For the finale of The Story Behind the Song Season 2, The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers reflects on one of the band's earliest songs -- "All These Things That I've Done." Listen to Flowers' insight into the tune. Flowers chats about the song's spiritual meaning, explaining how it grapples with themes of guilt, faith, and forgiveness. Ultimately, it's the sonic representation of Flowers' struggle to balance his Mormon beliefs and his pursuit of rock 'n' roll. He then touches on the cut's...

Def Leppard's Joe Elliott goes deep into their hit "Pour Some Sugar on Me" on this episode of The Story Behind the Song. In this special encore episode, Elliott reflects on the group's success, the meaning behind the band's name, Def Leppard's connection to Def Jam, and how "Pour Some Sugar on Me" accidentally became a strip club anthem. Listen to Joe Elliot dive into "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and more on your favorite podcast platform. Make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song for all the...

To say singer-songwriter Jewel has come a long way since her days performing in an Alaskan bar would be an incredible understatement. With hits like "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "Hands," Jewel is an undeniable force in popular music. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song podcast, Jewel runs through her rise and dives into the two monumental hits that cemented her legacy. The songwriter and poet chats about "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "Hands," from her debut record Pieces of You and...

Billy Idol emerged from the London punk scene in the '70s as frontman for Generation X. Venturing out on his own in the '80s, he became a global rockstar thanks to MTV and his edgy persona – all bleached blonde hair, defiance, and hits like "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself." To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the former, Idol joins The Story Behind the Song podcast to discuss the origins and legacy of "White Wedding." Listen to Billy Idol himself dive into "White Wedding" and more...

Heart, undeniably, is a rock institution; they are an absolute powerhouse of guitars, drums, bass, and unmistakable vocals. Led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, few acts have left such a mark on the rock music canon, and "Crazy on You" might just be their masterpiece. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, Heart's Nancy Wilson takes listeners behind the insanely iconic song. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Formed in 1973, Heart was on top of the musical world within...

On this epsiode of The Story Behind the Song podcast, Lindsey Buckingham breaks down the Fleetwood Mac classic "Tusk." He dives into the song's inspiration, meaning, production, and impact. Make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song for all the fresh and archival episodes coming in Season 2, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts to show your support for our series. Fans of The Story Behind the Song can also check out our new merch for Season 2! Available now at the Consequence Shop, we...

The B-52s, beloved for their danceable new wave tunes, quirky lyrics, and wild outfits brought everyone to the "Love Shack" with their 1989 album Cosmic Thing. The song's playful energy and endlessly quotable lyrics brought the band new levels of fame, going on to become one of dance music's most inescapable tracks. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, The-B52s' Kate Pierson talks to host Peter Csathy about the inspiration for "Love Shack," including how it almost didn't make the...

Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was lightening in a bottle. It propelled Nevermind to the top of several album charts at the start of 1992 and was an event that is often marked as the point when grunge entered the mainstream. To tell the tale behind the song, we speak to songwriter, super record producer, drummer and co-producer of the alternative rock band Garbage, Butch Vig.  Vig recounts how he went from recording indie bands in Madison, Wisconsin, to a fateful recording session with...

Do you like Huey Lewis and The News? Their early work was a little new-wave for some, but when Sports came out in '83, the band had really came into their own, commercially and artistically. Hey, Paul, listen to Huey Lewis himself dive into the record, as well as standout "I Want a New Drug," on this episode of The Story Behind the Song! Featuring songs like"Heart and Soul," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "I Want a New Drug," and "If This Is It," Sports spent a whopping 160 weeks on the...

"Boys Don't Cry" is one of the defining songs of The Cure's career — and it never even charted in the US. But the new wave classic is an undeniable slice of pop-rock perfection, and perhaps the most ubiquitously enduring track in The Cure's catalog. On this classic episode of The Story Behind the Song, The Cure's Lol Tolhurst, who co-wrote "Boys Don't Cry" with Robert Smith and Michael Dempsey, join host Peter Csathy to share his first-hand insight into the iconic song. Tolhurst also talks...

When it comes to truly timeless, ahead-its-time jams, few songs can hold a candle to the Violent Femmes’ "Blister in the Sun." The alt-rock, proto-folk-punk, now-ubiquitous tune still sounds so fresh that it's hard to believe it's over 40 years old. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, vocalist Gordon Gano explores the origins of the classic cut, revealing how it almost wasn't a Violent Femmes at all. He also clears up what the song is REALLY about. Listen to singer and songwriter...

In this Legacy episode of The Story Behind the Song, host Peter Csathy as revisit an episode with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason to discuss “Time” from the epic The Dark Side of the Moon.  In the interview, Nick Mason reflects on the band's origins, the tragic story of founding member Syd Barrett's last contribution to Pink Floyd before exiting the band, The Beatles' influence on the band, and Nick Mason’s new band A Saucer Full of Secrets. Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to TSBTS wherever...

The Story Behind the Song is getting better all the time, so we're thrilled to be launching Season 2 with Modern English's post-punk dance classic "I Melt with You." The 1982 track launched the band to international success, became a frequently covered favorite, and featured in dozens of movies and TV shows. On this episode of TSBTS, Modern English singer and songwriter Robbie Grey joins host Peter Csathy to discuss the surprisingly apocalyptic origins of the song and how it set the stage for...

The Story Behind the Song is back with a new format for Season 2 beginning Monday, February 26th! We're switching to a weekly format, where brand new episodes will alternate with classic ones from the SBTS vault. So get ready for fresh interviews with The Killers, Heart, The B52s, Violent Femmes, Jewel, Huey Lewis, and Modern English as they reveal the real-life stories behind their most iconic hits! Make sure to subscribe to The Story Behind the Song wherever you get your podcasts so you can...

Don McLean earned the title of America's Troubadour with his iconic 1971 hit song "American Pie." This eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock track is considered a cultural touchstone in the annals of Americana, tracking the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation through oft-debated reference-rich lyrics about "the day the music died." On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, McLean joins host Peter Csathy to talk about how it took 10 years to write "American Pie," the song's...

Sports, the breakthrough third album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, was released in 1983 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1984. It charted for 160 weeks and featured top-ten hits like "Heart and Soul," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "I Want a New Drug," and "If This Is It." But what made Sports so special? For one thing, it was incredibly eclectic. The album's influences ranged from rock and roll to R&B to soul to pop. As Huey Lewis himself explains on this...

The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" is a classic post-punk song about a lost love and the protagonist's inability to move on. An English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex, by Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey and then drummer Lol Tolhurst. While Robert Smith has remained the only constant member, Tolhurst and Smith met as children before later founding the band together.  On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, Tolhurst joins host Peter Csathy about his time in the group, writing...

One of the most renowned American indie rock bands, The Shins have carved a lasting legacy with their distinctive blend of folk, pop, and indie rock. Formed in 1996 by frontman James Mercer, a chance inclusion of “New Slang” in the indie movie classic Garden State helped to take their indie buzz mainstream just as their breakout sophomore album, Chutes Too Narrow, propelled them to indie stardom. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, Peter Csathy speaks with The Shins’ James Mercer...

Air Supply, the Australian soft rock duo has been melting hearts and serenading souls since 1975. In 1979, they created a succession of hits worldwide, including eight top-five hits on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Lost in Love”, "All Out of Love", "Every Woman in the World", "The One That You Love", "Here I Am", "Sweet Dreams", "Even the Nights Are Better”, and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All”. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, Air Supply's own Graham Russell joins host Peter...

Run-DMC (Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Jason "Jam Master Jay," Mizell) was more than just a hip-hop group. They were a force of nature that transformed music, fashion, and history. Their deceptively simple, endlessly catchy lyrics and energetic live performances made them stars, and their use of rock and roll samples helped to break down the barriers between the two genres. In this special bonus Hip-Hop 50 episode of The Story Behind the Song, Peter Csathy talks to...

One of the most popular and influential bands of the 1980s, Culture Club was the original new wave boyband. They fused new wave, pop, and reggae to create a unique sound that was both catchy and stylish. The Story Behind the Song's Peter Csathy returns to talk to the ever-flamboyant and wise Boy George to discuss "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me." The two discuss the song's mix of love, loss, and social commentary, and how it resonated with audiences around the world. Additionally, as Boy...

The Story Behind the Song's Peter Csathy is back to talk to legendary The Police drummer Stewart Copeland to talk about "Roxanne." Definitely known as "The Police Song," "Roxanne" is a song that changed the fortunes of the English rock band The Police. The song was written by lead singer and bassist Sting for their debut album Outlandos d'Amour, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. But it would not have found its rhythmic magic if Stewart Copeland hadn't reenvisioned the song's...

In this episode of The Story Behind the Song, join host Peter Csathy as he chats with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason to discuss “Time” from the epic The Dark Side of the Moon.  In the interview, Nick Mason reflects on the band's origins, the tragic story of founding member Syd Barrett's last contribution to Pink Floyd before exiting the band, The Beatles' influence on the band, and Nick Mason’s new band A Saucer Full of Secrets.  Listen to the full conversation with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason about...

In this episode of The Story Behind the Song, join host Peter Csathy as he chats with Def Leppard's Joe Elliot to discuss the unlikely story of how "Pour Some Sugar on Me" became the last entry into Def Leppard's second album Hysteria. In his interview, Joe Elliott humbly reflects on the group's success and so much more: how he came up with the group's name, why they changed the spelling, Def Leppard's connection to Def Jam, how Mutt Lang refused to work on the album and then changed his...