In this final episode of Season 2, Butch and Kevin dig into the song that is considered by many the greatest rock song ever recorded. What we specifically take a look at are the almost dream-like lyrics and whether or not they are filled with important symbolism or just words Robert Plant created to fit the music. The beer of the week was supposed to be Founder's Centennial IPA, but then Butch busted out Korbel champagne to celebrate our one-year anniversary. Cheers!Plant himself even said he can interpret the song's lyrics in different ways at different times.The song seems to change points of view multiple times.Plant also was highly influenced by the writing of J.R.R. Tolkein, which could explain some of the imagery, such as "rings of smoke through the trees."Taken on their own, many of the lyrics seem to resemble a cross between Spinal Tap lyrics and Monty Python quotes. And yet, there's something more ...Here is a thorough breakdown of the lyric: https://extrachill.com/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-meaningHere is Dread Zeppelin’s wonderful reggae-drenched version of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7DqjyNGHJU

On this episode, the penultimate episode of Season 2, Butch and Kevin take on Green Day's protest hit, "American Idiot." It was a Top 10 hit in many countries, such as the U.K., Canada, Australia, Scotland and New Zealand, although -- despite its general popularity in the U.S. -- it only reached 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. Front man Billie Joe Armstrong write "American Idiot" as a response to his frustration over the national news media manipulating the public. A few points that were hit: The Beer of the Week was Sierra Nevada (hey, California band, California beer).The band members had been off doing their own thing, giving producer Rob Cavallo doubts about how the chemistry would be when they came into the studio to create the album American Idiot.The band had recorded a follow up to their 2000 album Warning, but near the end of mixing, the master tapes mysteriously disappeared. Rather than start over, they decided to go in a totally different direction.The album was to be titled Cigarettes & Valentines, and only two songs that were scheduled to be on the album have been heard by the public. Links to the two songs are below."Cigarettes & Valentines""Too Much Too Soon"And here's "Weird" Al Yankovic's send-up of "American Idiot," the legendary "Canadian Idiot."

Nearly 40 years ago, a rock anthem hit the airwaves -- and perhaps most importantly, MTV -- in the form of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It." The campy, fun video and the singalong chants made it an instant hit. Kevin and Butch go down the Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole on this timeless classic that remains evergreen after all this time. A few show notes: This episode's so-called Beer of the Week is Mr. American IPA, made with plenty of Cascade hops, from Louisville brewery Noble Funk Brewing Co.The song resembles, in melody and structure, a well known Christmas classic. In fact, Twisted Sister recorded their own version, which you can experience here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV-SpT69IZ8&t=1s The drumbeat is unmistakable.Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center tried to censor the song, and was read the riot act by front man Dee Snider before Congress.Snider would end up recording an acoustic version of the song to help promote a cancer research charity, which you can experience here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7ya4UJTeZ4 The '80s anthem somehow only reached 21 on the Billboard Top 40, yet it remains an enduring hit.

In 1982, Men at Work came from nowhere -- OK, actually from Australia -- to take the world by storm with their hits "Who Can it be Now?" and "Down Under," the latter of which is the story of a man's travels and the odd characters he meets along the way. Butch and Kevin dig into the song, its meaning, and some of the cultural revelations contained within, not to mention a sad twist that came years later. A few talking points: The Beer of the Week is, of course, Foster's, the beer that originated in Australia and rose on its ad campaign of, "Foster's: Australian for Beer." (It's brewed elsewhere today.)Butch busts out the Vegemite for an on-air, first-time tasting. The responses were a bit surprising.The original version of "Down Under" was essentially a throwaway B-side and much different sounding than the hit version."Down Under" shares similarities with the Bruce Springsteen hit "Born in the U.S.A."

Season 2 of Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole marches on with a dive into "God Save the Queen," the seminal punk rock classic by the Sex Pistols that whipped much of jolly old England into a frenzy in 1977. Butch and Kevin talk about a lot of different perspectives on the song and how it was received, in both positive ways and negative. A few show points: Our Beer of the Week is Carlsberg, probably the best beer in the world. Probably.Yes, this episode is in observance to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September.Was this song kept out of the No. 1 spot on the charts (in favor or Rod Stewart, to make matters worse) through conspiracy as part of a backlash?The band insisted it wasn't a direct attack on the queen but rather a tribute to the working class.1983 SCTV satirical take on the song by the fictional band the Queenhaters is gold. It featured Martin Short (lead vocals), Eugene Levy (lead guitar), and John Candy (drums), among others, performing a song titled "I Hate the Bloody Queen." Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJU5x67Sz1o

That's right, we did it. The unrelenting "Wagon Wheel" gets the deep dive in this episode, as Butch and Kevin grit their teeth and trudge forward. This tune, which is played now by pretty much every cover band in the galaxy, started with a Bob Dylan demo. It was then completed by Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show. And then Darius Rucker, Hootie himself, decided to record it, thus ruining it forever. A few notes: Beer of the Week took the form of Terrapin Hopsecutioner IPA. Nomnom.We had to have a bourbon sidecar to get through this one, and that bourbon was Heaven's Door 10 Year. Heaven's Door, of course, is Bob Dylan's whiskey brand, so we deemed it appropriate.The song describes a hitchhiking journey to Raleigh, N.C.Is the song bigger than the group itself? How did it get so popular?Kevin, of course, mentions the Knack. Again.The song, of course, is based on a crude demo that Dylan recorded in the 1960s. Secor would later hear it and decided to "finish" the tune for Dylan. The two share songwriting credits.Why, Hootie? Why?

On this episode, Kevin and Butch take a deep dive into "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," a classic true story song by the great Gordon Lightfoot about the freighter that sank into Lake Superior in 1975, taking all 29 crew members down with her. A few notes: Beer of the Week is, of course, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter by Great Lakes Brewing Co. What else would it be?Wait, there's no chorus in this song?It's based on an Irish tune Lightfoot remembered hearing as a child, and he basically just told the story in the song as factually as possible, albeit with some enhancements to add visuals and drama.It narrowly missed winning a Grammy and narrowly missed being a No. 1 tune in America (though it did hit No. 1 in Lightfoot's native Canada).Interestingly, new evidence as to what caused (or didn't cause) the wreck came to light in recent years, prompting Lightfoot to change one part of the lyric when he performs the song live.The song got a shout-out in an episode of "Seinfeld." You can check out a clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A57tT30peaMAnd if you ever wondered what the first two hours of MTV looked like, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJtiPRDIqtI (So much Rod Stewart ...)

Hey, we're back! Sorry for the long hiatus, but we had a big show with the band and had to get a new drummer ready. It didn't help that Kevin messed up his back and was laid up for a bit. But Kevin and Butch return for another episode, this time focusing on "Money For Nothing," the memorable Dire Straits hit that ended up being a bit misunderstood and even controversial. A few notes about the episode: This week's beer was Spotted Cow, the much-loved Wisconsin staple brewed by New Glarus Brewing.We also had a Bourbon of the Week as a sidecar, that being Barrell Bourbon Batch 033.The guitar sound was inspired by ZZ Top.The animation was groundbreaking for its time and helped make it an MTV hit -- even though frontman Mark Knopfler wanted nothing to do with making a video.The song became controversial for some of the language used, but Knopfler wrote the song from the point of view of a "stupid" character.Nikki Sixx believes the character on which the narrator is based was watching a Motley Crue video when Knopfler overheard him. Knopfler famously was in an appliance store when he heard two workers making fun of the musicians on a wall of televisions showing MTV.There was a guy who used to make prank calls back in the late 1980s/early 1990s who used the name Mark Knopfler on his "victims." Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8teY54fMsxY (please excuse the language ...)There's even a tribute page to the guy: https://phonelosers.com/mark/comment-page-3/

In this episode, Kevin and Butch tackle the Americana classic "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar, aka, John Cougar Mellencamp, aka John Mellencamp. We talk about how the original lyric was interestingly different, how the song was built in studio -- it almost didn't make the cut -- and perhaps most importantly, what it meant for John Mellencamp's career. A few points: Beer of the Week: Dragonfly IPA by Upland Brewing, which is based in Mellencamp's current hometown.When the song was recorded, drummer Kenny Aronoff was afraid he was about to be replaced by a drum machine. His improvisation helped make the song what it was.Guitarist Mick Ronson had a pivotal role in making the song unique, as well.The hosts tell some personal stories about the song, as they were both 16 when the song was popular. The phrase "Hold onto 16 as long as you can" was impactful for both of them at the time.Butch and Kevin also discuss two alternate versions of the song built around the phrase "Suckin' on a chili dog" from the song.The first is performed by Clownvis Presley and can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQrxIlGsMNQThe next is by TikTok star Tom McGovern and can be heard here: https://www.tiktok.com/@tommcgovern27/video/6928145194365783302Clownvis later had Tom on his podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2gOnJhpj7k

The Tom Hanks-written and -directed "That Thing You Do!" was the surprise, feel-good hit movie of 1996, and the film's theme song of the same name not only was nominated for multiple awards, it also hit #41 on the Billboard charts. Credited to fictional band The Wonders, the song was actually written by Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger and sung by Candy Butchers' front man Mike Viola. So, is it a real song or a fake song? If it hit the actual charts, it's real, right? Butch and Kevin talk about how the song came to be, its place in music and much more on Episode 3 of Season 2 of Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole. A few notes: This week's beer of the week was The Truth IPA from Rhinegeist Brewing. We also tasted a new bourbon which is available only in Kentucky: Green River Distilling Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey.Schlesinger's demo was chosen from roughly 300 submissions for the title track song, even beating out a song co-written by Hanks himself.The song sounds like a lost Beatles song, which is not a coincidence, as the film itself is filled with real-life Beatles parallels.The actors who made up The Wonders learned the songs, rehearsing for weeks to ensure realism. In this behind-the-scenes video, Hanks says “They had to go to rock 'n' roll bootcamp.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqohLGt0-lcIn a 17-minute Zoom reunion interview from 2020, The Wonders tell some fun stories from the filming of the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5iQambZAfkHere's the Youtube to the original Adam Schlesinger demo for "That Thing You Do!" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFtKFB0gtpw

Too-rye-ay, we're back again with Episode 2 of Season 2 of Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole. In this episode, Butch and Kevin dig into a 1980s classic, "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners. We discuss the song's meaning, the band's background and the impact it made when it shot up the charts in 1982-83. Among the points covered: Beer of the Week: Falls City English Style Pale Ale (we also tasted a bit of Limestone Branch rye, a local barrel pick)Kevin Rowland was a difficult guy to deal withDexys actually had a previous hit in the UKThe band's first US single did nothingOnce "Eileen" fell off the charts, the band would never crack the US Top 40 again.Is it the greatest one-hit wonder of all-time? Is there one?

And we're back for Season 2! To kick things off, we're tackling a two-fer, the double A-side single from the amazing Queen, "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions." We talk about the songs' historic status as a double-single, why they are so frequently played back-to-back, their statuses as sports anthems and what inspired the tunes for songwriters Brian May and Freddie Mercury, respectively. A few notes: Beer of the Week is Jai Alai IPA by Cigar City BrewingAn odd occurrence at a Queen concert in 1977 led to these two songsA couple of personal stories about our first time hearing these timeless tunesWe plan to have guests on a few upcoming episodesKevin's dog made too much noise during recording

On this, the final Season 1 episode, Butch and Kevin dig into "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Nirvana's seminal grunge anthem from 1991. This is the song that often gets credit for squashing hair metal once and for all, but the Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole hosts take a deeper dive into the cultural shift it brought about, including comparing it with another notable song that brought about a similar seismic shift decades earlier. A few points: Yes, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" essentially killed hair metal.The title of the song doesn't even show up in the lyric. Where did that phrase come from and what does it mean?How important was the video to the song's popularity? Ugly people on MTV was a new thing.Of course, Kevin has to bring the Knack into the conversation.The opening riff to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sounds a bit like the main riff to this rock classic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4QK8RxCAwoAnd, as promised in the episode, here's a link to "Weird" Al Yankovic's parody of the song and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FklUAoZ6KxY

Fountains of Wayne had its lone Top 40 hit in 2003 with "Stacy's Mom," which is often remembered for the video starring actress Rachel Hunter. In this episode, Kevin digs out an interview he did with Chris Collingwood, the band's frontman, in 2003, just two weeks after the single was released. Most of the interview was never published, so Kevin and Butch included as many of Chris's quotes as possible, from naked guys across the street to gardening while stoned to whatever happened to the protagonist from "Leave the Biker." Along the way, they talk about "Stacy's Mom" and how it became an unexpected hit for a band that were already music industry veterans. Here are a few highlights to listen for: This week's beer is Hops For Teacher IPA from J. Wakefield Brewery in Florida. Good stuff!Collingwood foretold what the result of releasing a "novelty" song would be long before "Stacy's Mom" became a hit. The story involves Howard Stern.The video is a string of tributes to the '80s The song itself is a tribute of sorts to the Cars, with its structure borrowing from two classic Cars songs.For you Fountains of Wayne fans, Chris Collingwood has a new band, called Look Park. Here's a video to check out: https://youtu.be/iLDkrJFzxZUAnd here's Fountains of Wayne's haunting version of the Britney Spears hit "...Baby One More Time," as originally leaked on the Howard Stern Show: https://youtu.be/pmkVJJDseQsAnd finally, if you're a Fountains of Wayne fan, you surely already know about this song. But just in case, here's Robbie Fulks' "Fountains of Wayne Hotline": https://youtu.be/7vVJ2Om-QVg

It's a tale as old as ... well the 1970s, when the Eagles were flying high (pun intended) on hits like "Take it Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling." Then came "Hotel California," the dark, sprawling tune with the ominous, two-minute instrumental outro. It was and continues to be one of the most notable songs in rock 'n' roll. But over the years, a contingent of people came to hate the song and the band that created it. Why? We dig into it from a variety of perspectives. First, a few notes: This week's beer is New Glarus Moon Man, a beer only available in Wisconsin. (Kevin is a Green Bay Packers fan, and he and Butch recently went to Green Bay for training camp; this beer came back with them.)It's OK to like the Eagles, just don't admit you like the Eagles. (We kid.)Here's a fascinating read about why so many people hate The Eagles: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6851078/eagles-hatred-explainer-defense-glenn-freyButch has always liked the song and The Eagles. Kevin has had an up-and-down relationship with both over his lifespan.They agree song construction in its own right fits the subject matter, with the dark tones and guitar-solo climax matching the spooky lyric. Kudos to Don Felder, who did the heavy lifting in creating the song.They also agree Joe Walsh might be the coolest dude ever. Don Henley and Glenn Frey? Not so much. At least to Kevin, who shares a funny story about Don Henley and a root canal.Another interesting read from Chuck Klosterman on hating The Eagles: https://ew.com/article/2013/06/20/book-excerpt-chuck-klosterman/

Just what the heck is it that makes "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey so popular, and for so long? Is it Steve Perry's pleading vocal? The big chorus that takes forever to get to? The relatable lyric? Heck, the song has been around since 1981, topped out at No. 9 on the charts, yet it's still regularly getting placement in modern pop culture, not to mention numerous cover versions that continue to re-energize the song. It literally is the top-sold digital track of the 20th century. Kevin and Butch dig into the song's staying power. Over beers. This week's beer is JB's Birthday Beer, a banana hefeweisen brewed by our friend JK Mabry, who also offers his opinion of the song at hand.Sorry about the sound -- we were having technical difficulties. The upside is that Kevin's dog Atticus makes an appearance or two, as does a storm that was raging through as the episode was being recorded.To be fair, Butch and Kevin admittedly aren't big Journey fans. But they were there as Journey fever swept through America.Check out the band Cooler - scroll down to "Rock Concert '83" for their Journey tribute. https://www.reverbnation.com/cooler/songs

Sit with Kevin and Butch as they discuss the making of Run DMC's take on the Aerosmith classic rocker "Walk This Way." Run DMC was dead set against recording it, but producer Rick Rubin won out. By sheer will, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were able to fly in to add vocals and guitar to the track, making it a pioneering mash-up of rap and rock. Did it change the course of rock music history? A few notes: Beer of the week is Against the Grain Citra Ass Down 2IPA.Butch talks about about who the hosts are and what they do outside of the podcast. (It's brief, we promise.)Silly Putty enters the conversation.The guys talk about their perceptions of Aerosmith in the 1980s before the song was released. They were among many 1970s bands that had difficulty finding a niche in the new decade.Run DMC thought the band's name was Toys in the Attic. They had no idea what the song was called, either.Originally, Run DMC just wanted to use the song's beat to "rap about how great they were." When they first heard the lyrics, they dismissed it as "hillbilly gibberish."Enter Rick Rubin, and the rest, as they say, is rock history.Check out the book "Walk This Way" about how the song changed American music for a much deeper dive down the rabbit hole.

Many if not all rock 'n' roll fans feared rock powerhouse AC/DC would die along with Bon Scott. But then Brian Johnson came along, and the result was one of the band's strongest albums ever, featuring the timeless "Back in Black." The song itself was a tribute to Scott, which makes it appropriate that it would become an AC/DC signature. On this episode, we dig deep into "Back in Black" and offer up some insights into the remaking of the band in its transition to Johnson. A few tidbits to kick things off: This week's beer is Harveistoun Old Engine Oil Black Ale.Bon Scott knew Brian Johnson thanks to sharing a bill with his previous band, which is a key reason AC/DC chose Johnson after Scott's death.The song came out just five months after Scott died, in part because it was already partially written. Johnson finished it with lyrics.That a band could change lead vocalists so seamlessly is nothing short of impressive. How many other bands did it? Few, if only because the singer so often is seen as the focal point.If Scott had lived on, would the band have faded into a Scorpions-esque semi-obscurity?If you haven't seen Jim Breuer's impersonation of AC/DC performing "The Hokey Pokey," you absolutely should. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imrcyyajCaILet's all join hands and thank the Rock Gods AC/DC didn't ask Sammy Hagar to join the band.

"My Sharona" was a song that helped finally knock disco off the top of the charts. It was a massive hit for The Knack, but the band would never have another huge hit. Instead, the band would break up after their third album release and later reunite. Nevertheless, the iconic song, which was written about a real person named Sharona Alperin, would endure. The band's late, great front man Doug Fieger would ultimately call it the band's "Golden Albatross," which is the main topic Butch and Kevin focus on during this episode. A few topics covered: This week's beer is Uber Hipster IPA by Falls City Brewing Co. in Louisville.The Knack Front man Doug Fieger appeared on the show "Roseanne" several times.The Knack's young fan club was known as The Knackettes, led by Sharona Alperin.Berton Averre wrote the riff and the framework for the song, and Doug wrote the song about Sharona, with whom he had fallen in love. Doug's live-in girlfriend was in the next room when they started rehearsing it.The guitar solo in "My Sharona" is one of the greatest solos in the history of rock, and Kevin will fight you over it."My Sharona" had a chance to be featured during the Ving Rhames rape scene in "Pulp Fiction." The band instead offered the rights for use in "Reality Bites."Kevin was definitely tipsy during the making of this episode, so please forgive any missteps such as referring to Capitol Records as "Columbia." Butch was ever patient.

The song "Jump" and the album 1984 propelled Van Halen into the rock stratosphere -- and shortly thereafter, front man David Lee Roth left the band to start a solo career. What was it about "Jump" that resonated so strongly? Was it the unexpected decision to include synthesizers? Was it the goofy, low-budget video? Whatever, it endures, and it also started the ball rolling to the often-maligned Van Hagar era. Butch and Kevin discuss all this and more, with some details about the song and video you may not know. A few points to get you started: This week's beer is Apollo IPA from Apocalypse Brew Works.Roth hated the idea of adding synth to Van Halen's music, and in fact, the song had been in limbo for several years before Eddie Van Halen decided to record it on his own.The purpose of the award-winning video was to show the human side of the band, but even that ticked off Roth, who wanted to be the focal point of the video.A year later, Roth's ego led him away from Van Halen. But the keyboards stayed.Here, as promised, is an especially awkward example of what the "Jump" performance video inspired other, less charismatic bands to do with their music videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8qqQeLe_G8And this is Nerf Herder's brilliant nerdcore tune inspired by the Van Halen legacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAGBz4ZJm4And if we'd known about this brilliance, we'd have mentioned on the show. Still ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ6bli9Xir4