Petersen was born William Paul Petersen on September 23, 1945 in Glendale, California. He became an actor, singer, novelist, and activist for child stars.
"Love Is A Battlefield" was written as a ballad, but Pat Benatar's guitarist/husband turned it into an uptempo song.
The inspiration for Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown" came when he was worrying about his girlfriend, who was out at bars all day while he was home writing songs.
Barry Sonnenfeld, who would later direct the movies Get Shorty and Men in Black, was the director of photography on the "Rock the Casbah" video for The Clash.
Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded By The Light," which was a #1 hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The "Madman Drummers" line is a reference to Springsteen's first E-Street drummer, Vinnie "Mad dog" Lopez.
"Criminal" is Fiona Apple's only chart hit. Royalties from it allow her to make music on her terms, releasing albums several years apart.
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds was the only US #1 single by a female act between July 1956 and February 1958.
Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."
JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.
The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.
Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.
The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.
Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?