"Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles is about a real guy she fell in love with - they both drove Mercedes when she wrote it.
Jimmy Webb was inspired to write The 5th Dimension song "Up-Up and Away" after seeing a hot-air balloon his friend flew on promotions for the Southern California radio station KMEN.
Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" tells the story of real people who were part of Andy Warhol's "factory," including Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling.
Iggy Pop wrote "Lust For Life" with David Bowie, who came up with the music on a ukulele.
Korn's most popular song, "Freak On A Leash," is about their predatory record label making huge profits off the band. It was quite profitable, helping the Follow The Leader album sell over 5 million copies.
"Heaven" by The Psychedelic Furs sounds upbeat, but is about an impending nuclear bombardment.
The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.
Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.
Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?
The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.
Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.
On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.