Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles

In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda digs in to “London Calling” by The Clash, a song that called an alarm about what was going on in London and the world in the late 70’s, with “S.O.S.” in Morse code buried right in the track. Follow the story of how The Clash became more than just a broke punk band with the London Calling album, now considered one of the greatest albums ever made. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this bonus episode of Behind The Song, Janda pays tribute to the late Dolly Parton. More than just a country singer, entertainer, or her late-in-life role as a surprise rock star, Dolly spent her life helping others, even when the cameras weren’t rolling. That philanthropy is her true legacy. Janda traces her story from a one-room cabin in Tennessee to becoming one of the most inspirational people in the world, high heels, wigs, rhinestones and all. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Fifty years ago this week, Boston released one of the best-selling debut albums in rock history. In the new bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda flips through the class of ‘76 yearbook in classic rock, a year stacked with albums that still shape what we listen to today: Boston’s debut, Led Zeppelin's Presence , Rush's 2112 , Aerosmith's Rocks , Steve Miller Band's Fly Like an Eagle , Blue Öyster Cult's Agents of Fortune , Bob Seger's Night Moves , and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' debut. It was more than just a good year, it set the stage for what classic rock would become. Listen in and pick your own valedictorian from the Class of 1976! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In 1976, an exhausted AC/DC wrote "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" between tour stops, built around a line Angus Young lifted from a cartoon villain's business card. What followed was stranger than the song itself: an Illinois couple harassed for years because their real phone number matched the lyrics, a U.S. label that shelved the album for nearly five years and almost dropped the band, and a chart-topping American release that landed over a year after Bon Scott's death — competing directly with AC/DC's own new record at the time. In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda traces Bon Scott's wild backstory, the humor and heartbreak in his lyrics, and how this scrappy, nearly-buried album became a platinum classic on two different timelines. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It started with literal spit! Roger Waters, spitting on a fan mid-concert in 1977. That moment was the inspiration behind one of rock's most ambitious concept albums, Pink Floyd’s The Wall. In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda dives into the chaotic making of the album, the four-city stage show too expensive to take anywhere else, and the courtroom battle over who actually got to be Pink Floyd — including the pettiest lawsuit workaround in rock history, involving an inflatable pig! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Every year from August 1st to August 9th, Deadheads mark the “Days Between" — the span between Jerry Garcia's birth and death. In this bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda digs into how a deep-cut song title that was only played 41 times by the band became the name of what has evolved into a high holy week for an entire community of Grateful Dead fans. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Don Henley's “The Boys Of Summer” is a song with lyrical roots that trace back to the poet Dylan Thomas, but it got its musical start from a demo Mike Campbell played for Tom Petty -- who passed on it! In an updated episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda takes a look at how “The Boys OF Summer” fits into the Eagles' story as the band winds down its farewell tour. With Henley hinting this could be the Eagles' final year, this song about looking back has never felt more timely. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Janda recaps night one of Rush's Fifty Something tour in Chicago on July 16, 2026— a show few fans thought they'd ever see after Neil Peart's passing in 2020. The episode covers drummer Anika Nilles winning over skeptics with a show-stopping "Tom Sawyer," the emotional Peart tributes, a full 2112 suite, a surprise nod to founding drummer John Rutsey, and the joy of watching Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson carry the band's legacy forward. Part concert review, part love letter to five decades of Rush fandom — a reminder of why live music still hits like magic. Spoiler alert: full setlist and show details discussed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sixty-plus years in, the Rolling Stones return with Foreign Tongues — fourteen tracks featuring Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, and a surprise turn from The Cure's Robert Smith, plus previously unheard drumming from the late Charlie Watts. Janda goes track by track through the record, digging into its riffs, ballads, and covers, and makes the case for why it's the Stones' best album in years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In 1972, Led Zeppelin traded the studio for Mick Jagger’s driveway and the Rolling Stones' recording truck, after a detoured trip to Bombay reshaped their sound. Join Janda on the new episode of Behind The Song as she dives into the making of "Dancing Days," from its Eastern-tinged riff to the lyric that's baffled fans for 50 years: the lion standing alone with a tadpole in a jar. Plus: the critics who hated the Houses Of The Holy album, the tour that broke box office records anyway, and the unlikely afterlife this song had in 90’s. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda remembers the legendary Clive Davis, the music icon who almost single-handedly dragged the music industry into the rock revolution. He was a lawyer with no musical training whatsoever but with truly magic ears when it came to signing the cream of rock’s crop: from Janis Joplin to Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead to Springsteen, Santana to Billy Joel. Hear the story of how his legacy unfolded in this episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Roll the windows down and crank the volume up! In the new bonus episode of Behind The Song Janda tracks the arc of a summer day through three classic albums that vibe with the season in very different ways. From Van Halen to the Eagles to Chicago, these albums rock your glorious summer days and nights. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

How did Peter Frampton go from an industry underdog to an absolute stadium-packing global phenomenon? In the new episode of Behind The Song , Janda tracks the incredible "grind-it-out" story behind the 1976 double-album smash, Frampton Comes Alive! Did you know there was a real-life muse behind “Baby I Love Your Way,” one of the hit songs he wrote in a single day while sitting on a beach in the Bahamas? Listen to the story in this episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast with Janda Lane, step inside Freddie Mercury’s London mansion to meet the pampered clowder of ten felines who truly ruled his world. From mandatory long-distance phone calls to check in while Queen was on the road to the song inspired by his favorite calico, Delilah, Mercury truly went above and beyond typical pet care. In fact, he was so loyal to his beloved companions that he put it in his will that they would inherit his sanctuary, long after the music stopped. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this bonus episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda shares the incredible story behind how the late, great “saxophone colossus” Sonny Rollins came to record the sax solo on the Rolling Stones hit, “Waiting On A Friend.” Following the passing of the jazz legend at age 95, this awesome recording remains as proof that when talented musicians respect each other, the lines between genres can completely melt away. As Mick Jagger said: "He just blew his horn and it was beautiful." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this episode of the Behind The Song podcast, Janda takes a closer look into Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open The Door,” just one of many songs that he consistently wrote with his spiritual guru in mind. It’s a deep dive into the how Townshend’s decades-long devotion to Meher Baba completely colored his creative output and shifted his focus to search for the divine. From “Baba O’Riley” to “The Seeker” and more, take a listen to how he to put the guru between the notes of his songs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Janda is joined by Behind The Song podcast producer Christian Lane (her husband!) for a conversation about what makes the Grateful Dead continue to compel fans to “get on the bus,” more than 60 years after they played their first concert. The conversation explores the various entry points into the band's world and the philosophy of fun outlined by Jerry Garcia that still resonates with DeadHeads both new and old today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Triumph returns to the road and to Chicago’s Allstate Arena on May 13th in a Drive 25th Anniversary concert event! In this bonus episode, revisit the conversation as Janda sits down with Mike Levine and Gil Moore to discuss what made them decide to tour again and what fans can expect now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In 1994, Stone Temple Pilots hit #1 with Purple , but behind the scenes, the band was fracturing. In this episode of Behind The Song , Janda breaks down the STP classic "Vasoline." It’s the story of a band at their creative peak, even as their frontman Scott Weiland began a very long, sad goodbye. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Why did Aerosmith’s "You See Me Crying" never top the charts? How did a musical genius like Lowell George of Little Feat miss out on a solo smash? Janda is joined by WDRV Brand & Content Director Keith Hastings (her boss!) for a deep dive into the "should've beens" of rock and roll. From the hair-metal transition of Kip Winger to the bluesy hooks of the Arc Angels and the shifting sounds of Genesis, Janda and Keith trade picks on songs that had all the ingredients of a hit but somehow slipped through the cracks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .