Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Coming up… It’s nostalgia overload in a trip back to a perfect year in music. Including the provocative hit Whip It by Devo that sparked controversy so intense, actress Lily Tomlin refused to host a major late-night show unless the band was CUT. Plus, legendary guitarist Neal Schon was told his guitar solo for Who's Cryin' Now was too complex… he was told to simplify it. So he played the dumbest lead he could think of... it made the song a classic. Then there’s the famous TV theme song Beleive It or Not from a beloved comedy-drama whose lead character’s name was changed to dodge a link to the infamous man who tried to take out our leader.… Plus the #1 hit Rapture by Blondie that has gotten away with the mother of all profanities for 45 years and the rock icon Pat Benatar who erased her biggest hit from existence over one lyric line. And a Dan Fogelberg's deeply moving tribute to his father written just before he passed away. …
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Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
22Unchained, Thomas Halterman, Keith Novak, Yvonne Fus, Jeffrey Thorn
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Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast
Apple: apple.co/445fVov
Spotify: spoti.fi/42JpfvU
Amazon: amzn.to/44b5D6m
iHeartRadio: bit.ly/444h8MO
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Patreon: bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan
Merch Store: professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com
Instagram: bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock
#classicrock #80smusic #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 raced your hot wheels on the kitchen floor. You’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia Make sure to like, share, and comment Alright it’s time for another edition of our Show Time in a bottle countdown where we celebrate those unique songs that were hit songs and sound exactly like the moment they came on the radio. This Time we travel back to the year 1981… When we do these Time Bottle episodes, it gives us a chance to pay homage to Jim, the beloved singer-storyteller who was a special education teacher before he pursued a full-time career in music. The world is a better place because of Jim and the music he left us with.
The first song we’re going to save in our Time Bottle Dated 1981 is one of the most unique and disruptive songs to break the Billboard Top 40… "At #10 we have Whip It” by Devo: "Whip It" deserves a place in a time capsule dated 1981 because it encapsulated a pivotal cultural moment.
The track really took off in 1981 with the rise of MTV. The track demonstrated that artsy, unconventional synthesizer-driven music could breaks into the mainstream and reshape the musical landscape: DEVO is certainly one of the most original and inventive bands of the Rock Era. The Akron, Ohio, group is best known for their satirical critique of “de-evolution”—the idea that humanity is regressing rather than progressing. They fused robotic, electronic grooves with uniform, futuristic outfits and deadpan humor to critique modern consumer culture and the absurdities of contemporary life. Their unique outlook of society and the way they brought their pop art to life created both wonder and controversy. Viewers found the "Whip It" music video provocative, featuring Mark Mothersbaugh wielding a whip and removing the cowgirl’s clothing, which sparked accusations of demeaning women.
The backlash peaked when Lily Tomlin refused to host The Midnight Special unless Devo was removed from the lineup. If you recall, Lily had a lot of clout back then, coming off of the box office success of the movie 9 to 5. Lily screamed at the show’s producer to “get rid of these guys…They can’t be on the show.” Lily gave the show an ultimatum …”Devo or me.” Lily won the fight and Devo was cut from the broadcast: Ironically, Devo had designed the video to satirize the Hollywood cowboy myth, and macho American political rhetoric. and old self-help motivational videos! Despite the uproar, MTV’s heavy rotation helped the song, become a pop-culture touchstone that was much more influential than its #14 finish on the Hot 100: Many thought the song was dirty but here’s what Jerry Casale told me about it.
Next, we’re gonna save another song with a controversial theme.. “The Stroke” by Billy Squier: at #9 After facing the reality that he was going to be dumped by Capitol Records in ’93, Billy Squier opted to step away from the crazy world of rock n’ roll. He channeled his creativity into screenwriting, finishing a screenplay in 94 that earned recognition at the Sundance Film Festival.
Coming up… It’s nostalgia overload in a trip back to a perfect year in music. Including the provocative hit Whip It by Devo that sparked controversy so intense, actress Lily Tomlin refused to host a major late-night show unless the band was CUT. Plus, legendary guitarist Neal Schon was told his guitar solo for Who's Cryin' Now was too complex… he was told to simplify it. So he played the dumbest lead he could think of... it made the song a classic. Then there’s the famous TV theme song Beleive It or Not from a beloved comedy-drama whose lead character’s name was changed to dodge a link to the infamous man who tried to take out our leader.… Plus the #1 hit Rapture by Blondie that has gotten away with the mother of all profanities for 45 years and the rock icon Pat Benatar who erased her biggest hit from existence over one lyric line. And a Dan Fogelberg's deeply moving tribute to his father written just before he passed away. …
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
22Unchained, Thomas Halterman, Keith Novak, Yvonne Fus, Jeffrey Thorn
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the Professor of Rock Podcast
Apple: apple.co/445fVov
Spotify: spoti.fi/42JpfvU
Amazon: amzn.to/44b5D6m
iHeartRadio: bit.ly/444h8MO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patreon: bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan
Merch Store: professor-of-rock-lsn-shop.fourthwall.com
Instagram: bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of_Rock
#classicrock #80smusic #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 raced your hot wheels on the kitchen floor. You’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia Make sure to like, share, and comment Alright it’s time for another edition of our Show Time in a bottle countdown where we celebrate those unique songs that were hit songs and sound exactly like the moment they came on the radio. This Time we travel back to the year 1981… When we do these Time Bottle episodes, it gives us a chance to pay homage to Jim, the beloved singer-storyteller who was a special education teacher before he pursued a full-time career in music. The world is a better place because of Jim and the music he left us with.
The first song we’re going to save in our Time Bottle Dated 1981 is one of the most unique and disruptive songs to break the Billboard Top 40… "At #10 we have Whip It” by Devo: "Whip It" deserves a place in a time capsule dated 1981 because it encapsulated a pivotal cultural moment.
The track really took off in 1981 with the rise of MTV. The track demonstrated that artsy, unconventional synthesizer-driven music could breaks into the mainstream and reshape the musical landscape: DEVO is certainly one of the most original and inventive bands of the Rock Era. The Akron, Ohio, group is best known for their satirical critique of “de-evolution”—the idea that humanity is regressing rather than progressing. They fused robotic, electronic grooves with uniform, futuristic outfits and deadpan humor to critique modern consumer culture and the absurdities of contemporary life. Their unique outlook of society and the way they brought their pop art to life created both wonder and controversy. Viewers found the "Whip It" music video provocative, featuring Mark Mothersbaugh wielding a whip and removing the cowgirl’s clothing, which sparked accusations of demeaning women.
The backlash peaked when Lily Tomlin refused to host The Midnight Special unless Devo was removed from the lineup. If you recall, Lily had a lot of clout back then, coming off of the box office success of the movie 9 to 5. Lily screamed at the show’s producer to “get rid of these guys…They can’t be on the show.” Lily gave the show an ultimatum …”Devo or me.” Lily won the fight and Devo was cut from the broadcast: Ironically, Devo had designed the video to satirize the Hollywood cowboy myth, and macho American political rhetoric. and old self-help motivational videos! Despite the uproar, MTV’s heavy rotation helped the song, become a pop-culture touchstone that was much more influential than its #14 finish on the Hot 100: Many thought the song was dirty but here’s what Jerry Casale told me about it.
Next, we’re gonna save another song with a controversial theme.. “The Stroke” by Billy Squier: at #9 After facing the reality that he was going to be dumped by Capitol Records in ’93, Billy Squier opted to step away from the crazy world of rock n’ roll. He channeled his creativity into screenwriting, finishing a screenplay in 94 that earned recognition at the Sundance Film Festival.
