The lyrics to "Heartbreak Hotel" were written by a steel guitar player who was once a dishwasher repairman. He was inspired by a newspaper story about a man who killed himself and left behind a note saying only, "I walk a lonely street."
"Lady Marmalade" is the only song to hit #1 twice in both the UK and US. First with the 1974 original version by Labelle, then with the 2001 remake by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink and Missy Elliott.
After a devastating car accident, the actor Montgomery Clift had to be filmed from "The Right Profile" to look good - that provided the name of The Clash song.
"True" by Spandau Ballet has some lyrics based on parts of the Vladimir Nabokov novel Lolita, including "Take your seaside arms," which in the book is "That little girl with her seaside limbs."
"Killing An Arab" by The Cure was inspired by Albert Camus' book The Stranger.
"November Rain" by Guns N' Roses has a literary influence: The lyric is based on a story called Without You by Del James.
The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.
The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.
Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.
Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.
Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.
Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.