Professor of Rock

FROM THE VAULT: Eddie Van Halen Tribute 03.06.2026 19min

Let's take it back with this POR Classic! We lost one of the most influential and innovative guitarist of the Rock Era, when Eddie Van Halen succumbed to his long battle with throat cancer. He was only 65 years old. the word Legend is thrown around too much in the world we live in now. The over use of the term waters down the meaning for true legends and make no mistake the word legend was coined for EVH. Here at Professor of Rock, we want to honor to the Legend Eddie Van Halen through the music. Not only was Eddie one of the all-time greatest guitarists, he was also a master composer, lyricist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a lightning fast player, a relentless originator, and a veritable trailblazer. Here we break down Eddie’s top 5 song from both David Lee Roth era and the Sammy Hagar era including Runnin’ with the Devil, Dreams, 5150, Panama, Best of Both Worlds, Mean Streets, I’m the One, Jump, When It’s Love, Poundcake and more with commentary by Sammy Hagar. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Top Songs of 1983: The One-Hit Wonders, MTV Classics, and Forgotten Stories Behind the Hits 02.06.2026 31min

Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that will take you back to the good old days, including the massive hit by a band that nobody could pronounce. Plus 6 former criminals who formed the band Madness and had one of the most famous one-hit wonders ever, Our House, yet in the UK they had 30 huge hits. Plus, the controversial music video for a bizarre remake of Puttin On the Ritz from the Great American Songbook that is now banned for its use of blackface, plus the song that was rejected by record execs for not having any hooks…the bewildered songwriter screamed back at them, the whole song is the hook; he was right, and the song hit #1…So many great songs today… Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UNCUT Interview: Michael Anthony Reveals the Stories Behind Van Halen’s Biggest Hits and Hidden Gems 01.06.2026 46min

Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that will take you back to the good old days, including the massive hit by a band that nobody could pronounce. Plus 6 former criminals who formed the band Madness and had one of the most famous one-hit wonders ever, Our House, yet in the UK they had 30 huge hits. Plus, the controversial music video for a bizarre remake of Puttin On the Ritz from the Great American Songbook that is now banned for its use of blackface, plus the song that was rejected by record execs for not having any hooks…the bewildered songwriter screamed back at them, the whole song is the hook; he was right, and the song hit #1…So many great songs today… Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rock Legends vs. the Critics: The Most Infuriating Music Reviews Ever 31.05.2026 35min

Today we’re firing up the hot take machine and taking on the worst opinions from those who I’ve never really seen eye to eye with … “ the so-called music Critic.” On this episode, we’re going to break down the most insufferable takes from institutional gatekeepers, and all around pretentious, smug, and out-of-touch pundits… whom sometimes I wonder if they really even enjoy music. I’ve got a few things to say in response to this critical garbage. Stay tuned for the story of Led Zeppelin, a band that dominated the 70s, but had critics from one particular magazine trying to undercut them every step of the way. Plus, you won’t believe it. There is a prominent British music personality who has dismissed an entire decade of music for being too jingly jangly and ripped The Beatles, a band that changed the entire face of music overnight. Also, there is Pearl Jam, the ultimate anti-corporate rockers, who some reviewers accused of manufacturing a derivative record just to pick the pockets of teenagers. And Eric Clapton, the guitarist who went from being ranked the 2nd greatest guitarist ever to the 35th best, just because his views weren’t PC enough for the magazine making the list. You’re not gonna believe some of this crap. Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unsolved Mysteries of Rock: The Singer Strangled by Her Own Band Merch 28.05.2026 29min

A few weeks ago, we had our first episode of Unsolved Mysteries of Rock and Roll, and I got hundreds of requests for another episode. So today, we're pulling back the curtain on some of the most jaw-dropping true crime tales from the archives of popular music. Including one guitar legend who rolled up on the front lawn of a Beverly Hills mansion in a fully armed military assault vehicle… He had left his gear there during an audition, and the lead singer wouldn’t return his calls. When you find out what happened next, you’ll be blown away… this other musician nearly was. Then there’s the 80s music video that ignited a citywide crime epidemic. Thousands of emblems from a famous car brand were being stolen from car hoods every day because of this band. These three New Yorker musicians had no idea they’d started a crime wave. And finally… a female rocker was on her way to superstardom when she was found strangled in an alley with her own Merch. After years of painstaking investigations, the culprit was finally found. Find out what happened. Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: How "Walk Like an Egyptian" Broke Up The Bangles 27.05.2026 23min

Let's run it back! It’s a song with a storied history and a bittersweet legacy. But you’d never know just listening to it. That’s because this is one of those happy-go-lucky pop tunes we were all singing along with back in the 80s. However, in the studio and behind the scenes… it was a different story. Walk Like An Egyptian by the Bangles. This song was actually the catalyst for this band’s breakup. It all fell apart when their producer forced each member to audition to sing on the song… their own song! With four musicians and just three verses… I’m sure you can do the math. Someone was getting the shaft. And then there was the music video, which has this iconic moment, that all of us remember. Susanna Hoffs and the iconic eye roll that made every boy a man... A moment that turned one of the singers into America’s sweetheart and left the others out in the cold. With the press and fans calling her the band’s lead singer, things got ugly fast. Stick around to find out if there is any way this divisive track could have a happy ending. The story’s coming up… 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.

The Wild Stories Behind 1975’s Biggest Songs: Styx, Average White Band, Carl Douglas & More 25.05.2026 34min

Coming up, we’re going back to a year that was all over the place with some wonderful variety and unconventional songs that became beloved, hits that defined the year they came out. It’s our latest time in a bottle countdown! There’s a party classic KC and the Sunshine Band's Get Down Tonight that made a writing collaboration a ton of money, but they blew it all on blow, an instrumental by the Average White Band whose founding member died from a weird accident after ingesting a lethal cocktail at a party in Hollywood, yet, his bandmate, who had the same concoction, was miraculously saved, because of the quick action by Cher, yes, that Cher! One of the best-selling singles came out in ’75, and the track was “a little bit frightening.” The song Angie Baby about a mentally unstable girl who was mysteriously disposed of by a predator that’s one of the creepiest songs to hit the top of the charts, and the song Lady that saved one of the most enduring classic rock bands, Styx that became, what many call, the first power ballad, plus the biggest-selling one-hit wonder ever, Carl Douglas's Kung Fu Fighting… It was a throwaway B-side, and now it has sold 11 million, even though many claim it’s racist. Let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Countdown: The Most Unhinged Crazy Ex Songs in Music History 24.05.2026 29min

Coming up, we're taking an in-depth look at one of rock's most entertaining topics… The “crazy ex” song… as in crazy ex-girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, whatever….we’ve all been there… or at least know someone who has. If you’ve ever had someone take a baseball bat to a windshield or go completely scorched earth on you for reasons you’re still trying to understand, this countdown is for you. We’ve got the story of Axl Rose, who showed up at his girlfriend’s door at 4 AM, threatening to take his own life right there if she didn’t marry him. What a proposal! Then there’s Justin Timberlake, who made a music video about him breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and doing some pretty messed-up stuff. An MTV host called him an "American Psycho,” you know, like the movie. And he pretty much fessed up to it. Also, there’s the popstar Lisa Lopes, who burned down her boyfriend’s million-dollar mansion because he didn’t shoes… For real? You can’t even make this stuff up. Let’s get started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Sci-Fi Hit That Shocked the World in 1969 - The Untold Story of “In the Year 2525" 22.05.2026 19min

Coming up, it’s a duo from Lincoln, Nebraska - Zager & Evans - who transfixed listeners everywhere with a prophecy that there will come a time when machines will completely take over…. humans won’t need teeth…legs…or eyes….that’s if man can even survive… The story of “In the Year 2525” is a truly strange song that foretold the future of mankind, more than 500 years from now. The band recorded in the middle of a cow pasture and sold it out of the trunk of their cars… It ended up going to #1 for 6 weeks, and it sold 5 million copies. The craziest part is that after the massive success, it’s as if aliens abducted them, because the band just vanished… after foretelling the future they were never heard from again. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Saddest Decline in Rock? Why Some Legendary Frontmen Can’t Sing Anymore 21.05.2026 35min

In rock, the voice is just as important as any other instrument in the band. But what happens when those vocals begin to fade or even fail? It’s a singer’s worst nightmare. Well, on today’s episode, we’re calling attention to three singers who have had an incredible run, but it may be time to ride off into the sunset. In the words of The Clash… It’s time to ask Should I Stay or Should I Go? On the flip side, we’ve also got three singers who we wish would come back out of retirement… because they called it quits too soon. On this countdown, we’ve got a legendary frontman, David Lee Roth, who fronted Van Halen, who actually retired a few years ago, but then came back… and it hasn’t gone so well. Then there’s Motley Crue, who signed a formal agreement back in 2014 to never tour again… So why are they back on the road? And can anyone even understand what their lead singer, Vince Neil, is singing? You need a translator because the lyrics we all know so well sound like…well, you’ll see! Plus, there’s the iconic frontwoman Kate Bush, who refused to come out of retirement even after her 37-year-old song topped the charts a few years ago. Is there anything we can do to get her back on stage? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1988’s Greatest Hits Countdown: Icehouse, Gloria Estefan, Richard Marx, Foreigner & Terence Trent D’Arby 20.05.2026 32min

Coming up, we’re telling the stories of songs that shaped one of the best years in popular music, songs that define today's year more than any other... including Icehouse's Electric Blue that was inspired while an artist was nervously walking along a topless beach. Plus, the breakout song Wishing Well by Terrance Trent D'Arby, who thought the industry was conspiring against him so that he wouldn’t become bigger than Michael Jackson… Then one bad interview was the last straw and killed his career virtually overnight. Also, a wishful smash by Richard Marx, an artist who broke the record for consecutive top 5 hits, even though every record label had initially passed on him… Plus, Gloria Estefan, the legendary artist everyone forgets about, even though this icon had sold 100 million records and had 2 dozen hits. And finally, the Foreigner song that Lou Gramm despised so much, he tried to sabotage it by delivering a lukewarm, uninspired performance. But everyone praised it, and it was a major hit… Let's do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: How Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” Proved Her Solo Star Power 19.05.2026 21min

We're bringing it back! 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Tragic Stories Behind 5 Songs That Became Hits After the Artists Died 17.05.2026 32min

Sometimes the most powerful voices in music stay silent for years and decades… never getting their due until after they’ve left this planet. You could call them post-mortem hitmakers. Today, we’re covering 5 artists who poured their hearts into their craft only to face rejection and obscurity while they were alive… but then their music went viral after their deaths. We’ve got a singer Chris Rainbow who was dubbed the "one-man Beach Boys” when he put out several records in the 70s, but his songs went nowhere. He passed away in 2015 from Parkinson’s with zero hits to his name, but now, a decade later, his obscure 1979 song has taken over the charts because of its popularity on TikTok. Plus, there is the California frontman Bradley Nowell,who passed just before his band’s self-titled masterpiece conquered the airwaves. There’s also the tragic tale of a vocal virtuoso, Jeff Buckley, who had an otherworldly range, who, in a freak accident, drowned in a treacherous river after a tugboat sailed past him. His 1994 cover song Hallelujah later went to #1, 14 years after its original release, and 11 years after his death. Add to that a folk poet Nick Drake who lived in silence and died believing he was a failure, only to be rediscovered when a car commercial featured one of his songs decades later. You gotta see this one. See 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 Rascals’ “Groovin’” and the Band’s Incredible Hit Streak 16.05.2026 19min

How about this for an amazing rock story? So The Rascals coming off a big #1, in Good Lovin’ the band wrote Groovin', they truly believed it would be another hit for them. But one of the most famous record men in history, Jerry Wexler, didn’t like it at all. So he discouraged Atlantic Records from releasing it. Well, the famous DJ Murray the K was STUNNED because he knew Groovin' was a #1. So he cornered the iconic label head and said 'Are you crazy? This is a friggin' #1 record.' And he was right… Get the story from the singer Felix Cavaliere and co-writer Eddie Brigati 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.

1980’s Most Misunderstood Songs 13.05.2026 31min

With the state of the world right now, today I’m going to take you back to the good old days. Nostalgia overload. We're going to celebrate a group of songs that freeze a specific moment in time, preserving it for the future, much like the expression time in a bottle. One of the songs, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), began as a nod to the golden movie era of Humphrey Bogart, before the singer Rupert Holmes changed the lyrics by blurting out a random phrase in the middle of the recording, and it worked. The song became a smash. We also have the most misunderstood song of the decade: Benny Mardones's “Into the Night." Everyone thinks it’s deeply disturbing, but it’s actually heart-warming when you hear the true meaning of it. Plus, the famous actress Faye Dunaway who walked out on her rockstar husband and inspired the ultimate rock revenge song Love Stinks. Plus, the biggest ripoff of the year Steal Away by Robbie Dupree that made several prominent musicians livid because it was so blatant in its theft. Some thought it was the exact same song with different lyrics. Find out what happened. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rock’s Biggest Punchlines: Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Kenny G & More 12.05.2026 36min

Coming up…Its' Another Volume of Songs that have become PUNCHLINES! Today we’re back with more pop culture jabs, left hooks, and knockout blows… That’s right, it’s another edition of the fan favorite “Punchlines.” And for this one, we’ve got memes, parodies, and some late-night show mockery all combining to poke fun at musicians who may or may not have had it coming. For this one, we’ve got the grammar police on patrol, ready to take down a musician who sang about a figure of speech that she got completely wrong: the hit song Ironic by Alanis Morissette And the world has never let her live it down. Then there’s a conspiracy theory about an artist who supposedly died and was replaced with a body double. But it’s not Paul McCartney, it's Avril Lavigne. Plus, the story of the instrumentalist who has sold 75 million albums worldwide. But will anyone admit to owning his music? Not on your life..Hint: It's Kenny G. And finally, there’s the singer who has had more diss tracks written about her than any other singer in music history Can you guess it?. Let's go! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Untold Stories Behind Michael Jackson’s Biggest Hits and Collaborators 11.05.2026 29min

So I recently went through an inventory of all of the interviews I’ve done over the years… There’s never 800s at this point, and from memory, I realized that I’ve talked to dozens of legends, producers, and songwriters who have worked directly with Michael Jackson. Now Michael Jackson has taken over the world. The new Movie Micheal set a record for the biggest opening for a biopic ever, and many believe it will break a billion in box office receipts by the time its run is over, and MJ is now #1 on the Global charts by a long shot. His songs are taking over all the charts, so I went through the dozens of Michael Jackson stories of people who have co-written with him, produced him, and played on his biggest hits to give you the top 5 Michael Jackson stories from the story behind my favorite MJ song that is both in the movie and blowing up social media. Human nature I’ve got the story from the man who wrote the song and it came from a bully on a school playground and was a happy accident since it was on a demo tape that Quincy Jones Happed to hear when he was listening to another artists songs and it stopped him dead in his tracks plus the story of his #1 hit Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough from his frequent collaborator and his musical director on his Bad and Dangerous tours. As a young rookie, he helped MJ write Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough when MJ was stumped, and MJ agreed to give him a cut and writing credit, but then his name was wiped from future releases, and he never got paid. Plus, how Weird Al got MJ, who was the biggest star on the planet, to let him spoof his song when AL was a nobody, and a very special story about one of the greatest composers of the century, who wrote the score for several musicals, including one that set a record that not even Thriller could match. His album spent 54 weeks at #1, but he was so mesmerized by MJ. His only wish was to meet him. Find out how that happened, and the first question MJ asked him. Let’s get into the top 5. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rock’s Strangest Deaths and Disappearances: 5 Unsolved Music Mysteries 10.05.2026 27min

Do you all remember Unsolved Mysteries? Well, today is a rock and roll unsolved mysteries episode. Today we're diving into five legendary stories of musicians who left us under circumstances that just don't add up. I’m talking about bizarre and suspicious circumstances… And we’ve got more questions than answers here. But all of them are great stories. From deathbed murder confessions to stolen bodies to disputed burial sites, these are stories that will leave you wondering what really happened. We've got the tale of Brian Jones one of the Rolling Stones, who was discovered drowned in his pool… But all these years later new details suggest it was something more eerie! Then there's the enigma of an indie singer-songwriter Elliott Smith whose death was officially ruled "undetermined" after a serrated blade was pulled straight out of his chest. Fans and investigators have been split over whether he took his own life or it was foul play. And don’t forget the bassist turned rocket scientist, Phillip Kramer, who claimed to unlock the secrets of the universe before making a chilling 911 call and vanishing off the face of the earth. Let’s get get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM THE VAULT: How Dire Straits Revolutionized Music and Replaced Disco Icons 08.05.2026 22min

The fact is Dire Straits interrupted disco in the late 70s with the classic song Sultans of Swing that would take radio hostage! with their unique sound and singer Mark Knopfler’s gruff iconic vocals. but they were victims of the sophomore slump when their 2nd record faltered and flailed on the charts. Determined to bounce back with a statement album, Knopfler heard a song on the radio that flipped him out, Because the Night by Patti Smith and it triggered a series of events that led to arguably his best work. Making Movies An album that was so meticulous and exact that the title track of the record was cut from the album at the last second. It was a rough process to touch greatness, it even caused a bitter falling out with his brother and band mate… The 2 haven’t spoken in over 40 years. The story of two of the greatest songs from the album Tunnel of Love and Skateaway are 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.

Career Killers: How Winger, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and After the Fire Lost Their Momentum 06.05.2026 30min

So in the music business, the climb to the top can take years and years of grueling hard work. But a fall from grace? That can happen in the blink of an eye. Today, we are back with another episode of "Career Killers.” We haven’t done one of these in a while, so it’s time! We’ve got the story of Winger, who had to cancel their upcoming tour and call it quits after their credibility was destroyed by an MTV cartoon and 3 seconds of a rival band’s music video. Then, there’s the legendary prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who literally spent themselves into bankruptcy by bringing a 70-piece orchestra on the road, only to be forced into a "disco" makeover that finished them off for good. And you won't believe the tale of the British new-wavers After the Fire who broke up their band just weeks before their song exploded into the top 5 in America… turning them into a "ghost band" with no one to take the stage. They lost all the momentum they’d worked years to gain. It’s a wild ride through hubris, heartbreak, and bad timing. Let’s get into it! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.