Behind The Song

Are you one of the two-billion-plus Youtube views on Guns ‘N Roses epic “November Rain” music video? Chances are, you’ve seen it. It’s as over-the-top as they come, for a song that Axl Rose started writing on piano almost ten years earlier, and it was the first video released before Youtube existed to get to a billion views. It’s part of a trilogy, all based on a short story by longtime Guns ‘N Roses affiliate, Del James, who has now been the band’s road manager for decades. Let’s get into the story in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode of the Behind the Song podcast, host Janda and music producer Christian Lane, who also happens to be her husband, delve into the fascinating world of Alice Cooper, exploring the stories and influences that didn't make it into the main episode, "When Alice Cooper stopped playing nice." From Cooper's friendship with Groucho Marx to his pivotal role in saving the iconic Hollywood sign, join Janda and Christian as they uncover the layers of creativity and innovation that have kept Alice Cooper a staple in the music industry for decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Without a doubt, he’s one of the most fascinating artists on the rock timeline. In fact, Alice Cooper has done such an incredible job of making sure that rock has an enduring spectacle element to it, of being kind of the embodiment of the freaky side of rock, that it’s hard to imagine that there wasn’t ever an Alice Cooper on stage somewhere, snakes, guillotines, electric chairs and all. But of course there was, and it took a while for Alice Cooper’s brand of entertainment to catch hold. When the Billion Dollar Babies album was released in 1973, Alice Cooper topped the charts, the world finally catching up with the idea that glam rock could be the vehicle for a brutal caricature, a theatrical madman, an entertainer who has also come to be known as one of the nicest guys in rock. So it’s funny that one of the hits on that album is about not playing nice anymore in favor of letting one’s freak flag fly. Let’s dig into the story of “No More Mister Nice Guy” in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It sounds like summer, but the lyrics address serious issues in a way that made it a timeless classic. “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears became a worldwide smash hit when it was released in 1985, during the Cold War between the US and Russia, but over time it has proven itself to be evergreen on a range of concerns, from the environment to dictatorship. It has been covered by over 140 artists, including Don Henley, who inspired the shimmery sound of the song with his hit, "The Boys Of Summer." And, incredibly, it was written at the last minute, the very last song to make it to the band’s second album. Let’s get into why this song has had such a lasting impact in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices