to hit those notes again and had to have a backup singer do it live when it became a hit. Plus, Prince's Purple Rain, the song ripped offits title and solo from 2 other hits, but the two bands didn’t care because the genius behind it was so respected. Let’s do it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Holly Hammet, Remnarc, Kevin riley, Paul Moore II, CharleyAnne ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock #classicrock #80smusic #vinylstory #80srock Hey Music junkies professor of rock always here to celebrate the greatest songs and the greatest artists of all time . if you remember this commercial you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostaliga. make sure to subsribe and like share and comment. Alright a few weeks ago we did a show on 1986 of many songs that were top 10 songs but never hit #1 that should have. Well I got a lot of requests to do it again for another amazing year in music. my favorite year in music history 1984. It’s Number one in our hearts the 1984 edition… Let’s do it. Coming in at #10 on our 1984 #1 in our heart countdown is one of the most under appreciated masterpieces of the decade. “I Can’t Hold Back” by Survivor: “I Can’t Hold Back” was Survivor’s breakthrough lead single from Vital Signs, signaling a fresh era for the band with the debut of new lead vocalist Jimi Jamison. The song’s success came from both creative patience and collaboration, shaped by tensions behind the scenes and a long search for the right melodic fit: During the making of Vital Signs, co-writers Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik were dealing with a strained personal relationship. Peterik began his tenure in Survivor as both a lead singer and guitarist, but he said Sullivan convinced him to move back to keyboards so Sullivan could remain the main guitar centerpiece. The two also clashed often, with Peterik describing their relationship as working “like orange juice and milk”—they fit together, but they were always at odds over the band’s musical direction and decisions. There were specific points of frustration for Peterik, such as Sullivan’s decision to keep footage of Rocky III out of the music video for “Eye of the Tiger,” and being a ‘no show’ at the Grammy Awards: But, Peterik & Sullivan still put their passion into their writing sessions to push “I Can’t Hold Back” forward. Peterik later described the process as the best moment of their working partnership. In fact, the key idea—“I can’t hold back”—had been sitting in Peterik’s notebook for about two years before they finally found the melody and structure that made it click: and it happened when they’d already finished the album Here’s what Jim Peterik told me. “I Can’t Hold Back” peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, but here’s why it should’ve been a #1 single; it fueled electrifying comeback momentum, powerhouse vocals from newcomer Jimi Jamison, and huge rock radio success. Jamison’s vocal alone should’ve vaulted it to the top. Sadly, Jimi passed away in 2014. His family thought that he had died of a heart attack, but the cause of death was officially a stroke brought on by a brain hemorrhage. This was really the only time in music history where the replacement singer came in to an already famous band and made them even better.
80s Frontman Had 5 MASSIVE Hits & Could OUT-SING Anyone...Why is He FORGOTTEN? | Professor of Rock
Coming up…we take the time machine back to a year that changed everything with songs that were all over the map. We’ll tell the tale of Time of the Season that became a massive hit after the Zombies, the band that recorded it, broke up, and they had no idea that the song was soaring around the world. As well as Sugar Sugar, a song that was one of the catchiest of all time, but it was recorded by a fictional kids' band, and it became the biggest hit of the year even though the man who sang it was a mystery for a decade. And... the drama behind Tommy James, who battled a mobster who threatened to take him out rather than pay him the 10million he’d stolen from him. So the Singer had to produce his new song Crimson and Clover himself and when he took it to a local DJ to show him a rough demo, the DJ played it on his radio show and it became a #1 hit overnight. It’s all coming up next. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Kelly Moan, Curtis Stoddard, Paul Duenas, Robert Hickerty, rondell m ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock #classicrock #60srock #vinylstory #onehitwonder Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you ever sat next to a kid that ate his Elmer’s glue, or you were the one that partook, you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. Make sure to like, share, and comment. It’s time to take our time in a bottle countdown to the end of the 60s. We’re going to try this, and depending on your feedback, this is likely the last time in a bottle countdown since we already covered the 70s and 80s, but let me know if we should do the 60s or 90s. Today we’re going back to 1969. Before we share the 10 songs we’re saving in our Time Bottle Dated 1969, let’s take a moment to pay homage to Jim Croce, the man who gave us the inspiration for this show. In ’69, Jim & his wife Ingrid released their album Jim & Ingrid Croce. We miss you Jim! Coming in at #10 on our 1969 Time in a Bottle countdown is a song that was a pop culture wonder on the tube and on the radio. It’s the “Theme from Hawaii Five-O” by The Ventures. The Ventures have the distinction of being the best‑selling instrumental rock band ever, and their influence goes way beyond the California surf scene they’re often tied to. They basically helped shape the sound of early 1960s electric guitar, introducing effects like fuzz and tremolo with that two‑guitar setup that a lot of rock bands would copy for years. They didn’t just rely on hit singles….The band released some of the first concept albums and proved you could sell records with strong albums, without relying on the success of singles to drive sales. The Ventures take on the Hawaii Five‑O theme was iconic. It was one of the defining sounds of 69, and one of the most recognizable TV theme songs, but here’s the deal: the Ventures didn’t actually perform the original Hawaii Five‑O theme on that hit record. Their 69 single was boosted by Los Angeles session players from the coveted studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, including legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco. The TV version from ’68 was recorded in Hollywood at Western Recorders with the CBS Orchestra, and the Ventures basically learned the arrangement later for their album version: Show creator Leonard Freeman asked Stevens to craft a theme that captured the energy of the islands—the driving brass, punchy horns, and urgent rhythm that match the iconic opening of rolling waves. When CBS revived Hawaii Five‑O in 2010, they initially went with a synthesized, modern cover, which fans hated. The network listened to the crowd and brought back a shorter, high-energy brass rendition of the original Stevens arrangement. The Ventures had a #4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single release of “The Theme from Hawaii Five O”…Book ‘em Dano! At #9 we have a classic song we’ve never covered on this channel and it’s a bit shocking since it’s such a big one. It’s that sweet dose of ear candy titled “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations. “Build Me Up Buttercup” was co-written by Mike d’Abo, the lead singer of Manfred Mann, and Tony Macaulay. According to Mike, he originally wrote the chorus to end on a simple, resolving note, but Macaulay heard the demo and urged him, “
Sadly--This is Our Final Episode of This Series But Were Going Out in Style! | Professor of Rock
Berlin singer Terri Nunn tells hilarious story of Harrison Ford not liking her when she tried out for Princess Leia for the original Star Wars movie so she got rejected by George Lucas so she became an 80s music icon instead with huge hits like Metro and take my breath away from the top gun soundtrack. She was a 80s New Wave Princess instead. - #classicrock #shorts #80smusic #onehitwonder On this installment of Revelations, we have new insight into the new wave classic from several interviews we’ve done with Berlin lead singer Terri Nunn. we’ve combined them to tell a story you’ll love. Terri Nunn is the princess lea of 80s New Wave. Her divine beauty, towering voice, and fiery live performances have inspired contemporaries- like Lady Ga Ga, and Florence Welch, and even Madonna was an ardent admirer, who was a member of the Berlin fan club before she became an icon. I say Princess Leia of New Wave because Terri Nunn was highly considered for that role in Star Wars as she’ll tell us next including auditioning with Harrison Ford. She’ll also tell us the story behind Berlin’s classic song The Metro including how she changed the melody to improve the classic song written by John Crawford.
Harrison Ford HATED Her So STAR WARS Rejected Her…So Became 80s Music Icon Instead-Professor of Rock
I'm counting down the top 5 most cringe-worthy 80s novelty tracks that are “so bad, they’re good.” We’re talking songs like Pac-Man Fever, Party All the Time, and the Super Bowl Shuffle. But on the other hand, some of these songs killed it on Billboard Hot 100. So someone must have thought they were good back in the day. Will you admit to liking them? I have to admit I’m a sucker for Bad B-Movies and Bad B-Songs… Is that a thing? Get ready for a trip into the quirky, the bizarre, and the truly awful. But be warned… after you go down this rabbit hole, you will never be the same again… including Geddy Lee of Rush's biggest hit. A novelty song! NEXT on the Professor of Rock. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Producer Brandon Fugal Honorary Producers Norman Buchwald, Cliff Konstans, Steve DocPinko Cloutier, Jenny Blaxell, Jason Elliott, AArthriticGamer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast Apple: https://apple.co/445fVov Spotify: https://spoti.fi/42JpfvU Amazon: https://amzn.to/44b5D6m iHeartRadio: https://bit.ly/444h8MO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patreon: http://bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan Merch Store: https://professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com/ Instagram: https://bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock #classicrock #80smusic #onehitwonder
Rock Legend Got Paid 10 Bucks To Sing on Dumb Novelty Song…Became Biggest Hit! | Professor of Rock
Vanilla Ice finally admits he Stole the Queen bass line of their hit with David Bowie Under Pressure from his brother's record collection. The story of Vanillia Ice's 40 Million selling #1 Hit Ice, Ice Baby. #classicrock #shorts #80smusic #queen It’s time for another edition of our series Bottled Lightning where we celebrate a song or album that was king for a day. Here we honor artists and bands and that rocketed up the charts… but for reasons unknown weren’t able to sustain that success. Called by some ‘one-hit wonders’, we celebrate them instead as lightning in a bottle. Today we are we have an interview with the artist behind one of the preeminent bottled lightning songs ever…. And trust me, even if you’re not a fan of the song, you’ll want to stick around for this story and interview because it will surprise you. It’s the story of a song that any Gen-Xer knows the lyrics by heart even if you won’t admit to it. It’s from an artist who got chewed up by the corrupt music industry and was spit out and actually made it through He sampled the bassline from Queen and David Bowies’ phenomenal single Under Pressure. I’m talking about Ice Ice Baby. Vanilla Ice was born and a song that was the B side to his remake single Play that Funky Music became a #1 smash in 1990 and helped his album "To the Extreme" sell over 8 million copies and spend 15 weeks at #1, and according to some sources including Robert Van Winkle himself, AKA Vanilla Ice, all in all, it was the impetus of selling over 40 million singles and record worldwide and a song that has garnered 1 billion streams. I caught up with Vanilla Ice and got the whole history behind this lightning-in-a-bottle pop smash. Now before we go into this interview I want to say that Vanilla Ice is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. In my time around him, I witnessed some things that really impressed me.
Icon FINALLY ADMITS What We All KNEW for Decades...He STOLE this 15 Week #1 Hit! | Professor Of Rock
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